Feb 23 - JHB North

JOBURG NORTHERN SUBURBS 

Dr Joanne Pautz 

& Holistic healing 

&healthy living 

TRUE LOVE 

STORY ... 

An air fryer 

romance! 

Valentine kisses 

and a wink at 

false lashes 

WE 

LOVE 

Sourdough bread 

Really fine wines 

Road tripping 

in cool cars 

Saying NO 

SHOPPING, PEOPLE AND LIFESTYLE IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD 

FEBRUARY 23

Comfort Never Looked 

So Good 

New Winter Stock now arriving 

Please visit www.hottersa.co.za

CONTENTS 

BOOK CLUB 

04 This month, both books and wines tell a tale 

WISH LIST 

06 Hot finds worth longing for and lusting over 

GET IT 

Editorial 

Phone 010-971-3600 

Caxton House • 368 Jan Smuts Avenue 

Craighall, Joburg 

Instagram @get_it_joburg_north 

Facebook Get It Joburg North Magazine 

Website getitmagazine.co.za/ 

joburg-north 

National Group Editor & National Sales 

Kym Argo 

kyma@caxton.co.za 

Facebook and Instagram: 

Get It National Magazines 

Website: getitmagazine.co.za 

Workflow & Studio Manager Megan Brett 

Contributor: Lisa Witepski 

Joburg Hub Sales 

Norman Dawe 010-971-3601 

Distribution 010-971-3605 

Get It Joburg Northern Suburbs is 

distributed free of charge. For a full list of 

where it is available phone 010-971-3605 

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 social media pages monthly. 

PEOPLE 

08 Functional Medicinal Homeopath Dr Joanne Pautz 

expresses her passion for health and healing 

18 Caro and Matt Tapson share their love of a good loaf of bread 

BEAUTY & HEALTH 

10 New range of scent-sational fragrances 

12 Fun and flirty beauty buys 

13 Top ten spoil-yourself spas, salons, and studios in Joburg North 

14 Say no and set boundaries in a healthy way 

FOOD & DRINK 

16 Groovy spots for a great night out 

20 Fast (homecooked) food and fine wine 

DECOR & GARDENING 

22 Fill your home with unusual pieces and contrasting styles 

24 Keep your garden beautiful with love(ly) shades of purple 

MOTORING & TRAVEL 

26 Cars ... accessories, road trips and a whole lot of vroom 

32 A luxe bushveld safari 

WIN 

34 A Soy Candle to recharge your senses 

COVER PHOTO 

Photographer: Nicole Moore 

Make-up: Anke Venter 

Hair: Chantal Rheeder 

Location: Chunky Chau Restaurant 

FEBRUARY 23 

34 

February 23 Get It Magazine 03

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 Magazine February 23

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 

All books available from 

exclusivebooks.co.za 

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 


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 nightcap 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. 



A whole lot of 

healing 

Ever visited the doctor and left with a prescription to set firmer boundaries? 

Maybe not if you’ve gone to the GP. But her extensive studies have taught Functional 

Medicinal Homeopath Dr Joanne Pautz that healing can take many forms. 

Although Joanne didn’t always see healing in her future, it’s 

no stretch to say that her interest in health stretches all the 

way back to childhood. Her mother worked at Vital Foods, 

and she says she remembers that her supply of vitamins 

filled the basket in the centre of the eight-seater table in 

her boarding school’s dining hall. 

Today, Joanne is very selective about the supplements she 

takes ... she believes that “individualised, goal oriented, root 

cause medicine is the way of the future”. And that’s exactly 

how she approaches her patients. “No two cases are the 

same,” she points out. 

Even the nature of the conditions Joanne treats vary 

wildly: in one day, she might see a couple struggling 

to fall pregnant, a child with an ear infection, someone 

wanting to lose weight, a business executive battling 

with insomnia, an athlete who would like to improve 

their performance and a teenager grappling with social 

pressures at school. 

One case may require a physical exam followed by blood, 

urine, saliva or DNA testing before further treatment 

is required. Or it could be that Joanne’s extensive 

consultation reveals that the root cause of a client’s 

condition lies in emotional trauma, in which case she’ll 

work to release stuck emotions with techniques like 

Acudetox (auricular acupuncture) or a Life Alignment, 

a modality which leverages the principles of quantum 

physics and kinesiology. “Often, patients leave this type of 

session with tools to help them cope, like coaching notes.” 

Trying to shift a few kilos? Joanne would assess your body 

composition using an InBody Scale, analyse your diet, 

hormonal status and exercise regime, then load an appbased 

eating plan (including recipes, shopping lists and 

calorie goals) onto your phone. 

Whatever her approach, Joanne’s goal is always the same 

... to empower patients to make sustainable changes. “I’m 

always trying to teach my patients how to make changes 

in areas that are holding them back from living an inspired, 

healthy, energetic and balanced life,” she explains. 

Her unwavering belief in the power of her multi-modal 

approach comes not only from her training (a hard-earned 

Master’s degree in Homeopathy followed by a year at the 

UK’s Regents College of Homeopathy, qualifications in 

several modalities, a Fellowship in Anti-Ageing, Metabolic 

and Functional Medicine from the USA in her forties, 

but also through experience. Joanne gave birth to her 

daughter, Sage Siena, at home, completely drug-free, with 

the help of a doula as well as midwife Sharon Marsay. “I had 

an innate knowing that if anything went wrong with the 

birthing process, we had a natural solution that could fix 

it,” she says. Now 13, Sage Siena still has never been treated 

with anything other than natural medicine. 

