1 December 2011; Paarl, Western Cape

On Friday 25 November Bentley, Veuve Clicquot, Pirelli, Breitling and LIVEOUTLOUD partnered in an event like no other at the Val de Vie Wine and Polo Estate in Paarl, Western Cape.  The day’s proceedings consisted of an exclusive Polo tournament between four sponsored teams as well as a glitzy unveiling ceremony and cocktail celebration for the much anticipated Bentley Continental GTC during the evening.

Invited VIP guests were given access to the EXCLUSIVE estate for the polo tournament, which saw a round-robin clash between four professional polo teams.  Guests were welcomed to relax under the Veuve Clicquot umbrellas or enjoy a cold Peroni at the bar whilst watching the games against the backdrop of the Paarl Mountain Range.  The start of the tournament was commenced with Kristina Diehl from Bentley UK throwing the opening ball onto the pitch from the passenger seat of the new Continental GTC’s predecessor before they raced away from a slew of horses clashing for the ball.

First on the pitch saw team LIVEOUTLOUD draw an exciting match against team Pirelli, with the final score being 4-4, resulting in the teams tying 3^rd place overall.  The second game saw team Veuve Clicquot take on team Bentley in an impressive tussle for 1^st place, with team Veuve Clicquot taking the overall tournament by beating Bentley 6-3.

Both polo games were followed by fashion shows showcasing casual and evening wear by designer brands Gant by Michael Bastian, Tumi Luggage and Cape Cobra Leathercraft all dressed on models supplied by Roxy Robinson’s Pick-a-Flava events.  Violinist Christine Marie also performed for the guests with ambient entertainment in between the games’ chukkas.  Artwork by The Holden Manz Collection as well as the six commissioned pieces from British artists interpreting the various facets of the GTC and encouraging the viewer to ‘look behind the surface’ was also on display for guests to admire throughout the day.

The evening’s procession consisted of the Bentley Continental GTC’s reveal commencing in irreverent elegance with a passing-of-the-torch style ceremony comprising of eight Bentleys ranging from a 1920’s classic vintage right the way through to the 2011 GTC’s predecessor, specially configured on the polo field.  MC Nico Panagio introduced a dazzling show of fire, lights and manoeuvrability of man, horse and machine, the all new Bentley Continental GTC was revealed on the polo pitch, summating the day’s theme of luxury, lifestyle and passion in one exceptional vehicle.   As the roof of the Bentley Continental GTC came down in an envy generating display basking under the spotlights, Regional Director of Bentley International, Chris Buxton took to the stage to speak on the vehicle, the lifestyle it represents and the direction in which Bentley South Africa is heading.

A small prize giving awards ceremony sponsored by LIVEOUTLOUD took place shortly thereafter with awards going to the most valued player, the best playing pony and a prize for each team with the Bentley trophy handed over to team Veuve Clicquot in recognition of their win.

Michael Eilertsen, CEO of LIVEOUTLOUD explains: ‘The 2011 Bentley Polo Invitational has positioned itself as the pioneer event before LIVEOUTLOUD hosts the inaugural 2012 Beach Polo Festival in Camps Bay, Cape Town.  This festival is set to become one of South Africa’s premier events and we look forward to breaking ground on this truly remarkable and original concept.’

The 2011 Bentley Polo Invitational culminated with guests being entertained by the vehicles on show; a jazz band playing smooth melodic tunes, and drew to a close as the sun set behind the mountains with as much style and sophistication as the vehicle itself, a day encapsulating both sporting and luxury living.

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For more information on the Bentley Continental GTC, please visit www.bentleymedia.com or contact Bentley General Manager Rens Rademeyer on (011) 361-6600

For information on the fashion showcase please visit:

www.gantsa.co.za

www.capecobra.co.za

www.tumi.com

For information on the art displayed please visit:

www.holdenmanz.com

Please visit the sponsors at:

www.liveoutloud.co.za

www.pirelli.com

www.breitling.com

www.veuve-clicquot.com

www.peroni.com/za

For information on Pick-a-Flava Events, please visit:

www.pickaflavaevents.co.za

Bentley Press

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Delving into the intricate and compelling world of American-born and Joburg-based artist, Nathaniel Stern, one is once again emphatically confronted with the pure immensity that is art appreciation and philosophy. Because Stern’s work is embedded in extensive investigation into subjects so significant to human nature, currently and historically, his art is quite possibly some of the most relevant around.

