Seasonal AustinWith Butler Jetting off SeptemberthisROCKIN’JAILHOUSE Sunsets SEPTEMBERcloseupuk.com2022 The UPSWITCHfashionmen’slatesttrendsLOOKSHARPGettingyourhealthintogearBACKTOREALITYThe Journey to BigdreamsManifestSuccessyourwithMouthMakingtheTheEducationSupplementGRADE
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Referring to the natural chemical release, dopamine dressing allows us to dress to impact our mood using connections between colour and mood. With a summer of travel under our belt and the most seemingly normal September underway it certainly feels apt don’t you agree? DressingDopamineDiscoverISSOGOODRIGHT NOW: Pink Satin Double Breasted Relaxed Blazer £80 Sleeveless Wrap Midi Summer Dress £44 Forever Comfort ® Scalloped Peep Toe Wedges £44 Padded Cross-Body Bag £24 Pink Satin Super Wide Leg Trousers £45 Strappy Crinkle Satin Midi Dress £52 Textured Shirt and Co-ordShorts £36 Fancy adding some colour into your life and wardrobe... Then look no further than Next’s dopamine filled summer range!
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Get the clear vision you were always supposed to have Stop investing in short term vision for a long-term compromise
RELEX SMILE is a new autonomous, robotic treatment to correct astigmatism, blurriness, short-sightedness and dry eyes. It takes just 25 seconds depending on your prescription, with no pain or discomfort.
What is RELEX SMILE?
This new-age robotic treatment is a refractive lenticule extraction which gently reshapes the cornea after extracting the lenticle on the surface of your eye. At My-iclinic, their specialist optometrists carefully work with you to evaluate your eyes. At the heart of patient eye care, they will offer you the best possible course of treatment for your prescription, allowing you to re-discover a life of clear, normal vision. You might be asking; well why would I bother getting rid of glasses and contact lenses?
Let alone contribute to the rise of climate change and drain your finances by being a recurring habit…
After the treatment you can continue life completely glasses free while saving yourself the financial burden of never buying daily contact lenses ever again! That’s amazing right? And you might be thinking it’s almost too amazing to be true. But let me break it down first.
6 • CLOSEUP
For you they are no doubt the seemingly convenient, cheap and quick fix to see every day; trust me, I only knew this way of life before I decided to have treatment. Whether it’s a work day in the office, driving to visit family, travelling with friends or training at the gym; wearing glasses or contact lenses sure beats seeing life in a blur-scape. You might even be wearing glasses to read right now… But although your glasses and contact lenses are very convenient short-term solutions, have you ever considered how wearing these products can in fact ruin your eye health for more than it’s worth?
How does RELEX SMILE treatment permanently restore clear, natural vision?
How expensive is RELEX SMILE?
And most importantly… No risk, no blindness!
And It’s not only the activities, but also the time! I spent most of my time in the mirror, whether it be the mornings, afternoon and evenings; trying to not poke my eye out because I wanted an easy-going time without needing glasses. I’d rather wake up and never fear losing my sight because I already have my focus fixed. Everything is clear, simple. I’ve invested in my hobbies, and the easiness of my everyday routine by investing in the health of my eyes.
‘The Treatment Myth’ There is a lingering stigma around surgical treatments because of the highly sensitive and intricate nature of our eyes. But there is nothing safer than being in the hands of expert ophthalmologists. Look at it this way, we think flying is risky, but in fact flying is much safer than driving a car. A car is FIVE TIMES more dangerous, but we somehow feel safer because it is a familiar, everyday use. The truth is glasses and contact lenses are our familiar everyday use and we have become so accustomed to this lifestyle choice that we forget the risk of blindness.
For an average prescription, wearing contact lenses every year averages around £660 to keep your sight, always with the added guarantee of an infection risk. Let’s say for twenty years of sight that accumulates to a cost of £13,200, while contributing to 16,000 million tonnes of plastic contact lenses for those twenty years of purchase and use. While RELEX SMILE is a permanent correction for an unlimited amount of time.
Since having the one-time purchase of RELEX SMILE eye treatment; the convenience it has brought to my lifestyle, let alone the precision and clarity I see now, is unbeatable. I will never need to wear glasses or contact lenses again. Make your eyes smile with
I can almost hear the looming thought, “Ah but it’s too expensive”. But is it? How much would you spend on contact lenses every year?
And as for glasses, people spend an average of £150300 per frame for every change in their prescription with the additional cost of optician visits, while contributing to 100,000 tonnes of plastic waste.
CLOSEUP • 7 Reception@my-iclinic.co.uk • Enquiries@my-iclinic.co.uk Tel: 020 8445 8877 • www.my-iclinic.co.uk Scan our code to get access to our website The truth about short term fixes
RELEX SMILE...
Hard to swallow facts: You aren’t going green if your eye-style isn’t sustainable. 100,000 tonnes of plastic are wasted from glasses every year while 800 million plastic contact lenses are used by 4 million people each year.
A Long-term finance plan that suits you No compromise on your hobbies and lifestyle Saving the planet by being sustainable!
A short-term solution like contact lenses is a long-term compromise. I had to take contacts out every night after work. For my long list of hobbies, water sports and camping became the ultimate nightmare and if I misplaced my contacts solution – I panicked! I couldn’t see unless I used my backup glasses, which really defeats the point of contact lenses in the first place.
To be a part of going completely keen to rely on mass produced products to keep my vision clear. It’s one of those things we aren’t educated on, so naturally we buy into ‘the gift of sight’ as something we keep having to repeatedly purchase.
My-iclinic offers a 0% interest free finance plan with the total cost of £1,900 for each eye, free from glasses.
8 • CLOSEUP Living Page 52
The long summer nights start to close in, your online shopping basket goes from bikinis to boots, and you start getting back into your ‘routine’. But it’s not quite the same routine you had before summer, it’s a new one because the imaginary reset button has been pressed! Whether it’s because your children have started a new school or a new school year, or you’ve come back from holiday feeling refreshed and ready to start a new chapter, the air just feels brand new, and we’re here for it. I don’t always like change. It depends what it is, but once I’m in a little bubble and everything’s going smoothly – why do we need to change things? What was wrong with the little bubble? But sometimes you need to make changes, to make your little bubble better. It’s the same with seasons. Spring turns into summer with the smoothest transition. The only time you realise it’s happened is when you can finally leave your coat at home. But even then, we live in London and it might have to come back out at any time! With autumn there is no smooth transition. We finally get to bank holiday weekend and even if we have a sunny September, in our eyes, it’s Halloween today and Christmas tomorrow. I’m sure a lot of Elvis fans felt unsure when they saw a brand-new biographical movie of the King himself was soon to come out, played by the extremely talented Austin Butler. The 30-year-old actor faced a challenge: how do you capture the humanity of the most widely impersonated, parodied man of all time? You can read all about how he nailed the voice, the style and the moves to produce one of the year's stand-out performances on page 12. So, if an opportunity arises for change, big or small, embrace it. Hit the reset button. You never know, ofmightmagnificentsomethingcomeit!
Fashion Page 68 Southgate,
Palmers Green, Winchmore Hill, Grange Park, Enfield, Oakwood, Hampden Square, Cockfosters, Crouch End, Hadley Wood, Barnet, Totteridge, Whetstone, Finchley, Muswell Hill and Potters Bar. Advertise Your Business With Style Publisher and Editor Leah Shakallis leah@closeupuk.com Field Sales Assistant Elena Pedonomou elena@closeupuk.com Accounts Director Chris Papacosta chris@closeupuk.com Careers charley@closeupuk.com Blog Katerina Georgiou Education Anna Pericleous Big Mouth officialbigmouth@outlook.com PLEASE NOTE: Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Although we make every effort to quote correct prices of items featured, it is possible that these may have changed on going to press. Although we endeavour to ensure any organisations or firms mentioned are reputable, the editor cannot guarantee they will fulfil obligations in all circumstances. Neither the editor nor the publisher can accept responsibility for any materials submitted, whether photographic or otherwise. The editor reserves the right to edit any materials supplied as she sees fit.RECYCLE Printed by the Magazine Printing Company PLC www.magprint.co.uk Tel 020 8323 2444 Email sayhello@closeupuk.com Web www.closeupuk.com If you would like to advertise your business with style, contact 020 8323 2444 sayhello@closeupuk.com This month in Leah x EDITOR leah@closeupuk.com Follow us Instagramon @closeupmagazineuk Facebook @closeupmagazineuk and Twitter @CloseUpMag Food Page 56 Living Page 50 Travel Page 66 Netflix Page 64 EDITOR'S LETTER Hit the BUTTONRESET SupplementEducation Page 29
D oes anyone else feel like September has this imaginary reset button?
