As coronavirus rips through the planet & relentlessly assaults our way of sharing barista-brewed coffee moments, stream-watching, reading and travelling to real places, I curated SOME THINGS to add flavour to my vaccinated life.
WATCH
Netflix has a new comedy series, set on a “lesser Ivy League” university campus. THE CHAIR is loaded with all the now issues – first woman-of-colour professor, a back-stabbing careerist and blinkered dinosaur professors. Her off-campus life as a single mom with an adopted daughter is further complicated by an unconsummated romantic relationship with a department superstar & messed-up man-child. Already a Must Watch for millions. Only 6 episodes with plenty of laughs and food for thought.
READ
Futhi Ntshingila’s They got to You Too is an arresting story of a former police general who was raised by two women who survived the 1899 South African Boer War, and now finds himself being cared for in a frail care home by the daughter of liberation struggle activists. Oscar Wilde would have said, “What are the incredible things…?”
DRINK
The gourmet online shop Yuppiechef.com, sells a Barbados / South African Rum, SUNCAMINO. It is infused with Hibiscus, Orange Blossom and Honeybush. The name Suncamino means ‘Journey to the Sun’. It’s a trip you will enjoy.
A LOAF OF BREAD
Refiloe Rantekoa started as a small-time baker in Soweto. He says he does not understand budgets & cash flow, but his business is rising. He has 20 employees baking 2 000 loaves of bread a day. With zero research and no business plan he used his grandfather’s back room to start his bakery. Refiloe is aiming for 10 000 loaves a day by February 2022. His recipe is simple – a slice of fresh bread & some butter makes the soul jump with joy. Make a meal of it.
LISTENING
17-year-old singer-songwriter, Vaughn Prangley is making vibes & going big. He is from South Africa, plays a banjo and listens to musicians unbeknown to me. Maybe they are far out, or maybe I am just far away from 17. Kaleo, a band from Iceland is his current favourite. You can tune in if you want. If not, there is always Tom Jones, The Everley Brothers or Pussycat. Vaughn says he sees the whole world as a bucket-list. IMAGINE THAT! … THEN THINK ABOUT IT. So why not arrange an exquisite little trip to a destination in your neighbourhood that was always too local – before coronavirus.
I’ll share many more things. Next Time.