FOMO What’s gone down, who said what and what you should know… Maybe quarantine WAS better?!!
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Issue #4
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Best braai side salads
THE VILLAGE VOICE As we settle into Level#1 and, in The Southern Hemisphere, spring showers us all with it’s promises of rebirth and beauty, we could all be excused for expecting 2020 to ease up, except... Hell No. Of course not, 2020 has not done with us yet. It’s a mean beast, this year, that’s for sure. Anyone got any ideas for nicknames for 20AWFUL20 that we haven’t used yet? The Year of Big Girl Panties? (MEN TOO?) The Year We Had To Adult, Even Though We Really Didn’t Want To? The Year of Gin before 11am and Slippers In Public? The Year That Trumped All Others? One thing I think we can all agree on, is that it was the year we really realised what mattered. And I am so glad that I had The Village during these past challenging months. The support, the sharing, the advice, the honesty … and not least the laughs, made my 2020 so much better than it would have been, had I had to face it alone. Human beings thrive in communities. We need to share our wisdom, our networks, care and caring for our elders, hope for our children and solutions and strategies for a better future for all. Thank you for being my community. Thank you for being each others’ 37 300 friends,. We’ll get through this. And we’ll get through it better, together.
Look familiar?Seems so... And it’s not just the kids who are guilty!
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Tired of churning out the same old salads with every single braai? When Delia Gilbert put out the call for your favourite salad recipes more than 100 of you got typing. Here are three to try: EXOTIC COUSCOUS “Couscous with roasted flaked almonds, Turkish dried apricots, fried onions and garam masala.” – Shanaaz Wrankmore BEST BROCCOLI “Chopped head of broccoli, 1 chopped green apple, 2 grated carrots, handful of cranberries mixed with mayonnaise, season to taste.” – Mandi Voster WATERMELON WONDER “Watermelon, feta, dried olives, olive oil, crushed black pepper, salt to season and fresh lemon juice.” – Alandra Ali Bartis
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THRIFTY THRIFT! Thrifting in the name of sustainable fashion – not to mention a large dose of retro cool! – is huge with teens right now. That’s a win for us parents too: thrift shop buys are way cheaper than the high street – if you find the right ones! There have been loads of threads on The Village about which shops are best – here’s our roundup of the most popular mentions in Cape Town, plus some online thrifting too.
Bricks and mortar 1.
DREAMLAND VINTAGE
(7 Bekham Street – it’s just off Kloof Street) 2.
VOOM VOOM VINTAGE
(61 Lower Main Road, Obs) 3.
BANG BANG VINTAGE
4.
(65 Lower Main Road, Obs) BETTER HALF (114 Main Road, Obs)
5.
RUMMAGE CO OP
6.
(Imhoff Farm, Kommetjie) DEJA-VU (278 Main Road, Kennilworth)
7.
TEARS CHARITY STORE
(281 Main Road, Retreat) 8.
U-TURN CHARITY STORY
(41 Landsdowne Road, Claremont)
BIO-STRATH
EXHAUSTION!
R109, Faithful to Nature
CHIC MAMAS DO CARE
(70 Constantia Main Road, Wynberg) 10. RESALE THERAPY BOUTIQUE
(Old Stanhope Road, Claremont)
BONUS: Most of these stores offer gift vouchers too – so that means Christmas and Birthdays, sorted!
Online 1. 3T5.co.za 2. yaga.co.za 3. oncemore.co.zay 4. thriftyfabulous.co.za 5. Facebook: @crybaby. thrift2000 6. Insta: @thrift_it_clothing 7. Insta: @ohsothrift 8. Insta: @nevernewsouthafrica 9. Insta: @capetownvintage 10. Insta: @secondnaturethrift
RECOMMENDED READ
BEATS
For our matriculants heading for their final stretch and for us Moms and anyone else who is ready to give 2020 the boot – don’t forget that there are supplements and health support available! BioStrath gets our vote thanks to the fact that this daily supplement is crammed with a potent cocktail of feel-good B-vitamins plus a host amino acids, minerals, and other healthpromoting substances like L-carnitine that helps turn fat into energy.
9.
Thanks, Lauren Reynders, for recommending this insightful book for moms of tween and teen girls: Under Pressure by Lisa Damour “There is so much to take away from this book on how we communicate, the words we use and the reality of how much stress our girls are under – 31% more than teen boys!”