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The simple addition of a lamp automatically brings a sense of warmth into your home. This face lamp has an engraved, abstract design and chunky ceramic base. As well as being on trend, it’ll add a calming yet creative element to any room.
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PACK-A-PUNCH
Close Up’s monthly guide to what you should be wishing for…
FACE IT
FENDI Monogram Cat-eye Acetate, £370 www.selfridges.com
WISHlist
your
Face Table Lamp, www.made.com£45
EARTHY DELIGHTS Take over the streets in TORNADO — a no-nonsense combat bootie featuring a chunky treaded sole and extra-long laces. Pair with a cropped leather jacket and this tough-chic style is sure to bring out inner bad girl! Tornado Beige Suede, www.stevemadden.co.uk£150
EYE CANDY Shaped to an oversized cat-eye silhouette, these sunnies are perfect for styling winter outfits. You’ll also see the label’s signature in gold at the side. There’s no hiding who designed your new favourite shades, eh?
POWER PUFF
The season is changing: it’s time to get layering, and a gilet will be your fair-weather friend in the best of ways. A puffer gilet really is this season’s pairwith-anything coat, adding a more sporty, casual touch to virtually any ensemble. Oversized Quilted Vest, www.abercrombie.com£36.99 Torn between the boho and modern home aesthetic? This cushion is your answer, it’s the absolute best of both styles and we couldn’t be more obsessed! Throw one in each corner of the sofa or create a whole row of them to really make them a feature! Slub Stitch Tassel Cushion, £10 www.primark.com
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COVER INTERVIEW 12 • CLOSEUP
CAN’TINFALLINGHELPLOVE…“FORME,ITWASJUSTTRYINGTOFINDOUTwhohewasASAMAN,TOhumanisehimandconnecttohimONTHATLEVEL.” with Austin Butler Hollywood heartthrob Austin Butler became popular through various roles on the Disney Channel, Nickelodeon and CW. In July 2019, news broke that Austin Butler was tapped to play Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming biopic. CLOSEUP • 13
“I created my own archive OF HOW HE SAID EVERY WORD AND THE WAY THAT HE USED MUSICALITY in his voice.”
Butler’s singing voice was used for Elvis’ early life, with tracks like “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” and “Hound Dog,” whereas Luhrmann blended Butler and Elvis together as the Rock ‘n’ Roll star gets older. The singing we hear in the film is a “mix of me and Elvis,” says Butler, though “all the 50s stuff” is Butler’s voice alone, as the original recordings were not high quality enough to be used for the film. “On ‘Suspicious Minds’ in particular, I can’t tell when my voice ends and his begins,” Butler said. Neither, it seems, can audiences. “Music has always been a part of my life but always a very private thing,” Butler recalled. “It was just my own form of therapy. I knew that the singing aspect of [the role] was going to be something I really wanted to give everything I had to.”
COVER INTERVIEW
14 • CLOSEUP
Austin has won acclaim left, right and centre for his starring turn as the titular Rock ‘n’ Roll King in Elvis. “My big goal right from the beginning was not becoming a caricature of him,” Butler told of his approach to The King. “For me, it was just trying to find out who he was as a man, to humanise him and connect to him on that level.” “I created my own archive of how he said every word and the way that he used musicality in his voice.” “I’d hear him say a certain word and I would just clip that bit out, so I knew how he said that word,” He looked at everything: web archives compiled by “super-fans,” YouTube videos, other resources available online. To really crack the cadence and rhythm of Presley’s voice, he turned to a dialect coach. “I’d just keep honing it until I could get as specific as possible,” he says. Watching interviews of Austin online, especially those closer to the end of production, you’ll notice how elements of the Elvis voice have seemingly stuck with him. He hasn’t quite lost that archetypal drawl. That voice, arguably the most recognisable of all time, was inarguably Butler’s biggest hurdle: put too much on it, and it sounds like a parody, but if there isn’t enough, it isn’t the King. Fortunately, like a plate of chocolate cake, he hit the sweet spot. How about the music? It’s a mix: Butler conjures the very spirit of Elvis: his frenetic mannerisms, his obvious, insatiable longing for the love of the audience, his inherent, irresistible sexuality. Most of all, however, Butler has Elvis’s voice down pat – every song has the inflections and timbre just right, always on the spectrum between energetic grit and crooning smoothness.
Austin Butler is having a busy year. Elvis, of course, one of the big hits of the summer, and now, he is set to star alongside Tom Hardy and Jodie Comer in Jeff Nichols’ new film, The Bikeriders, based on Danny Lyons’ seminal 1968 photo essay of the same name, which documents the rise of the Chicago Outlaws motorcycle club from misfit motorcyclists to outright criminal enterprise. CLOSEUP • 15
“I HAD TWO YEARS OF nothingDOINGobsessing”but
Elvis, and naturally its titular star, was costumed by Luhrmann’s wife and long-time collaborator, Hollywood costume designer Catherine Martin. “With Elvis, we created an enormous chart with all of Elvis’ jumpsuits — it was a very long chart, and those kinds of things allow you to conceptualise a little bit how you’re gonna deal with that part of Elvis’ costuming history,” she says. “You’ve gotta find a way of compressing a whole lot of story points. You can basically draw from the legacy of Elvis’ costumes and synthesise a look out of what he actually wore and imagine what he would’ve worn in this particular scene.” It wasn’t just a case, according to Martin, of bringing to life some of the old sartorial numbers — what might’ve worked on Elvis’ frame at the time wouldn’t necessarily carry off as well on Butler. There needed to be small adjustments here and there. “We needed to find a way of making the historical costumes really work with him,” she recalls. “Baz was always talking about, ‘it’s not imitation, it’s interpretation.’”
Lisa Marie Presley – Elvis’ only child – was also very happy with how Elvis came out. She wrote on her Instagram: “I want to take a moment to let you know that I have seen Baz Luhrmann’s movie ‘Elvis’ twice now, and let me tell you that it is nothing short of spectacular. Absolutely exquisite.”
According to Entertainment Weekly, Butler worked through a variety of dance styles to find his Elvis moves — from the famous tip-toe strut (for which he tackled tap dancing) to his little quirks, the leg shakes and the jitters. “Your muscles get quite fatigued, and you have to build up stamina with those things. My body still feels it,”. But how did Butler learn to “shake like Elvis”? It was the product of a lot of hard work. “I had two years of doing nothing but obsessing,” Butler recalls, laughing. “There’s so much footage of Elvis out there. It’s overwhelming at first. It’s so surreal.”
