Innholdsfortegnelse for 31 December 2015 i You South Africa

AS 2015 draws to a close I feel it’s fitting to end the year on a high note with three wonderful, uplifting stories. Remember Big John who tipped the scales at 302 kg? Well, he has stuck to his guns and now weighs in at 178 kg (page 96). It hasn’t been easy! He fell off the wagon during the last festive season, he has shed some tears and he misses chops and burgers. But he’s achieved so much. The same is true for Ziona Smith from Richards Bay, who was scalped by the neighbours’ boerboels at the age of seven (page 22). Instead of allowing a fear of dogs to develop and dictate her life, she now owns a rescue pitbull as a pet – and her dad owns…

GWEN STEFANI The No Doubt singer is a trendsetter and the embodiment of rock-star cool. “What’s so special about Gwen’s style is she always remains true to herself and her eclectic taste,” says celebrity stylist Andrea Lieberman. CATE BLANCHETT The Oscar winner isn’t afraid to take fashion risks yet always channels old-school Hollywood glamour. HELEN MIRREN She may be 70 but this acting legend is proof that glamour and style are ageless.UK store House Of Fraser’s customers voted her their favourite fashion icon this year. VICTORIA BECKHAM The Spice Girl-turned-fashion designer has morphed into the epitome of chic. She’s also proof that a great pair of shades is the coolest accessory to any outfit.…

IRINA SHAYK The Russian model never misses a chance to put her sizzling body on display in sheer numbers. No wonder she’s grabbed the attention of Hollywood hottie Bradley Cooper. ALESSANDRA AMBROSIO If you’ve got it, flaunt it – and when you have pins like the Brazilian bombshell’s, it’s minis all the way. ROSIE HUNTINGTONWHITELEY The British model and actress is proof indeed that the back is an erogenous zone. KATE HUDSON Va-va-voom! The sexy American actress knows how to show off her lithe body like no other. RITA ORA Shy isn’t a word in this British songbird’s vocabulary and she knows how to make the most of her assets.…

1 A new human-like species was discovered at Rising Star Cave near Johannesburg. What was this hominid species named? 2 What are the names of Princess Charlene and Prince Albert of Monaco’s twins? 3 Who is South Africa’s minister of finance? 4 Every year Oxford Dictionaries announces its word of the year. What was 2015’s unexpected choice? 5 What was the name of the estate where siblings Marli and Henri van Breda survived an axe attack that left the rest of their family dead? 6 Who directed the new Star Wars movie? 7 The Women Of Algiers fetched a record $179 million (then R2,1 billion) at an auction earlier this year. Name the artist who painted it. 8 Who was booted out of the Democratic Alliance after sharing a controversial…

THE young Winshaw brothers, Phillip and Pierre, grow wine grapes on Klein Welmoed near Stellenbosch in the Western Cape, but they also have herds of free-range cattle and free-range chickens that lay eggs in egg mobiles that are moved every day. The wine, meat and eggs are sold under the label Usana, which means “new beginning”. When Pierre married events coordinator Elizabeth de Klerk, the old sheep kraal on the farm was revamped for the occasion. It’s in this beautiful venue that a harvest feast was prepared for them by dynamic and creative caterers Johnny Hamman and Marius Uys of Slippery Spoon. They are respectively the winner and runner-up of cookery reality show Kokkedoor 2 and are now known countrywide for their ability to give any event that wow factor.…

NEW LOOK FOR AN OLD CHAIR This plastic chair, found on a dump, looked like an ideal candidate for upholstering. We got to work and transformed it. YOU NEED TOOLS • 4-mm stone drill bit• Cordless drill• Screwdriver• 16-mm plywood• Measuring tape• Pencil• Scissors• Needle• Staple gun• Sponge or paintbrush MATERIALS • Old plastic chair• Epoxy glue• Wood screws• Black metallic spray paint• Contact glue• 3-cm thick high-density foam rubber• Fabric of your choice (use something durable that won’t stretch much)• 12 buttons covered in the same fabric• Thread• Metal beading strip• Nails STEP 1 Clean the plastic chair thoroughly. STEP 2 This one was slightly wobbly so we secured the seat to the metal frame with epoxy glue. Do your own repairs to make your chair sturdy. STEP 3 The textile material can’t be stapled to the plastic so make sure there’s a surface on the frame to which it…

