Feb 23 - Lowveld

Local artists
talking shop
A love affair
with mushrooms
Elsmarie &
Philip Owen
A Lowveld
fairy tale
LOVING LIFE!
SHOPPING, PEOPLE AND LIFESTYLE IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD
February 2023

contents
GET IT Why don’t you ...
Editorial
Phone 013 754 1600
Lowveld Media
12 Stinkhout Crescent, Mbombela
Facebook Get It Lowveld
Instagram Get It Lowveld
Website getitmagazine.co.za/lowveld/
Editor
Mellissa Bushby
mellissa@getitlowveld.co.za 084 319 2101
Photographers
Tanya Erasmus 083 778 7725
Belinda Erasmus 082 567 0596
Layout
Wessel Cöhrs
Subeditors
Jess Steyn • Wahl Lessing
Sales
Colletha Noppé Rattray
colletha@lowvelder.co.za 082 745 2387
Charledene Kotze
charledene@lowvelder.co.za 079 403 8049
GET IT NATIONAL
National Group Editor and
National Sales
Kym Argo
kyma@caxton.co.za 082 785 9230
Facebook and Instagram:
Get It National Magazines
Distribution
Get It Lowveld is distributed free of charge.
For a full list of where to find a copy,
phone Monya Burger on 083 555 4992
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 Get It
Lowveld within 10 days or they will be forfeited.
Prizewinners names are published on our
Facebook page monthly.
02 Smooch a pooch for charity, enjoy an evening of love
at Orange, or attend a night race
04 It’s the first book club of the year! Indulge in romance,
thrillers ... and a deliciously refreshing crisp white
WISH LIST
06 Love. Lust. Longings. Here’s our must-have
list for the month
people
08 Elsmarie and Philip Owen are proof that happily-ever-after
fairy tales do come true
12 We sit down with a mycophile to find out more about the
fascinating world of fungi
BEAUTY
14 Luxuriate in a fabulously scent-sational
February
FASHION
16 All the rage at the moment, sneakers are the
new stilettos
FOOD
22 Whether you like them extravagant and OTT, or simple
and convenient, platters are back in fashion
ART
26 Two local artists chat to us about art in the Lowveld
Win
17 A R500 gift voucher from Jola
32 A sublimely indulgent Soy Candle in a
beautifully faceted glass jar
COVER LOOK
Elsmarie and Philip Owen.
Make-up: Elsabé Steyn - Elsabé Steyn Styling Studio.
Photographer: Belinda Erasmus - Belle Grace Photography.
FEBRUARY 2023
February 2023 Get It Lowveld 01

A hot date!
Pencil these events into your February diary right now
We’re so excited for Smooch-a-pooch & Cuddle-a-cat! Held at
Pro-Life Pet Rescue, Rehabilitation and Adoption Agency
outside Mbombela, come choose a homeless pet for the day and
shower them with love and affection. If the date goes well, you
could even adopt them! There will be pawsome goodies on sale. The
celebration is from 10am to 1pm. Free entry. Details: 079 498 7971
11
Join us for the annual
3-4 Sabie Tube Race, hosted
by Round Table White River 64,
at Castle Rock Caravan Park in
Sabie. A fun-filled weekend
awaits with amazing live bands
on Friday and Saturday. The tube
race is held on the Saturday.
This year’s theme is Lumo and
tickets start at R230. They are
available on Quicket. Details:
www.sabietuberace.co.za
It’s time to get those tails
4 wagging for charity. The
SPCA White River Car Boot Sale
is happening at Casterbridge
Lifestyle Centre, White River from
8am to 12pm. There’s bound to
be something for everyone.
Stalls cost R100. Details: Estelle on
083 664 7505
Have you heard? There’s a new
4 market in Mbombela! Rhino
Hill, on the Uitkyk Road, will host
its first-ever fresh produce and
flea market, so bring along the
family and browse a wide variety
of stalls, and loads more. It’s from
9am to 1pm. Details: Belinda on
082 371 4810
14
Will you be my valentine?
Celebrate an evening of
love with Orange Restaurant,
Mbombela and singer Anne-
Mari. Orange is serving a threecourse
à la carte set menu that
includes bubbly, chocolate and a
mesmerising performance. It starts
at 6pm and costs R550pp. Space
is limited. Details: 013 744 9507/
013 590 4445
02 Get It Lowveld February 2023

Share the love and show your support by getting active and taking part
15 in either the 4.9km or 10km Power of Love Night Race at Mbombela
Stadium at 5:30pm. This family-friendly event costs R50 (4.9km) or R100 (10km).
All profits will go into aiding Pro-Life Pet Rescue, Tamar Restoration and Pro
Gratia Learning Centre. Medals to all finishers and a prize will to go to the best
dressed. Details: Yolanda on 084 607 6314
25
Tea anyone? The Nelspruit
branch of Child Welfare South
Africa is hosting its first annual tea
fundraiser. Topics such as spiritual
well-being, blended family relationships
and much more will be discussed. Held
at Communio Church in Mbombela at
10am, it costs R200pp. Don’t miss out!
Details: Nomfundo on 072 320 9842 or
Temie on 071 501 5912
26
The Market @ Friends
Cafe is always such a
marvellous way to while away your
Sunday. Spend the day browsing
among the stalls at Friends, just
outside Mbombela, while enjoying
delicious treats and, of course, a
great vibe. It’s from 9am to 1pm.
Details: 082 331 0712
If you have a date for our diary, email the info at least a month in advance to jess@lowvelder.co.za
25
Huis Betlehem is hosting a Garden Crawl with a well-known
international landscape designer, botanist, presenter and writer,
Leon Kluge. Leon will be doing a presentation at Arch and Arrow
near White River. R350 will get you access to three beautiful Lowveld
gardens, a gift bag as well as 20 garden-related exhibitors.
Details: Mariaan Lourens on 079 490 5095 or visit the Huis Betlehem
Facebook page