Although Joanne says that she believes in tackling a 

problem from many angles, she admits that homeopathy 

remains her first love. “I’ve seen it work miracles,” 

she enthuses. 

She finds working holistically extremely rewarding. It’s not 

only about healing - although it is, of course, wonderful 

to witness the changes patients go through, for many, 

the mere fact of being seen and heard by Joanne makes 

an enormous difference to their emotional and physical 

wellbeing. “My hope is that my prescribed interventions 

will help them feel emotionally more secure, confident 

and centered, mentally sharper and physically more robust 

and resilient.” Joanne often relies on her intuition to solve 

patients’ issues. She describes each new case as a journey 

or a puzzle to be solved in the quickest time possible – 

and to do this, she needs to connect with her patient fully 

from a grounded heart space. At the same time, she has to 

be able to disconnect fully, otherwise she will carry their 

trauma and pain with her. 

As much as Joanne teaches her patients about living 

life to their full, they teach her too. “One of the things 

that inspires me about my work is that there’s always the 

chance to learn something new.” 

Her passion for learning comes from Joanne’s firm belief 

that “there is always a well-researched, natural solution for 

every disease process. If there isn’t one, it’s only because it 

hasn’t been found yet – but one day we will!” 

Details: Visit www.drjoanne.co.za or contact Dr Joanne Pautz 

on 011-326-2131 or email info@drjoanne.co.za 


How to be healthy 

Follow Joanne’s tips for 

ultimate wellbeing: 

• Eat loads of vegetables. Most of 

your shopping should take place at 

the greengrocer. 

• Consider intermittent fasting. 

Going without food for 10 to16 

hours at night has a detoxifying, 

fat burning effect. 

• Go on a 21-day detox at least 

once a year. Avoid gluten, dairy, 

red meat, alcohol, coffee, black tea 

and sugar during this time. 

• Keep a health file with all 

your laboratory results, X-ray 

summaries, body stats and other 

relevant health information. 

• Know all your health scores and, 

if you’re not at your optimum, set 

realistic health goals. Find someone 

to help you achieve them. 

• Negative thoughts make you sick 

on all levels. Transcend the drama 

and audit your thoughts. Is your 

self-talk helpful or harmful? How 

long does it take you to overcome 

a negative situation or argument? 

Get rid of toxic thoughts as quickly 

as possible so they don’t throw 

you off track. 

Text: Lisa Witepski • Photographer: NICOLE MOORE. Details: nicolemoorephotography.co.za 

• Make-up: ANKE VENTER. Details: 072-223-3340. • Hair: CHantaL RHeedeR from saLon CHanté. Details: 082-342-1362. 

• Location: CHUnkY CHaU RestaURant. Details: chunkychau.co.za 


For you ... 

Kate Spade Chérie, R1399 from Truworths, 

Dis-Chem and Clicks. Oscar de la Renta Bella 

Rosa, R1399 from takealot.com. 

Berdoues 

Pivoine & Rhubarbe Eau de Toilette, 

R525 from orleanscosmetics.co.za 

Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia, R2415 

from Woolworths. 

Scent-sational 

Make this a fabulously fragrance-filled February 

For your home ... 

Kate Sunley peony and rose scented soy wax candles 

(R340) and room spray, R340 and R180 from katesunley. 

com. Charlotte Rhys Rose large rose fragrance sachet 

R133.50 from Woolworths. Glasshouse A Tahaa Affair 

triple scented soy candle, R899 from Woolworths. 


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. R1099 from 

Edgars, Clicks, Foschini and Truworths. 



Wink wink, kiss kiss 

We are in for some flirty fun with red hot 

smooches and fluttering lashes 

Essence Lash Princess Liner in brown 

with a precise felt tip to get the perfect 

line, R77.95. • Essence Lash Princess 

WISPY effect false lashes ... use to 

enhance and add volume to your natural 

lashes. We love these for being light, 

reusable and having a transparent band. 

R69.95. Both from DisChem. 

We love this long lasting kiss 

proof RVB LAB Ever & Ever Matt 

Liquid Lipstick, R350. • RVB 

LAB More & More Mascara, 

R485. Both available from 

orleanscosmetics.co.za 

Go bold with Maybelline 

Superstay Vinyl Ink 

Lipstick in Red Hot. 

Enriched with Vitamin 

E and Aloe. R249.95 

from clicks.co.za 

RefectoCil Lash & 

Brow Booster Serum 

is the perfect solution 

for naturally long 

luscious lashes. This 

dermatologically and 

ophthalmologically 

tested serum supports 

the hair cycle by 

prolonging the 

growth phase in the 

hair roots. Promises 

visible results in six 

weeks. R925 from 

takealot.com. 

Details: refectocil.co.za 

Lancôme has just launched the new Lash Idôle Mascara with Zendaya. This volumising 

mascara provides lifted, fanned out volume as well as a 140 per cent eye-opening effect. 

It’s clump-free and lasts for up to 24 hours. R420 from Woolworths. 


THE LIST 

Are you on The List? Our February list showcases the top ten spoil-yourself spas, salons, 

and studios in Joburg North ... our faves, and places we know you’ll love too! 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

NATURAL EXPRESSIONS Recapture your well-being in this beautiful spa, with light, airy, private treatment rooms & 

a tranquil garden. They offer a variety of services ranging from Laser & advanced facials, Electrolysis, lesion removals, 

sugaring, slimming, mani’s, pedi’s, Holistic well-being treatments & more. Experts in anti-ageing. 114, 11th Street, 

Parkmore. Details: Call 011-783-0270 or WhatsApp 071-860-6973. 

