Innholdsfortegnelse for 10-Oct-19 i You South Africa

I recently spent several hours at a hospital waiting for my mother to be treated in the emergency room after an accident at her home. During my time there I saw many things. The patience of parents waiting up to seven hours for a sick child to be attended to. The devotion of a young guy helping a friend, bleeding profusely from a head wound, to the bathroom. The raw grief of a family whose loved one had just passed away. The clinical efficiency of mortuary men wheeling a body out into the dusk. Yet the scene that will stay with me most is this: at one stage my sister and I went outside for some air and saw a man in a hospital gown, shackled at the ankles, walking…

Did you know a lion’s roar can be heard up to 8km away, soldiers used to live inside the Great Wall of China and there’s a wasp that can beat a tarantula in a fight? YOU Did You Know? No 3 (R57) has a bumper animal section divided into big and small creatures, a plant section including the insect-eating Venus flytrap and a make-your-own section perfect for staving off boredom. Order your copy online at youstore.co.za or contact Johan Terblanche on 021-406-4962 or johan.terblanche@ media24.com and have it delivered to your door. Do you have ideas for us? See your writing or news tips in print! Here are the email addresses you need for submitting material for publication. News ideas awessels@media24.com Fiction stories@you.co.za Personal stories mystory@you.co.za Original jokes chuckles@you.co.za Recipes…

AFTER Prince Harry and Meghan’s Down Under tour last year they received a personal thank you from Queen Elizabeth for a job well done. Which makes you wonder: what will she say to the couple after their sojourn in Southern Africa? Because, yes, the tour to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga was great – the young couple, the darlings of the world after their fairytale wedding, were newly pregnant, flush with love and utterly delightful. But their trip to our neck of the woods was something else. And after the queen’s summer of shame, in which her family was dogged by drama and scandal, it must have been more comforting than a nice cup of tea and a walk with the corgis. The Sussexes’ trip down south was a…

HE’S been described as a try-scoring machine on a par with Bryan Habana and dubbed “a natural-born predator” by former Bok Breyton Paulse. Punters have predicted Makazole Mapimpi will be the top try-scorer of the Rugby World Cup, a belief the 29-year-old winger helped along by scoring two tries in South Africa’s 57-3 drubbing of Namibia in Japan recently. The tries followed the hat-trick he scored in a pre-World Cup game against the Japanese – three sizzling tries that helped the Boks to a 41-7 victory over the team that humiliated us in the previous world cup. Sports writers didn’t waste time likening Makazole to Habana: he was the first South African to cross the line three times in a Test since Habana in the 2015 Rugby World Cup and…

FROM a young age sisters Kate and Rebecca Lund from Kwa-Zulu Natal were inspired by their mom, who’s a passionate cook, to experiment in the kitchen. Their food adventure started behind a stall selling eats at food markets, followed by running the food and beverage department at a small boutique hotel. Now they have their own café space, and run a full-time catering business. The sisters, who love to try new ingredients and exotic spices, describe their food as fresh, wholesome, colourful, seasonal and “mostly” healthy. The offering in their new book, Delish Sisters: Tasty Food Made with Love, ranges from summer brunching, picnic fare and seaside lunches to a home-style feast, and even drinks. TURKISH CHICKEN PIES Made as one big pie or mini single-serving pies, these are hearty…

Nick Jonas The singer was spotted on the streets of Paris, France, looking cool and ready for summer in an on-trend printed shirt Ryan Guzman The actor does the all-denim look right by mixing various shades at a movie premiere in Los Angeles STOCKISTS COTTON ON 011-784-0218; EDGARS 0800-203-925; MRP 0800-21-25-35; SUPERBALIST.COM 087-362-7300; WOOLWORTHS 0860-022-002 WE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO PROVIDE ACCURATE PRICES BUT MISTAKES MAY OCCUR. YOU AND THE SUPPLIERS DO NOT BIND THEMSELVES TO THE PRICES PRINTED HERE.…

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One of the best things about gardening is it gets kids outside and the benefits of being outdoors and in touch with nature are exactly the same for kids as for adults – it reduces stress, lowers anxiety and increases focus and concentration. “Not only is it good for families to spend time outside, it’s also highly beneficial for kids’ development and as an emotional outlet,” says Cape Town play therapist Surina Loedolff. “More time in nature is definitely linked to happier children,” says Rinda Blom, a play therapist and social work lecturer from Bloemfontein. “Also, children who regularly spend time outside are often more curious and want to discover things. “Time in the sunshine also helps them produce vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin, which is important…