Book club
First book club of the year ... wine with a story, romance, thrillers, and,
it being Valentine’s month ... how to recognise a cad!
Oh ... bliss. A new Taylor Jenkins Reid.
In Forever, Interrupted we meet Elsie
Porter, an average twentysomething
who, one rainy New Year’s Day, heads
out to pick up a pizza for one. She
isn’t expecting to see anyone else in
the shop, much less the adorable and
charming Ben Ross. Their chemistry is
instant and electric. Within weeks, the
two are head over heels in love. Within
months, they’ve eloped. Only nine
days later, Ben is out riding his
bike when he is hit by a truck and
killed on impact. Elsie hears the sirens
outside her apartment, but
by the time she gets downstairs, he
has already been whisked off to the
emergency room, where she must
face the mother-in-law she has never
met, and who doesn’t even know Elsie
exists. Simon Schuster
Journey’s End ... wines with a story on every label
We love a wine with a story, and Journey’s End, the boutique estate on the
mountain slopes above Sir Lowry’s Pass Village in the Helderberg basin, have
released their rebranded new-vintage Tales Series range of wines ... new classic
labels but still with the tales behind the wine. This February we’ll be trying
Journey’s End Weather Station Sauvignon Blanc 2022. The Tale .... This wine is
named after the famed SB11 Weerstasie Kloon (Weather Station clone) which is
one of the core components used in this wine. First propagated in Stellenbosch
in the 1920s, it made a huge resurgence in the late 1970s. The clone is nicknamed
‘The Weather Station’ as the original plantings were made beside an old weather
station, which proved invaluable in enabling the farms to spot upcoming
changes in the weather and thus pick their fruit at its optimum condition.
The vegan-friendly wine is a refreshing aperitif but also enjoy with fresh oysters,
asparagus, smoked salmon, mussels, tempura prawns or seared tuna.
You’ll find it for between R100 and R120 from shop.journeysend.co.za
04 Get It Lowveld February 2023

One minute Lou is happily employed, with a perfect flat. The next, her home and
job have gone. The last thing she wants is to move to a tiny Cotswolds village,
and she certainly doesn’t intend to work for curmudgeonly eighty-year-old
Edgar Allsopp. But Edgar is about to make her the kind of promise nobody could
ignore. In return, she secretly vows to help him fall in love with life again. Then
there’s Remy, whose charm and charisma are proving hard to ignore. But Lou
hasn’t recovered from the last time she fell for a charmer. She needs a distraction
and luckily one’s about to turn up. Promise Me is Jill Mansell’s latest chick-lit read.
Headline • Every day, The Housemaid (by Freida McFadden) cleans the Winchesters’
beautiful house. She collects their daughter from school, and cooks a delicious
meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in her tiny room
on the top floor. She tries to ignore how Nina Winchester makes a mess just to
watch her clean it up, how she tells strange lies about her own daughter, and
how her husband seems more broken every day. It’s hard not to imagine what it
would be like to live Nina’s life. The walk-in closet, the fancy car, the perfect husband.
But she reassures herself that the Winchesters don’t know who she really is.
They don’t know what she’s capable of. Little Brown
Nobody sits us down and teaches us
how to love. We’re often thrown into
relationships with nothing but romantic
movies and pop culture to help us
muddle through. Until now. In 8 Rules
of Love, instead of presenting love as
an ethereal concept or a collection
of cliches, Jay Shetty lays out specific,
actionable steps to help you develop
the skills to practice and nurture love.
He shares insights on how to win or
lose together, how to define love,
and why you don’t break in a breakup.
Inspired by Vedic wisdom and
modern science, he tackles the entire
relationship cycle, from first dates to
moving in together to breaking up
and starting over. And he shows us
how to avoid falling for false promises
and unfulfilling partners. Harper Collins
Are you dating Boring Bert (he wears
quilted anoraks and his mancave has
a trainset from his boyhood). Or a
Tradie Ted (he drives a bakkie, calls
you his woman and slaps your arse
as he walks past you). Are there red
flags in your relationship ... he asks to
borrow money, delays and evades,
sulks, withdraws and stonewalls you.
If there’s a resounding yes anywhere
here, it’s probably time to pick up a
copy of Caroline Hurry’s Flow - 21
secrets to refresh your relationship.
Full of hysterical descriptions
of Drunken Duncans, Stingy Steves
and Slobber Stans (his breath is beery,
and feels damp), Caroline doesn’t shy
away from nasty truths ... manipulation
and gaslighting, blame shifting
and abuse. She talks about dating
duds (don’t overinvest, or stalk him on
social media) and relationship flows.
All very tongue-in-cheek ... which
doesn’t mean she doesn’t get it spot
on! It’s not, she firmly points out,
another find-a-husband book (she did
that in Handbook for the Huntress),
but ‘more of an outstretched hand to
those who slipped on the treacherous
rocks of romance and need a little
help getting up again’. Hygge Books
February 2023 Get It Lowveld 05
Compiled by: KYM ARGO

Wish list
Love. Lust. Longings. Here’s our list!
Longing, after the hectic festive season, for some quiet time and a cup of tea. So
let’s hear it for the (tea) girls. Tlou Tea is a 100 per cent female owned business ...
making hand-blended teas that aid mental and physical well-being. Herbs, spices
and carefully selected adaptogens (plants, herbs and functional mushrooms
which are known to assist the body’s natural performance against daily stress
and fatigue) ... the Tlou (Sepedi for elephant) range includes half a dozen options.
We’re drinking Sweet Sleep - with ashwagandha, chamomile, passionflower root,
blue butterfly pea flowers and lavender. Available from tloutea.co.za
The first locally-inspired
Birkenstock summer campaign
blends German heritage with
South African flair ... resulting in a
sizzling collection. If you haven’t yet
embraced this iconic global brand,
it’s time! Details: bashafrica.com
Have you little darlings discovered
JoyJoys? Interchangeable sneakers
that allow them to swap out their
looks at a whim. There’s a starter
box with a pair of white sneakers,
three velcro snaps of your choice,
and two mystery snaps. Then you
can add extra snaps as you find
more you love. R799 for the starter
box, then R179 for extra snaps sold
in sets of three. Details: joyjoy.co.za
06 Get It Lowveld February 2023