A productive day in Stern’s life may consist of wading waist-deep in a water-lily pond with a desktop scanner, laptop and custom-made battery pack strapped to his body. Wielding this unique contraption he literally performs images into existence by scanning along table surfaces, swinging over flowers, hopping over bricks or, in this case, floating over water-lily ponds. This active engagement with his surroundings translates into quirky and organic but condensed renderings which he then re-stretches, crops and touches up on his laptop, and finally they are transformed into exquisite archival art prints for the gallery wall. This process of art-making he has suitably named Compressionism.

Stern follows a rather unique trajectory when creating his Compressionist works. From influential roots in Impressionism through to Surrealism imagery, ending in a postmodern sentiment, Compressionism is more than a playful allusion to historical art movements of “isms”. Allegorically, Stern’s term Compressionism dictates the nature of this day and age. In a world of time and space constraints threatening to slow us down, the concept of compression allows us to “zip-folder” large amounts of data into smaller spaces, which is also intrinsic to our lives of trying to fit an alarming amount of activities into one day.

His latest installation, entitled “Giverny of the Midwest”, on display at Art On Paper from 30 July 2011, is part of an ongoing series started in 2005 in Johannesburg. The main work, a 2 x 12 metre installation of 93 prints of water-lily pond scans was inspired by Monet’s work in Giverny where he spent over 30 years painting his famous water lilies. For this particular work Stern spent three days camping beside a lily pond in South Bend, Indiana with his scanner-laptop-battery apparatus, endlessly scanning his surroundings with only his studio assistant and an agitated snapping turtle for company. After this brief adventure, it took over eighteen months of editing and reworking images to achieve the full installation to where it is now.

Using Monet’s Water Lilies triptych at the MoMA in New York as his source for following movement and patterns of colour and light and Mondrian as the inspiration for the spacing of the images, Stern managed to create a kind of digital play between modularity and Modernism in this large installation.

Coining new terminology and experimenting with new hardware combinations are, however, not the only things Stern concerns himself with. He is also a prolific scholar of performative and interactive art and is considered one of the fathers of this progressive movement in South Africa. Throughout his career he has explored an array of different concepts including political commentary, performance, human interaction and language, and has deepened his research around these interests over many years.

Like most progressive artists today, Stern often collaborates with other artists. “I believe that artists no longer simply make images, they make discourse – they ask us not only to look but to look again, to re-examine,” he says, “Art is always dialogical – I mean, simply, that it is in dialogue – with history, with other art and artists, with current events, with politics and pop culture and more. Most of all, it is in dialogue with people, with real people.”

In his 2003/2009 updated work, “Stuttering”, one of his many interactive installations, Stern investigates how we affect, and are affected by conversation and comprehension. Each viewer in the space triggers a large-scale interactive art object projected on the wall in front of them. Body tracking software picks up the movement of the viewers and animates a quote about stuttering and is accompanied by an audio recitation of its text.

When questioned about bringing art to the people via interaction, Stern quotes: “There are a lot of reasons I work with interactive art. A large portion of this is to reach a bigger audience and get them excited about art, while also engaging with complex ideas and materials. And I also believe that such work can be serious stuff, which needs to be investigated further by those in the academy and elsewhere.”

Some of Stern’s other works will also be on display at UNISA in September.

For more information visit http://nathanielstern.com or www.artonpaper.co.za

Madiba is celebrated worldwide for his vision for peace and unity among South Africans and will forever be known as a defender of equality and a well-respected leader. In celebration of his 21 years of freedom, First National Bank (FNB) created the concept of a Tribute to 21 Years of Freedom for its Premier Banking clients. It was to be a momentous event and banquet dinner to celebrate this ‘Living Icon’ as well as 21 other ‘Premier’ South African icons who all paid tribute to Mandela. Many celebrities attended the event as well as an esteemed group of FNB’s Premier clients. The event was created as part of the company’s Premier First Experiences that it offers Premier Banking clients.

These events are groundbreakers in themselves, thrilling attendees with unique experiences. This tribute event was no exception. “The initiative has been designed to thank existing clients for giving their business to Premier Banking from FNB. Through a series of events and initiatives, we take our clients into an environment that not only allows them to network with like-minded individuals, but also exposes them to a variety of enriching experiences that differ from anything in the market,” notes Lezanne Human, Chief Executive Officer of Premier Banking from FNB.