Last month Elvis hit home rental services. This means fans of Elvis Presley can now relive Luhrmann’s interpretation of the iconic singer anytime they want. For Priscilla Presley, however, it was something more than that. She witnessed her actual life being portrayed on the big screen for the first time. Looking back on watching her ex-husband come to life on the silver screen, she admitted it was hard to take in. Priscilla opened up about watching the film for the first time on her Facebook shortly before release. She confessed watching Elvis’ journey on the big screen was “very emotional”. She continued by praising Elvis star Austin Butler, “My daughter [Lisa Marie Presley] felt the same way. Only because he got Elvis to a T – I mean to a T. It is unbelievable what this kid did, Austin Butler.” Priscilla went on to gush about Butler further, noting that it was “shocking” to watch him play the star. She went on to describe being left confused by his performance. “Even some of the songs,” she went on. “Jerry Schilling [Elvis’ talent manager] sat next to me, we had a private screening, and I said: ‘Is that Elvis or is that Austin?’” After being told that it was Butler on the big screen, Presley replied: “Are you sure?!” “About a minute later,” Presley said. “He goes: ‘That’s Austin.’ That’s how amazing he is.” She also praised the star for putting his “heart and soul and many hours into the film”.
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FASHION TWO’S Company Co-Ords will solve all your summer styling woes. As easy to style as a dress but with double the options. We have rounded up a bunch of styles to stand out this season whether you’re team trouser or team skirt. Printed Top & Other Stories £85 WrapPrintedSkirt & Other Stories £85 BoucleSkirt George£14 ShacketBoucle George£28 Rope T-ShirtPrint £95GANNI Linen TrousersBlend £32.99Zara Linen WaistcoatBlend £29.99Zara Rope ShortsPrint £125GANNI &WovenPrintedTongoroTopPantsSet £335Net-A-Porter 18 • CLOSEUP
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20 • CLOSEUP LASH Laws Equipping yourself with one of the best mascaras is a guaranteed way to take your eye makeup to the next level. After all, there is a reason why mascara is a staple product in almost everyone’s makeup bag. Take a look at our top picks! Kaia Gerber Maybelline Sky High Lash Sensational Mascara Look Fantastic£11.99 Le MascaraVolume £31CHANEL OvercurlIconic £31DIOR Lash Slick Glossier£16 Future MascaraLash £26BeautyBeckhamVictoriaMascaraClimaxNARS Cult £23.50Beauty VolumeFauxEffetCils YSL Beauty£29 LegendaryLashes CharlotteTilbury£25 DisturbiaVolume £25BeautyGivenchy
CLOSEUP • 21 STEPHANIE JACKSON Practising from her clinic in South Kensington, Stephanie offers By Appointment services only. With over a decade spent in the industry, Stephanie has proudly established a beauty brand that promotes self confidence and female empowerment. She is widely known for her bespoke microblading treatment, “SJBrows” , and has spent the last two years working hard to create the perfect Eyebrow Gel, suited for both new and existing clients. To compliment the gel, Stephanie has formulated a Pre and Post Care Treatment that nourishes the natural eyebrow hairs, hydrates the skin and maintains pigment vitality The products will be launching in the coming weeks, available to purchase both online and in clinic. LONDON’S LEADING MICROBLADING & PERMANENT MAKE UP ARTIST Treatments Include: Microblading Combination Brows SJ Lash Lift Eyeliner Lip Blush HD & Sheer Lips "I have been having my eyebrows microbladed with Steph since 2018 and I would never go anywhere else. Her work is excellent and her attention to detail is second to none. She created a natural and full shape for me and has saved me countless hours drawing them in I wouldn't let anyone else near my brows!" +44 7707 079 w470sww.sjbrowslondon.com jbrowslondon
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For 6 years I was emotionally unstable, erratic, cried most days, and my whole being was consumed with me failing at this relationship. The more I tried, the more I failed, the more I hurt. Because my efforts were coming from a place of negativity and my efforts were directed at someone who was negative by nature.
24 • CLOSEUP
I want to talk more about how if your deep-rooted belief is that life is a positive experience, then positive things will happen to you. I’ve been on both sides of the dial in terms of super happy and positive and also on the floor wishing the world would just swallow me up; in both instances, my life was affected, but very differently. Let’s revert to that terrible relationship I always talk about which hardly registers on my life-dar anymore.
My friend constantly talks about manifesting; the idea that anything you believe is possible, is in fact, possible. I never scoffed at the idea of it, but I never really understood the power of it, until I put it into practice myself; not knowingly or willingly, but as a biproduct of my investment in me. That as soon as I truly believed something was for me, it became, But I had to work for it. I want to share some of the ways in which my positive outlook on life really changed me for the better, and I promise you, I can testify to these.
Now before all the good stuff happens, you need to address all the bad stuff. We would all love to believe that the sun shines out of our proverbial backsides, the reality is,
THE POWER OF positive thinking!
1. Come toe to toe with the things you don’t like about yourself.
Was I confident? Absolutely not. I hated the way I looked, and it was pretty obvious by the number of quick fixes and fillers I tried.
Are you a decent person to be around? Are you emotionally intelligent, can you handle difficult situations, do you lift people up instead of tearing people down? Would you want to spend time with you? Before you can do the improvement work, you need to understand where you’re starting.
What part have YOU played in YOU being where YOU want to be in life? Whether that’s career, maintaining relationships, financial situation. Ask yourself, why are you not there? What is in your control that you can change that you haven’t?
It’s probably the most cliché thing you’ll read today and you’re probably rolling your eyes as it’s another happy, clappy, hippy telling you how you can turn your life around by jumping out of bed in the morning, reading your list of affirmations and chanting ‘I love you’ in the mirror 150 times. I’m not far off that but it’s not quite that.
2. When you think positively about yourself, you draw more positivity into your life. Let’s be honest, I was desperate. I remember trying to date and my guy friends would always say men could smell desperation a mile off. I never really believed it, as I thought I did such a great job of covering it up. But it’s true, when it comes from such a deep place of sadness, your aura is off kilter. Unless you truly believe that you’re worth more, you will come across as grateful. When I finally believed that I was too good for the crumbs, I started to radiate a different energy.
The point I’m making is that if you don’t do the “shadow work” to get to a place of true contentment, no amount of acting can change the perception of you. YOU need to change the perception of YOU.
3. Be selfish Don’t be scared to put yourself first. I have spent a lifetime worrying and putting other people before myself and some of them, unknowingly were sucking the life out of me. I made a decision to set more boundaries to protect my own energy.
Big Mouth
4. You will attract people on the same vibration as you. I attracted terrible, broken, emotionally unavailable men when I myself was broken and emotionally Apparently,unavailable. you can have more than one soulmate, and I agree with this. Depending on where you are in your journey, you will attract a “soulmate” at the same frequency as you; good or bad. I remember my ex once said to me I’d end up with a CEO of a big company and live a happy, luxurious life. I’m pretty sure he helped me manifest this one.
I have now indeed met “Mr CEO”, we are both on par in terms of career, ambition, personal development and so far, so good. Would I have been able to maintain this relationship if it wasn’t for the positive changes I made to my life or the positive reinforcement I’ve given myself? Probably not. Do I think I’ve found my equal in life finally? Well, for now yes, who knows what’s to come but what I do know is that I now look back and realise I could’ve been so much happier if I gave myself the love I gave others, who shouldn’t have had access to me. Now I do, there’s not a week that goes by when something amazing doesn’t happen in my world. Be positive, be happy, see the good in every bad situation.
By the end of that trip, I was a different person. I took the opportunity to relax, away from everything that was hurting me, I leaned into my experiences and made a conscious effort to immerse myself into the present moment as opposed to thinking about the past and worrying about the future, and I had never felt more free.
I decided to view every experience in a positive light. I showed gratitude for the opportunities presented to me. The more you incorporate positive affirmations into your life and see everything as a positive encounter, for your betterment, you will start naturally gravitating more positive events, and people into your life.