Feminine and
fashionable, the
Annapan earrings
range is available in an
array of different colours
and styles. From Anlea
Custom Creations,
060 333 6406
Shake. Strike a pose. Raise a glass!
Step into the sparkling streets of Hollywood and
be transported back in time with Michael O’Mara’s
Hollywood Cocktails, a gorgeous collection of more
than 200 classic cocktail recipes from the 1930s.
Discover the exclusive rendezvous frequented by the
biggest stars of the silver screen, from The Embassy
Club to the Zanzibar, the Clover Club to the Palm
Springs, and learn how to mix the perfect night cap
and master classic recipes such as the Old Fashioned.
No gimmicks here ... great cocktails stand the test
of time and this is the essential collection. Entertain,
impress, shake well, strike a pose and raise a glass to
the golden age of glamour.
30 Valentine kisses ... in 30 shades of beautiful
It’s been top of beauty’s
wish list for years ... the
L’Absolu Rouge lipstick
by Lancôme. Now
reimagined as L’Absolu
Rouge Cream and
L’Absolu Drama Matte,
infused with extracts
from roses harvested by
hand, freshly picked early
mornings in late spring,
there are 30 shades with
pure pigments that dress
your lips in intense, crisp
colour. R530 from Edgars,
Woolies, Truworths,
Foschini and Superbalist.
February 2023 Get It Lowveld 07

Elsmarie and Philip Owen

Any story worth its salt needs certain elements that bring it to life, including adventure,
a little bit of risk, a good dollop of romance, and of course the longed-for happy ever
after. Elsmarie and Philip Owen’s tale has all this, especially the latter.
Text: MELLISSA BUSHBY. Photographer: BELINDA ERASMUS
After Philip was born in Pretoria, his
father, Theo, travelled extensively, and
much of his youth was spent in the
USA. They returned to South Africa,
moving to the Lowveld after Philip’s
grandfather had bought the property
on which the Sudwala Caves are
situated. After matric, he went on to
study drama at Tuks, working for PACT
and appearing in a few local TV series.
But the Lowveld has a long reach,
and he returned to the farm where
his father had by then established the
Sudwala Dinosaur Park.
Elsmarie, who grew up close to the
Swaziland border, had no inkling that
she would soon cross the path of the
man destined to become her future.
After matriculating, she studied clinical
technology, finishing her studies
working at HF Verwoerd, specialising
in nephrology. Young and impulsive,
she decided, on a whim, to resign one
day. “I had no idea what I wanted to do.
I had the world at my feet,” she laughs.
“Then one of my patients came up
with the idea of buying a Combi, and
letting me do small tours to the Kruger
Park for his travel agency. We always
stopped at Sudwala on the way to the
Kruger, and that is where I met Philip.”
The pair’s love story starts with Elsmarie
stopping at the park on one of her
routine trips. She was walking through
the dinosaur park when she heard the
most beautiful voice telling people
all about the dinosaurs. “Suddenly
Elsmarie adores horses
my stomach had butterflies!” she
says. “I didn’t see him that day, but I
remembered his voice. The next time
we visited, he came over to us, chatting
about dinosaurs. And boy oh boy, I fell
in love!” she smiles shyly. “After that, I
would send my guests to the caves
first with every trip, and Philip and I
would meet up for coffee at his sister’s
restaurant.”
Soon after, Elsmarie got the
opportunity for a better job at MTN
in Johannesburg, and without having
a chance to tell Philip, she moved
there and started on a new journey.
“He had my number, but never called
… I was heartbroken and thought
I would never see him again. Being
stubborn, I also didn’t make an effort
to call him,” she smiles ruefully. Little
did she know that shortly after her
last visit, Philip had been involved in a
terrible car accident. Hospitalised for
more than three months, Philip was
first in Nelspruit, but then transferred
to Bloemfontein, where he had one
eye removed and underwent surgery.
A friend of Elsmarie’s, who took
over from her as a tour guide, called
her one day, telling her what had
happened. “With the help of Philip’s
sister, we got in touch with each other
again. He invited me over for a visit,
and that one visit turned into many,
until I eventually got a job at the
dialysis unit in Nelspruit.”
The couple’s first son, Rudi, was born
in 2000. He was only a few months
old when the three of them attended
Elsmarie’s sister’s wedding in Pretoria.
She recalls how Rudi woke them in
the night, crying for his bottle, and out
of the blue Philip said, “Hey, maybe
we should also get married!” “Not the
most conventional proposal, but of
February 2023 Get It Lowveld 09

course I said yes. We got married on
the farm, with only close friends and
family in attendance. A few months
later, our second son, Phil, was born.”
Living on Plaas Owen is like having a
little slice of heaven. There are a few
pecan nut trees that were planted by
Philip’s father, but the rest is natural
indigenous vegetation. “We love
living in the wild and having lots of
animals around us,” explains Philip.
“Not wanting to develop much,
and both being horse lovers, we
decided to open a horse and hiking
trail, which has a low impact on the
environment. Elsmarie still works in
town at the dialysis unit and I run the
dinosaur park, along with Geasphere,
my own non-profit environmental
organisation.”
Philip also inherited the dinosaur
Phil, Elsmarie, Megan and Rudi
park from his father, and after being
involved in running it for many
years, he has developed a passion
for these gentle giants, along with
bucketloads of knowledge.
Elsmarie smilingly says that it’s
awesome to see how fascinated
the children are by his guided tours
through the park. “It is so important,
especially for education,” Philip says.
“Many people, both young and old,
come here experiencing the true
size of the dinosaurs and prehistoric
life for the very first time, and that is
something wonderful to see.”
This idyllic lifestyle suits the Owens
down to the ground. A close-knit
family, the most important thing to
them is being able to trust in one
another completely, to share the
same passions and to understand
that even though they have different
outlooks on some things, they still
respect everyone else. “We work
because we love one another
unconditionally,” explains Elsmarie.
“We are happy in our environment
and with what we do, in tune with
one another and content with what
we have.” It is obvious that bells and
whistles are not what make the
Owens tick. While Elsmarie says that
every happily married couple have
their romantic moments, doing
romantic things together is not the
be all and end all.
“I remember one particular
Valentine’s Day, I asked Philip why
he doesn’t ever give me flowers.
He took my hand and said, come,
let me show you something. We
went outside and he said, I don’t kill
flowers, look at them, how beautiful
they are. Needless to say we never
have flowers in the house, but we
do have a veld full of them! He never
takes me to expensive restaurants,
but he always tells me how beautiful
I am, even when I feel my worst. He
loves seeing me happy, especially
when horse riding, even though he
can’t ride anymore after his accident.
This is what love is really about.”
Apart from the couple’s two boys,
Rudi (22) and Phil (19), Philip has
two children from his first marriage.
Robert lives in America with his wife,
and Megan, who lives in Cape Town,
sings like an angel. “Rudi plans on
travelling abroad next year, while Phil
just finished homeschooling and is
currently taking a gap year,” Elsmarie