THURSDAY ■ I’M IN LOVE WITH A CHURCH GIRL ★★ 2013, 118 min, PG, e.tv, 23:00. Romantic comedy. A former drug trafficker trying to stay on the right side of the law falls in love with a devout Christian. Jeff “Ja Rule” Atkins, Adrienne Bailon. ■ SEVEN IN HEAVEN ★★★ 2018, 94 min, 13VSL, M-Net, 04:20. Horror. Two teens enter a secret closet to play seven minutes in heaven, but when they come out, they discover they’re in an alternate universe. Travis Tope, Haley Ramm. FRIDAY ■ THE RAINBOW TRIBE ★★★ 2008, 90 min, A, e.tv, 14:30. Comedy. A rag-tag group of children at a summer camp help their counsellor overcome his midlife crisis. David James Elliott. ■ POLICE STORY 2 ★★★ 1988, 101 min, PG13, SABC1, 21:00. Action. A…

BECOMING THE JOKER In his new movie the actor plays comic-book villain the Joker. But this film isn’t just about Batman’s psychotic enemy. Rather, it’s a character study of the struggle with his demons and descent into madness of Arthur Fleck, Joker’s alter-ego. A clown by day, Arthur chases his dream to be a stand-up comic at night, but one bad decision sees him spiral into insanity. Writer and director Todd Phillips says no other actor was considered for the role. “We wrote the movie for Joaquin,” he says. But it took some convincing. “Honestly, it wasn’t an easy decision,” the 44-year-old actor says. “But there was something drawing me towards it. It became more than I anticipated. It was one of the greatest experiences of my career.” METHOD MAN…

DAYS GONE Plarform: PS4 Four years ago Days Gone would’ve been a runaway smash hit with its shambling zombies and biker-gang drama reminiscent of hit TV shows The Walking Dead and Sons of Anarchy. The past few years have seen a glut of living dead games, films and TV shows, and while its brand of horror has grown stale, Days Gone still doles out effective zombie-bashing fun. The game ditches familiar post-apocalyptic urban environments for vast forests, deserts and mountainous areas. It’s a fresh setting for interesting locations and intense encounters. The graphics are impressive and a well-implemented dynamic weather system means gamers can experience all four seasons in an hour. And the lighting is fantastic, especially if you play the game on an HDR Ultra HD TV. The story…

■ Hollywood’s Bleeding is the second-biggest debut of 2019 so far, after Taylor Swift’s Lover. ■ Post has had eight career top 10 hits and the most top 10s on the Billboard Hot 100 of any artist this year. ■ He has four billion-streaming hits on Spotify alone. Rockstar is the biggest of them. With 1,7 billion, it’s the fourth most-streamed song of all time on this platform. ■ His previous album, Beerbongs & Bentleys, debuted at No 1 on the Billboard 200 Chart in May 2018.…

Because it’s surrounded by the ocean, Japanese cuisine is rich in seafood. When cooking, the main ingredients are usually seafood, vegetables and rice. Buddhism, with its focus on seafood rather than other animal products, has also heavily influenced Japanese cuisine. The focus is on fresh ingredients and there’s an emphasis on seasonal produce (food that’s only available during certain seasons). Seafood and vegetables can also be deep-fried in a light batter which is known as tempura. Green tea is a popular drink in Japan and can be served hot or cold. Guests are served green tea or ocha after meals.…

THE little girl is fast asleep on the couch, dressed in pink pyjamas and wrapped snugly in a blanket. She’s blissfully unaware of how close she came to losing her life – and to the fact she’s now regarded as a medical marvel. Ruveshni Lewis is Africa’s first recipient of a cutting-edge cardiac intervention that’s given her the best chance of living a healthy, active life. The procedure, performed recently at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in Cape Town, made headlines far and wide – but as far as the six-year-old is concerned, all that matters is that doctors “fixed” her heart. “She’d ask the doctors why they kept hurting her,” mom Jestine (33) says. “When they explained they were trying to make her heart as normal as…