Specialist Laser and Cosmetic Institute (SCIN) While beauty is considered skin deep, longevity is not. SCIN 

in Hyde Park Shopping is where you will find high-end anti-ageing measures partnered with preventative medicine 

and wellness expertise to provide you with ground-breaking aesthetic solutions. Details: 010-350-0800, scinmed.com 

Tanaz Shelene Shear is known for being top of the colour game, and has the awards to prove it! Quite honestly we 

wouldn’t trust our colour to anyone else. She’s up-to-date with all the latest techniques ... like the subtle art of lived-in 

colour. Find the salon at 51 Coelett Drive Illovo. Details: 011-786-2976; www.tanaz.net 

Fairlawns boutique hotel & spa Bliss. Just pure bliss. Zone out with an Asian-inspired signature treatment 

then relax in the Balinese bamboo forest gardens. There’s a rim-flow spa bath and steam room, outdoor salas, and so 

much more. And up at the hotel - a champagne room! 1 Alma Road, Morningside. Details: 011-808-7300. 

Lueur House Sheer luxury, with world class products, state-of-the-art aesthetic machinery, innovative treatments 

and global wellness philosophies. A proper sanctuary, and perfect for those who want the best ... with a little luxury 

thrown in (don’t we all). 1 Chatsworth Road, Hurl Park. Details: 084-777-0202, lueurhouse.co.za 

The View Spa by 27Pinkx A gem where treatments combine modern technology with ancient healing wisdom. 

One to try is the Halogen Salt Therapy where the list of benefits are endless … it kills allergens, aids in healing skin 

conditions and promotes relaxation. Radisson Blu Hotel, Sandton. Details: 27pinkx.co.za; 010-226-9120. 

Cudo Kroo A one of its kind grooming spot in Thrupps Centre. Owners Nico Govender and Sershin Naicker created 

this sophisticated space with a sporty-but-luxe feel ... a seriously exclusive grooming experience. Think complimentary 

drinks, music on request, peppermint-infused hot towels and massage chairs. Details: cudokroo.co.za 

Just Browzing Creating eye-catching looks is exactly what brow-whisperer Michelle de Lima does with her 

expert use of tweezers and nifty ability to suss out bone structure. This candy-coloured studio in Parkmore knows 

just how important perfect brows are. Details: Find Michelle on Instagram at @justbrowzingbrowbar 

MOney to Blow A hair haven that’s services range from extensions to ethnic hair (specifically weave related 

services). Plus they stock premium haircare brands including Olaplex, K18, Kevin Murphy, Moroccan Oil, Biosense, 

Kerastase & others. 116 11th Street, Parkmore. Details: 011-8832760 or moneytoblow.co.za 

10 

UniqBrows An express brow and lash bar in Sandton City for both men and women. Unaiza Suilman has been in 

the brow business for more than a decade, and knows her stuff. Pop in (no appointment needed) to map and tint 

your brows from boring to boss in under 30 minutes. Details: uniqbrows.com 


LOVE TO SAY NO 

Set boundaries, prioritise yourself and your own energy and healing 

Text: KERRY RUDMAN FROM BRAIN HARMONICS 

hat if you declined 

a dinner invite or 

said no to an event 

your ex would be at, 

or even just said no 

to anything. This might 

leave you feeling a little 

selfish or guilty. 

It doesn’t matter that you’re 

emotionally and physically exhausted, 

or that your mental health is suffering. 

You might lie awake in bed, thinking 

about how you should have done 

something differently or been better 

in some other way. Saying no feels 

like a failure, like you’re incompetent 

or unequipped to handle the 

situation, you might worry about 

how it affects the other person. 

But if saying NO helps you prioritise 

yourself and your own energy and 

healing, are you really being selfish? 

Even though it’s defined as being 

concerned with only your own 

personal pleasure and profit, as 

well as lacking consideration for 

others, we still think of selfish as the 

times when we’re simply putting 

ourselves first. 

We’re told we need to adjust our own 

oxygen mask first before helping 

others in a plane emergency. Or to 

make sure the scene is safe for you 

before helping anyone who’s hurt. No 

one would call us selfish for following 

those instructions. 

Sometimes the right thing is to be 

‘selfish’. Don’t define your actions on 

other people’s judgements. 


Be selfish when: 

1 

2 

You need help in any way 

Don’t avoid asking for it! If getting help from a co-worker, psychologist, 

friend or companion helps you stress less or feel better, this is going to 

be good for your stress levels and ultimately your mental health. 

You need to rest 

When you’re feeling tired — it doesn’t matter if it’s emotionally, mentally, 

or physically — it’s time to rest. Sometimes, that just comes down to 

sleep. Lack of sleep can cause trouble focusing, a weakened immune 

system, and memory issues, headaches. We often feel like we have to 

keep going. Sometimes sleep isn’t at the top of our priorities. Forcing yourself to 

be with others when you’re exhausted is also tiring. 

3You just need alone time 

Social interactions can be exhausting for some people. There’s no 

shame in taking time for yourself. 

If you’ve been going nonstop, your mood is all out of whack, or you 

need to re-evaluate your relationships, now may be a good time to 

plan some alone time. 

4It’s time to end a relationship, job, or living situation 

It’s never easy breaking up with a significant other, moving to a new 

city, or quitting a job. If you feel bad when you interact with someone or 

dread encountering them again, it’s time rethink your relationship. 

We often stay in friendships or relationships because we’re scared 

of hurting someone. But when it comes to relationships that are damaging, 

sometimes you need to put yourself first. 

It’s not self-sustaining to continue a relationship — or job or anything, especially 

one that’s in any way abusive — that no longer makes you happy. If something is 

affecting your well-being, it might be time to say goodbye. 