One big happy family
explains. “He helps out in the
dinosaur park and like his brother
also plans on travelling abroad.
Because I have a full-time job in
town and with Philip being visually
impaired, I do most of the shopping
and travelling. Philip and the boys
keep the farm and dinosaur park
going, and also do the cooking
whenever I work late. We all spend
dinnertime together around the
table, and on weekends, the boys join
me for horse riding and hikes. With
Philip working from home, we get to
spend quality time together, which is
very important to all of us.”
Elsmarie also loves to spend time
exploring, looking for new places
in their beautiful valley, and taking
the dogs for walks, while Philip loves
having conversations on Clubhouse
and looking after his plants and
earthworms. The mountains and
rivers, and the rural feeling of being
away from the city, are where this
family find their inspiration. Elsmarie
explains how she loves driving
through the Makhonjwa Mountains
to a special waterfall where they
sometimes go for a picnic, saying
how passionate they are about the
environment and animals, and one
another.
“My family and my animals are more
important than anything to me. I love
living in a healthy, natural environment,
and having a balanced life. I can’t really
ask for more than that.” But what about
plans for the future? Oh yes, she smiles
broadly, like the proverbial fairy tale
princess, there is one other thing … To
live happily ever after.

magic of
mushrooms
Born on a farm near Bela-Bela, Kelly Gottschalk’s family
moved to the sleepy picturesque village of Sabie when
she was 13, and it was there that the seed of what was to
become a lifelong passion was planted.
Text: MELLISSA BUSHBY
It was in Sabie that Kelly befriended an
old hippie dude who introduced her to
fungi. “I was fascinated. There was just
so much to learn and Sabie was the
perfect place. The climate, the forests
… an ideal place for mushrooms,” she
smiles. At the age of 18, Kelly started
her travels abroad and soon forgot all
about them. Years later, she returned
to the misty mountainous region and
her obsession with mushies started
in earnest. “My little boy, Slade, and I
left Sabie and moved to Cape Town.
One day, while we were swimming in
the river, I noticed a few mushrooms
growing under a tree,” she says. “A
closer look revealed Boletus, the same
ones my hippie friend had introduced
me to. I picked what I could and they
became that night’s dinner.”
Kelly returned to the area the following
day and noticed a host of other
mushrooms as well. “There were small
ones, big ones, colourful ones and
oddly shaped ones. That is where it
all started. I absolutely had to know
their names and what they could
be used for, if at all.” Kelly snapped a
few pics and posted her finds on a
local mushroom identification group,
laughing as she says that she really isn’t
very good at remembering names.
“Actually, I’m not good at remembering
anything, and yet I was remembering
these Latin binomials as though my life
depended on it.’’
Kelly moved back to Sabie seven
years ago. Her day job consisted of
managing a guest house, and she
Kelly Gottschalk
spent every lunch hour racing to the
forest to hunt for mushrooms. “After
what felt like 10 minutes, I would get
a phone call saying that my one-hour
lunch break was up over an hour ago.
I had emails to attend to, guests to
welcome in and issues to resolve, and
I’d been gone for over two hours.” After
five years of living a double life, Kelly
finally cracked. She couldn’t be kept
away from her dream any longer, so
she ditched her job and committed
herself full-time to mushies.
12 Get It Lowveld February 2023

Feisty little Kaleb
Kelly’s time was taken up with
constant mushroom hunting, taking
pics of them and identifying and
researching the fungi, and after a
while she came across like-minded
folk, people who loved mushrooms as
much as she did. They started up the
Mycological Societies, born from four
people in four different provinces who
wanted to share their passion, as well
as learn, teach, explore and document
their finds.
“We got in touch with a professor
at the University of the Orange Free
State, to whom we send all our weird
and wonderful specimens. She then
gets her students to sequence each
individual mushroom, and in so doing
South Africa now has an official species
list for fungi! It’s an ever-growing
project, but I’m so proud to have been
a part of something so important.” Kelly
adds that they also supplied many of
the photos of the new SA Mushroom
Field Guide.
After having spent time collecting
various species for sequencing, she
decided to turn her attention to edible
mushrooms. She found that on many
occasions she had picked too many
to consume at one sitting, so began
drying them. “I had drying mushrooms
everywhere,” Kelly laughs. “At one
stage my kitchen was so overcrowded
with preserve jars that my mum
commented on it becoming a health
risk. This is how Foraged - Gourmet
Forest began.” She explains that she is
a forest witch, not a corporate queen,
and as such has found it extremely
difficult to get her business off the
ground at times. She decided to
add tours to her itinerary, along with
the foraged goods, which involves
tagging along with her through the
forest undergrowth on one of her daily
escapades, searching for mushrooms.
Kelly’s boys, Slade (seven), and Kaleb
(five), love these adventures. This
proud mum describes her eldest as a
barefooted, wild-haired, unafraid little
boy who catches snakes and loves to
show anyone who’s around what he’s
found. She smiles as she recalls one
particular incident. “We once had a
bunch of German tourists yelling and
sprinting off in all directions after Slade
had shown them a dead green snake
he was holding by the tail. This really
bugged him as he couldn’t figure out
why such a fiasco was being made
about his cool little find. He likes to
think we are all brave and that we
all have a good heart.” Kaleb, Kelly
explains, is feisty and temperamental.
He questions everything, and needs
answers now. “One of his first words
was ‘Termitomyces’, although he said
it more like ‘pitomyceeees’,” she laughs,
“and he’s corrected a few people with
their Latin pronunciations, sometimes
even correcting their IDs. And he is not
interested in learning a mushroom’s
common name. He rolls his eyes at me
and then insists I tell him the name I
Brave young Slade
use. Witches Butter or Glistening Ink
Cap just doesn’t cut it for him.”
There are so many fascinating and
remarkable traits about mushrooms
that Kelly could write several books on
the topic. She covers what she can on
her tours, but by the end of the day
feels as if she hasn’t even scratched
the surface. “There are bioluminescent
mushrooms, the mushrooms they
found in a Chernobyl nuclear reactor
eating the radiation, and those they’ve
found that can break down plastics.
There are cordyceps that zombify their
host insect, and fungi that strangle
trees while others hollow them out.
There are ink caps that deliquesce into
ink with which our forefathers wrote
with a quill. Others that are toxic when
consumed with alcohol, but harmless
if not. Not to mention the symbiotic
relations they form with various plants
and animals, such as the termites that
farm with Termitomyces mushroom
spores. Neither can live without the
other. There is also the stoned ape
theory of monkeys in the savannah
eating magic mushrooms that
eventually was the cause of a cognitive
revolution.”
Kelly’s passion is quite contagious,
and the idea of grabbing a basket and
rushing off into the forests to forage
for mushrooms is ever so appealing.
We are fortunate to live in an area
prolific with these wonderful marvels
of nature, and what better time to go
outside, get some fresh mountain air,
and find out more about Mother Earth
and her incredible mushrooms.
Details
Facebook: Foraged - Gourmet Forest
February 2023 Get It Lowveld 13