ANT-MAN 2015. 117 min. 10LV. Sci-fi adventure. R139* After being released from prison, burglar Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) tries to turn his life around so he can see his daughter (Abby Ryder Fortson). Struggling to find a job, he breaks into a house and steals a suit created by scientist Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) that can shrink the wearer to the size of an ant. Scott gets arrested but uses the suit to escape, which impresses Dr Pym, who then asks Scott to break into the office of his former protégé, Darren Cross (Corey Stoll), and steal back Pym’s shrinking technology before Cross can sell it to the military. Marvel has had great box-office and mostly critical successes with its superhero movies but naysayers have increasingly proclaimed audiences would grow…

Kat (26) was born in the Swiss capital, Geneva. Her father has Liberian ancestry and her mom is Russian and Polish. She’s single at the moment after splitting from actor Cottrell Guidry last year. She recently launched her second album, Roxbury Drive, which she produced herself. “I’m doing it my way. The whole album is ’90s inspired.” HER TOP STYLE TIP MAKE ONE STATEMENT PIECE THE FOCUS OF YOUR LOOK. Music is in her blood. Her dad, who’s godfather to two of record producer Quincy Jones’ kids, was a music executive. Kat has also toured with hip-hop group The Black Eyed Peas, and has recorded her own version of Only Happy When It Rains by alternative rock band Garbage for The Vampire Diaries’ soundtrack. Kat says her character,…

THE LOST ART OF LETTER-WRITING IT’S LOVELY that YOU has a letters page! I’m always interested in hearing the opinions of people from all over the country on various topics. It’s like hearing family news. Sadly, letter-writing is a dying art. Who remembers a grandmother’s love letters, tied up with a blue ribbon? Or how when our grandfathers were away at war, they’d write romantic letters home? As a child I giggled at grandma being addressed as “My dearest darling” in grandpa’s letters from Egoli, and me as “My darling granddaughter”. And what about the pretty, feminine cards women received from their beaux in Victorian times? They were made of real lace and embroidered flowers – lovely! My grandma kept hers in her underwear drawer along with empty perfume bottles.…

FKA TWIGS Her fashion sense is as eccentric as her stage name. Who else could get away with wearing this wild Alexander McQueen dress? RIHANNA The pop star’s huge yellow gown by Chinese designer Guo Pei at the Met Gala inspired many memes, as did the giant pink Giambattista Valli frock she wore to the Grammys. LADY GAGA From the giant kimono gown she wore to the Met Gala to her bizarre collection of accessories, nothing is too outlandish for this pop star. MILEY CYRUS The singer seems to have no boundaries when it comes to what she wears or how much skin she bares.…

AMAL & GEORGE CLOONEY He’s the debonair Hollywood star while she’s the glamorous yet sexy legal eagle. CHRISSY TEIGEN & JOHN LEGEND While the singer sticks to dapper suits, his wife is always the sexy supermodel. KANYE WEST & KIM KARDASHIAN It’s the latest designer trends for the reality TV star while the rapper mixes street style with couture. COUPLES TO  WATCH Keep an eye out for these rising fashion-forward pairs…

WHEN the electricity in her parents’ home tripped she went next door to ask her mom’s cousin for help. The seven-year-old knocked on the door more than once but there was no response. She decided to wait on the lawn in front of the house for someone to open. Then suddenly the dogs she’d grown up with and played with came tearing around the corner. “They looked extremely fierce,” Ziona Smith (now 26) recalls. The nervous little girl tried to get away but the two purebred boerboels dragged her to the ground. “I still have a few marks,” she says, pointing at the scars on her arms. She also sustained a cut on her neck and her earlobe was torn. But the most vivid reminder of the attack in 1996…