WHENEVER he stood on the banks of the river, watching the waters of the Vaal join the mighty Orange, his thoughts would drift to his first true love. What had become of his Lydia, Willem Germishyus would wonder – the girl he met when they were both teenagers, the girl he hadn’t been able to get out of his head for more than five decades. Had she married? Did she have kids? Unlike the merging rivers, their lives had flowed in different directions after their romance ended. “But I always thought of her and wondered if she was happy,” Willem (72) says. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine he’d see her again – much less end up marrying her. But thanks to his family’s online sleuthing, his teenage…

504 Rambo’s body count in the first four Rambo films. 21 The Terminator’s body count in The Terminator and Terminator 3 (2003). 2 Acting Oscar nominations Sylvester Stallone earned for playing Rocky Balboa – in Rocky and in Creed (2015). $1,8 billion (R27bn) The total box office gross of Arnie’s movies to date. $40 million (Then R100m) Arnold’s biggest-ever pay day was for the 1988 comedy Twins co-starring Danny DeVito. He opted not to take a salary but a cut of the profits instead.…

‘I love you but your body looks like mine when I went to rehab for anorexia’–AFAN It’s been a roller-coaster few months for MILEY CYRUS, who’s gone through two breakups and released an album. But the Nothing Breaks like a Heart singer is dealing with her heartache in the best way possible: with a fab getaway. Miley (26) retreated to the remote US state of Utah following reports she’d ended things with reality TV star Kaitlynn Carter (31). The couple’s rebound romance made headlines after their respective splits from Liam Hemsworth (29) and Brody Jenner (36) last month. But while the singer may be enjoying family time with her sister, actress Brandi Cyrus (32), and their mom, Tish (52), fans were focusing on something else in the snaps. Her ribs…

WILL SMITH and JADA PINKETT SMITH have revealed they had to have an intervention for their son, JADEN, after his vegan diet turned his skin “grey”. The revelation came when Will (51) called an “emergency red table” for the family, filmed for Jada’s Face-book Watch show, Red Table Talk. The 21-year-old musician and actor’s parents say they were forced to get involved after the low levels of protein in Jaden’s body started to leave him looking drained. “Will and I had a bit of an intervention with Jaden because he’s a vegan now, but we realised he wasn’t getting enough protein. He was wasting away,” Jada (48) explained. “He was just depleted; he wasn’t getting the nutrients.” Will said he got a scare just looking at his son. “He had…

I recently visited a family friend and was so embarrassed by the behaviour of her children aged five and seven. We were watching TV when the older child decided to change the channel just like that and put on cartoons. The mom said nothing. At dinnertime the child took a piece of meat from my plate and laughed about it. Again my friend said nothing. When I later mentioned her kids’ behaviour my friend seemed to think it was funny. Let’s teach our children to respect older people and punish them when they misbehave. When you discipline a child, it doesn’t mean you hate the child. It simply means you love them and want them to be respectful and have good manners. NONDUMISO, COSMO CITY ■ My grandson’s school had…

Constant touching “Harry is very protective of Meghan and his overtures suggest heightened empathy,” body language expert Dr Denise Bjorkman explains. “His movements aren’t artificial for the media to feed on. They’re genuine.” Same stride Their synced stride is revealing. “It shows they have a purpose and nothing is going to distract them from achieving that. There’s strength of character and health in the stride but it says more about their mental state of not being deterred from their mission.” Hair-touching “Touching his wife’s hair is a rare intimate gesture one seldom sees with royals,” Bjorkman says. “Royals don’t let their guard down with personal intimacy. But Harry doesn’t care. He’s head over heels in love with her. He’s no hypocrite. And it’s contrary to the British way, which is…

Clinical psychologist Marlize Heppell says children need to be continuously reminded about the correct way of doing things. “In cases where they don’t listen, alternative measures of punishment can be implemented,” she says. THESE CAN INCLUDE ■ Taking away privileges and possessions from children. For instance, confiscating favourite toys, sending them to bed early or forbidding them from watching TV for a certain period of time. ■ Time-outs where they get to sit and reflect on what they did wrong – this works particularly well for children younger than 10. ■ A system where the child gets rewarded for good behaviour creates an environment of positivity and encourages co-operation, Heppell says. ■ Extra chores can be given to children as punishment – for instance sweeping the patio, washing windows or…