For you ...
Kate Spade Chérie, R1 325 from Mopani.
Oscar de la Renta Bella Rosa, R1 399 from
takealot.com. Berdoues Pivoine & Rhubarbe
Eau de Toilette, R525 from
orleanscosmetics.co.za
Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia, R2 145
from Mopani.
Scent-sational
For your home ...
Kate Sunley peony and rose scented
soy wax candles (R340) and room spray,
R340 and R180 from katesunley.com.
Make this a fabulous February
For fast and
effective tattoo
removal, look
no further than
Aniska Skin &
Art. Aniska offers
picosecond laser
tattoo removal,
which is effective
after three to four
sessions, especially
on those stubborn
blues and greens.
For smooth,
perfect skin and
confidence you
can bare. Price
varies. Aniska Skin &
Art, 082 686 6295
14 Get It Lowveld February 2023

God Is A Woman. Ariana Grande’s new
fragrance is described as empowered,
breathtaking, natural. It’s vegan, clean,
cruelty-free, and with notes of juice pear,
Turkish rose petals and Madagascar
vanilla, is simply glorious. R975 from
Mopani.
February 2023 Get It Lowveld 15

GOODY
TWO
SHOES
There’s nothing quite like
high heels with a slinky
party dress … or is there?
It would actually appear
there is, and it’s something
infinitely better. The comfy,
ubiquitous takkie.
Text: MELLISSA BUSHBY
From smart attire to picnic soirees,
the hottest trend in footwear is no
longer the pretty pump or spikey
stiletto - sneakers have stolen the
show. Paired with slacks, dresses, skirts
or shorts, they are comfortable and
convenient, and come in a range
of fashionable designs and colours.
Part of the reason for this is the shift
from what was previously considered
formal attire.
Crisp, clean white takkies go with
everything, and don’t be fooled into
thinking they are cheap. They range
in price from affordable to eyewateringly
expensive, depending on
your taste, budget and the occasion.
You wouldn’t wear a pair of R6 000
takkies to watch your son’s rugby
game, but you may wear them to
a dinner for two overlooking the
waterhole.
16 Get It Lowveld February 2023

This rather relaxed new trend came
about because of the work-from-home
shift that many people experienced
due to the pandemic. Starting up
your laptop and beginning your day’s
work from the comfort of your couch
(or bed), dressed in your gown and
slippers, was heavenly for a while, and
even though we were all happy to
return to some sort of normal, we were
not willing to completely give up the
comfort we’d become accustomed to.
Takkies are a happy medium. Many
retailers have noticed that sales of
smart footwear are still nearly 40%
lower than they were pre-Covid,
having been overtaken in the work
shoe stakes by what was known in
the past as plimsolls. Described as
a sporty shoe with a canvas upper
and rubber base, plimsolls were
initially developed as beachwear, and
look how far they’ve come - today’s
pumps, for instance. The market for
comfortable footwear is massive, and
is getting bigger by the day. Experts
estimate it will be worth almost
$200b by 2030.
Quite something, if you think
about it. We may still be slaves
to fashion in many ways, but we
are turning it to our advantage
by incorporating comfort and
style. As the old saying goes,
good shoes take you places, so
go ahead and make the switch –
it’s not quite as cosy as wearing
slippers, but at least you can go
anywhere with them.
Win!
Jola is giving away a
R500 gift voucher to one
lucky reader! Send your details
to competitions@getitlowveld.
co.za with Jola in the subject
line, to reach us before noon
on February 28.
Funky, fresh and vibey, you’ll
be the talk of the town in these
printed, leather sneakers! Choose
from edgy and vibey to floral and
feminine to put a spring in your
step. R1 325, from Jola. Details:
067 769 1916
February 2023 Get It Lowveld 17

PROMOTION
Summer in the Lowveld
is all about long, lazy
afternoons, ice-cold
beverages and tasty
nibbles that start at
lunchtime and linger until
the evening, into balmy
nights spent over your
favourite meal. i’langa
Mall has an array of
options to suit any palate,
from burgers piled high
with goodies, to plates
of scrumptious sushi that
tantalises the taste buds.
Whether your favourite
meal out consists of
salad (think of summery,
Mediterranean-inspired
caprese), or freshly baked
somethings to woo your
valentine, you’ll find it at
i’langa.
RocoMamas
Famous for their old-school
smashburgers, the taste trip
sensation from RocoMamas is Bacon
Cheeze Guac Smashburger. Next
time the burger cravings hit, hit
RocoMamas. You’ll find they’ve got
something for the not-so-normal.
Details: 061 216 8768
Mugg & Bean
It’s the perfect time to enjoy Mugg
& Bean’s ever-increasing range of
goodies. Our Summer menu has
brand-new taste sensations, from
delicious and hearty to light and
healthy meals. Enjoy our famous range
of freshly baked treats, washed down
with thirst-quenching refreshments.
Details: 013 742 2206