Fittingly taking place at The Killarney Country Club in Johannesburg where Nelson Mandela, as a free man, exercised his democratic right to vote – the exquisite and emotional gala dinner gave most in attendance goose bumps and brought a few to tears. Local celebrities, many of whom are known as pioneers in their various fields, came together for a lavish affair to show their love and support of this strong Nobel Laureate and all he has fought for. Prior to the event, FNB also created widespread awareness through various media platforms to allow proud South Africans the chance to write their own tribute to Mandela via a dedicated SMS line. Thousands of tributes to our special leader were sent in and these are being recorded in an artful book which will be presented to the Nelson Mandela Foundation in due course.

SOME OF THE LOVING TRIBUTES THAT WERE SENT IN FOR MADIBA*:

“Tata, thank you for affording us the opportunity to experience freedom, a country we could call home and giving us the license to dream big. We wish you well, let your heart be glad for what you have given us.”

“Madiba, you are a true example of a nation’s leader. You served our country with kindness, compassion and a true vision of equality. If we could all see through your eyes, the world would be a better place.”

“Dear Madiba, you are a true example of strength through humility. People easily admire you, but few follow your example… May God grant us the strength to step up and lead the way you did.”

“Dear Nelson, our freedom may have come at a cost to humanity but your contribution to the freedom we enjoy will forever remain priceless. May humanity continue to learn from your unselfish deeds. Thank you.”

“Because of your sacrifice today I can open doors that my parents couldn’t; I can walk tall in the knowledge that I am special and equal to all my fellow South Africans… thank you Tata!”

“A man with so much compassion and tolerance. A true living icon and a legend in my lifetime… and all lifetimes to follow.”

“You altered our history through love, compassion and a willingness to forgive – not only did you become our leader but also a father to our nation. Stand tall, stand proud, for you redefined our history and paved a path for greatness… thank you.”

*all dedications have been left anonymous out of respect for each contributor’s privacy.

Image courtesy of: Faccio Foto’s

He studied fashion, had a career as a make-up artist, has contributed to local publications as a voice of wisdom in fashion and has even created a cartoon which became the basis for a book. Dion Chang is also the founder of the well-respected trend analysis company called Flux Trends which hosts the annual Flux Trends Review conference which provides an overview of “the state we’re in”.

When and why did you decide that you wanted to get into the fashion industry?

I was one of those weird freaks of nature who knew by the age of seven what I wanted to be. I wanted to be a designer, no question about it – that was the dream. I even took part in a national design competition while still in Matric. However, I realised just as quickly that being a designer wasn’t for me after all. I later won a post graduate scholarship to Paris to do make-up, then styling in London, and only came back to SA to await visa papers to be processed. While I was waiting I fell into magazines, doing odd jobs here and there. As I was preparing to leave I was offered a job as fashion editor of BOB T in-house banking magazine, and wrestled with what to do. I just felt I couldn’t turn down the opportunity; I mean how often do these openings come along in the magazine industry. But it wasn’t what I expected, a definite baptism of fire. You had to sell your advertorial before you could do your features. I wondered if I had made the right choice staying in SA. Luckily I did as it led to joining the Elle launch team.

It is commendable that with all your years as a forecaster of global trends you haven’t permanently migrated north – do you feel that you will continue to call SA home?

I’ve lived overseas, and worked in Europe, but SA is always home. Social dynamics fascinate me, and what better Petri dish to observe than modern day South Africa?  London is great but I prefer to visit, and it works well for me. I can visit places all over the world to learn about trends, for instance this year I’ve been to Paris for the décor exhibition Maison et Objet and CES the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas amongst others. The wonderful thing is every trip is work, discovering, observing, learning, but it’s also a pleasure.

My base is South Africa, and I’m finding a lot more innovation coming out of developing countries these days. That’s where the energies are. And for that reason the only other place I could live is China. Look at the BRIC nations, there are such relevant developments here in Africa, a lot of trends have leapfrogged first world concepts, such as banking, mobile technology and services – because people have different needs,  the industries have to find different solutions, and I really enjoy seeing those reverse innovations coming through.

Your trend analysis company, Flux Trends, ‘connects the dots’ for clients in fast-paced times where we have too much information to sift through. In a broad context, how do you decide what trend/ key information is most important to educate the client on?