NACHO BITES MAKES 24 BITES PREPARATION: 15 MIN COOKING: 7-10 MIN NACHO BOWLS 4 tortillas 30ml (2T) olive oil 2,5ml (½t) each ground cumin, coriander and cayenne pepper 5ml (1t) smoked paprika salt and freshly ground pepper GUACAMOLE 2 avocados, peeled and stoned 30ml (2T) plain yoghurt 15ml (1T) mayonnaise 2 spring onions, chopped 15ml (1T) lemon juice handful fresh coriander TO FINISH 2 tomatoes, finely diced extra fresh coriander Preheat the oven to 200°C. Grease two muffin trays (12 hollows each) with nonstick spray. 1 Nacho bowls Lightly brush the tortillas with the olive oil and cut each tortilla into six triangles. 2 Mix the herbs and sprinkle over the tortillas. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper. Press each tortilla triangle into a muffin hollow. 3 Bake for…

TRENDS WE LOVE STUBBLE This look works for guys who like to keep things simple but stylish. You can either let a clean shav e grow a bit or trim a fuller beard so only a little hair is left. Regular trims are necessary to k eep this look in check. Maintain CLEAN-CUT If you work in the corporate world wear this formal and refined look with confidence. A weekly trim is necessary to keep this look on point. Shave FULL BEARD This look is f or creativ e, free-spirited men who don’t conform to rules. Let y our beard gro w unrestr ained but if you want it more shaped, a slight trim around the edges will do the trick. It requires little maintenance but don’t f orget to…

MY WIFE IS MAKING MY LIFE A MISERY Q I’m 43, have been married for seven years and have one child. I’m the sole breadwinner. My wife refuses to work while I have a backbreaking job in a warehouse. She’s ungrateful as well as being sarcastic and scornful about my attempts to study part time. I get no respect, support or love. She doesn’t seem to want me to improve myself or our financial situation and appears to have no ambition while I’m trying really hard to create a better life. She won’t listen to what I have to say, and behaves as if only her opinions count. She cuts me off when I try to speak, which makes meaningful, loving conversations impossible. Everything I say and do is wrong…

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS TRAVEL TIPS FOR LIBRA ■ Choose shopping destinations that are elegant and refined. ■ You belong to an air sign, so travel by plane. ■ Choose a travel companion you get along with, preferably your partner. ■ Opt for a scenic, tranquil and laid-back holiday. ■ Bypass destinations that may be sordid, noisy or chaotic. ■ You’re indecisive, so leave the itinerary to your travel agent. ■ Be sure to travel with your own pillow for added indulgence. LIBRA 23 SEPTEMBER – 22 OCTOBER Stand your ground amid conflict  Assertive Mars currently resides in your sign, lending a helping hand to a Libra who probably more often than not tends towards compromise. You may find it easier to stand your ground at the moment and be less gullible,…

■ He’s engaged to Mary Magdalene co-star Rooney Mara (34). The two have been dating for three years and were friends before starring in the film. ■ Joaquin decided to change his name to Leaf as a child actor because he wanted a nature-related name like his siblings, River, Rain and Summer – and he enjoyed raking up leaves with his dad. At age 15 he changed it back to Joaquin. ■ Both Joaquin and his sister Rain serve on the US Board of Directors for The Lunchbox Fund, a nonprofit organisation founded by South African-born model Topaz Page-Green, who dated Joaquin from 2001 to 2005. The NPO helps provide daily meals for orphaned and vulnerable children in townships and rural areas in SA.…

LOVE LIVES HERE Local romantic comedy. Author Zinhle Malinga (My Perfect Family’s Thando Thabethe) is a fiercely independent woman who knows what she wants – the perfect life, the perfect man and ultimately, the perfect marriage proposal. But life has other plans for her, and she learns that love is often unlike the romance found in fairytales. The movie is cast in a predictable romcom mould, but lively performances from the cast, which also includes Forever Young presenter Lungile Radu and Motlatsi Mafatshe (Isidingo), and some unexpectedly racy love scenes keep things interesting and funny. – DENNIS CAVERNELIS 2019. 113 MIN. 16DLNS. HELLBOY Horror thriller. This reboot tries to breathe new life into the film franchise based on the beloved comic books of the same name. Original star Ron Perlman…