Panarottis
Why have any old rib pizza when
you can have actual ribs on a pizza?
Gather the famiglia and join us at
Panarottis to enjoy this brand-new
bacon and ham pizza, topped with
sticky basted riblets. We also have a
variety of new cocktails and coolers.
Berry sangria, anyone?
Details: 013 742 2087
Mediterranean
Mediterranean is proud to be the
pioneer in introducing sushi to
Mbombela and also offering the best
seafood in town. Tasty dishes from our
kitchen and sushi bar turn a meal into
a feast. Food is our passion.
Details: 013 742 2235
Doppio Zero
Doppio believes that life is too short to be
serious unless it’s about the food we eat,
company we keep or coffee we love. Our
distinctively Mediterranean approach to
life has inspired who we are, and is what
we believe is the simplest recipe for living
well and happy, an ethos reflected in our
scrumptious food.
Details: 013 742 0019
Mountain Spring Spur
Following the Spur family tradition,
Mountain Spring Spur strives to
create a friendly environment with
a chance to sit back and relax while
the children play. Unwind with a
delicious prego roll and refreshing
Summer cooler after a fun-filled day
of entertainment … or to just take a
break from the bustle of shopping.
Details: 013 742 2184
Cappuccinos
Cappuccinos has something to please
every palate. Our mouth-watering
menu offers a variety of options,
such as gluten-free, vegetarian,
wholewheat and low-carb, and our
A-grade steaks are cut by a master
butcher and perfectly matured. Pop in
at Cappuccinos, we do it best!
Details: 013 742 2187
Salsa Mexican Grill
Make the most of Summer at Salsa
Mexican Grill with our fresh, new
Mexican-inspired meals, platters,
cocktails, margaritas and desserts.
The Seafood Platito will transport
your taste buds to a Caribbean island,
amigos, with three calamari poppers,
three prawn tostadas and a serving
of our famous coconut prawns.
Details: 064 686 8817

Text: MELLISSA BUSHBY
he truth is, as much fun as it can be to throw an
elaborate dinner party, it often ends up being more
work and stress than anything else. Hours spent in the
kitchen, slaving over a hot stove, panicking about an
astonishingly impressive dessert that is decimated within
seconds of it landing on the table. After all this, you’re
exhausted and in all likelihood haven’t spent much time with your
guests anyway. Ditch the formality and try a different approach
by throwing a platter party! Or indulge in the perfect romantic
evening, made even better with a tempting plate of lush, deep
red cherries and swirls of molten dark chocolate.
The beauty of serving platters is that they are easy to throw
together and look pretty, and because they are so versatile, there
is usually something to suit every taste (or dietary requirement).
You can use lovely ceramic platters or wooden chopping boards,
or a mixture of both, and start building up your feast ahead of
time. The simple rules of thumb are start with a centrepiece,
something pretty, like a wheel of Camembert. Remember the
dip, a mix of crackers and breads, and saucy bits, a dollop of good
Dijon mustard, compotes, and savoury marmalade (balsamic
glazed red onion marmalade is simply to die for!). Trending in
2023 is swicy, a mixture of sweet and spicy - think chilli and
chocolate and sweet chilli sauce, both of which would make
the ideal accompaniment to fruit, dessert or antipasto platters
respectively.
Different types of platters
Cheese
Opt for at least three to four different types as well as shapes and
sizes of cheese. This adds interest and variety to your platter, as
well as gives your guests options. Soft cheeses like Camembert
or Brie, with Gouda, feta and aged Cheddar, plus a variety of hard
cheese like Parmesan are ideal. Cheese pairs excellently with
dark chocolate, and what better way to spend an evening with
your beloved than by sharing a platter of cheese, chocolate,
dates, nuts, strawberries and wine? Add exotic Turkish apricots, a
delicious relish or dip and we guarantee a night to remember.
Always in vogue,
platters have come a
long way since the days
of celery sticks and
sour cream. No matter
what your event is, a
beautifully arranged
platter of scrummy
edibles adds a certain
element of flair to the
occasion.

Fruit
Fruit platters are incredibly versatile
and are perfect for just about any
occasion, from desserts at a smart
function to a healthy snack around
the braai on a Saturday afternoon.
For a fun, tropical look, go for kiwi
fruit, ruby grapefruit, pineapple,
spanspek, papaya and mango,
dressed with passion fruit halves.
For a refreshing, healthy feel, go
for oranges, grapes, watermelon,
pineapple and pawpaw. Or mix
and match. The sky’s the limit. For
the ultimate Valentine’s platter,
mix strawberry and cherries with a
pot of dark chocolate for dipping.
Sublime, and oh-so romantic.

Sarah’s Palette
If you are looking for a sumptuous
feast, look no further than personal
chef Sarah Fernandes of Sarah’s
Palette. From charcuterie boards to
deliciously oozing cheese boards,
locally sourced preserves, breads,
and fresh nibbles to intimate
dinner parties, Sarah strives to
make your food as memorable as
possible. Each menu is designed
to specifically suit your taste and
budget, with the utmost attention
to detail going into each offering.
Harvest tables are back in fashion,
and have become popular throughout
the event industries, whether
as a starter at a wedding, or the
main attraction at your special
function, packed with fresh and
delicious goodness. The love and
passion that Sarah has for food is
evident in her glorious feasts, from
intimate parties to bigger events.
Contact her on 083 693 4721, or email
sclfernandes@gmail.com.
Crudités
A fresh veggie and dip platter not only
adds a fab splash of colour, it also offers
an alternative for anyone who has specific
dietary requirements. You can really go to
town on this, with different varieties (and
colours) of dips, such as roast pepper, pesto,
guacamole, beetroot, hummus or olive
tapenade. Veggies such as sugar snap peas,
capsicum, cherry tomatoes, cucumber,
tender stem broccoli, baby corn, marinated
mushrooms, artichoke hearts and baby
beetroot all make delicious snacks and are
perfect for dipping.
Seafood
Smoked trout, salmon and mussels,
along with oysters and prawns, are the
ideal additions to a seafood platter.
Add crab and lobster for an exotic
touch, and remember a dip that pairs
well with seafood such as tartare sauce
or a garlic mayonnaise.
Bread
Although bread, crackers and biscuits can be added to each of the abovementioned
platters, a separate dish of sliced baguettes or ciabatta, seasoned
tortilla chips and flatbreads and crackers is always a good idea. Lavosh (crunchy,
Middle-Eastern style crackers) also make excellent palate cleansers. If you don’t
have lavosh, you can substitute flatbreads such as pita or naan for the soft
version, or matzo for the crispy version. Spice it up with little pots of salsa,
pesto, gremolata, hummus, tapenade, toasted nuts and seeds. Along with a
balsamic vinegar and olive oil to dip or drizzle, it’s the perfect way to bulk up
your platter party.
Make sure the wine flows, and have lots of sparkling water and juice on hand.
Whether you are hosting a big gathering of friends or having a small intimate
dinner with your partner, you really can’t go wrong with platters. And this way,
you ensure that while your guests are having a fab time, you get to relax and
enjoy a well-deserved glass of bubbly instead of slaving away over a hot oven
and a finicky soufflé.
24 Get It Lowveld February 2023
Nich’s Kitchen
The term charcuterie technically refers to a platter
of cured meats, but often features cheese and
crackers, preserves and fresh produce. These
spreads are perennially popular, and for good
reason, the least of which is flexibility. You can add
or take away, scale portions according to guests
or make them as high-end – or inexpensive – as
you like. A fab way to localise or personalise your
platter is to bring in a theme, such as colour,
location, season or theme. Adding a charcuterie
board to your function or event lifts the tone
without the formal responsibility of a sit-down
dinner, and who doesn’t love to snack on tasty
goodies? Anichia van Schoor of Nich’s Kitchen
is the perfect go to for all your catering needs.
Contact her on 071 678 0776, or email anichia@
nichskitchen.co.za.
Antipasto
Translated from Italian, antipasto
means “before the meal” and can
really be as complex or as simple
as you like. You can mix and match
seafood, meat, cheese, pickled
veggies such as artichokes, stuffed
peppers, sun-dried tomatoes
and dried fruit, adding a few dips,
crackers and bread sticks. Mixed
nuts and grapes add a finishing
touch.