You know that saying ‘misery loves company’? It’s true and it’s like mould, the more you’re around it, the more it spreads. If you need to keep these people at an arm’s length, do it. If something doesn’t feel good for your soul, don’t do it. I finally built up my positive energy force, my mission now is to protect it at all costs.
xx CLOSEUP • 25
My self-critique was at an all-time high and I continuously looked to others to validate me as a person. No wonder I was fishing for affection in a sess pit; I was too self-deprecating to go fish in the pool of decent humans. So, I decided to make a change and stick to it, starting with morning gym sessions. This routine has me less stressed; I feel healthier and stronger and I feel good knowing that I am investing all this energy into me. Oh, and I look decent naked! I wouldn’t be kicked out of bed for farting put it that way. Not to mention, exercise increases your happy hormones! Even though I am not where I want to be yet, I am so happy that I have taken actionable steps to become a better, healthier version of me. I’ve become one of those people who’ve got their shit together. Wake up, gym, coffee, breakfast, work. My fillers have dissolved, the botox has run its course and I’m in no rush to go and get any top ups. I’m literally glowing from the inside and have never looked better!
I went on a girl’s holiday for two weeks. It was so long overdue. I boarded that plane broken on the inside but appearing whole on the outside. The cracks started showing after a couple of days. I would go quiet; I would appear zoned out and generally quite sad.
Since I’ve left the Villa, I’ve had such an amazing reception to my music, my listeners have gone up and people have really been engaging. I’m really grateful that I got a chance for my music to get heard and now I’m really excited for this single to come out and see where it can go. If you could collab with any artist, who would it be and why? If I could collaborate with any artist, there’s honestly so many and I feel like every time I get asked this question there’ll be a different answer depending on the mood I’m in. But today, I’m gonna say Dua Lipa. I would love to do like a girl-power, bad-B song with Dua Lipa, that would be amazing.
Next up is obviously ‘You Can Have Him’, coming out on Friday 2nd September! I’m so excited about that and I’m gonna be shooting a music video and hopefully putting on a headline show in the next couple of months as well. There will definitely be lots and lots of new music along the way. I’m working towards a project called ‘Roots’, my music is really about championing my Greek Cypriot culture and roots and combining it with my upbringing in the UK and growing up in the city. So I’m excited to share that with everybody and get more and more music out!
EDITORIAL
BOMBSHELLBARESALLWecaughtupwithLoveIslandbombshellandsinger-songwriterAntigonitodiscusstheinspirationbehindhernewsingle‘YouCanHaveHim’andwhat’snextfortherisingstar.
Antigoni’s new single ‘You Can Have Him’ is out Friday September2nd
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What was your most and least favourite thing about your Love Island experience? My favourite thing was definitely the friends that I made, I met some amazing people that I know I’ll be friends with for a really long time, so that was really cool, and just being in the Villa, I know it sounds silly but I’ve watched the show for years and it was just so fun and a bit nuts to actually be there. My least favourite thing about the experience was not being in control of my routine and my life, I’m very much like, I like to do things a certain way, get up, train etc, whereas your life is structured for you in there so that took a little bit of adjusting, but I wasn’t there for too long so it wasn’t too bad haha.
What is planned next for you and your music, will you be releasing any new tracks soon?
Congratulations on your new single ‘You Can Have Him’! What was the inspiration behind the lyrics? Thank you so much! The inspiration behind the lyrics was, when I was in the process of going onto Love Island, one of the producers said to me ‘what would you do if you were coupled up with somebody and someone else came in and wanted to steal your man’ and I said, well, if you can take him, you can have him. It’s something that my dad’s always said, ‘if somebody can take someone from you then let them go, you can’t force someone to be with you and if they’re gonna go, then they weren’t meant for you anyway’. So, the song isnt really about saying ‘I don’t care, I want you to take him’ – it’s like, I’ll be upset, I don’t want this person to go, but I wanna be with somebody who is so for me that the most beautiful person in the world couldn’t tempt them away. I think that’s what everyone should strive to have. Before you went into the Villa, could you ever see yourself being on a reality TV show? No! Before going into the villa, I could not see myself going onto reality TV, it was something I’d never really ever thought about and then Love Island approached me and I thought, well, I’m single and it could be a really fun experience, I could end up meeting somebody, I’m gonna have an amazing summer, and I thought, there’s absolutely nothing to lose, so why not!
If you could sum up your Love Island experience in one word – what would it be and why? It’s not the most exciting word but I would just say fun! Because it was, it was just such a fun, surreal experience and I had a really good time.
How has life changed for you since leaving the Villa?
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28 • CLOSEUP
1 garlic clove, thinly
MUST-HAVEPRODUCTS WristBanglesAnkle £49.95Bala Eco-FriendlyYogaMat Amazon£24.99 SetGlute3pk £35Gymshark AstirOriginalsadidasTrainers Adidas£85 Winter WARMER Swap your regular sandwich or salad at lunch with a comforting, healthy bowl of soup. Use autumnal veg such as butternut squash or pumpkin to make the most of the season. Serves: 4 Ingredients 1 butternut squash, peeled and deseeded 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp butter 2 onions,
As summer shades into autumn, that ‘new term’ feel offers the ideal opportunity for a fresh start. Plus, if you get into a new routine in the autumn, you’re more likely to carry it on as the nights get darker, helping you to stay fit through the depths of winter and into the new year. Walk to the Office If you live a few miles from youmatterworkwillshortcutwalksleisurelyrouteoutmayberoutesyourthink!easiertooffice,yourwalkingworkcouldbethanyouMapoutfavourite–drawascenicforandathatgetyoutofaster.Nowhatroutetake,choosing to walk before and after work will create the perfect opportunity to get moving without disrupting your workday. Grab a Coffee Want to grab a coffee? Take the long way. When we wake up, most of us have one thing on our minds: coffee! If you can spare an hour to walk, go for it! A brisk walk each day will strengthen muscles, jumpstart circulation for heightened energy levels and dip into fat reserves to promote weight loss. Plus, there’s no bigger motivator than getting your daily dose of caffeine! Hydrate Staying hydrated is necessary for your body to detox and flush out all the toxins, so keep it coming! The heat of summer, alcohol, and salty foods can dehydrate you, so the more you can replenish your water, the better off you’ll be. We actually get a lot of our daily water intake from food, so if you load up on these hydrating foods, your body will thank you! Back Sorry, hot toddies. Summer is the season of rosé, so a crucial step in detoxing post-summer is to try to cut down on the alcohol. Reducing the number of glasses you’re having (or even taking a short break) will help give your body (and liver) some time to recover. Don’t forget: Alcohol is a toxin! diced sliced deseeded chopped hot vegetable stock 4 tbsp crème fraîche, plus more to serve Method Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Cut the squash into large cubes, about 4cm/1.5in across, then toss in a large roasting tin with 1 tbsp of the olive oil. Roast for 30 mins, turning once during cooking, until golden and soft.
850ml
Tip the butternut squash into the pan, add the stock and crème fraîche, then whizz with a stick blender until smooth. For a really silky soup, put the soup into a liquidiser and blitz it in batches. Return to the pan, gently reheat, then season to taste. Serve the soup in bowls with swirls of crème fraîche and a scattering of the remaining chopped chilli.
While the butternut squash cooks, melt the butter with the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil in a large saucepan, then add the onions, garlic clove and three-quarters of the chillies. Cover and cook on a very low heat for 15-20 mins until the onions are completely soft.
Cut
HEALTH KEEN Routine
2 mild red chillies,
and finely
EDUCATION Supplement Primark
NEXT EDUCATION Another year of education is due to kick off so it’s time to get organised with all the back to school essentials again. You won’t forget a thing with our selection of school necessities! Top of the CLASS PeaceBackpackDragon Cath Kidston £36 Go LunchBentoBox £7.49Amazon School Boy Jolly Ginger £7.95Biscuiteers ToeZone at V Unicorn Leather School Shoe V by Very £26 MetalHype. Bottle £15NEXT PackHighlighter Home Sense £5.99 Bubble Tea Shaped Pencil Bag SHEIN£6.50 Doodle StationeryDinoSet Paperchase£10 Mr Men Gel PackPensof6 Paperchase£5 Capri HairDaisiesBigClip £12.50BonasOliver 30 • CLOSEUP
104 Hoppers Road London N21 3LJ www.pghs.co.uk02088861135 office@pghs.co.uk Year 7 September 2023 Entry We welcome you to join us during the Autumn Term for our 11+ Working Open Mornings and Taster Day to learn more about the Senior School and see us in action. Our 11+ Entrance and Scholarship Examinations for 2023 entry will be held on Saturday 12th November 2022. Please register by Monday 31st October 2022. To register for these events and our 11+ Entrance Examinations visit www.pghs.co.uk/admissions/11-admissions-at-pghs For the achievers of tomorrow. Palmers Green High School (PGHS) is a leading independent school, educating girls in Years 7-11 in our Senior Department. We provide an inspiring, challenging and supportive environment with superb specialist facilities. Our small teaching groups allow us to individualise our pupils’ learning. We are excellent! How do we know? PGHS is ranked Number One in The Sunday Times National League Table for Small Independent Schools. PGHS was rated EXCELLENT by the Independent Schools Inspectorate 2022. Outstanding year-on-year GCSE results.