FRIENDS REUNITED
On The Village, someone always knows someone, who knows someone… When Helen D’Oliveira put a call out asking if anyone could reconnect her with her childhood friend, Mandy Stubbs, who had moved to New Zealand in the 80s, it took just a few hours for Mandy’s cousin to hop onto the thread and give Helen the info she’d been hunting for years! We love this happy ending – and hopefully new beginning to Helen and Mandy’s friendship. Thank you, Villagers! 02
FOMO #4
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FOMO
Our new normal is super-comfy!
From shopping in slippers to Zooming in elasticated pants, comfort clothes are the upside of 2020
PAPPED IN PANTOFFELS!
THIS IS GOING TO BE SOME PARTY!
Judging by the comments, it isn’t just Vanessa who goes shopping in her slippers!
We’ll all be dancing to Jerusalema and sipping pineapple home brew... And bra-less – of course!
Socks ‘n ps slipslo
Vicki-Leigh Grant Comfy pants, no bra, hair scraped back into a pony, no make-up, socks with slipslops made an appearance (I admit, they are super comfy) but hideous, armed with sanitiser and the dreaded mask! Oh heavens, what have we become!
rows b r a l l aterpi
C
Lee-Ann Laufs No bra, hairy legs, caterpillar eyebrows, grey hair in a bun.
pe i r t s k Skun
Tracey Whitelaw Coombe As my hair is going ‘natural’ (spurred on by lockdown) ... I’d have to sport a fake skunk stripe.
Michelle Islyn Haas An apron covered in bread flour.
l! Loo rol Kate van Zyl A dress made of toilet paper.
I have no need for google... i have teenagers that know it all.
gh u o d r u o S starter lf
Half-ha
Carmen Huckle PJ bottoms with a nice top. So you look good online.
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SOCIALLY DISTANT
For many of us, the easing of lockdown restrictions and socialising again hasn’t been as easy as we imagined. Of course, The Village has wise words of support. ‘Just acknowledge it and be kind to yourself. Have to ‘exercise’ the socialising muscles.’ Arienne Levitan
NEED HELP?
If the last six months have taken , a toll on your mental health, remember you don t need to suffer through depression and anxiety on your own. Reach out if you need help. • South African Depression and Anxiety Group Online Support: Helpline 0800 567 567 • Cape Mental Health Support: Helpline 021 447 9040 • Life Line South Africa: Helpline 0861 322 322
‘Choose people who think like you and have the same health standards as you. Like this you both know you can be safe in each other’s company.’ Mimi Ho Eddi ‘It'll take some time to get back to the easy socialisations. Baby steps. It'll happen. Just not yet.’ Jennifer Cosslett
HUGGING IT OUT
Natalie Glitterflip, we love your genius way of dealing with what has been – as you put it – a ‘challenging year’. If we suddenly spot a whole lot of tree huggers next time we’re out walking – we will instantly know they’re fellow Villagers!
Today was our first tree hug. 30 seconds. The first 10seconds I was acutely aware of the rough bark against my arms and cheek. After that I could feel my heart rate slowing, and my breathing slowed down. And then I rested. Lil Miss said: "That felt like holiday. – Natalie 04
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MASKNE IS REAL!
Here’s how to combat it.
Dermatologists worldwide say there has been a surge in inquiries around “mask acne” – particularly from people forced to wear masked for a long period of time because of their work. If you’ve noticed a deterioration in the skin around your mask area, here’s what the experts say you should do: CHECK THE FABRIC: If possible, opt
for cotton.
KEEP IT CLEAN: Make sure you have
more than one mask so that you can wash (every day) and wear on rotation. BACK TO BASICS: Simplify your skincare routine. Try a soapfree cleanser and fragrance-free moisturiser (added fragrance exacerbates skin irritation) SKIP HEAVY BASE: Try
a tinted moisturiser with sunscreen instead.
