What I’m loving this month...
ZOZIBINI TUNZI
Our new Ms Universe, who said this: ‘I grew up in a world where a woman who looks like me, with my kind of skin and hair, was never considered to be beautiful... I want children to see their faces reflected in mine.’ When asked what the most important thing to teach girls today was, she said: ’Leadership.’ Ladies, it’s love.
THE STORY OF GARDENING
BY PENELOPE HOBHOUSE WITH AMBRA EDWARDS This book is an informed look at gardening through the centuries, not only in terms of their design and structure, but also the obsession with various plants, advice on how to get it right and exquisite images that act like fertiliser for your brain. I am not a gardener, but I am fascinated by people who are. My favourite story involves a sultan of Mesopotamia who arranged all-night tulip appreciation parties where the gardens were lit by tortoises with candles on their shells. Isn’t that amazing?
PAPER TIGER BY ALIDE DASNOIS AND CHRIS WHITFIELD
This is a fascinating account of the destruction of some of South Africa’s best newspapers through the ignorance, arrogance and self-aggrandisement of one man. If it weren’t such a monumental disaster for the free press and for the talented and dedicated journalists who lost their jobs to toadying acolytes (many of whom are still out there, notplying their trade), Paper Tiger would almost read as a comedy. But it’s not funny at all – just a shocking, sad example of how quickly proper reporting and intelligent debate can be shut down.
WAZA STORE, SALT RIVER
There were loads of things I fell in love with in Japan and wanted to bring home with me (drip coffee, hibachi grills, stationery, flasks, water bottles, crockery, tatami mats…) but I just didn’t have enough space to stash them. Fortunately, I am not alone in my Japanopholia: Hilda and Botha Kruger’s shop WAZA in Salt River, Cape Town is importing many of these items – and more (they’ve started a little travel business too). Have a look at wazashop.co.za but beware: it’s the start of a long and potentially costly love affair…