At Palmers Green High School (PGHS), we are very proud to be a local school, with the majority of our pupils coming from the immediate area, or a short bus or train ride away. There are many advantages to limiting the commute that your daughter has to make and with our excellent local transport links, PGHS is a popular choice for many.
A local school means local friends Secondary school is often the time when life-long friendships are made. Our Alumni (yes, we had boys here once!) stay in touch with us and each other and talk about the importance of having close friends – in both senses of the word. Pupils who have to commute often find that their best friends can be an hour away and last-minute plans can be difficult to arrange.
At PGHS we run an extra-curricular programme with over 80 activities a week. A short journey to and from school allows for more time beyond the classroom. Popular activities for the Senior School include our Creative Writing workshops with well-known author, Caroline Green, Globetrotters Club, Rock and Pop Band, and numerous sports activities.
The local school THAT TAKES YOU PLACES
Travel time is wasted time
WINCHMORE HILL
Our excellent local links Situated mid-way between Winchmore Hill and Palmers Green train stations, Hertford North, Hadley Wood and Finsbury Park are all less than 30 minutes away. Four different bus routes serve the local area, making independent travel possible for many, and Southgate Underground Station on the Piccadilly Line is a short hop away.
EDUCATION
Our recent ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate) Inspection found us to be “excellent” for both our pastoral care and for the quality of education provided; the highest possible grade. We provide an excellent level of care for all pupils, are excellent value for money and achieve excellent results.
We are EXCELLENT!
Join our local family If you would like to join our excellent School, please contact the School Office on 020 8886 1135 or office@pghs.co.uk to enquire about ‘occasional places’ or register on our website www.pghs.co.uk for 11+ entry. No ‘School Bus’, no stress! We often hear from pupils at other schools about the stress of having to catch a ‘School Bus’ at a specific time, knowing that if they miss it, they could be stranded. There are no opportunities for impromptu meetings with teachers, or chances for an extra chat with a friend. At PGHS, our pupils know that if they need time with a member of staff, they are available or if they wish to attend an additional after-school activity, they can do so without fear of missing their only ride home. Small but with BIG opportunities As a small School, we are able to provide a much higher level of care and attention to each individual pupil. With teaching groups of approximately 12, teachers have significantly more time to give feedback, support and extension to all. This pastoral and academic support enables pupils to reach their full potential and achieve outstanding GCSE results. PGHS pupils also perform extremely well in competitive events. A Year 10 pupil recently won a writing competition, competing against pupils up to three years older than her from other, much larger, Independent Girls schools. We regularly have pupils voted to the Enfield Youth Parliament and we have many winners annually in the HART Prize for Human Rights.
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• Share what makes a good friend to you and ask them to do the same
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• Remind children to be understanding and patient as everyone is different
• Communicate often with teachers about your child’s friendships as they may not always be forthcoming It is important to mention that building successful friendships are all a part of a child’s development and some may need more support than others. The most important thing is that you know your child, so you know how to best help them. Learning how to be a good friend can take years (as we as adults may know) but to master it will be a lifelong skill.
BUILDING
• Model how to address feelings of upset and disappointment in an appropriate way
• Model how to introduce themselves
Therefore I have put together some tips to help support parents/carers with understanding how to support friendships amongst children.
By Anna Pericleous Teacher and Leader of Early Years and Primary Education
@the_magic_of_eyfs (Early FoundationYearsStage)
EDUCATION
• Remember every child is different so do not compare them
• Praise their confidence and challenge them to step outside their comfort zones
FRIENDSHIPS
• Remind children that they can come to you for guidance or even their teachers
• Praise children when you spot they are being kind and caring
Follow my Instagram for more ideas and fun education activities for younger children.
W ith the holidayssummercoming to an end, parents/ carers and children begin to think about the new school year ahead and how best to prepare. There are various ways to prepare for a new academic year which I have discussed previously in my articles such as in ‘Ready for School’ and ‘Transition’, however on this occasion I have decided to deviate from my original articles and look at another area which could help children to settle back successfully into school; Friendships Friendships are a huge part of life and more specifically, in this case, school. They have such an impact in the everyday journey of a child and will essentially shape a child’s experience of their daily school life. Educators will help children to delve deeper into their feelings during specific lessons such as personal, social and emotional development so that they can build stronger and more significant friendships with their peers. The lessons begin from the early years where children will learn how to self regulate, manage themselves and build relationships by working with and playing cooperatively with others. Despite the lessons taught, issues will arise between children (which is normal) and friendships are hard to build and maintain. So many different factors come into play for school children such as a new child arriving who could change dynamics or alternatively children not being very nice with their words to one another. As a teacher myself there are numerous issues I have come across and I am certain parents have too.
• Socialise children as often as possible in different situations i.e. local park, kids clubs, family and friend gatherings, museums etc.
OPEN MORNING Saturday 8th October 2022 10.00am - 12.00pm Contact us to register your interest: 020 8360 3359 | admissions@kebleprep.co.uk | www.kebleprep.co.uk Keble Prep, Wades Hill, Winchmore Hill, London, N21 1BG We invite you to visit Keble Preparatory School during our Puritas. Probitas.Veritas. We are immensely proud of our school and our boys: they are our greatest ambassadors. Keblians are respectful, responsible, hard-working, fun-loving and well-rounded children, who thrive in a school which inspires and supports them to discover their strengths, take risks in their learning and challenge themselves. At Keble, we encourage each boy to think independently, to be continuously inquisitive and reflective. We are proud of our ethos and our core principles; Puritas (Consideration for others. Self reflection) Veritas (The importance of honesty. Keeping promises. Being selfreliant/resilient) and Probitas (Respecting the rights and property of others. Working hard) These are at the heart of everything that we do and believe in as a school community and we encourage all our staff, parents and boys to be aware of them and uphold them every single day. We value each individual pupil, helping them to uncover and nurture their talents, whilst celebrating their achievements. As a result, our boys move on to their senior schools with the confidence and the self-belief to build on their own strengths and enjoy success both academically and in other pursuits. But don’t take our word for it. We invite you to come and see for yourself by booking a visit so that you can meet our highly-motivated boys and staff – and experience the warm, inclusive atmosphere of our school environment. We look forward to welcoming you.
Exam results days are a rite of passage. All children, and their parents, have to go through them. The exams themselves are bad enough, but then there is the waiting – and inevitably the more time that elapses the easier it is to focus on the things which might have gone wrong in the exam hall. I remember it from my own school days, and as a teacher I re-live it every year. As a parent, this year I experienced the double whammy of GCSEs and A Levels in the same year!
Some students perform exceptionally well in exams, others - despite just as much effort – do not. At Mount House we celebrate all our students’ achievements, no matter how ‘good’ the outside world might judge them to be. We are a small school and we know our students well. We know that our results will go up and down in each year, depending on the ability of our mixed and inclusive cohort. Our expectations are clear and they are high: we expect that every student will do
Aiming High their best, will focus in lessons, will complete homework and we encourage them to ask for help when they need it. If they do that, they will achieve results of which we are all proud.
