Sure Travel Journey Vol 4.4 Spring 2018 | Page 15

How I
Travel
with Cathy Specific
Cathy Specific (Brendan van Rhyn) is South Africa’s
First Lady of Flying. As the lead “Trolley Dolly” at
Cape Town’s premier cabaret dinner theatre, Gate69
(www.gate69.co.za), this Queen of the Skies and
business owner knows a thing or two about travel
and comfort. Born out of Van Rhyn’s real-life
experiences as a flight attendant, Ms Specific is the
pin-up girl for travel in this country,
and a delight to all whom she
serves. The frequent flier
shares a few items she could
never travel without:
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1 | The outfit
I like to dress comfortably – slightly
demure and incognito, but still
showing off my figure. It’s impossible
not to be recognised, though – they
say it’s the cheek bones! A pashmina
can help ward off the chill from the
air con; I like to be snug in my lie-flat
bed. And always a heel – I didn’t
work this hard on my calves not to
show them off! Since I always fly first
class, I accessorise with pearls (I’m
an old-fashioned girl) and manicured
nails, as well as my diamond ring – a
passenger bought this for me once,
though I’ve never seen him since. If I
sold it, I wouldn’t have to work again!
2 | Makeup bag and wipes
There’s no excuse for looking
dishevelled; I am an aviation goddess,
after all. I’m never without my Kryolan
make-up or MAC wipes so I can look
my best on and off the aircraft.
3 | Cellphone and charger
Key for staying in touch with friends
and business contacts while travelling.
It’s also crucial to document my
travels and keep up on social media.
4 | Business cards
Whether I’m travelling for business
or pleasure, I’ve always got a few
Gate69 cards … It’s imperative the
world knows about this little gem and
I’m unapologetic about spreading
the word.
5 | Sparkling water and Berocca
As soon as I make it through security,
I buy a bottle of sparkling water – a
girl’s got to stay lubricated! I also
often add a Berocca to ensure I’ve got
my daily dose of vitamins and to keep
the jetlag at bay. Who knows, perhaps
I’m just addicted to the fizz!
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6 | Wallet (inside carry-on)
Nothing wrong with a bit of retail
therapy while abroad, and a bit of Duty
Free is always a must. You also never
know whom I might have to take out
to dinner …
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7 | Pepper spray
I’m forever having to fend off a
captain or co-pilot.
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PHOTO © JUSTIN YOUENS
MAKE MEMORIES FOR LIFE // 15