Well I’d say we have a two-tiered approach. The key is to take a broad overview of what’s happening in the world. I shy away from labels like futurologists, because it creates the wrong expectations, I prefer to look at what’s going on now. Too much information leads us to have tunnel vision. I believe my job is to step back and look at the whole spider web, taking into account politics, popular culture, technology and so on in order to understand. Then it’s about focusing on what’s relevant to the specific client. For instance I’m working a lot with banks at the moment, they find themselves on unsteady ground, the landscape is shifting, the waters are muddy. Of course I’m expected to say what is new or next, but I feel in order to do my job properly it is important to also clearly outline what is going on in the present and show the potential threats now.

You are a published author, columnist and internationally-recognised trend analyst – yet you are known to South Africans for your contributions to the fashion industry. What has been your proudest accomplishment outside of fashion?

I know I have the mantle of being ‘that fashion guy’, but I have rebranded myself outside of the fashion industry. My proudest accomplishment has to be setting up Flux purely based on a gut feeling. People said “You’re mad!”, “You’re throwing away your fashion reputation”, but I really wanted to do it. It was a two year process to create Flux from nothing, and I launched with a trend conference that I funded, which was scary. No one else was doing trend analysis at the time, trendspotting wasn’t really in the lexicon, so the biggest challenge wasn’t just presenting myself seriously without talking handbags and shoes, but explaining what exactly Flux did and why it was important to businesses. It was an uphill battle at first, because companies only used stat-based research, and it was a time when they needed a more human perspective. That was in 2006, and then the recession hit. It was perfect timing, all these companies wanted advice and answers – Doors were open, luckily for us.

Do you ever allow yourself an ‘unstylish day’?

Anybody who says they don’t is a liar. But style is relative; it’s not only about dress code. For example you could be sitting around a fire wearing a tracksuit, but then, if you have a delicious wine… so there are different ways of being stylish.

Tell us a little about your cartoon character Gloria and how she became the focus of a book?

Gloria came from my time at Elle. We needed something to pretty up the stockist page. I mentioned I had developed a character initially for use on gift cards, we tried it out and Gloria found a home. And then she grew and grew, until a publisher approached me about doing a book. I had never considered it because I never thought I could write. I mean, I didn’t go to journalism school, and my thinking was that without a qualification ‘you can’t do something’. So, for me, it was a significant achievement. And of course it was great fun.

You are seen as an ‘original’ – A South African trendsetter who is “Living the Dream”. Do you feel you have accomplished all your goals, or is there still something you strive to achieve?

It’s funny, I’ve never been one for a check-box strategy. It’s only when doing interviews like this where you reflect on achievements. Although when I was a starving student in Paris I remember dreaming of doing a live television link to a South African fashion show or some kind of report back home. Then later, when working with Elle, one day I was in a hotel room having just done a live radio interview, and I suddenly realised I’d just achieved my dream.

The journey you intend is never the one you end up on. I’m always looking for an original challenge, for instance I do have some innovative plans on the publishing side for the future. Trailblazing is a red flag to a bull for me. If I look back, the Elle launch, then starting Elle man which was a supplement well in advance of GQ and the men’s magazines, and of course Flux itself – every achievement has been about starting and nurturing something from the start.

‘Living the dream’ is relative. What in your mind are the key ingredients?

I think sometimes you don’t realise you are living the dream when it happens. For example, I’m often invited on trips, and flown around the world by people: A visit to London will be all paid for – hotel, flights etc. You don’t ask for this, it comes very unexpectedly, but I love to travel, it’s important to me, and I realise how wonderful my life is with all these opportunities.

Of course, ‘living the dream’ is indeed relative. For me it’s about never following the money or the fame. It’s about real passion, and naive blind faith in my abilities. I think ‘living the dream’  is an attitude not a benchmark – If you can keep your naive idealism you’re always living the dream.

To learn more about Flux Trend’s and Dion’s thoughts on hot trends, visit www.fluxtrends.co.za

LIVEOUTLOUD is inviting its readers to enter to win a lavish four-night experience in fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada brought to you by Stolichnaya Vodka. Do you want to “Live the Dream Life” in true LIVEOUTLOUD style? Simply go to the Stolichnaya SA Facebook page and press “Like” to enter – https://www.facebook.com/stoliSA !

There is only ONE prize winner! You and a partner could be jetting off to Las Vegas to party with the A-listers. The prize includes:
* Return flights for two people to Las Vegas
* Accommodation at The Palms hotel
* VIP entrance to the Playboy Club
* Limo transfers to and from the airport in Las Vegas
*Spending money

*The winner will be the first entry drawn at random from all valid entries.

