What I’m loving

Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love

Nick Broomfield’s documentary is about singersongwriter Leonard Cohen and his relationship with his muse, Marianne Ihlen, which started on Hydra and faltered as a result of his growing fame (and unstoppable womanising). It’s fascinating for a whole lot of reasons: his egotism and selfishness – but also his kindness and insight; Marianne’s elusiveness (she remains a cipher); and the children who were casualties of their parents’ unexamined hedonism and pursuit of artistic freedom.

Catherine Gillespie of Mother Shucker Oysters

My lovely brother suddenly got married a short while ago – no shotguns involved, just a beautiful love story – which, obviously, I felt we had to celebrate instantly with oysters and champagne. Catherine, who usually delivers only on a Friday, went out of her way to drop a couple of dozen utterly delicious, beautifully shucked West Coast oysters at our door on a Wednesday evening. When she’s not making a perfect stranger’s day, she can be found every Saturday at Cape Town’s Old Biscuit Mill Neighbourgoods Market. She’s also a foodie tourist guide for Pammy McOnie’s Cape Fusion Tours. Find Catherine at msoysters.shopstar.co.za, capefusion.com or call her on 082 433 6862 – you really will be so glad you did.

Mynhardt Joubert’s Christmas cake

Not only is it the most delicious thing you’ve ever eaten, but the Paarl-based chef also donates all the proceeds to a really worthy cause. Now in its fifth year, this time the money is going to Butterfly House for children and Huis Uitvlucht for the elderly. The cakes are R395 each and worth every cent. If you’re interested, email cake@ mynhardt.co.za or go to mynhardt.co.za for more info.

My Octopus Teacher (Netflix)

If you haven’t already watched this magnificent documentary charting Capetonian Craig Foster’s friendship with an octopus in False Bay’s kelp forests, please do: it’s a beautiful, moving film. The footage is exquisite, as is the story. I love that it showcases South Africa in a lovely light; a much-needed breath of fresh air. It also comes in the form of a fabulous book, which would make a special gift: Sea Change by Craig Foster and Ross Frylinck (R800, Quivertree) Then, just for fun, search for My Kreepy Teacher, a brilliant spoof written and directed by Glen Biderman-Pam: it won’t detract from the original at all, and it is properly funny.