Of course teenagers don’t always work as hard as they can, and of course things can go wrong in the exam hall – but learning to fail is also a rite of passage. As a parent, I do know it is terribly hard to ‘allow’ your child to fail. As a teacher, I know how important it is that children get things wrong, because without this they cannot learn to deal with adversity. As adults we all need to know how to manage set-backs, how to pick ourselves up, how to focus on what we might do differently next time.
We all know there is more to life than exams. Exams are a blunt instrument of judgement and no young person should be made to feel inadequate on the basis of their exam results.
36 • CLOSEUP If you have not yet visited Mount House, we would be delighted to welcome you to our next Open Morning on Saturday 24th September.
I congratulate those whose children have achieved great results, and I commiserate with those whose children have not. I urge you to remind your children that exams can always be re-taken, or an alternative route can be followed. I urge you to celebrate your child’s other achievements, in art, sport, music, drama and good citizenship. Sarah Richardson, Head “We are delighted with the achievements of our students and proud not just of their results but also the young adults they have become.”
Barnet / Independent / Co-educational / Ages 11–18 Inspiring every individual – Small school with small class sizes – Highly effective pastoral care system – Excellent academic results at both GCSE and A level – A wide range of co-curricular activities and clubs – School transport routes to Enfield and Canons Park For entry at 11+, 13+ and Sixth Form (in-year admissions may be available) www.mounthouse.org.uk / 020 8449 6889 / admissions@mounthouse.org.uk Mount House School, Camlet Way, Hadley Wood, Hertfordshire, EN4 0NJ AIMING HIGH OPEN DAY Saturday 24th September Explore Mount House in Hadley Wood, North London SCAN TO BOOK YOUR PLACE
Motherhood #NoFilter
Wow, 4 months left of 2022. I don’t know about you but since the year-that-must-not-be-named, any part of these “normal” years are flying by.
I remember when Rico was younger, me and Jamie shuddered at the word routine. Rico’s “routine” was based around us and our ever exciting social calendar. If we were at friends until 1am, we would stay until we were ready to leave. If we had people round, they would stay until they were ready to leave. Family BBQ’s would go on as normal, and Rico could sleep whenever he wanted to or when he was ready. We were probably the most laid back, non regimented parents imaginable. Rico started full time nursery when he was 2, and it was then we all needed to get a little more serious in our household (well, on the weekdays at least). Late nights meant moody mornings, moody mornings led to heightened emotions, heightened emotions led to tantrum meltdowns, tantrum meltdowns led to crying and screaming into pillows (me, of course). You can see where I’m going with this. I think it’s very important with routines, to do what’s best for you and your family – whenever you’re ready to. I remember feeling like I was wrong for not having Rico in a strict routine when he was younger, comments would fly around from family and friends, some harmless comments of course but many that I remember and took personally. Now if you know me, you know I take everything personally, so it’s not that strange for me to do –however I’m extra sensitive with anything to do with Rico as I feel like any criticism or comment about how we do things is a straight right jab at my ability as a mother and how I parent. This goes back to having so much pressure put on us as parents, not just from what society expects but a lot of the time from our friends family and even ourselves. I feel as though routines are very good for some – it helps them to get their lives back once becoming parents, having structured routines can help with anxiety and it also gives you control over your life and time.
Me and Jamie always say that when we have another baby (God willing), we know what to do and what NOT to do next time. I think in terms of routine, it will be the same for us in the beginning – but who knows. I have definitely in my years learnt not to speak on things I haven’t experienced – so maybe when I have 2 I’ll turn into a routine obsessive from 2 weeks old, who knows!
So as we go into September – our little routine starts all over again – work, school, home, cook, clean, moan, and sleep (hopefully more of the sleeping and less of the moaning, but a mumma can only dream). Just remember – the ways in which you parent, the choices you make, the routes you take with your child, does not define you as a parent. It’s how happy your home is, for both yours and your child’s sanity that really matters!
@keepingupwithkaterina @keepingupwithmyclassroom
I love September, not only because it’s the start of my favourite time of the year; but September for me has always felt like a new year. Back to school, back to work (for me), end of summer, back to reality. The summer months are always dreamy, out of routine, going out from the morning and not returning to the evening days, a time for holidays and escaping reality. I don’t know if it’s just me, but being away for too long I do get home sick, and that’s how I feel when it gets to the end of summer – I feel normality sick and look forward to a bit more structure, routine and of course buying some cozy jumpers and digging out the boots. I never used to be like this (I’ve always been a winter girl – but would never care for routines) until of course, my little love bug came along.
Katerina talks all things motherhood, family life, relationships, work, and trying to do it all at once, with of course, #NoFilter
Katerina x
I hope you’ve all had a lovely summer whatever you have gotten up to.
BLOG
Until next time lovelies,
38 • CLOSEUP
For me – especially in the beginning – it was the opposite. I felt like having Rico in a strict routine would mean that I wouldn’t be able to do what I would usually do – and at that time it felt like I would lose another part of “me” that I wasn’t ready to do, where as now, I actually look forward to the routine that we have and actually being able to clock watch until bedtime (Ha!).
Orley Farm School was founded in 1850 and is set in 39 glorious acres of playing fields, woodland and meadow situated at the bottom of Harrow on the Hill. We have exceptional classroom facilities and offer a broad and balanced curriculum which includes drama, music, art and technology and sports alongside the more traditional subjects. Our younger children enjoy our creative curriculum which brings subjects and topics together under one main theme every term. Fulfilment and happiness start with a deep love of learning and over their time with us, through our unique ‘Thinking Skills Programme’, children will develop their resilience, curiosity, empathy, risk-taking, good judgement, creativity, initiative, focus, flexibility of mind and ambition. We always strive to find the right senior school for each individual and this year Orley Farm pupils were awarded 37 Scholarships, including a Queen’s Scholar to Westminster and gained places at 29 different senior schools. Just before lockdown, we were awarded outstanding in all areas by the Independent Schools Inspectorate. During the school closures, Orley Farm managed to continue to teach remotely and keep students together in virtual classrooms. We have an Open Morning on Saturday 8th October 2022 at 10.00am – 12.00pm. To register, please go to www.orleyfarm.harrow.sch.uk are offering tours on selected Wednesday mornings with the PleaseHeadmaster.contactour on registrar@orleyfarm.harrow.sch.uk
Orley Farm School South Hill Avenue Harrow on the Hill Middlesex HA1 3NU 020 8869 7600 @orleyfarm
Tim Calvey took over the Headship of Orley Farm School in 2013 having previously been, amongst other teaching positions, Head of Boarding in two previous schools. He believes that at the heart of the Orley Farm experience is the passion in teachers to light fires in the minds of young people that burn for a lifetime!
also
We
for further details. OPEN MORNING Saturday 8th October 2022, Register10.00–12.00pmonline SouthTel:Email:orleyfarm.harrow.sch.ukat:registrar@orleyfarm.harrow.sch.uk02088697600HillAvenue,Harrow,HA13NU@orleyfarm Visit us at Chigwell School to discover our community, environment and offering. Book here for our Open Days
Registrar
Orley Farm has over 500 girls and boys aged 4 to 13 who are receiving an extraordinary educational experience that develops the whole child preparing them for future success.
From Ms Christofi: At Broomfield School, are committed to all students having a quality education that is underpinned by an ambitious academic curriculum and is supported by a range of personal enrichment and super curricular opportunities, with our overall aim to develop well rounded young adults, ready to tackle the world. This is achieved through our 4 key areas: • Curriculum • Character • Culture • Community By following these 4 key areas, Broomfield students will understand their learning in relation to the wider world we live in. Students will be developed into leaders who are fully prepared for 21st century life. Come and see Broomfield in October at our Open Evening on Tuesday 4th October at 6pm. Listen to my vision for the school, meet our students and see our facilities. I look forward to meeting you all individually.