The easiest way to explain the allure of shopping to any man is comparing it to football or any contact sport. Women enjoy the scrimmage, the noisy crowds, the danger of being trampled to death for the last size seven pumps and the ecstasy of the final purchase – score! But to truly understand the buying power of women, famous women, you have to look at how many digits they have to play with. Last year despite the world climbing out of a recession, Forbes.com had no problem compiling its annual Celebrity 100. This list of top earners featured six women in the top 10. The Queen of Media, Oprah, banked an impressive $315 million, and The Queen of Pop, Madonna (ranked 10th), cashed in $58 million. With Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears and Sandra Bullock cashing in $269 million collectively. However, with the constant freebies they receive, what exactly do the starlets have to pay for and how much are they spending?

To date (and to public knowledge), Oprah’s biggest spend has been on property and the $40 million she invested establishing the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in Henley on Klip, south of Johannesburg. The school, set over 22 acres, opened in January 2007 with an enrolment of 150 pupils and has state-of-the-art classrooms, computer and science laboratories, a library, theatre and even a beauty salon.

Another celebrity who values property is Tiger Woods. According to DailyMail.co.uk, Woods is getting ready to move into his private mansion on Jupiter Island in Florida. The mansion is rumoured to be valued at about $60 million and comes with running track, tennis court, gym, diving pool with lap lane and four-hole golf course. Prior to that Tiger Woods called his $65 million estate in the Hamptons his home. The downgrade could have been due to the reported $750 million his ex-wife received in the divorce settlement.

For Jay-Z’s 41st birthday, wife Beyonce bought the rap mogul a Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport, priced at $2 million. The car is the fastest vehicle on the road — able to go from 0-60 in 2.5 seconds. Nevertheless, when it comes to really spending money on transportation, men still seem to be the biggest spenders. The Maybach Exelero is a high-performance sports car designed and built by German luxury car manufacturer Maybach. In 2005, the supercar was originally purchased by diamond mogul, André A. Jackson for $7.8 million. This year Jackson sold the vehicle to rapper Bryan Williams (aka Birdman) for $8 million. Tom Cruise flies higher than the rest of us – literally. His Gulfstream IV, priced at around $40 million, arcs through the ether at 45 000 feet, roughly 10 000 feet above most commercial aircrafts. Cruise enjoys several other high-altitude perks. His cabin air is completely refreshed every two minutes, as opposed to never. And he’s pressurised at 6 000 feet, as opposed to 8 000, so he is less fatigued when he arrives for a premiere

When it comes to handbags no other celebrity could clutch the title from Victoria Beckham. Over the space of a couple months she has been spotted with a white Jimmy Choo Marin bag (£650), a patent black Fendi bag (£775), fuchsia Hermès clutch, (£3 000), tan Hermès Birkin (£4 000), pink ostrich Fendi bag (£10 000), green Fendi bag (£1 200) and a tan and red Hermès bag (£4 000). Despite having her own handbag collection, she is reported to own over 100 versions of the Hermès Birkin bag (at a total of £400 000).

Nobody has kicked the spending into high gear more so than Imelda Marcos when it comes to shoes. As the wife of Ferdinand E. Marcos, the 10th President of the Philippines, Imelda housed an estimated 3 000 pairs of shoes behind the palace doors. The former first lady’s extravagant lifestyle reportedly included $5 million shopping tours in New York, Rome and Copenhagen and sending a plane to pick up Australian white sand for a new beach resort. She purchased a number of properties in Manhattan in the 1980s, including the $51-million Crown Building and the $60-million Herald Centre (she declined to purchase the Empire State Building for $750 million as she considered it “too ostentatious”). Her New York real estate was later seized and sold, along with much of her jewels and the majority of her 175-piece art collection, which included works by Michelangelo, Botticelli, and Canaletto. As of 2010 the Marcos family have an estimated net worth of over $220 billion.