The balance of give-and-take is especially important when living with someone. 

Do you find yourself doing all the errands and chores when you get home 

from work while they come home and put their feet up? It’s important to have 

balance to avoid both resentment and fatigue. 

Depending on the situation, you may choose to talk to them, take a short 

break to recharge, find a way to schedule or delegate chores or cut them out 

completely. It’s not selfish to prioritise your own needs over others if the act of 

giving is causing you more harm. 

5To avoid burnout, after work or in your personal life 

Everyone is susceptible to burnout or work exhaustion. Certain 

professions can be exceptionally draining. When burnout occurs, it can 

hurt both your professional and personal life. 

So when clocking-out time comes, truly clock out. No matter what 

you do, make sure you have time to separate yourself from work. Creating this 

work-life balance can help you avoid burnout and bring more happiness to your 

personal life. 

Take care of yourself 

Don’t neglect yourself and your health to avoid feeling selfish. 

You can reduce your stress by being a little selfish now and then and practicing 

some good old self-care. 

Here are some ways to set 

boundaries in a healthy way: 

• First analyse if you want to do the 

thing suggested or not. If you’re not 

sure – tell the person you will get 

back to them. 

• You don’t have to answer anyone 

immediately – If you don’t know what 

to say - I tell them I have to rush to 

the loo and will chat when I get back, 

then I can think it through without 

any pressure. 

• Take the word ‘You’ away when 

answering – make everything about 

yourself instead ... so instead of saying 

something like you’ve left dishes 

everywhere, choose I need dishes to 

be done, or that doesn’t work for me. I 

think, I want, I feel. 

• Give the other person options that 

work for you – people are quite lazy 

and usually go with one option, it’s 

not often that they will ask for more 

alternatives. So l can’t meet you tonight 

but I could have coffee with you 

on Monday or lunch next Sat – what 

works for you? What do you think? 

• Do some neurofeedback sessions to 

handle boundaries better, de-stress, 

get better sleep and recoup from this 

hectic year and family stresses over 

the festive season. 

Whatever you do, remember to take 

care of yourself. And don’t forget, it’s 

never selfish to do so. 

For more info about Brain Harmonics 

and Neurofeedback Training, visit 

www.brainharmonics.co.za 


It’s all about pizazz 

On our radar this month are three groovy dining spots 

that chant ‘good times are had here!’ 

Chunky Chau puts a spin on swanky 

Somewhere you just have to go and see for yourself 

is Chunky Chau! It’s like walking into an Instagramable 

indoor playground ... all high cushioned bar 

chairs and oversized golden yellow chesterfield 

couches, a peacock theme with a gorgeous 

seven-metre-tall deep teal wallpaper. 

The dining area circles a massive Chinese 

clay pot with a whimsical kumquat tree. And 

the space is filled with deep rich colours and touches of 

greenery throughout. 

The playfulness continues through to their Tea Bar where 

the signature cocktail menu is based on exotic black fruit tea 

infusions, served with colourful garnishes in Chinese teapots 

and small little sake cups. We ordered the White Peach with 

red berry cha, an easy drinking cocktail with sweet notes and 

a citrus undertone. The teapot keeps your drink ice cold and 

sipping out of the small cups allows for sharing. 

The food focuses on the five taste sensations… sweet, 

sour, salty, bitter and umami, and the menu is packed with 

pan-Asian fusion cuisine. 

Here, you should let your palate go on an adventure with the 

tasting Omakase boxes, where you leave it up to the chef 

to select his top picks of small plates, sushi & sashimi, mini 

salads, nibbles and parcels, all served on small dishes placed 

inside a wooden box ... it’s a fanatic mix and match of the 

very best offerings at Chunky Chau. Or try a light summer 

salad that doesn’t bore your taste buds ... like the Mandarin 

Orange Chicken Salad. 

As for owner Mr Chau ... some of the staff describe him 

as a friendly smiling Buddha that walks in and gives off 

great energy. 

It’s fun. It’s swanky. And it’s certainly unique. You’ll find Chunky 

Chau on the piazza at the Firs Centre in Rosebank. The 

restaurant is open from Monday to Saturday from noon until 

10pm and Sundays from noon until 5pm. 

Details: chunkychau.co.za 

On our table ... White Peach with 

red berry cha cocktail served in a 

Chinese teapot and a Mandarin 

Orange Chicken Salad. 

A 5 by 3 tasting 

Omakase box • The 

dining area circles a 

massive Chinese clay 

pot with a whimsical 

kumquat tree. 

A striking seven-metre-tall customdesigned 

deep teal wallpaper. 


A glimpse inside the funky Karaoke Kong 

The show must go on 

Dazzle the crowd and 

take top honours at the next 

karaoke superstar singing competition 

at Karaoke Kong. Prizes include cash, free 

drinks and a bar tab. Starts from 7pm on 

February 26. A regular occasion 

on the last Sunday of 

each month. 

Shaking up Joburg’s dining scene is Eclipse 

Restaurant, where the excitement reaches far 

beyond your plate. 

The interior is definitely something to boast 

about ... quirky yet stylish with over-the-top 

finishes – think black and gold leopard and 

zebra print dining chairs, crystal chandeliers, 

a tall dazzling gold feature wall and floor-toceiling 

windows. The space is bright and colourful 

with an African-chic feel. There’s an à la carte menu with 

food presented as ‘art on a plate’ and ... you can choose 

between sitting in the dining room or bar area. If you are 

looking to celebrate, the open terrace has the most amazing 

view overlooking the city ... pair that with their extensive 

champagne list and you are looking at a memorable moment 

in the making. 