HE NEEDED to tell the story and he wanted it told the right way. So journalist Gaongalelwe Tiro decided to write his uncle’s story himself. Parcel of Death is a harrowing account of what happened to Onkgopotse Abram Tiro, the first South African freedom fighter the apartheid regime pursued beyond the country’s borders. Tiro was killed in 1974 while in exile in Botswana, when a parcel he’d just received exploded as he was opening it. Now, more than four decades on, his nephew tells us why it’s important for people to know what happened. What made you decide to tell your uncle’s story? Why now? It’s important because it plugs a hole in the distorted popular narrative of the history of the liberation struggle. Onkgopotse Tiro belonged to a golden…

SOME people are great at talking to strangers, building new relationships and making friends at parties. I’m really good at other things, like loitering palely in dark doorways. Disappearing into sofa corners. Leaving early. Nearly a third of people (depending on which study you consult) identifies as introvert, so it’s likely this could describe you, too. If we’d, say, met at a party neither of us had flaked on, we could bond over this while hiding in the kitchen near the cheeseboard. There are a lot of heated debates about what defines an introvert or an extrovert. The main accepted definition is that introverts get their energy from being alone, whereas extroverts get their energy from being around other people. My introversion wasn’t making me happy. I was in a…

Doctors first performed the Fontan procedure on the little girl. This is when the large vein known as the inferior vena cava (IVC) is disconnected from the heart and routed directly to the lungs to improve circulation. The IVC was connected to the right lung artery by a tube. But Ruveshni also needed a hole in the tube to allow blood to flow directly into the heart should the pressure in her lungs become too high. Complications followed because the hole was too large, which allowed too much blood low in oxygen to enter her heart. To make the hole smaller again surgically would require another operation, so an atrial flow regulator (AFR) was inserted into her heart to close the hole. Paediatric cardiologist Professor Rik de Decker explains that…

OLD guys aren’t a rare silver screen occurrence: Robert Redford retired only at 80, Al Pacino is 79 and popped up in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and Michael Douglas is 75 and doesn’t look as if he’s going anywhere fast. Usually though, oldies play oldies – but there are two septuagenarians in a league of their own. They’re the ultimate action men and just when you could forgive them for dozing in rocking chairs and wearing comfy cardies, they’ve reprised the roles that made them household names. Sylvester Stallone returns as Rambo, and Arnold Schwarzenegger? Well, he always did promise he’d be back. And he is. SYLVESTER STALLONE (73) As a young actor Sly struggled to find work and had to fight with studio MGM to star in…

BREAKUPS are often messy, but when they involve two high-profile celebrities and one of them decides to write a no-holds-barred memoir, things can become decidedly messier. Even before the debut of DEMI MOORE’s memoir, Inside Out, excerpts started circulating that contained bombshells about her eight-year marriage to ASHTON KUTCHER. In the book the Rough Night actress lifts the lid on what really went on behind the scenes at home. Demi (56) claims Ashton (41) encouraged her to drink again after she’d been sober for 20 years. “Ashton was enjoying a glass of good red wine when he said, ‘I don’t know if alcoholism is a real thing – I think it’s all about moderation.’ I wanted to be that girl. The girl who could have a glass of wine at…

‘Hyper or not, Busy Bee certainly livened up the glum waiting room’ A BREATH OF FRESH AIR LIKE an animated busy bee, the little yellow-clad girl darted from one person to another in the hospital pharmacy waiting area. Her speech was a constant nonsensical chatter that she shared with everyone, be it a serious student, a grouchy grandpa or a mother with a baby. With her bright brown eyes, lopsided grin and swinging hair she broke through many barriers. Busy Bee’s mother shepherded her as best she could and explained to us that her daughter suffered from a form of meningitis and she’d had two strokes before her third birthday. She was on mood-stabilising medication that wasn’t proving to be effective. Hyper or not, Busy Bee certainly livened up the…

The article about bringing in traffic demerits made me fall off my chair laughing (YOU, 12 September). Who’s going to watch at the robots when people run red lights? The cops are nowhere to be seen. AMUSED, SMS Thanks, Samuel, for your wonderful way of describing crossing over from winter to spring (YOU Say, 19 September). It was the nicest way to give new hope for battling souls. CINDY, DURBAN I’ve had the same experience as Bob Gillies (YOU Say, 26 September). I take my mom to Cresta on Sundays for lunch. We sit at an outside table. The waiters stand at the entrance to the restaurant and have loud conversations. When I ask them nicely to consider us, the patrons, I get attitude and glares until we leave. JENNIFER,…