When it comes to family spending one of the biggest Hollywood families is no doubt the Pitt-Jolie clan. It isn’t easy raising six children, especially when it involves hiring an army of tutors, nannies, chefs and private transportation. According to Bonnie Fuller of HollyBaby.com: “They spend about $10 million a year on the kids.” Jolie who landed at 18 on the 2010 Forbes Celebrity 100 Power List, with a salary of $20 million is followed by Pitt also banking $20 million. Brad and Angelina spend about $5 million on private jets, not including the cost of first-class tickets, so that they can take their family with them when they travel. Then there is the approximately $1 million on private tutors. The nannies earn around $900 000 a year and clothes spend is roughly $96 000 (possibly per child). Birthday parties are also a costly affair with $7 000 to charter a private boat for Pax’s 7th birthday. And who wouldn’t be envious of parents that have also rented out a zoo for a party for the kids.

For more information visit: www.forbes.com/lists, Oprah Winfrey Academy for girls www.owla.co.za, www.jupiterisland.com, www.maybach-manufaktur.com, www.gulfstream.com, www.hermes.com, www.jimmychoo.com, www.fendi.com, www.hollybaby.com, www.waldorfnewyork.com

In his usual, wacky ways that make sense to his following but very few others, Woody Allen sums it up perfectly, yet in a completely different context, in his film Whatever Works with a line delivered by Larry David: “The universe is winding down, why shouldn’t we?”

I saw a sadly amusing image recently of a glass display chamber for an open casket at the Robert L. Adams Mortuary in Compton, California which offers a drive-thru facility for mourners to pay their respects on the move. This takes not having personal time to the extreme and one can only hope this American ‘convenience’ never catches on locally. This month we appeal to our time-deprived subscribers to take some time to indulge – you’ve earned it.

Sit back and enjoy a multitude of lavish pleasures to stimulate body and mind. We take a look at the local Altech GT Challenge and how it attracts a collection of the most expensive racing cars to its track days, an international array of high-end gadgets and beauty products that are bling, beautiful and somewhat bodacious as well as an inspiring collection of five-star locations for your next getaway. Yet let’s not forget the importance of philanthropy for the soul. We look at the latest luxury trends with Silvana Bottega who talks about big brands giving back and while top spenders are investing in property in the latest ‘cities of the future’ they are giving more charity than ever before.

Self – Indulgence: The Power of “Me”
While the South African consumer market tends to lean towards understated luxury and moderated excess, for no holds barred indulgence, there are a number of fine, rare or highly crafted indulgences celebrating the art of “looking after me”.

MY NAME: Enjoy your own personalised, bespoke stationery set from The Letterpress Company. Visit: www.theletterpresscompany.co.za

MY NUMBER: Indulge in a limited edition, numbered bottle of Malus, the unique terroir spirit by The Elgin Distilling Company. Visit: www.malus.co.za

MY SELECTION: Support African artisans through the curatorship of your own selection of items: whether it be in the Carla Antoni Collection available at Okha(Visit: www.carlaantoni.com) or the fine fair-trade products available through Merchants on Long.Visit: www.merchantsonlong.com

MY COLLECTION: South African wealth circles have established an exclusive currency in art, with iconic artists like Dylan Lewis, Kentridge and Pierneef being indicators of the gravitas of a personal art collection. Sanlam Private Investments now offers an art advisory service to patrons who are looking to invest. Visit: www.sanlam.co.za and view Art Advisory Service)

MY CARD: Black, titanium and more recently the Absa Wealth Infinite cards abound, with your payment choice being a fine indicator of how much you can afford to indulge. (Visit absa.co.za and view the Wealth Infinite card)

MY SOUL: Experience the healing power of nature at the Self-Transformation Adventure Retreat (STAR) at Londolozi Game Reserve where, with the aid of coaches, you will open your mind to inner peace. Visit: www.londolozi.com

MY ISLAND: Nothing says indulgence quite like purchasing an island. For those who cannot afford to invest in an island, why not buy a piece of an island or retain exclusivity for a holiday. From a weekend at the One&Only in Mauritius, a private retreat to Fregate Island, to fractional ownership at Eden Island or taking a share in niche African isles: options abound for island lovers.www.fregate.com

MY WINGS: Fly 007 style by buying and naming your own jet or chartering the next time you fly from ExecuJet.www.execujet.net

Five-star hospitality destination Asara Wine Estate and Hotel in Stellenbosch recently launched Glenfiddich Whisky Sundays. It is a monthly event hosted at Asara’s whisky and cigar lounge, Sansibar. Until the end of August, guests can enjoy a Sunday lunch which includes a dram of that week’s featured whisky, music and a whisky professional to guide you through the tasting process. A grand finale event in September will offer a formal dinner paired with all of the whiskies featured until then. The next dates to diarise are 3 and 31 July and 28 August. For more information visit www.asara.co.za/hotel/promotions-and-specials