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FOMO spin doctor 3 reasons why we love the Spindel • It’s portable – pop the Spindel into your broom cupboard when it’s not in use and say goodbye to your tumbledrier as you won’t ever need it again. • The Spindel speeds up laundry day by spinning out any extra water or detergent – clothes and linen are iron dry in 10 minutes. • Say goodbye to clothes horses of damp laundry dotted around the house – plus you’ll be amazed at the huge saving in electricity costs. www.spindel.co.za
Hurry up, holiday time! GARDEN ROUTE ACTIVITY GUIDE
Chandre Boshoff, you’re a star for sharing your local insider secrets – and a shout out to everyone who added to the list. These all sound like fun – come rain or shine. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Two trampoline parks in George Blasters indoor activity centre, George Timberlake acrobranching in Wilderness Train Museum in George George Museum – there’s a really interesting timber display 6. Diaz Museum in Mossel Bay 7. Aquarium in Mossel Bay – with shark experience 8. Rocomamas in George, Panarotties and John Dorys in Garden Route Mall 9. Caspita Restaurant, Vic Bay 10. Surfing and bodyboarding lessons at Vic Bay 11. Ground Zero bike park, George 12. Forest walks - the forest is sheltered from the rain, Knysna and George 13. Botanical Gardens, George. There’s a lovely coffee shop too 14. Map of Africa viewing, Wilderness 15. Seven passes drive, Wilderness 16. Oudtshoorn: Cango Caves, Cango Wildlife Ranch and Ostrich farms 17. Diaz Waterpark, Mossel Bay 18. Ebb and Flow and Kingfisher walk, Wilderness 19. Walking from Vic bay to Kaaimans 20. Plett: various activities including Raptor and Wolf Park and Stormsrivers! 21. Old Tollhouse/Tolhuis, George 22. Knysna Elephant Park 23. Knysna Featherbed, The Heads, Leisure Isle 24. Jakkalsvlei Wine Farm, Herbertsdale
PS. It’s currently on special at Takealot – click here
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25. Garden Route Wildlife park near Mossel Bay 26. Happy Valley, George 27. Drive to Simola, Karatara, Pezula 28. Elvis Brew Coffee shop near George Airport 29. Montagu Pass including Herold Winery 30. Over the Mountain coffee shop, Herold 31. Pizza restaurant on way to Oudtshoorn before Waboomskraal 32. Geelhoutboom and other farm driving 33. Outeniqua Powervan should resume soon, it's awesome! 34. Café Gannett in Mossel Bay 35. Red Berry Farm in George: Strawberry picking, beer tasting, ice cream, maze and miniature train. 36. Ostrich or Meerkat tour at Berluda
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FOMO
MOM TRUTHS
Your quote posts always make us stop and take stock, Jocelynne!
wer o p t n a Pl
HOT TOPIC!
‘I JUST WANT TO SLEEP!’
Marlese Bezuidenthout CBD/Hemp patches. No THC.
ing m a t r e Tig
Ayanda Sisulu Madeleine Axten My Thai masseuse uses tiger balm and I am knocked out for the rest of the day...!!
When Kim Tracy Kotze asked for recommendations on beating insomnia, her post drew 362 comments! Clearly sleep really is a problem for so many of us – even more so now than during ‘normal’ times.
ic g a m l a Miner
ies r o t s e Bedtim
Jan Gallow McWilliams I started taking magnesium two hours before I go to bed. Has definitely helped.
Vivienne Cannan Have you tried the amazing sleep stories from Headspace? Don’t know how they work but they do.
Blanky
ak Salt so
Annette le Roux Try a warm bath with 1 cup of epsom salts. Soak for 20 minutes. The magnesium will help a lot.
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Sheryl Lack Goldstuck An adult weighted blanket. The best.
/SACollegeofAppliedPsychology @SACAP sacap_sa
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FOMO
Of s l a j n i r b n e k bro an d other ! s r e t s a s k c i d Wow, who knew so many of you had so many penis mishaps to share? Thanks for the laughs! And sorry for our lack of empathy male Villagers (blame childbirth!) Here are our favourite responses to Anonymous’s broken brinjal story, which included the line: “This one looked like a bringal had escaped the veggie drawer and found its way into my SOs crotch”. One thing is for sure, Villagers have the best sense of humour! “Do you get a badge for ‘breaking bad’?” “Hope he is on the mend and will “come right”.” “Bend it Like Break-em?”
NOT A WASTED SUBJECT A shout out to Life Orientation teacher Sian Petrie for shining the spotlight on the subject. Her post outlining why it matters drew more than 800 likes and 200 comments. As Sian spells out, here are just five of the many reasons why Life Orientation matters. “Life Orientation teachers discuss social challenges such as Black lives Matter and Gender based violence. We discuss issues around sexuality, transgender, gender roles and white privilege.” 1
2 “We teach young people about sex. Not only the mechanics of it and STI’s, we also engage in the emotional aspects of relationships and how important it is to value yourself before you engage in sexual relationships.”