They stay true to their name Eclipse – when the sun, 

earth or moon cross paths to create a 

special magic show - hosting the most 

spectacular dinner shows. It’s a sensory 

overload experience where you get to 

dine and enjoy live entertainment in an 

intimate setting - something you won’t 

get at your local theatre. 

Follow @eclipserestaurant_sa on Instagram 

or Eclipse Restaurant on Facebook to see 

what events they have lined up or email 

info@eclipserestaurant.co.za to book your 

spot for a fancy night out in the city. 

Details: www.eclipserestaurant.co.za 

Karaoke Kong takes centre stage 

Whether you are looking for 

your 15 minutes of fame or just 

a fun night out with your mates, 

Karaoke Kong is bringing the party 

spirit to the streets of Melville. 

The décor is funky and the 

food is finger-friendly - think 

southern crumb chicken wraps, 

sticky ribs, hot wings and we hear their pizza 

is extra cheesy! And for those needing a little 

courage to get up on stage, there’s a brilliant 

and extensive cocktail menu which includes 

signature cocktails named after some great 

hits like the Watermelon Sugar High (Olmeca 

Blanco, Watermelon Syrup, Lime, Soda). If that 

doesn’t do the trick, there is always tequila! 

Singing - Tuesday to Sunday - is free with every 

food or drinks order. And with more than 

50 000 songs to choose from, you might be in 

for a long night. A really cool hangout spot! 

Follow them on @karaokekong on social media. 

Details: www.karaokekong.co.za 

Visually pleasing from your plate to the 

interior to the stunning views. 

February 23 Get It Magazine 17 

Compiled by: MEGAN BRETT

Text: Lisa Witepski • Photo: MEGAN BRETT 

Hands up: who baked sourdough 

during lockdown? Most of us, right? 

But how many of us turned those time 

fillers into a thriving business? 

Caro Tapson did – but, she admits, 

she never expected what started as 

a weekend experiment to turn into a 

full-blown bakery supplying many of 

Johannesburg’s favourite restaurants 

and coffee shops. 

“I was actually new to baking 

sourdough when this all started,” 

she says, explaining that although 

her background is in sustainable 

agriculture, she and Matt had been 

running a successful production 

company for several years before 

lockdown. “Work slowed down – a lot. 

And even after regulations softened, 

ours was the kind of industry that was 

really affected by things like Covid 

protocols. A sudden infection could 

put a halt to production for days.” 

While considering how to bolster 

the business, Matt was also busy 

baking. “He’s always loved bread – if 

he could get by eating nothing else, 

he would!” Caro laughs. Eager to 

share that love with his family, Matt 

often made a loaf or two on the 

weekends, experimenting first with 

fast turnaround loaves and then, after 

he discovered sourdough, working 

on this technique. Caro didn’t join him 

in the kitchen, though: “Our baking 

styles were too different! Matt always 

follows a recipe with care, while I tend 

to throw everything together.” 

Matt’s meticulousness is one of the 

reasons every Linden Loaf turns out 

with a beautifully crispy crust and a 

soft, chewy centre – but the Tapsons’ 

only found out just how good their 

bread really was when they made 

their first sale. Caro says that this came 

about after Matt decided to use the 

extra time on his hands to build an 

Alan Scott oven – a brick oven specially 

designed to ensure a perfect bake. It 

was a gruelling process, Caro recalls: 

“He actually lost 10kgs building it!” It 

also generated a lot of interest among 

followers of Caro’s Insta gardening 

account, The Seedling Stokvel, where 

she featured news of its progress on 

her lockdown series, The Lockdown 

Allotment. “A number of my followers 

A little 

loaf 

love 

Linden Loaves is the toast 

of the town – and it all 

started with Caro and Matt 

Tapson’s love of bread. 

asked if we would consider selling our 

bread when the oven was finished, 

so we decided to do it. We set up 

a Shopify account, took orders for 

people to come and collect, and kept 

our fingers crossed that the loaves 

would come out okay.” 

The Tapsons’ first load comprised 

eight loaves, which they considered 

heavy going – but which barely 

registers against the 100 loaves they 

now produce on a typical weekend. 

So, how did they get from a small 

base of carb lovers to a major 

supplier? “We realised that if we 

wanted this to grow into something, 

we’d need regular customers. 

Although Matt had cherished a 

nostalgic idea about chatting to 

people when they came to buy 

their bread from us, the reality was 

that we’d fare better selling in larger 

quantities to a few restaurants – so I 

dropped off a loaf at The Linden Deli 

to see if we could build a relationship.” 

Caro’s experiment turned into a longstanding, 

high volume weekly order 

– and paved the way for the next 

customer, Melville’s Service Station. 

Growth wasn’t especially speedy, 

Caro says, but it was steady, thanks 

to word of mouth and networks – 

steady enough to warrant investing in 

professional equipment. And, when 

one of Linden Loaves’ new customers 

asked for an assurance that the bakery 

would keep on baking, the Tapsons’ 

knew they were in it for the long haul. 

“That was exciting, but it also made us 

realise that some adjustments had to 

be made. Our production company 

was getting busy once more, and Matt 

simply didn’t have the time to service 

clients as well as bake.” So, in January 

2021, Caro agreed to mimic Matt’s 

focus on following formulas so that she 

could take over the dough work. 

It was a tough time, she recalls. 

“Making sourdough is a round-theclock 

process – if you’re not baking, 

you’re making fires to heat the ovens 

– plus, there was all the family stuff 

that comes when you have two kids.” 

