“December is often the busiest season for actors and performers and this year is one of those for me! I am playing Bouboulina the Blue Fairy in this year’s pantomime Pinocchio at the Joburg Theatre – and will be doing so right through the holiday season and into the New Year! After a break of 6 years since I last strutted my stuff in ‘pantoland’ – it’s fantastic to be back treading the vast boards of the Nelson Mandela Auditorium. All characters in panto explore aspects of the clown – both comic and tragic – and this year am playing the Blue Fairy in the mould of that great comedienne Mae West – who managed to make sexual reference and allusion funny! It feels fantastic to give such pleasure to audiences. I am followed by an entourage of Blue Ballet Fairies – every girl’s dream! So will be enjoying making people laugh over the festive season – signing autographs for enchanted little ones and of course unwinding with the large cast after the shows! But you can bet that after the season I will be on safari – enjoying a well-deserved bush break. Walking, game spotting and enjoying sundowners while watching the magnificent African sunsets! So much more enjoyable when one feels one has earned the break!!”

 

 
“What holiday? It’s all work, work and work – but good work in that I am part of a number of projects that will be delivering some really fantastic Christmas gifts to people who need it including the hand over of 16 homes to 16 women who have been victims of domestic violence with the Department of Local and Provincial Government. There’s also a Shoprite sponsored project where we give R10 000 to five homes that are looking after children that are orphans or disabled. I’m also participating in a walk to commemorate the World Aids Day, promoting the radio Station and hosting a New Year’s Eve Bash sponsored by MTN. In between that, I will make time to spend with my wife and kids. So all in all – a busy but really “feel good” time.”

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
“Since I have only just come back from Thailand, the holidays will be spent in quiet, sunny Johannesburg; Christmas with my family which will be wonderful since my brother will be visiting from Sweden. I’m also likely to go up to Sun City for a few days at some point over the hols. Happy Holidays…”

 
 
 

 
“This year it’s Christmas in Durban, with my parents. New Year’s in Berlin, with, I guess, the Germans. I found an extremely cheap flight with Egypt Air. Not that I’m looking forward to flying but at least there’ll be other Muslims on the plane for people to worry about. The pilot, especially…”

 
 
 
 

 
“On the 13th of December I am leaving for Europe with my family and we are landing in Zurich and taking an old school slow grand tour by car down to my holiday home in Pietrastornina near the Amalfi Coast. Our itinerary is Zurich, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Vienna, Graz, Trieste, Venice, Perugia, Orvieto, Rome, Naples, Pietrastornina and then back via Milan, Piedmont, Geneva and back to Zurich. Yay…I can’t wait….Great food, beautiful Opera and incredible Family.”