Some of the Western Cape’s finest restaurants will be offering special menus at affordable prices from 18 – 24 July in honour of the StreetSmart Winter Restaurant Week. Some 57 restaurants that are part of StreetSmart SA, an organisation dedicated to helping street children rebuild their lives, will help the NGO raises funds through a voluntary five rand donation with each table’s bill. StreetSmart Winter Restaurant Week is aimed at creating awareness for effective fundraising for street children. Visit www.streetsmartsa.org.za

Witness the talents of SA’s finest young artists at Africa’s top annual art competition, the Absa L’Atelier Art Awards, which enters its 26^th year in 2011 – making it the longest running and most prestigious art contest on the continent. The overall winner from the regional judging will be announced at the gala exhibition on 20 July. The exhibition of the top 100 works will be on show to the public from 21 July 2011 at Absa Gallery in Joburg. Contact (011) 350 5793 or visit http://latelier.you2me.co.za/main.html

Wine lovers will be flocking to Stellenbosch Wine Festival from 28 to 31 July. The Celebration of the Vine is one of the oldest country food and wine festivals in the Cape and will be happening at the Paul Roos Centre, showcasing culinary creations, music, the arts and of course wine. Guests will be treated to selections from over 500 wines, delights from top chefs, workshops and entertainment. Tickets to the wine festival range from R120 per day to a R350 Golden Pass for the whole festival. For information and bookings visit www.wineroute.co.za.

Wish the Springboks luck for the World Cup, while supporting a good cause, at the 14^th annual Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund banquet, the Bell’s Night of the Stars Rugby Extravaganza in Durban on 9^th August, to be held at the Durban ICC. The fund assists players who have suffered catastrophic injuries. The event offers live entertainment, an auction of rugby memorabilia and sought-after items and a raffle. Contact Alison Williams: (021) 659 5617, events@playersfund.org.za or visit www.playersfund.org.za.

The international dance sensation, Burn The Floor, comes directly from its record-breaking run on Broadway exclusively to Joburg Theatre. From 14 July to 14 August you can witness this dazzling ensemble of 20 champion dancers in a true theatrical experience. From Harlem’s hot nights at the Savoy where dances such as the Lindy, Foxtrot and Charleston were born, to the Latin Quarter where the sassy Cha-Cha, sensual Rumba and fiery Salsa steamed up the stage, Burn The Floor will take you on a journey through the passionate drama of dance. Ticket prices range from R195 – R365 and can be booked online at www.joburgtheatre.com

Salt aficionado Chef Craig Cormack will host salt and wine pairing dinners at Die Bergkelder in Stellenbosch on the last Thursday of every month. Be of the first to experience Fleur du Cap unfiltered wines paired with an impressive collection of rare salts from around the globe. Cormack designs dishes to achieve a particular flavour as a perfect taste partner to individual wines. These five-course dinners cost R400pp. Call (021) 809 8025 or visit www.bergkelder.co.za

Upon arrival we were treated to a light breakfast in the lounge area, decorated with plush modern rugs, ornate mirrors and an interesting collection of bold furniture. Thereafter we were shown to our gorgeous suites – located in the wooded parkland of the 613-hectare estate at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains, the boldly sophisticated Manor House offers complete privacy with 13 luxury suites, four grand suites and one large, two-bedroom master suite. Each room boasts its own unique colour palette and is styled in crisp metallics, sensual dark wood and an accent colour.

One sweep around the suite and it quickly became clear to me that any modern convenience and luxury amenity I could desire was at my disposal. A truly striking feature is the ornate mirror on the wall which turns into an enormous wide-screen TV screen at the press of a button. Throughout the Manor House, with its historic nuance and modern design, one can find a wide collection of exquisite South African and international artworks. The rooms all look out onto a picturesque courtyard with heated swimming pool and veranda, perfect for light lunches in the shade.

With a single telephone call, I was immediately assisted by my personal butler, who was on hand 24 hours a day to provide the superb service distinctive to the Manor House. Personalised conveniences also included breakfast served in my choice of venue, evening canapés with a glass of sparkling wine, afternoon high tea and a fully stocked, in-room complimentary refreshment centre and mini-bar with crystal decanters of premium drinks.

