1-on-1 with Tové

tove@jacarandafm.com

1. What is your favourite time of the day and why?

I love the anticipation of predawn. The moment when darkness yields to a placid grey glow and the day is gentle, almost holding it’s breath in the quiet. There’s a freshness even in the city, where streetlights burn though the need for them has passed. The day is poised, ready for action, and if you’re lucky, you can savour that whisper of hope, the moment before the movement that the day will bring opportunity, joy and the fulfilment of dreams.

2. What is the oddest gift you have ever received?

I’m nutty about gifts – I love them, I love surprises, I love tearing open the wrapping paper - rebelling against polite cellotape peeling and delicate prizing back of the paper. The oddest gift I’ve ever received has to be a website voucher. You get a certain financial rating and with that status, you surf to the website and see what lifestyle gift you’d like to have. Prizes include, skydiving, limo drives, massages etc. It’s a great gift of choice.

3. Most embarrassing moment on air?

I used to be a weekend sports anchor for a talk station. The programme manager also had a weekend show for which I produced and presented sports bulletins. News first, spots (radio lingo for adverts) then sports. The studio was quite far away from the newsroom and under deadline pressure; I hadn’t noticed the time nor my news colleague going off to do the bulletin. There couldn’t have been a worse person to make that mistake in front of! He called for me over the radio and I had to sheepishly deliver my gripping sports bulletin a full 7 minutes late!

4. Which do you prefer: Bondi beach/Alpine snowy slopes/African bush?

Each of them has such a beautiful rhythm and they appeal to different aspects of my personality. Pushed for a definitive answer, I’d choose something I know, love and am inspired by – the African Bush. The smell, the colours, the light at different times of the day. The unexpected cascade of a waterfall that gives way to a ravine, the contrasting landscapes, the majesty of the animals is home to me.

5. Any phobias?

I can deal with spiders, snakes and bugs though they aren’t my all time favourite. I’m not crazy about heights but I can cope. Small spaces are better when you can expand them a bit. My phobias seem to happen in my sleep rather than in reality. They are like recurring nightmares. The first is a cataclysmic horror ride in a lift that jolts and grinds into horrendous angles, doors opening, side panels flying off. The second is a monumental Tsunami, higher than two Carlton Centres towering above each other. The wave approaches and I’m always trying to gather my family and hurry them to higher ground.

6. Knowing that millions of people are listening, tell us what it feels like to be behind the microphone?

Being behind the microphone feels as natural to me as an athlete in pristine condition, executing the perfect physical and artistic achievement en route to an Olympic gold medal. I love being behind the microphone and although millions of people may be listening, I like to imagine that I have made the day of just one person. To make them feel better about themselves inspired and uplifted is what radio is all about for me.

7. What is your life’s ‘greatest hit’ and why?

Music is such a blessing to all of us. The songs, the artists – there are so many to choose from, isolating one seems impossible. But if I were to choose, I’d consider the exhilaration, joy, and sheer pleasure of a Brand New Heavies track called, “You are the Universe”. I believe that if we incorporate the lyrics into our daily existence we not only pay homage to our creator and the blessings we can give and receive, but we too can become creators of our own universe. “If you can dream it – you can achieve it”.

8. What car do you drive at the moment and what is your dream car?

I am fortunate enough to have two cars. I have a Toyota Hilux twincab that is a dream for pavement parking of course, but I also take my son’s pit bike on the back and take it onto the beach or into the bush to earn its muddy stripes. For sheer indulgence and blow my hair back pleasure, I am spoiled by the class and sophistication of a BMW cab. My dream car is largely satisfied in the combination of these two vehicles but who could resist the low-slung power and style of a black Lotus Esprit?

9. Do you have any unusual hobbies or pets? If yes, explain and tell us a bit about it.

I have a bunch of crazy hobbies. Photography being an integral part of my life as well as family and friends. Now I shoot mini movies, directing and editing them myself. Any family event becomes a mini movie, complete with original soundtrack, titles and credits as well as outtakes (the best part of all movies!)

Pets? I have a Shar Pei who is a delight to me. Her wrinkles have grown out a little now that she’s not a puppy, but she is still the cutest dog I know. I also have a pond with tame Koi whom I call by name to swim up to me. They swim right into my hands and allow me to hold them and stroke them – they are magnificent.

10. Where is your favourite holiday spot?

In South Africa, I love the Balito area even though it’s been so heavily developed over the last decade. We’re an action family so we inevitably take our son quad biking through the sugar cane fields, micro-lighting over the beach and snorkelling. I love Knysna, and the Cape wine lands. I regard Mpumalanga as a true African paradise – sweeping contrasts of majestic landscapes, dramatic rock formations and an abundant diversity of vegetation. We quad there too and there’s nothing like taking a helicopter right up to cascading waterfalls that splash across the windows. If we’re overseas, New York is always edgy, dynamic and fun, Rome is spectacular, Athens is lovely even in the winter, Paris is mesmerising but particularly in the spring and I love skiing in Austria.

11. What kind of food do you enjoy and can you cook it yourself?

I am a big fan of BBC Food –I watch all the different chefs and enjoy their personalities and the food that they cook. I like going to restaurants and emulating a particular meal that caught the family’s attention. Sometimes, I can get really close to the original. Chinese is easy to cook but hectic to prepare but I love it. Italian food is delicious. Greek food is best cooked by Greeks like my good friend Harry Sideropolous who spoils us with 6 star luxury.

12. What is the sure fire thing that gets you to feel good, relax and chilled?

Music. A great song can be a melodic tonic to thwart any pressure or anxiety.

13. Tell us something you think no one knows about you.

Magicians fascinate me. I’d love to be able to do magic. We bought our son one of those kids magic sets but I think had more fun learning and performing magic tricks than he did. I’d love to be a magicians apprentice for a day.

14. Your favourite restaurant?

Food is like music; it all depends on your mood. Tribes at Emperors Palace offer a single dining room experience, intimate enough for a small family who can sit upstairs away from the remainder of the restaurant. The service is excellent and the food is superb.

15. The one place in the world you would like to visit and why?

Venice. I know it’s so tourist of me! Millions of people have the same idyllic place on their list of places to visit. I can’t help being intrigued by the city, the waterways and the people. The more you learn about a place, the greater your appreciation when you finally visit it in person. I’m all studied up – now it’s time to get to Italia!