HE PUTS on a brave face but his smile can’t hide the sadness in his eyes. He’s just 21 and has his whole life ahead of him – but the trauma he’s been through makes him feel far older than his years. Wade Barkhuizen has lost both his parents. His mother, Odette, is dead and his father, George, has just been jailed for life for her murder. The sentencing in the high court in Johannesburg recently brought an end to the roller-coaster ride of four years that began when Wade started suspecting the truth – that it was George (45), not hijackers as his dad had claimed, who’d shot Odette (46) in the driveway of their Joburg family business. Wade is opening up about the loss of his mom and…

SHE’S used to people staring at her wherever she goes and the scars that cover her face, arms and torso have made her feel like an outcast all her life. Itumeleng Sekhu has never known a time when life was simple. She was just a baby when she was badly burnt after a candle fell over and set her family home on fire, causing her to lose an ear, several fingers and her right arm. Yet Itumeleng isn’t the kind of person to sit at home feeling sorry for herself. Many people with such life-changing injuries would hide away from the world – but not this feisty, determined woman. Fire may have ravaged her body, but she’s turned the very object that caused the blaze into one of the many…

JOHANNESBURG Go to the city’s website (joburg.org.za). Click on the About the City link in the main menu and select Regions. Pick your region (from A-G). Once you make your selection you’ll be able to download a document with contact details for all the councillors in your region. CAPE TOWN The City of Cape Town has a link in the main menu of its website (capetown.gov.za) that allows you to search by suburb or councillor name. DURBAN Ward councillors are listed on the official website of the eThekwini Municipality (www.durban.gov.za),where there’s a link to download the full listing as well as contact details. OTHER PARTS OF SA Go to elections.org.za. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and under the section What’s Popular click on the Who Is My…

Sorbet sir Make a statement with a shade of your choice which can be mixed with prints and patterns, or can be worn with everyday basics or dressier outfits Denim fever Double denim can be tricky to pull off, but when done correctly the combo is one of the most flattering and stylish staples you’d want to wear Tropical storm Stay cool with patterns in muted tones or try a more fashion-forward look with bolder colours or patterns Boy in beige This tone is no longer the supporting act – it now takes centre stage. Turn tailored items into streetwear by swopping your shirt for a crew-neck T-shirt and adding white sneakers…

HERE ARE OUR TOP TIPS ■ Shaving and shaping your beard can cause ingrown hairs. Try to avoid this by exfoliating your skin first. If you have curly hair, you may be more prone to razor burn, says Uncle O, owner of So Fresh Barber in Bryanston, Gauteng. “Curly hair tends to grow in a coiled pattern. When the hair is shaved too close to the skin, and the skin hasn’t been exfoliated, the hair coils beneath the skin and grows inwards because the pores aren’t open. This causes bumps.” ■ Moisturise regularly and make sure your skin and beard are clean before you shave. Another trick is to put a warm damp towel on your face to soften your skin and hair. A sharp razor blade is also a…

Working in the garden exposes kids to the wonders of nature and you might just see a little botanist, horticulturist or etymologist come to the fore, says Dr Melodie de Jager, an educational psychologist and child development expert from Johannesburg who’s also the founder of the BabyGym and Mind Moves Institutes. ■ Encourage them to look for insects in the garden and study them under a magnifying glass. ■ Get them to make bird feeders. “Spread peanut butter over pine cones, for example, and roll them in bird seed,” suggests play therapist Surina Loedolff. “Hang the cones on a tree and see how they attract birds.” ■ Making seed balls is a lovely project for the whole family, Loedolff adds. What you need is five parts clay, one part compost…

MANY people don’t really know whether their salary is market related. Even well-paid individuals often think they’re not being paid enough, according to research by salary survey company PayScale. Here’s how you can ensure your salary is market related and things to look out for when you apply for a new job. FIND OUT IF IT’S A FAIR OFFER When applying for a new job, it’s important to know the minimum and maximum salaries for that level of position in your industry. Firstly, this allows you to make sure you aren’t being offered too little. Secondly, it shows your prospective employer you’re abreast of developments in your industry and capable of making informed decisions. Here’s how to research market-related salary scales before your interview: ● Look at annual salary surveys…