GO TO THE YOU SHOP AT SPREE. CO.ZA/YOU OR GO TO YOU.CO.ZA AND CLICK ON SPREE FOR MORE WOMEN’S FASHION.…

PUBLIC TOILETS USE THE HOOK ON THE BACK OF THE TOILET DOOR The floor is the grimiest place in a public toilet, according to US researchers. It has 53 percent more bacteria than other surfaces, such as the tap or toilet seat, so try not to let your handbag or shopping bags make contact with it. THAT SOAP Your hands could end up carrying 25 times more bacteria than before you washed them if the soap is dispensed from a refillable container on the wall. One in four of them contains unsafe levels of bacteria, including the faecal variety. If it’s the only option, follow up with an alcohol-based sanitiser with at least 60 percent alcohol. USE A PAPER TOWEL TO DRY YOUR HANDS When you use soap and water…

TAKE CONTROL Simply ignoring your debt won’t make it go away, so accept responsibility and take the bull by the horns. Make an honest, comprehensive list of all your short- and long-term debt. And don’t get deeper into trouble by buying things you don’t need. See what practical steps you can take to cut down on your expenses – even if it means buying a more affordable car. With the money you save on car payments you can pay off your debts faster. MORE EXPENSIVE DEBTS FIRST List your income and expenses and check where you spend unnecessarily. Pay off debts that attract the most interest first. These are usually short-term debts such as store and credit cards. When one card has been paid off use the extra money to…

LISTEN TO THIS! DARK SKY ISLAND ENYA The popular Irish singer is back with her first new music in years. Enya has been known for decades for her style of ethereal soul music and this 11-track album is reminiscent of her previous work, especially May It Be from The Fellowship Of The Ring soundtrack. “Being on a journey is a major theme on this new album, especially the idea of being in touch with nature” she explains. Although it’s difficult to distinguish one song from the next there are loads of highlights – standouts include the pulsating rhythms of Even In The Shadows and the energetic Echoes In The Rain. A must-have for fans.…

WHERE MY HEART USED TO BEAT By Sebastian Faulks, Random House, R387* Robert Hendricks is a damaged man. A World War 2 veteran and accomplished psychiatrist, he lives a dreary life alone in London, unloved and adrift. Out of the blue Alexander Pereira, an ageing neurologist who lives on a French island, writes to Robert hinting he has information about his father who died in World War 1 and about whom Robert knows nothing. Alexander also mentions he’s looking for a literary executor and thinks Robert might fit the bill. Intrigued, Robert heads for the island. Over conversations with the enigmatic old man, we learn more about Robert’s experiences in the war, his devastating love affair with an Italian beauty and his descent into despair. Despite the melancholy mood and…

1 Who’s sister is this? CLUE Her big sis is a sought-after model. 2 Which of the following is NOT one of Joe Jonas’ exes? 3 In which country was singer The Weeknd born? 4 Actor Tristan Wilds appears in Adele’s music video for Hello. In which TV series did he star? 5 Which one of these guys did Taylor Swift NOT date? 6 Which DJ did singer Selena Gomez briefly date this year? 7 Who said it? ‘No one ever asks me out. I’m lonely every Saturday night. Guys are so mean to me. I know where it’s coming from; I know they’re trying to establish dominance, but it hurts my feelings’ HINT She recently broke up with a British rocker and stars in a major movie franchise. 8…

ABOUT 18 months ago he was trapped in a 302-kg body. He couldn’t stand for long without his back starting to ache and he could barely manage 10 steps without struggling to breathe. When other parents supported their sons at rugby matches he sat in his car, unable to be there for his boy. But those days are over. Now John Barnardt comfortably walks up to 6 km a day. And people might still call him Big John – but he’s not nearly as big as he once was. Thanks to his new eating plan and exercise regime, John has lost more than a third of his body weight. For years the only scale he could weigh himself on was the industrial one used to weigh metal at his scrapyard,…

IT’S amazing what some people will do to get their names into the record books – from risking serious injury by juggling running chainsaws to stuffing 12 lit candles into their mouth. Here are some of the weirdest antics undertaken by those with their hearts set on Guinness World Record glory. WHAT A BUZZ In 2011 Canadian Ian Stewart set a new world record by throwing and catching three chainsaws 94 times in 37 seconds – and what made the feat even more impressive was that they were all running as he juggled them. Three years later, by adding two balls to his routine, he achieved another world first when he succeed in juggling them together with a running chainsaw 158 times. “I love juggling chainsaws,” the professional stage hypnotist…

