I'm early. I have been up since 4 am, having caught the red-eye flight from Cape Town to Joburg, boarded the Gautrain to Rosebank and then hopped into an Uber to the front gate of 15 11th Avenue, Randburg – which will be my place of new beginnings for the next eight days.
The room I am in – once a garage that has been converted into a studio/flower haven – is an icy 16°C; flowers need to be kept cold. Since I’m smack-bang in the middle of a menopausal meltdown, the idea of working inside a fridge makes perfect sense!
I’ve wanted to be a florist for the longest time, so when this flower-arranging course came along, I jumped at the opportunity. Funnily enough, something really does switch when your hormones start running on empty – you start to consider what’s left of your life, and taking risks isn’t as daunting as it was when you were firing on all cylinders.
I’ve been saving up a bit and both my kids have moved on with their lives – now’s the time to stop talking about opening my own flower shop and start doing something about it. So here I am, taking my first baby step in the right direction.
Surrounded by buckets full of flowers and greenery, an old Great Dane at my feet, I wait for my ‘flower teacher’, Karen Dalton, to arrive. We’ve only spoken on the phone a couple of times, but we are both Zimbabweans (born in Harare), we share a name, and we have the same passion for flowers. Kindred spirits; I’m sure of it.
Denne historien er fra September/October 2020-utgaven av Fairlady.
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Denne historien er fra September/October 2020-utgaven av Fairlady.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
'DESIRE IS NOT WHAT MATTERS'
Emily Nagoski wrote the book on women and desire - literally. And then her own sex life dried up. Here's what a prolonged sex drought (and a load of research) taught her about maintaining intimacy in a long-term relationship.
'We have to tell HARD STORIES'
Theatre director and playwright Yaël Farber is spending time in South Africa after her critically acclaimed run of King Lear at the Almeida Theatre in London. We chatted to her about the importance of the pursuit of truth.
THE WHY, THE WHICH & the wardrobe
We really got into it this month! Read on for more on the allure of a loosey-goosey jumpsuit, vintage-hunting and jingle-jangling jewellery, the best places to find quality African design and short-girl styling tips.
LIFT your GAME
Thought weightlifting was just for bodybuilders and powerlifters? Not so. In fact, 'lifting heavy shit' may be the secret to longevity, hormone regulation and mood for women through perimenopause and beyond.
TREATMENT PLAN ON YOUR MARKS
Armed with a six-month programme from Dr Nerina Wilkinson + Associates, Jennifer Morin set about tackling her sun damage and melasma.
PLAYING YOUR CARDS RIGHT
Here's how to get the most out of loyalty cards.
BIG SKY Country
Namibia. Twelve friends, five vehicles, 4000 km, thirteen days. Eight punctures, one angle grinder. One martial eagle, one full moon, one ghost town. Plenty of top-quality braais, maybe not quite enough oysters... and the best time ever.
IS YOUR HOME MAKING YOU SICK?
Leaks, damp and poor ventilation in old or poorly built new homes are being fingered for a growing health concern: mould.
HOW TO REALLY GET TO KNOW SOMEONE
The Korean word 'nunchi' describes 'the ability to be sensitive to other people's moods and thoughts'. It's an underrated skill that we seem to have lost.
How to write a memoir
Whether you want to share your experiences and insights with the world, leave a legacy or track pivotal experiences for yourself, writing your memoir can be a grand and worthwhile adventure. Here's some advice on how and where to begin.