SEEK & FIND
Remember, The Village is the most incredible resource network. Need a recommendation on a child psychologist, divorce lawyer, physiotherapist, menopause nutritionist… you name it? Just type the key words into “Search this Group” once you are on The Village page and you’re sure to find an answer that fits your needs.
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3 “We teach them about conflict resolution and communication skills. We talk about taking action as opposed to reacting.”
“We teach about learning styles and how to set up a study timetable. We teach them about CV’s, cover letters and how to successfully approach an interview.” 4
“We discuss depression and mental health issues. We discuss, in detail, substance abuse including alcohol. We engage with the link between toxic masculinity and the objectification of women.” 5
6 “We engage in community service. Helping learners to be empathetic and socially minded. We talk about human rights. We discuss affirmative action and BEE. We break down myths and stereotypes.”
We all want what is best for our children.
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FOMO
A crafty lavatorial tale
This one got nearly 1000 likes in just two days! Yolanda Lamprecht We had to cross our legs when reading your hilarious reason(s) for not venturing downstairs – and we can relate and don’t blame you! Keep up the good work but we do hope your bathroom is back in working order. I'm really winning at this parenting thing, guys. Why, just yesterday morning, I peed into a vase!
You see, I refused on principle to go downstairs (my bathroom is under renovation) for my morning ablutions, because I knew that they were waiting for me…’Who are “they?”’ I hear you say. I’ll tell you who “they” are.. my two teenage sons, that’s who. I knew they were waiting for me to make breakfast for them, because apparently, they would rather ‘starve to death’ than make their own food. So what do they do? They hide in their rooms until they hear me bustling around downstairs, that’s what they do!
Aaaand then they miraculously appear before me (much like a ghostly apparition) feet dragging, knuckles practically scraping on the floor, blearyeyed, weary and clearly anemic. And then they utter the dreaded words: ‘Mom, can you please make some breakfast for us?’ Mom-guilt (plus an unwelcome makro-dose of Generational Curse, taking the shape [this time] of Innate Servitude) will not allow me to be a good, consistent parent. You know the type of parent I’m talking about. The kind of parent most of you are. The kind of parent who says ‘make your own breakfast or starve. This is not a bloody restaurant and I am not your employee…’ So (my insecurities - and my seemingly bottomless need to be adored by my offspring - blinding my common sense), I begrudgingly grumbled something together for them. And then, to witness the gratitude… the breathtaking remembering of manners considered long dead.. even an ‘I love you, mom’ very cleverly thrown in… to keep me keen and slightly off balance, no doubt. And it almost felt worth it…
I knew they were waiting for me to make breakfast for them, because apparently, they would rather ‘starve to death’ than make their own food. 11
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Mom-guilt (plus an unwelcome makro-dose of Generational Curse, taking the shape [this time] of Innate Servitude) will not allow me to be a good, consistent parent. You know the type of parent I’m talking about. The kind of parent most of you are. until I realized that I had been played, once again. So, that is why I peed into a Very Nice Vase yesterday morning – I Outstayed, Outlasted and Outplayed them at their own game.
Eventually, at about 11am, they had to leave their cosy nests... to see what the holdup was all about. When one came upstairs and began to cautiously approach me (where I was lying prostrate on my bed, busy making mincemeat of a big bag of Lay’s Sour Cream & Onion chips [I have a secret snackstash in my bedroom... for reasons]), I threw my one arm out sideways (quite violently,
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now that I think back) and shouted ‘STOP!’... much like a traffic cop… and pointed directly at The Nice Vase and said ‘Won’t you do me a huuuge favour? Won’t you please take that vase over there - ja, The Nice One - and empty it for me? Why? Well, because I peed into it, that’s why…’
Well, never have I seen my boy move so fast (!)... and backwards nogal.. didn’t even know him capable of it. It was quite amazing to witness. Needless to say, they both made their own breakfasts then and this morning, as well.
FUTURE LEARNING SACAP, the South African College of Applied Psychology believes the future of tertiary learning involves integrating critical 21st century skills with related subjects that can be applied to multiple work environments. We’re already seeing that people empowerd with higher EQ and Applied Psychology skills are creating new and exciting realities and business opportunities for themselves – and SACAP qualifications may help you or your child too. Visit https://www. sacap.edu.za to view the degree offerings.
I was lying prostrate on my bed, busy making mincemeat of a big bag of Lay’s Sour Cream & Onion chips [I have a secret snack-stash in my bedroom... for reasons])
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