FIRST IN LINE An elderly husband and wife who’d been apprehensive about discussing death are persuaded by their friends to see a lawyer in order to draw up their last will and testament. When they arrive to sign the documents, he ushers the couple into his office. “Now,” he says to the nervous pair, “Which one of you wants to go first?” A MAN WALKS INTO A BAR A man walks into a bar and asks the bartender, “Do you have any grapes?” The bartender says, “No, we only sell beer here”. The man leaves. The next day the man walks into the bar again and asks the bartender, “Do you have any grapes?” The bartender says, “No, like I said yesterday, we only sell beer here”. The man leaves.…

THE TESTAMENTS By MARGARET ATWOOD Chatto & Windus Fans have been waiting for decades for Margaret Atwood to write a sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale and at last she’s obliged – but she’s done it on her own terms. Those expecting to see her picking up right where she left off 34 years ago are in for a disappointment. In a bold move, the Canadian author fast-forwards 16 years into the future and instead of focusing on Offred, her hero from the first instalment who was forced to serve as a handmaid in the totalitarian republic of Gilead bearing children for its leaders, the book is narrated by three other women. Two of them are Offred’s daughters. The one, Nicole, has been raised in Canada not knowing anything about her…

Though economic and social change have influenced even the most far-flung areas of Japan since the 19th century, various traditions have remained intact. Two traditions still practised all over Japan are tea ceremonies – known as sado or chado – and a type of flower arrangement called ikebana. Sado or chado can be translated as the Way of Tea and the tea-serving and -drinking ceremony represents harmony, mutual respect and purity. Ikebana (“making flowers alive”), also called kado or Way of Flowers, dates back to the seventh century when the first floral offerings were made at Buddhist altars.…

MANY of us have started to swop steaming stews for salads, packed away our chunky coats and brought out the lighter linens as the days get lighter and brighter. What’s not as easy to swop out or pack away are the extra bits we’ve accumulated over the winter months, settling on bellies, hips and thighs. That’s why at this time of the year many of us are thinking of joining a gym and getting a personal trainer to help us lose just one or two kilos as we gear up for the holidays. But there are things personal trainers would like you to know before you sign on the dotted line to make it worth your while. Here a few share what they’d like aspiring gymgoers to keep in mind.…

FIERCE RIVALS “We hated each other in the ’80s because we were both in the same business,” Arnie says. “We wanted to outdo each other – it was all-out war. It was a competition of who had the most muscles, who kills the most people on screen, who kills in the most unique way, who makes more money at the box office … “Finally, in the ’90s we became kind of friends, and ever since then we’ve been friends. You need a competitor; that’s what drives you.” The pair co-starred in The Expendables movies and 2013’s Escape Plan. FIRST BLOOD Rambo was supposed to die at the end of First Blood, as he did in the novel by David Morrell. His death scene was filmed but not used after Sly…

What’s in a name? Plenty, if your name is BLUE IVY CARTER. Blue (7) is the subject of a legal battle being fought by her mom, BEYONCÉ, who wants her daughter’s name to be trademarked, claiming that she’s a cultural icon. On the other side of the legal battlefield is wedding planner VERONICA MORALES, who’s fighting Queen Bey on this, saying she was using the name Blue Ivy first for her business. Bey’s lawyers have described the opposition as “frivolous” and asked the US Patent and Trademark Office to dismiss it. Her legal eagles have argued in papers that Blue Ivy, her eldest child with husband, music mogul Jay-Z (49), is a “cultural icon” and a “mini style star”. The Lion King star argued that Morales’ claim “that consumers are…

BLENDED BLISS It’s been five years since JENNIFER LOPEZ (50) and MARC ANTHONY (51) officially divorced, and she’s since found love with ALEX RODRIGUEZ (44). But the two singers still manage to happily co-parent their kids, twins Max and EMME (11). The whole bunch, including Anthony’s new girlfriend, model Jessica Harris (28), recently turned out to cheer for Emme at a school sporting event in Miami. MENDING HIS BROKEN HEART BEN AFFLECK’s ex-girlfriend screenwriter Lindsay Shookus confirmed breakup rumours when she was recently pictured cosying up to Baby Driver actor Jon Hamm. Ben (47) took solace in a day of bonding with his daughter SERAPHINA (10) and seven-year-old son SAMUEL in Los Angeles. The star also shares daughter Violet (13) with ex-wife Jennifer Garner (47). FASHION WEEK FUN Dora and…