Broomfield School A NEW HEADTEACHER FOR SEPTEMBER 2022
APPOINTS
The Chair of the Board of Governors, Prof. Gregory Thwaites, began the recruitment process in December 2021, intent on finding a candidate with the requisite qualities to maintain, and build upon, the educational standards already in place at the “Adeleschool.impressed us all throughout the process with her vision, warmth, experience, attention to detail and passion for comprehensive education” said Mr Thwaites. “This is a new step on Broomfield’s journey of continual improvement.”
“I’m really excited for Ms Christofi to be our headteacher from September. Broomfield is a great school with lots of opportunities for me to excel both in the classroom and in our school community.”
The Board of Governors of Broomfield School is delighted to announce the appointment of Adele Christofi as our new Headteacher. Adele will lead the school from September 2022, taking over from Cate Seymour who has been Interim Headteacher for the past year.
Adele joins Broomfield following 12 years at Holy Family Catholic School in Walthamstow, in role as Head of the Upper School. Prior to that, she was at Queen Elizabeth’s Girls’ School in Barnet, where she was a Head of Year and Acting Assistant Head Teacher. Adele joins us with a background of drama teaching. She studied at the prestigious Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, which has trained the likes of Laurence Olivier and Dame Judi Dench. Whilst at Central she completed a degree in Drama and Education, followed by a PGCE in Drama. Most recently, she has also completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship alongside the Institute of Education.
– Year 10 student “I joined Broomfield in September 2021 and I have already been involved in lots of sports clubs, music clubs, law society, debating society and the school production of Matilda. I am also a Broomfield Ambassador which means I get to go back to my primary school and talk about the move from primary to secondary school” – Year 7 student
TRAY BAKES | COOKIES | CUPCAKES | BROWNIES | CAKES @BAKES_BY_ANDREA
and future careers Each
73% of adults feel anxiety and stress at just the thought of speaking publicly. We feel it is essential to combat that fear for the next generation
LAMDA exams are accredited by the government and as such are worth UCAS points, which like GSCE s and A LEVELS go towards university and college applications UCAS points are gained in grades 6, 7, and 8 of LAMDA Exams We find that students taking these exams often take big strides forward in their confidence as they collect certificates and medals at every grade
our
At Wren’s, there is an opportunity to take up to TWO LAMDA exams a YEAR!
PUBLIC SPEAKING CLASSES Poetry, games and more...
Taking LAMDA exams is not compulsory and students can enjoy the classes without taking an exam if they wish.
Developing speaking and listening skills alongside imagination Exposure to poetry improves reading and builds confidence in speaking publicly from a young age 10.30 am-11.30am - Level 1-2 Ages 10-14
What is LAMDA?
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Growing students self confidence is at the heart of everything we do We aim provide students with transferable skills that they can use in all aspects of their education class encourages study skills such as organisation and time management, whilst also giving students the space to show their individuality and creative flair Classes are practical and energetic and keeping our groups small means that we can tailor sessions to meet each need We also support students whom English is their second language Wren s classes also count towards the skills section in The Duke of Edinburgh Awards
Students study and develop skills in Verse and Prose and Public Speaking We tackle the barriers faced when giving presentations and performances They will learn how to write spee about subjects that interest them, to debate, recite poetry, and whilst gaining an understanding of writers and classical text All this, alongside learning the effective use of the voice focusing on clarity and expression
9.30-10.30am - Introductory Ages 5-9
to
Verse and Prose: Students perform a piece of text from their favourite book and a poem of their own choice They will be then asked questions to check their understanding of the pieces Public Speaking: Students perform the speeches they have written themselves They will then be asked questions about how they created the speech
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Creating the Perfect Keepsake for any occasion @foreverkeepsx I specialise in embroidery and customising items whilst providing a bespoke service to all – creating the perfect keepsake for any occasion. Established in 2020 after the birth of my daughter Pearl, who was born during the lockdown. I enjoyed capturing those special moments and wanted to design outfits that were unique, pretty & individual. Please get in touch if you have any concerns about your child’s communication skills. pow.speechtherapy@gmail.com@pow.speechtherapy|07717 418070 Play On Words Speech and Language Therapy works with children of all ages to develop their communication skills. We offer speech and language assessment, therapy, reports and parent workshops for families in Enfield. Dresses that girls can't wait to wear and that mums will love... By Appointment or Shop Online Prom & Party Dresses, Teen Gifts & Accessories Girls Aged 6-18 and Beyond 4 Merivale Road, Harrow, HA1 4BH 07788 758681 sales@silhouette.me.uk • @silhouettelondonwww.silhouette.me.uk A Unique Boutique forYoung Girls & Teens... @kateswerdlowphotographyCredit:Photo Little Angel Theatre’s MiniatureCircusTravelling Aimed at ages 3–6 16 Sep – 13 Nov 2022 The King Of Nothing Aimed at ages 5–11 24 Sep – 20 Nov 2022 Illustration by Jessica Shead Illustration by Amberin Huq We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. Illustrations from the book copyright © 1989 Helen Oxenbury. By permission of Walker Books Ltd, London. Poster design by Rebecca Pitt For Tickets scan the QR code or head www.littleangeltheatre.comto Coming up at A Little Angel Theatre production A Little Angel Theatre and Monstro co-production We’re Going On A Bear Hunt Aimed at ages 3–8 26 Nov 2022 – 29 Jan 2023 The Pixie and the Pudding Aimed at ages 4–11 19 Nov 2022 – 29 Jan 2023 A Little Angel Theatre production A Little Angel Theatre production
5% Niacinamide Serum Capsule: The Complexion Corrector, £59.00 Aesthetically Perfect www.aestheticallyperfectskin.comSkin GLOW
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EUBANK JR VS BENNBORN RIVALS: “It’s a fight that’s going to spark the imagination of the British public, that’s what I’m happy about. In terms of anticipation, legacy and hype it’s the biggest fight of my career.”
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The British rivals, Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn will go head-to-head at the O2 Arena on October 8th in an enticing match-up, nearly 30 years after parents Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn battled in their iconic rematch. Ready for radiance? Step this way! The gorgeous 20% Vitamin C capsules act as a super radiance booster, revitalising dull skin and providing a refreshed, energised look by brightening up your entire complexion. The formula includes an added dose of Vitamin E, which works to soothe, calm and moisturise the skin for a perfect, balanced result. So… let’s get ready to glow! 20% Vitamin C Serum Capsule: The Radiance Booster, £62.00 Luxury Skincare Redefined. Aesthetically Perfect Skin turns complex regimes into easy result-driven skincare for all with their amazing capsule collection. Designed to balance, brighten and nourish all complexions, these capsules have been expertly blended with rosemary leaf extract and aloe leaf juice for added anti-inflammatory and detoxifying effects. Niacinamide is a fantastic allrounder that is brilliant for providing people with an even skin tone and texture, especially those who suffer from pigmentation, scarring and acne, too!
RISE TO Rise is based on the triumphant real-life story about the remarkable family that produced the first trio of brothers to become NBA champions in the history of the league. After emigrating from Nigeria to Greece, the Antetokounmpo’s struggle to care for their five children. The brothers Giannis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo play basketball with a local team and discover not just their great abilities on the court, but that they are naturally gifted ball players. With the help of a talent agent, the trio decide to pursue careers in the NBA. What happens next is extraordinary. Available to stream on Disney+
STARDOMTOPICHOT
Woodlands Day Nursery and Preschool, 1/3 Orchard Rd, Barnet, EN5 2HL Fun is an essential ingredient at Woodlands Day Nursery and Preschool where the care and education opportunities for each and every child are as extraordinary as the staff who provide them.