Tiring though it was, Caro took to the 

work immediately. “I’ve always been a 

business owner, and I love the idea of 

growing a business – it’s a fascinating 

process. With the bakery, there’s the 

advantage of knowing what’s going 

to come next: it’s highly predictable, 

so although it’s hard work, there are 

no nasty surprises. Plus,” she quips, 

“I’ve become super strong from all 

that kneading!” 

With Linden Loaves’ trajectory 

showing no sign of slowing, Caro 

and Matt decided to bring on some 

extra hands, and Linden Loaves now 

has two employees. Caro is hoping 

that, in time and with the additional 

capacity, the business will be able to 

increase its output: “We’re currently 

making about 370 loaves a week, and 

we’ve set a goal of 500 – that’s 100 

loaves a day,” she says. 

The big question is: Is it still possible to 

enjoy sourdough when it consumes 

your every minute? “Oh, yes. I still eat it 

every single day. Aside from enjoying 

it as a meal, I love that something so 

simple has been able to create an 

income for my family, and now for the 

people we employ,” Caro says. 

Details: Follow them on Insta @linden_ 

loaves and visit lindenloaves.co.za for 

where to find their bread. 


Caro’s tips for 

scrumptious 

sourdough 

Caro’s favourite way 

to enjoy sourdough? 

“With your favourite 

people around a 

table. Serve up lots of 

toppings, from cheese 

to pesto and hummus. 

I always have mine 

with a boiled egg 

for breakfast, and 

of course it’s great 

with soup. That’s 

the wonderful thing 

about sourdough 

– it goes with 

anything and it’s so 

versatile. The options 

are endless.” 

Caro and Matt Tapson share the 

love for a good loaf of bread. 

Decadent Belgian chocolate knots made with naturally 

leavened enriched dough intertwined with a luxurious 

Belgian dark chocolate. The perfect Valentines 

treat that comes in boxes of four. Available from 

lindenloaves.co.za from February 10 to 14. 


Food 

True love story ... an air fryer romance! 

Brownies in less than half an hour 

Brownies. The universal fave. Bake in a 

Vortex ClearCook air fryer, watch them 

turn into the perfect treat, allow them 

to cool and serve with vanilla icecream. 

Joy, right there! 

Prep time 15 mins, cook time 15 mins, 

serves 9 

You’ll need: 1 1/2 cups chopped dark 

chocolate; 1/2 cup butter at room 

temperature; 1/4 cup cocoa powder; 

3/4 cup flour; 2 large eggs at room 

temperature; 1 cup light brown sugar; 

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract; 1/4 tsp salt; 

and for serving, vanilla ice-cream. 

To make: Line a 20cm x 20cm 

brownie pan with baking paper. Melt 

chocolate and butter together and 

mix until fully combined. Sift in the 

cocoa powder and stir to mix. In a 

separate large bowl, beat the eggs, 

sugar and vanilla extract with an 

electric beater until light in colour 

and frothy, about 3-5 minutes. Add 

the warm chocolate mixture and stir 

to combine. Sieve in the flour and 

salt and mix gently to ensure all the 

flour is incorporated. Spoon into a 

prepared pan and spread evenly. 

Turn on the Vortex Plus ClearCook, set 

to bake, 170 C and 15 minutes. 

Place the pan into the preheated air 

fryer and bake until the top is set and 

a toothpick inserted into the centre 

has a few moist crumbs on. 

Remove and allow to cool completely 

in the dish before cutting. Enjoy with 

a scoop of your favourite ice cream. 

Recipe from instantpot.co.za 

Don’t judge. But we’re really late with this air fryer romance ... indifferent to the 

wooing over the last couple of years. Who needs a new gadget - no matter 

how sexy and sleek, we asked. We have a great relationship with our handsome, 

steady oven. But then the smugness of those who were dishing up crunchy 

roasted pork belly, fresh donuts, crispy chicken schnitzels ... we admit, it got to us. 

So we thought we’d have a clandestine try. Well. Did we have to eat (well cooked) 

humble pie. Fell head over heels with the Instant Vortex Air Fryer - designed to 

incorporate all those features we’d heard about ... superfast cooking times, large 

enough for a family of four (5.7L so you can fit in a decent sized chicken), easy 

to clean and really simple, user-friendly controls. The Instant Vortex incorporates 

Instant Pot’s smart program technology to deliver great results, the stylish design 

takes up minimal countertop space and the intelligent touch screen and dial 

controls makes it an absolute pleasure to use. It air fry’s, roasts, bakes and reheats, 

and is quicker, easier and healthier than cooking in with oil in the oven. Win, win 

and win! While we have no intention of cheating or double dating, there are 

others to choose from ... depending on your needs and budget. Like the Instant 

Vortex Plus ClearCook range, with six smart cooking programmes (air fry, roast, 

grill, bake, reheat and dehydrate) and the revolutionary ClearCook window 

with internal light, which allows you to check on cooking progress without 

continuously opening the drawer and losing heat. Even snazzier - the Instant 

Vortex ClearCook DUAL air fryer, with two drawers to allow you to cook two 

different dishes at the same time. Whichever catches your eye and steals your 

heart ... you’ll find them at @Home stores, Yuppiechef and Hirsch’s Homestores. 


Wine 

Let this be the year of fine wine 

If we’re looking for fine wine, we take advice from 

Platter’s South African Wine Guide 2023 - where we 

found it’s been a star-studded year for Steenberg 

Vineyards. And in particular for their flagship Sauvignon 

Blanc, The Black Swan. Acclaimed as one of the country’s 

top Sauvignon Blancs, this 5-star wine is fresh, with 

scents of lime zest, white blossom, elderflower and 

persimmon supported on the palate by bursts of fresh 

grapefruit and subtle hints of nectarine and mange tout. 