!

Text: MELLISSA BUSHBY
Blank canvas
Local artists Casandra Jacobs and Xenia de Lange understand there is a fine line
between indulging an artistic streak and trusting creative intuition. We catch up with
them to chat about art in the area, and find out more about their current project,
Lowveld Figure Drawing.
Tell us a little about your art journey
Xenia: In high school I hated
everything, but loved art. I grew up
in a space that nurtured creativity as
a norm, as my grandmother was a
sculpture major, so it was easy for me
to feel comfortable with exploring that
aspect of my life.
Casandra: I’ve always been quite
creative. I was a sensitive child and felt
things deeply, and by gravitating to
the emotiveness of the arts, I’ve grown
my sense of wonder. Growing up in a
business-orientated family gives me
a strong business sense, and I knew
that by studying a creative subject
rather than pursuing a stereotypical
degree, I would broaden my options
considerably.
26 Get It Lowveld February 2023
Do you think the Lowveld is a good
place to start a career as an artist?
Xenia: Nope.
Casandra: I feel that being in the
Lowveld as an artist is neither here nor
there. It’s not a background that can
guarantee or hinder your success. The
creative industry has grown a lot in
the Lowveld, but again, none of that
is an assurance to anything. Neither
is heading to the bigger cities. As an
artist, you are essentially working for
yourself. Nothing is stable, nothing
is assured, and for many artists it will
take years to possibly even get the
opportunity to get into shows or a
gallery. So to give a short answer to
this, it’s not always about the location,
but about the person!
Do you think art is a good field to go
into? What advice would you give
someone who wanted to pursue a
career in art?
Xenia: Get out of the Lowveld. It’s not
always about selling work. The school
programmes for art are not great, there
is always more emphasis placed on
sport and academics and not much on
the more creative subjects. There also
isn’t enough happening in the area
with regard to the larger scope art fairs.
I feel that living in the Lowveld, you are
chronically starved as an artist, unless
you’re into landscapes.
Casandra: Recent events make it
potentially inadvisable to pursue
what is essentially a passion job as
a means to make a living right now.

By all means, pursue a career in the
arts, but don’t leave your day job,
especially not in the beginning.
Do your research, get yourself out
there and start getting your work
recognised, building up your online
presence and joining local art groups
or clubs.
I think what a lot of people don’t
understand when it comes to the
arts, is that you have to produce
regardless of how inspired or good
you’re feeling that day. Xenia made
a good point about not thriving in
this area unless you are a landscape
painter. You won’t always be allowed
the luxury of creating what you like,
but you will need to produce work
specifically for your audience. In the
Lowveld, we attract a lot of overseas
tourists who will be looking for
inoffensive art that will be pretty on
their walls at home, and remind them
of their time in South Africa. What’s
more enjoyable to the masses than a
landscape or wildlife artwork?
From where do you get your
inspiration?
Xenia: As a portrait artist, definitely
from people. I take my inspiration
from those around me, from people
I meet, although it’s difficult to
articulate what it is about people that
make me want to paint them. Most
of my portraits have the
subject staring directly at the
viewer, which in a sense translates
the connection I feel towards my
subjects. The idea of capturing a
rawness in the essence of sharing a
connection with someone.
Casandra: A lot of my inspiration
stems from keeping my eye on what
is happening in the now. Being an
artist requires a lot of introspection
and extrospection, both of which I
do a lot! Our scope of what we know
and understand about the world is
always expanding, especially when
you meet new people and start
experiencing new aspects of life, so I
definitely live a lot of my life craving
and chasing those new experiences,
because I know it will serve me well
to expand my knowledge about the
world and how I understand it.
What is your favourite medium?
Xenia: Oil painting, which to a certain
degree feels like alchemy. Creating or
being able to take paint and create
or duplicate an image is a magical
experience. Oil has a richness and
translucency to it that cannot be
matched by any other medium. It
is the medium that I feel translates
my thoughts and feelings in their
truest form.
Casandra: Definitely photography.
What I especially love about it is
not only the way in which it has
been explored as a medium and
challenged as a discourse, but also
that because of the way our society
is, it is probably one of the most
accessible forms of self-expression
(what cellphone doesn’t come
equipped with a camera these
days?). Which also gives us access
and insight into people, places and
moments that previously have not
been archived the way they are now.
Xenia de Lange and Casandra Jacobs
Why do you think art is so
important in the world?
Xenia: Art has traditionally been
grouped together with the
academic thinkers, mathematicians,
philosophers and systems.
Contemporary art has expanded
its practice to fall both in and out
of these lines. Art is a different way
of seeing and doing that reflects
the things we might have missed,
whether about ourselves or about
the world.
Casandra: When I talk or think
about art, I like to think of it as this
multifaceted medium. What can’t art
do or provide? It can be pleasing, it
can be emotive, political, cathartic,
tremulous, challenging and even
spiritual. It feeds our souls, makes
us question things, deepens our
understanding of ourselves and
others. Why wouldn’t we want art in
our lives?
What inspired Lowveld Figure
Drawing?
Not only was it important for us to
create this platform to bring artists
together, but to bring artists back
to the fundamentals of our practice.
There is a huge importance with the
way in which you need to observe
and see when it comes to drawing
from life. If you study art, then
drawing is one of your core subjects,
and that’s done for an important
reason! You strengthen your way of
seeing, and it becomes a vital skill you
carry through your life.
Details
Facebook: Lowveld Figure Drawing
Instagram: @lowveld_figure_drawing
February 2023 Get It Lowveld 27

