Keeping Mumm and PJ’s power
LAST weekend started early for your Skinnerbek. What could be more celebratory than a splendid champagne – and by champagne I meant the real deal – and food pairing?
This esteemed event was hosted by the Radisson Blu Hotel and French brand GH Mumm in the Bay last Thursday.
Guests were taken through a presentation on champagne and what makes it so special; then we got to taste three different bubblies from the GM Mumm range. You gossip gal has only ever seen this stuff slukked by the Grand Prix guys on TV, so getting to taste it for the first time was a treat.
But I had to duck for cover when one of the guests – Charmaine Bakkes from VW – decided to try the noble art of sabrage (opening a champagne bottle with a sword, of all things!) a crack. Charmaine’s attempt went a wee bit awry and there was glass flying everywhere . . . Sabrage, my friends, is something you should only attempt if you have nerves of steel, though I confess I am still tempted to try!
Last Friday I attended an event hosted by the Swallows Foundation SA, Culture Corner, at Galerie Noko. It was quite a chilled evening with no drama. Aarti Narotam surprised everyone when she sang Nathi’s Nomvula – she is most certainly not a one-trick pony. Poet and activist Poetic Soul performed a piece called I am Every Woman, featuring wellknown Bay actors.
The moving piece combined different art forms in support of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence.
Socialite Sindi Matanda seems to be everywhere nowadays and was spotted having a jolly good time at the do.
Can someone please tell Ntsika Tyatya that whenever he is invited as an MC, he must just stick to that? No one wants to listen to his boring politics stories, and that on a Friday, nogal.
On Monday we will put on our serious hats but please let us at least have an evening free of the drama that is happening in this country.
Meanwhile, on the other side of town, in Summerstrand to be exact, people sang Christmas carols and lit up sparklers for the annual Boardwalk Sparklers event where proceeds are given to charity.
It was a bit wet during the singing but that did not deter people from enjoying themselves.
Skinnerbek spotted former council speaker Maria Hermans, who has been missing in social circles since the ANC was ousted in the local municipal elections on August 3. Is she employed, or what is she doing now, I wonder.
Last Saturday, Jenni Gault held her annual Christmas jewellery launch at Fairview Race Course with national singing icon PJ Powers as guest of honour.
Wow, PJ may be in her fifties but can still rock a venue and has the body of a teenager – she still has the moves and also rocked her skinny white ripped jeans.
Talking about women who have lost weight and are looking good, Jenni’s friend Nicqui Cloete-Barrass, who emceed the festive event, told a colleague of mine that she had lost almost 20kg.
You are looking fab, so what is your secret, Niqui?
Until next week darlings . . . ciao for now!