This wonderful food wine pairs well with Asian-style 

grilled line fish, calamari with an apple and sumac salad 

or a tomato salad with ricotta and basil. You’ll find it for 

R255 at steenbergfarm.com. 

A year of drinking only fine 

wines. Not necessarily the 

most expensive, but definitely 

the best in their class. So we’ll 

be keeping our wine bible 

- Platter’s South African 

Wine Guide 2023 - on hand. 

This is the 43rd edition of the 

authoritative South African 

wine guide - and it features 

the Five Star wines out 

of the more than 8000 

reviewed (nice job!). 

There are descriptions 

of producers across the 

wine regions of South 

Africa and has useful info 

for learning about and 

traveling in our gorgeous 

winelands. R399 from 

Exclusive Books. 

Another one topping the Platter’s charts ... the guide honoured 

Trade Winds Wine with one of the highest accolades ... that of 

Platter’s 2023 Newcomer Winery of the Year. So this month we’ll 

be trying the Trade Winds Sauvignon Blanc 2021, , described in 

the guide as “Melange of ripe tropical flavours mingle with bright, 

zingy acid & citrus vivacity. Light lees contact in tank adds structure 

& length”, and the Trade Winds Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 ... 

“Confident debut of 2019. Fruitcake-toned body given spice from 

18 months in seasoned French oak. Inky depth & concentration 

delivered without loss of refinement, 18 months mellowing in 

bottle at cellar adding to the elegance.” Details: tradewindswine.com 



An effortless combination of two opposite styles 

Leroy Merlin has just launched their 2023 decor trends, and right up there as 

a favourite is this new Contemporary Authenticity trend - which effortlessly 

combines two opposite styles ... modernity and authenticity. Simply called Nature, 

the trend highlights contemporary lines and raw surfaces, showcasing colour 

palettes and materials that are natural and globally warmer and a little darker 

than last year. The natural materials add rustic elements but it’s balanced with 

contemporary architecture. Incorporating the Japandi trend of slat panels, 

the lines are clean and the surfaces raw. Nature continues with the previous 

season’s interest in the Wabi-Sabi aesthetic, which appreciates beauty that is 

imperfect and incorporates matte and slightly rougher textures. The contrast 

between hand-crafted decorative shapes and minimalist objects is the 

signature look in this trend. Shapes are curvy and smooth, yet geometric, with a 

touch of irregularity. Why we love it ... it brings to our living area a physicality and 

a connection to nature which balances our technologically immersive daily lives. 

Details: leroymerlin.co.za 

Organic amber glass vase, 

R1075 from leroymerlin.co.za 


A passion for decor 

We’re passionate about our 

homes, about unusual and 

beautiful pieces, and about 

quality. So it’s no surprise we’re 

having a love affair with Ethos - 

an online interior and homeware 

store with a focus on high-end 

quality and an eclectic mix of 

carefully curated homeware 

and bespoke décor (with some 

jolly stylish extras - think bags, 

ponchos and darling baby 

accessories - thrown in, too). 

We have our eyes on these 

Galangal wooden bowls, the 

coconut-inspired Assam set of 

white-enameled bowls with 

a tray, and textured scatters. 

Ethos delivers for free across 

South Africa, and all products 

are wrapped in beautiful earthfriendly 

packaging with a gift 

card. Details: ethos-store.co.za 


February 23 Get It Magazine 23

Plant pretty 

Keep your garden beautiful with love(ly) shades of violet, pink and purple 

Veggie of the month 

It is worth making space to sow 

globe artichokes. These beautiful 

plants are a feature in any garden, 

and not just the veggie garden. Plants 

need at least 1m by 1m to thrive and 

should be planted in full sun, in rich, 

fertile soil that drains well. Artichoke 

Violet de Provence from RAW seed 

is an heirloom variety with large, 

serrated silvery leaves and purple 

buds. Water deeply, especially when 

the buds are forming. At the end of 

the first year the plant will produce 

small buds which can be picked 

and eaten or left to flower. From the 

second year, many more buds will be 

produced and will be larger. The best 

harvests are from the second and 

third year. Details: rawliving.co.za 

Text: ALICE COETZEE 


Indoor plant of the month 

For a Valentine’s treat, drop hints or spoil yourself to Curcuma 

Sweet, a soft pink lily, or Curcuma purple Splash. This lush, tropical 

lily, aka Siamese tulip, will flower indoors for the next month or 

more. Display it as a coffee table beauty, or anywhere with bright, 

indirect light. Keep the soil lightly moist but not soggy. Curcuma 

is a perennial that can be transplanted into a frost free garden 

in partial shade or in a pot on the patio. However, it does go 

dormant after flowering. When the leaves start to go yellow, stop 

watering, cut off the leaves and let the potting mix dry out. Store 

the pot in a cool place during winter and sprinkle with water 

occasionally. In spring, plant out the tubers in the garden or leave 

them in the pot to sprout. Details: lvgplant.co.za 

We’re planting … 

Bidens Pretty in Pink - because it’s 

one of the failsafe plants that copes 

with dry or wet conditions, grows in 

ordinary garden soil and is tolerant of 

urban pollution. It produces masses of 

beautiful hot pink daisy flowers with 

gold eyes and creamy white tips at 

the ends of the stems from late spring 

to mid-autumn. The plants are bushy, 

low growing and compact and the 

tiny, fernlike green leaves add a fine 

and delicate texture to the garden. 