WEDDINGS MIDLANDS MAGIC Former Miss SA NICOLE FLINT and DAVID VAN HEERDEN tied the knot in October at Cranford Country Lodge in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. “We had the most wonderful day; the weather was perfect, the people who were there were the ones who meant the world to us and they enjoyed it just as much as we did!” Nicole said. FAIRYTALE ON A FARM Musician MATTHEW MOLE wed JESSICA PETTIT in August at Babylonstoren farm near Paarl in the Western Cape. The singer-songwriter serenaded his bride before Gangs Of Ballet performed some new tracks. “@gangsofballet treating us with some of their goodness at #TheMoleWedding,” a wedding guest wrote on Instagram. A BEAUTIFUL DAY Former Springbok and Blue Bulls centre WYNAND OLIVIER said he wasn’t nervous at all when he…

I’ve been through a horrific year in which I’ve had five operations for the removal of cancer from my palate. I just wish to warn others never to ignore toothache or anything that feels strange in your mouth. I suffered terrible toothache and a type of bumpy rash on my palate and saw four dentists over a period of a year before my cancer was diagnosed. One dentist told me my problem was “nothing toothpaste wouldn’t cure”, and all four prescribed antibiotics for my mouth “infection”. Then at last I saw a dentist who immediately referred me to a maxillofacial surgeon who performed a biopsy and I had the results after three very anxious days. I felt as if the bottom had fallen out of my world when I got…

EMILY RATAJKOWSKI MODEL AND ACTRESS She rose to fame in the controversial music video for Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines, but since then the sultry 24-year-old has had breakout roles starring opposite Ben Affleck in Gone Girl and Zac Efron in We Are Your Friends. ‘I have a full bust, so clothes hang differently. But I want to be a model who breaks down the traditional body boundaries. You don’t have to be 5’9” (1,79 m) and an A-cup to be a successful model and that’s nice.’–EMILY RULE-BREAKERS I think a big thing about being young is finding out who you are and I think fashion is a big part of that. You don’t have to care about what people think. Do whatever the heck you want. – ZENDAYA ‘My style…

GIGI & BELLA HADID The sultry sisters are the current queens of the catwalk. IRELAND & HAILEY BALDWIN The statuesque cousins are both sought-after models. POPPY & CARA DELEVINGNE The model sisters are known for their quirky fashion flair. MINI FASHION IS TAS! We love to watch these sassy tots who never put a fashionable foot wrong thanks to their stylish moms, Kim and Kourtney Kardashian. So adorbs! With an acclaimed designer for a mom and one of the trendiest dads around, the Beckham offspring were always going to be top class when it comes to fashion.…

FROM the outside it looks like just another office block in Bryanston, Gauteng. Could this really be the right place? It looks nothing like Google’s ultramodern headquarters in California. But when the lift opens on the third floor and you set foot inside the offices of Google South Africa it’s clear there’s something different about this place. It may be far from the mother ship, but just like Silicone Valley’s Googleplex it looks more like an adult playground than a place of work. The company’s name is written in graffiti and there are mugs hanging on the wall for visitors to use. Something that looks like an ATM turns out to be where visitors register – you punch in your details and out pops a name tag. What employees call…

MY FIANCÉ IS TOO CLOSE TO HIS MOM Q My fiancé and I became engaged last year. We’ve known each other since high school and were involved for two years before getting engaged. We have a great relationship and he’s accepted my nine-year-old son. I’m pregnant again and I’m due soon. My concern is that my fiancé is extremely close to his mom. She’s a great woman and took us in – we’re living with his parents – but the problem is he tells her everything first before telling me, and sometimes I even hear things from her he hasn’t told me. When he gets paid he gives me money and says it’s for me to buy whatever I want, but then in the same breath he’ll say it’s for…

DRAMA CLUB GEEK Anna was born in Baltimore in the US to Jack, a sociologist, and Karen, a teacher, who noticed her love of performing early on and enrolled her in acting classes at the age of six. But although she got an early start with drama and excelled at it, she was a late bloomer in other ways. “When I was 16 I looked like I was about 11 – I had braces and headgear, and I was kind of a wreck. I wore glasses, and I had a very odd sense of style” says Anna, who described herself as a “drama-club dork”. GUILTY MOM Chris and Anna’s son, Jack (3), was born nine weeks prematurely and was in hospital for a month after his birth. Thankfully there’ve been…

