From a garden party, to the knighthood of a charity-knitting queen, to the reveal of celeb contestants competing for a share of R1m and then on to the opening of a photo exhibition where the cool kids came out to play.
With Covid rules recently relaxed, judging by the gatherings I attended this week the social scene is throwing shade at the pandemic.
First up, I found myself stepping across the manicured lawns of the Pretoria residence of French ambassador Aurélien Lechevallier, who bestowed his country's National Order of Merit on Carolyn Steyn on Wednesday at an event sensibly held outdoors on a sunny afternoon.
I say hello to Michael de Pinna, the performer better known as the leopard-print-undies star of those Yebo Gogo ads, before greeting UDM leader Bantu Holomisa.
This was hours before parliament was due to proceed on that no confidence motion on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s cabinet and the general explained he would cast his vote online from the comfort of his nearby home.
“Covid has saved us money, because we are no longer flying to Europe for conferences,” points out Bantu.
On to to saying hello to the lady of the hour, classy in a crisp off-white suit, who introduces me to the ambassador. The career diplomat has previously worked directly under French President Emmanuel Macron as his deputy diplomatic counsellor.
“And then I decided to emigrate,” he quips about his Pretoria post.
We snack on French-inspired canapés including foie gras and salmon mousse before the official bit of the day starts promptly when the ambassador heads up the steps of the residence to address us with the South African and French flags behind him.
“I must confess Carolyn and I are quite nervous; we feel butterflies,” he says, with the founder of 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day and wife of insurance titan Douw Steyn standing beside him.
Aurélien, whose audience includes radio host Anele Mdoda, arts administrator Ismail Mahomed, singer PJ Powers, artistic director Bongani Tembe, Carolyn’s sister Sharon Barkhuizen and designer David Tlale, regales us with a potted history of Carolyn’s career.
Turns out it is peppered with French connections, starting from the self-confessed Francophile’s turn as Joan of Arc when she was at Jeppe Girls High School.
Meanwhile, Carolyn shows off her Gallic proficiency by delivering her speech entirely in French before she is handed the blue and silver medal and we all toast her with our coupe glasses of French bubbly.
From clinking glasses of sparkling stars to drinking cocktails made with a smooth dairy/fruit mix at the launch of the 10th season of Tropika Island of Treasure on Thursday evening at the Southern Sun Hyde Park Hotel in Joburg.
The producers decided to bring back some of their most popular contestants for an All-Stars edition of the SABC3 reality competition series, which partners well-known faces with members of the public who compete for a cash pot.
Folk like model-cum-actress Roxy Louw; singer Kelly Khumalo; muscley former Isidingo actor Maurice Paige; actor Nay Maps and Afrikaans crooner Brendan Peyper will take part, while season 7 winner Anga “NaakMusiq” Makubalo will host.
I say hello to actress Khanya Mkangisa, who took part in the series set in the Maldives. Scanning the room and viewing her upcoming rivals, Khanya confessed she was a little apprehensive.
“I am sick of all these contestants who live in the gym,” she jokes. “I can’t be the first one out.”
On to saying hello to season 2 winner Shashi Naidoo who recently moved to the UAE. “I woke up one morning and felt I needed something different. Four days later I was on a plane to Dubai,” said the sexy personality about her move.
You can read my colleague Aspasia Karras’s interview with fiery singer Kelly, but I had to ask her if she will be watching that upcoming Netflix doccie about her slain lover Senzo Meyiwa.
“Don’t ask me nonsense,” was her reply.
Last spot on my diary for the week was the opening of the inaugural Photo Awards exhibition presented by Jägermeister in partnership with the Sunday Times and our sister publication, Sowetan, on Friday evening.
Held at the FotoZA in the Rosebank Mall, this wasn’t the usual cheese and boxed wine gallery affair.
With piping hot DJ Lamiez Holworthy, wearing a shiny black Diesel bodysuit, behind the decks, and guests such as creative bright spark Clive Mphasi (one of the competition judges) in attendance, the night was quite a vibe.
Rapper 2Lee Stark was the host for the evening, taking it in his stride when technical difficulties meant his mic wasn’t working, announcing the five category and five wild card winners including Pierre van Rooyen in the fashion category and Cape Town photographer Vahid Davids in the "After Dark" section.
Mind you, I quite liked an entry by Gugulethu Ndlalani in the fashion section — a stylised shot of two dapper guys in a clearing in Diepkloof, Soweto.
The image is part of a collaborative project, "Broken Villages", between Gugulethu and curator Mpumelelo Buthelezi that is all about "telling stories through the art of dressing".
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