Pretty in Pink grows in sun or partial 

shade and is a versatile garden flower 

for mass planting, rockeries or borders, 

as well as filling pots and hanging 

baskets. Details: ballstraathof.co.za 

Garden tasks for February 

• Water in the morning or late afternoon. 

• Mulch all beds to keep the soil cool 

and moist for longer. • Remove dead 

blooms to extend the flowering period 

of your summer annuals and perennials. 

• Lightly trim lavender, pelargoniums, 

and other bushy plants that need tidying 

up, as well as topiaries and hedges. • 

Divide agapanthus and irises. • Water 

containers daily and feed with a liquid 

fertiliser at half strength every second 

week. • Water lawns and mow weekly. If 

it is very hot don’t cut the lawn too low. • 

Pick fast maturing vegetables like beans, 

cucumbers, chillies, and tomatoes at least 

twice a week. • Watch out for red spider 

on your herbs, vegetables and flowers 

and spray with an organic insecticide like 

Ludwig’s Insect Spray. 


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 


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 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. 



GET IT DIRECTORY 

Melaskin Remedy

GET IT DIRECTORY

GET IT DIRECTORY

Love a safari 

Luxurious rooms + impressive meals + a massive roar = a perfect bush experience 

Room with a view 

The invigorating feeling of the unknown, not 

knowing what’s around that very next bend, 

what sounds and smells will trigger your 

senses … this is what makes us fall in love with 

the bushveld over and over again. 

So, when we arrived at the newly opened 

Letamo Lodge at Qwabi Private Game 

Reserve in Waterberg of Limpopo, we knew 

we were going to be catching all the feels that 

wildlife brings ... paired with an indulgent stay. 

With 11 000-hectares of Big Five land to 

explore, divided by wide-open paths and 

lush terrain, we were relieved to be with the 

fabulous guide Brendan - always cracking a 

joke, an impressive knowledge of both rhino 

and birdlife and he makes a decent cup of 

Amarula coffee! 

We’d hardly even set out on the first drive for 

a minute when we had our very first sighting 

… three hippos, the bull with his mouth wide 

open showing off his dominance. And as 

much as it was captivating to view from the 

4x4 game vehicle, it’s a sight that can easily be 

viewed from the lodge’s large rim-flow pool 

which overlooks the river. And the sightings 

on our drives just kept getting better and 

better. Even the pouring rain didn’t keep 

the animals away ... we spotted a cheetah 

gracefully walking along, crossing our path 

into the bush, a rather drenched wildebeest, 

a rare sighting of foam-nest tree frogs going 

about their business. Highlight, if we had to 

choose, was a close encounter with a lion ... 

who gave a warning roar so fearful that one 

The African wild cat that let out a roar 

Qwabi 4X4 game vehicle 

Stripes among the wild daisies 


Lemato Lodges rim-flow pool overlooking the river 

guest (could have been from Get It ... we’d never tell!) dropped her camera in fright. 

A perfect ending to the final game drive, since Qwabi means ‘African wild cat’ in the 

local Sesotho language. 

Back to the lodge ... G&T firmly in hand, we chatted to General Manager of Qwabi 

Private Game Reserve Dr André Uys who told us the reserve is a conservation 

stronghold which is committed to preserve, protect and populate the African 

species. You can appreciate the passion behind their anti-poaching efforts and 

admire the focus on genetic management. 

It’s a large lodge ... a whopping 58 rooms, which has standard rooms (still jolly 

spacious with a king size bed, lovely white cotton linen and a private patio), as well 

as inter-linking room for families, and luxury suites with private plunge pools. It’s all 

very natural with calm tones and an Afri-chic vibe. 

For those who’re looking for a little hedonistic luxury, there’s an incredible wellness 

spa ... the perfect place to get pampered and feel re-energised and our ideal spot 

to be spending our leisure time, but those with more energy can also hit the gym 

or padel court. For parents looking for some down time while they laze by the pool, 

there’s a really cool junior conservation ‘HQ’ where the staff will care for your little 

ones. They have set activities, arts and crafts, a jungle gym, PlayStation, swingball and 

so much more. What’s more Letamo offers thoughtfully curated child-friendly safaris 

and a Junior Conservationists Programme designed to instill the passion for nature 

at a young age. 

And on the menu. Glorious indulgent breakfasts, light lunch-come-tea mid 

afternoon, bush dinners outdoors if the weather plays fair or in the lodge restaurant 

overlooking the bush. Loads of African-inspired dishes (we tucked into a hearty 

oxtail potjie with polenta followed by a the most delicious malva pudding) and an 

award-wining selection of Southern African wines. 

This lodge is a part of the Newmark Hotels & Reserves group, and they’re currently 

renovating two additional lodges on the grounds. Letamo Lodge, where we 

stayed is the perfect spot for a luxury family bush vacay, but if you are looking for 

something more intimate, Babohi Lodge will be opening soon and is exclusively for 

adults. The third lodge to open will be Semela, and promises to be the ideal spot for 

corporate getaways. 

The rates at Lemato start at R6650 per person sharing, per night for full board, 

including daily game drives. For more details, visit newmarkhotels.com/ 

accommodation/qwabi-private-game-reserve or follow them on 

social media @qwabiprivategamereserve 

First sighting of a 

bull showing off 

Cheetah gracefully crossing 

Compiled by: MEGAN BRETT 


Spoil 

February 

Get into the 

CIRCA fragrance zone 

Our Feb Spoil ... to win a Circa candle, simply pop over 

to Get It Joburg North Magazine on social media 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.

Feb 23 - JHB North

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