CAPRICORN 21 DECEMBER – 20 JANUARY Set goals for where you want to be Pro-active Mars marches into 2016 in your career horoscope, prompting you to set your goals. It’s a good week to focus your attention on personal matters too. You might want to create your New Year resolutions around your ambitions, whether they involve professional goals, your standing in society or your personal aspirations. Endeavour not to let doubts, fears and negative thoughts limit your dreams. YOUR LUCKY NUMBERS 29, 30, 45, 6, 14, 49 AQUARIUS JAN 21 – FEB 18 The scene is set for a happy time with your friends, celebrating the dawning of the New Year. Networking Mercury moves into your sign and retraces its steps towards the end of the week. So it’s appropriate…

Between 1 and 5 Well, somebody hasn’t been getting their daily dose of celeb gossip . . . Time to brush up a bit – it really can help break the ice at a party if you go, “So, what do you think of Kylie Jenner’s latest hair colour?” A good way to start is to follow a few of your fave stars on Instagram. Between 6 and 12 You have fairly good knowledge of celeb news. You’re keeping it real by not indulging too much but wouldn’t be totally clueless if someone asked you about the latest 1D hit or hottest new film. Besides, being too interested in celeb news is silly since most of it’s rumours or a publicity stunt, right? Between 12 and 20 Okay, so you’re…

IMAGINE how much easier life would be if your trainers could fasten themselves. Or if instead of sitting in another soul-sapping traffic snarl-up you could simply strap on a jetpack and zoom off to work through the air. Or if the pan on your stove could send a warning to your phone that you’re about to burn supper. Actually, you don’t have to imagine these things – they’re already a reality. Here’s a round-up of the new weird and wonderful inventions that could turn out to be the next best thing since sliced bread. Fly away Ever since James Bond used one in the 1965 movie Thunderball, adrenaline junkies have hankered after the thrill of being launched into the air by a jetpack propelling device. So it’s little wonder the…

HE KNOWS exactly how many raisins should go into a hot cross bun. It’s hardly surprising Raymond Ackerman considers himself to be an expert on this topic – after all, during his five decades as boss of Pick n Pay he sampled plenty of these sticky buns to ensure his stores had their recipe just right. “I laid down the rules about how many raisins should be in them,” he recalls. And would you believe it, he says, last week he noticed a batch with too few raisins. He went straight to Richard Brasher, Pick n Pay’s CEO, so the matter could be rectified. Old habits die hard. Even though he’s 84 and bowed out as the company’s chairman five years ago, Raymond finds it hard to sit at home…

THE hair is matted and wispy, the beard is scraggly and the bruises around the eye and nose make for a sorry sight. Yet there’s something eerily familiar about the ice-blue orbs staring blankly and rather bleakly. At first glance it’s not that obvious but on closer inspection you realise those eyes have featured on the faces of Elizabeth I, Cinderella’s wicked stepmother and one of the most powerful elven queens in The Lord Of The Rings. Chameleon Cate is at it again in her latest role – it’s safe to say if you passed this homeless person in the street you wouldn’t know it’s Cate Blanchett. It’s all part of a series of monologues in which the regal actress (46) appears for artist Julian Rosefeldt’s exhibition Manifesto at the…

1 These sizzling sisters are virtually identical but only one is married to an A-list actor. Is it A or B? 2 This party-loving father of three was snapped in a PDA with an ex earlier this year, leading to the end of his relationship with a reality star. Who is it? 3 Which kids’ flick won Best Animated Feature Film at the Oscars? 4 Which TV series scooped the most TV awards this year, including Best Drama at the Emmys? 5 Which Oscar-winning actor and singer transformed himself to play The Joker in the new super-villain movie, Suicide Squad? 6How tall is DJ superstar Calvin Harris? 7 Which Grammy-winning rapper declared himself bankrupt this year? 8 Which famous actress, who was once married to an action star, called the death…