What I'm loving this month...

1 SANTA SHOEBOX

If it’s September, it must be the deadline for Santa Shoebox. Filling a shoebox with treats and essentials (like toiletries and stationery for school) is a really rewarding way to give to underprivileged children at this time of year. All you need do, if you haven’t signed up already, is go to santashoebox.org.za, select a name (you’ll be given the child’s gender and age), and then set about making that child’s Christmas really special.

2 VINTAGE WITH LOVE 2017

Looking for a bargain? If you’re anywhere near Cape Town this month, you need to make sure you’re at African Pride 15 on Orange on 1, 2 and 3 September for the unmissable Vintage With Love sale. Trust me: the three-day pop-up shop has the most incredible clothes and accessories – anything from vintage designer to gently worn high street chic – and, best of all, every single cent you spend supports literacy in South Africa, and we all know that’s a critical part of the future we want to see in our country.

3 STEP ASIDE, CÔTE D’OR

I’ve recently rediscovered halva (thank you, vegan friends who eat honey), and it is fantastically more-ish, nutty and delicious. Basically made from crushed nuts and honey, this ancient sweet just may be the perfect way to end a meal – with a cup of gorgeous espresso on the side. Yum.

4 UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE

Go nerds! Not sure why, but I am totally obsessed by the total boff extravaganza that is University Challenge, where teams from the top UK universities compete in an impossibly difficult quiz. It’s sad, I know. But the thing is – how can one person possibly know everything about physics and also everything about obscure 17th century Flemish artists all at the same time? And access all that boffinry in a split nanosecond? HOW?

5 RUBY GRAPEFRUIT

Spring is sprung, and ruby grapefruit are everywhere at the moment. And, combined with chicory, Bavaria-style blue cheese and red onion, they make a really beautiful pink and green spring salad.