We love a little
VROOM VROOM
Jaguar Classic Black - seductive, high-class and charismatic.
• Bentley Intense boasts excellent staying power and offers a
long-lasting, truly intense and daring fragrance experience.
R1049 • Dunhill Driven Black is old-school charming and
seductive.R979. All from Clicks.
This limited edition gold car diffuser attaches to the
aircon vents of your car and releases a consistent fine
fragrance. R475 from wickfragrances.com
An intoxicating and masculine
blend of musk, patchouli, sage
and mahogany cologne for your
car. Midsummer’s Night is one
of the Yankee Candles Ultimate
Car Jar options ... if your car’s
the love of your life, give it a
signature scent. R120 from
yankeecandlesa.co.za
Attach this Diptyque Perfumed
Car Diffuser to your car’s ventilation
grill and your car will be awash
with the tart, exuberant scent of
blackcurrant leaves, accented with
rose blossoms. The adjustable metal
grill allows you to control the intensity
of fragrance in the car, and if used
correctly the cartridges can be kept for up
to three months. R2600 from skins.co.za
28 Get It Lowveld February 2023

If life is a highway ... we want to be driving the all new Proton X70
It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.
Does that still stand if the destination is a first class,
luxurious, been-dying-to-visit spot? To be honest, we didn’t
think so. But then we jumped into the Proton X70 and my
heaven ... we could have driven for days!
Massive, comfy, soft Nappa leather power seats, which went
waaaay back for passengers needing a snooze (those early
morning departures are a bugger). Loads and loads of leg
room and space for coolers and coffee and padkos (we’re
all for too-many-snacks on any journey). A really impressive,
six speaker sound system for the 70s Road Tripping play
list. Add the voice command (“Hi Proton - roll down the
windows”) and touch screen monitor infotainment system
which has smart phone and Bluetooth connectivity, and
USB ports ... so all those necessary boxes firmly ticked.
Our route included freeway (so a chance to open up and
feel the power, and to test the cruise control), detours
through rural towns with pothole-strewn roads (and here
we use the word roads in the loosest possible way) as well
as a short stretch of gravel and dust ... so we could really
experience the car every which way. Add to that drizzle and
downpours (hello auto-sensing wipers) followed by the
sweltering heat and dust of the Kruger area (so a massive
welcome to the Proton Intelligent Air Purification System
– a combination of N95 cabin filter which is incorporated
into the air-conditioning, and air purifier system ... combined
these work twice as efficiently to improve the air quality
inside the cabin).
A big plus on a long trip is the excellent fuel consumption
- 7.8l per 100km in the Proton X70 (and 6.5l in the smaller
Proton X50) ... certainly a lot more impressive than some
of the other SUVs on the market. In fact, affordability was
a major influence in the decision by Combined Motor
Holdings and Geely when bringing Proton back into
the country from Malaysia. With so many luxury brands
launching SUVs, there was a massive gap, they felt, for a
quality SUV within an affordable price bracket.
Another long-distance journey plus is the five-year roadside
assistance which comes standard - as, by the way, does the
five-year, unlimited mileage (yay to many long road trips)
and transferrable warranty, the five year/80 000 km service
plan and the five-star ratings in financial packages ... so bit
of a high-five all round, here, too.
Talking the safety of knowing road-side assistance is just
a call away, other safety and security benefits are the six
airbags and the advanced driver assist system, which
includes blind spot info, lane departure warning, adaptive
cruise control and forward collision warning (jolly helpful
when the driver ahead of you suddenly reduces speed).
Add to that the traction control, hill hold assist and hill
descent control, electronic and anti-lock braking systems
with brake assist and auto brake hold. There are also
daytime running lamps, which means greater visibility in all
weather conditions.
We’re not, we admit, the best reverse-parkers in the
forecourt, so the 360 degree camera and parking sensors
were a jolly useful addition for us (and no doubt for others
in the area!).
Stops at padstals along the way drew loads of envious
glances from fellow travellers ... and stepping back to
admire our ride, we knew why. From the chrome finishing
on the front and rear bumpers to the rear diffuser with dual
exhaust outlets to the alloy wheels to the power tailgate
with foot sensor (oh my, how we loved that ... bought extra
goodies just so we had an excuse to open (and fill) the
enormously spacious boot).
The Proton comes in six rather dashing colour choices -
Snow White and Armour Silver, a dark and dashing Jet Gray
and look-at-me Ruby Red, Space Grey and our favourite
Cinnamon Brown.
There are, obviously, kilometer-long technical specifications
... none of which mean a single to thing to us (we’re all for
the ride, not the deets) ... so best you download the Digital
Brochure on proton.cars, navigate your way around that,
and then once you’re revved up, it’s all ready, steady, go and
book a test drive.
Compiled by: KYM ARGO
February 2023 Get It Lowveld 29

GET IT DIRECTORY

GET IT DIRECTORY

Spoil
February
Get into the
CIRCA fragrance zone
Our Feb Spoil ... to win a Circa candle, simply pop over
to GetItNationalMagazines on Instagram or Facebook
and follow the prompts. Entries close Feb 20.
No matter how chaotic your day may be, the ritual
of lighting a candle gives you back a moment of
peace. Allowing your breathing to slow down,
recharging your senses and calming the soul. Circa,
the Australian home fragrance brand, is an artisanal
range of simple, uncomplicated products to elevate
your everyday. We’re besotted with the Soy Candle
in a luxurious faceted glass jar with gold lid ... 70
hours of glorious burn time. Exclusive to Dis-Chem.
32 Get It Lowveld February 2023