La Cantina Restaurant, where we spent a rather extended version of “brunch”, offered us an unforgettable five-course affair of delectable dishes created personally by Italian chef, Matteo Siliberti, whose passionate approach to culinary arts is reflected in his fresh and inspired dishes. Not a huge meat eater, I approached my main of fillet and truffle oil cautiously, but found myself savouring every last morsel. Definitely a dish I would recommend experiencing.

Later that evening after a delightful wine tasting in the luxurious master suite, we were lead to the Manor House restaurant, Henry White’s, so named after the first owner of Fancourt, Henry Fancourt White, which is sure to be pinpointed as a must for fine dining on the Garden Route. The classic yet dynamic menu offers a variety of prime meat and seafood dishes as well as extensive tasting menus complemented by award-winning wines.

Not just a golf estate, as is typically perceived, Fancourt houses a variety of outstanding resort facilities. Besides three Gary Player-designed golf courses (Montagu, Outeniqua and the highly exclusive Links), complete with clubhouse, golf academy and tailor-made Performance Lab, one also has access to a spa with heated indoor pool, sauna and steam room, hair salon and gym, swimming pools, tennis courts, designer shopping, two other restaurants and a conference centre.

For more information contact (044) 804 0000 or visit www.fancourt.co.za

Finding out we were on our way to ODI created further excitement as I had thrashed my Carrera RS around the tight circuit and wanted to feel if this 575hp and 700nm beast could be tamed.

However, when we got there the circuit could not to be used that day and this was the first test – to see if my mind could actually accept this enormously capable car as a real GT or Grand Tourer and not a super powerful toy.

We were given the opportunity to feel the acceleration of the W12 6.0 litre down the drag strip (0-100 in 4.6 seconds) and see it reach an almost 260kph indicated (short of a maximum of 318kph) before climbing on the brakes to bring down the hefty 2 320kg to a halt – a formidable task but one that the new-age Bentley is more than capable of achieving. Doing an impromptu slalom back down to the start/finish line just to feel if the all-wheel drive system can bring the directional stability in tow was not what was expected from my passenger, but as he was not unduly unsettled, it is clear that this type of manoeuvre is well within the confines of its ability.

An emergency stop test by pulling up the emergency brake button (the handbrake is automatic on such modern machinery) brings the bulk to a controlled stop with braking being applied to all four wheels in a well orchestrated stop. Even trying the same run in Sport mode there is still no tyre smoke just a strong push in the back, but it does ensure a little crisper exhaust note, slightly longer rev range and an improved measure of sprightliness that is more than acceptable for such a heavy package.

Doing an emergency lane change is the next order of business. For me this is not something that particularly impresses. Any modern electronically-controlled kit, especially in this market, should be more than able to handle it. What I wanted to see was whether Brian, Bentley’s director of powertrain, chassis and motorsport had told the truth – the electronics have been improved to be “intelligent” and can tell when you know what you are doing and will allow you some element of control (read ‘play’). Well, into the chicane we go, lift off, swerve right and miss the imaginary child, flick left – and yes the electronics do allow some element of driver skill. And all I could think was, wow can we try that on the track please?

After a brief lunch it’s my turn to drive the Continental GT on the road for a real world driving test. Yes, you can use this car every day. I am not sure how you get your mind around driving an over R3 million all-wheel drive coupe (burning on average 16.5 l/100km) in SA traffic daily, but let’s say this mindset is one you can live with – what a daily runner.
The ACC or cruise control is a dream. Set it to any speed (let’s say 120kph) – even driving at 20kph in traffic. It targets its radar on the car in front and as that car speeds up and slows down so do you.

Fitting my tall frame behind the wheel and still leaving me enough space to fit in the back is for me the litmus test of a daily driver, not whether it has two or four doors. It is all luxury inside and the traditions of old school charm such as knurled buttons are there, surreptitiously designed into the back or sides of the knobs – just to let you know you are still in one of the few hand-finished cars around.

On the open road just light pressure on the loud peddle propels this 4.8m behemoth to the next light year, this is the true measure of any GT car. No pointing and squirting today, just unadulterated power aplenty to move you from one GPS co-ordinate to the next in the utmost style.

The new design changes are understated but when parking an “old” GT next to the “new” one, the crispness of style and design changes certainly bring it to the next level and even though these are seemingly small changes the overall package is much more appealing.

For more information about this sleek new Bentley Continental GT visit www.bentleymotors.com