Healthy and high&non-alcoholicrefreshingGingerBeerSorreldrinks,madefromqualityingredients. www.otcbeverages.comGetYoursToday! At Woodlands, an Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ Nursery, practitioners are on a mission to give children the best possible start in life. At the setting on Orchard Road in Barnet, days are filled with exciting activities, planned around the personal interests of children and designed in line with Early Years Foundation Stage principles to ensure they are prepared with the knowledge and skills needed for their next steps. With stimulating learning spaces, state of the art ICT, toys and equipment, messy play stations and ‘role play’ areas, as well as focused classes to further teaching, each child from six weeks to nearly five years can immerse themselves in the vast learning opportunities on offer. From babies using recycled paper from the shredder for sensory activities, to older children creating bug hotels for insect observations and growing vegetables in the garden which are then used in meals by talented Nursery Chefs, children of all ages take part in a curriculum of ecoactivities the whole year round. It is for these practices that Woodlands have gained a prestigious ‘Green Flag’ award as part of the international Eco-Schools scheme, the highest accolade in the programme which is given for exceptional environmental conservation and awareness efforts. From nurturing key areas of development to supporting the transition to school, the highly-trained teams are dedicated to working in partnership with parents to ensure families get the very most out of their nursery experience. Woodlands opened in 2001 and is part of the employee-owned Childbase Partnership. Learning through play at Woodlands Day Nursery Please call 020 8447 1914 or woodlands.barnet@childbase.comemail Woodlands Day Nursery and Preschool, 1/3 Orchard Rd, Barnet, EN5 2HL www.childbasepartnership.com FORwww.childbasepartnership.comCHILDRENAGED6WEEKS TO 5 YEARS OPEN 7.30AM TO 6.30PM WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOUregistrationstakingNow Please call 020 8447 1914 or email woodlands.barnet@childbase.com
Staff provide excellent opportunities for the children to experience a stimulating and engaging curriculum. Children make exceptional progress and thrive within this welcoming and warm environment.”
Ofsted inspection 2017, www.ofsted.gov.uk
48 • CLOSEUP Beauvoir Large Cushion Ocean Blue Cult Furniture £25 Ariel Upholstered Bed Sweetpea & Willow£2410 LIVING These dreamy blue hues, inspired by shades of the sea and sky, are the perfect way to revitalise your space. While often popular during the Spring/Summer season, this beautiful blue shade can be used year-round to provide a breath of fresh air and create a calming, comforting and serene environment within your home. Dreamy BLUE Loose Leaf Teapot Blue ProCook£22 Seashells Blue Pure Wool Throw J.J.Textile£104 Horizon Pendant in Sky Blue Pepper Sq£275Ltd Calming Blue 1ltre Emulsion Paint YesColoursFrom£21 Lazy Linen Bed Linen in Cornflower Blue Loaf£45 Blue AbstractIce Art Print Hidden Prints £5.99 Kingston Cord Classic Bean Bag Bright Skies Blue £59.99BeanBagBazaar
CLOSEUP • 49 BLUE SKY INTERIORS Aiming to provide the highest level of individual service in order that every kitchen, bedroom or bathroom is tailored to the customer’s specifications. We stock a wide range of materials from taps to floor coverings to door facias to give you a choice which is top of the range in its diversity. www.blue-sky-interiors.co.uk 020 8449 3232 24-26 Church Hill Road East Barnet Village Hertfordshire EN4 8TB SPECIALISTS IN FITTED KITCHENS, BEDROOMS & BATHROOMS
50 • LIVINGDobbiesCLOSEUP Real or artificial, everyone is craving a little more greenery in their day to day as we seek to bring the outside in. We’ve curated a collection of our favourite botanicals and biophilic-inspired elements to help you embrace nature and elevate your space year-round. BIOPHILIC Palm LightPendantLeafGreen Cult Furniture£85 Honeycomb Wool Blanket – Forest andObjectsFinds£85 Light and Living Perly Vase –Olive Green £55Naken PlanterwithZebrinaAlocasiaElizabethinShell Leaf Envy £34 Sofia LeafChairAccentPalmVelvet Cult Furniture £219 Antiqued Ceramic Fan Leaf Pot Cover Gisela £8.99LondonGraham Large Tropical Leaves Art Print AbstractHouse£41.95 Norwegian Mint Faux Fur Cushion French Bedroom£38Co
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“I decided to invest every penny I had into starting a business to get back on track and to focus my energy into. Little did I know back then that it would then become my hobby, passion, and current full-time career!”
Carlascandlesco begun in January 2021. My story behind starting the business unfortunately did not start off in the most positive way. During early 2020 I was suffering severely with mental illness which led me to believe that the only way out would be to take my own life. A couple of weeks before the date I had in mind, we went into a nationwide lockdown which totally threw my tragic plan. Support me on my socials! @carlascandlesco @carlascandlesco
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To date, we have sent almost 1000 orders across the UK which is something I take huge pride in! A wide variety of our products including wax melts, candles, and room sprays are handmade. This was a huge learning curve for me initially, but I am super proud of the range of products I have created; from everything down to our packaging, the sweet-smelling fragrances and that we are an Eco-Friendly, Vegan and Cruelty Free Brand. From working out of my parents’ kitchen to now having my own office working alongside a member of staff, to having my own website and with an amazing community of supporting customers, it has truly been an amazing journey with lots of twists, turns and challenges, but every moment has been part of my adventure and I look forward to continuing to grow my business! To shop the full range please visit
My mindset changed as I realised during lockdown, I had nothing to lose so I decided to invest every penny I had into starting a business to get back on track and to focus my energy into. Little did I know back then that it would then become my hobby, passion, and current full-time career!
Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients 750g pack Waitrose & Partners Baby New Potatoes, halved • 3 echalion shallots, sliced (not too thinly) • 2 tsp ground cumin • 1 tsp black mustard seeds • 2.5 tbsp sunflower oil • 1 head broccoli (about 350g), broken into small florets • 2 tbsp Cooks’ Ingredients Tandoori Paste • 2 tbsp natural yogurt • 4 lamb leg steaks • 28g pack fresh coriander • 50g fresh coconut chunks • 1 Thai green chilli, roughly chopped • 1 large unwaxed lemon, zest and juice Method Preheat the oven to 200oC, gas mark 6. Toss together the potatoes, shallots, cumin, mustard seeds and 2 tbsp oil. Season and spread over a large foil-lined baking tray; roast for 15 minutes. Add the broccoli and give everything a stir, then roast for another 12 minutes until everything is tender. Meanwhile, mix the tandoori paste and yogurt in a mixing bowl. Add the lamb steaks and coat in the marinade. Cover and chill for a few minutes until ready to cook. Use a small high-speed blender to whizz the coriander, coconut, chilli, lemon juice, a pinch of salt and 100-120ml water until you have a bright green sauce. Heat the remaining 1⁄2 tbsp oil in a large frying pan over a high heat. Sear the marinated lamb steaks for 3-5 minutes on each side (depending on thickness) until lightly charred and cooked through; set aside to rest for a few minutes (you may need to cook them in batches). Stir the lemon zest through the potatoes and broccoli; serve with the lamb steaks and the coriander and coconut sauce. TANDOORI LAMB with new potatoes Recipes and images courtesy of Waitrose. Thousands of recipes can be found at www.waitrose.com FOOD Cook’s tip These marinatedtandoori-lambsteaksaregreatcookedonthebarbecue,too. And to drink… Errazuriz Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Valley, Chile (75cl) is aromatic and full of flavour. 54 • CLOSEUP
CLOSEUP • 55 dreamdoors.co.uk THE UK’S #1 KITCHEN MAKEOVER COMPANY QUALITYMAKEOVERSKITCHEN by simply replacing the doors and worktops MODERN CLASSIC TRADITIONAL CONTEMPORARY BEFORE AFTER 9.8/10 › Up to 50% less than a new fully fitted kitchen › Replacement kitchen doors › Cost effective made to measure solution › Worktops and appliances › Quick installation in 2-3 days by local professionals 72 Chase Side, London,Enfield, EN2 6NX Call us now for a free estimate: 0204 530 5100 Email: enfield@dreamdoors.co.uk
Preparation time: 10
• ½
,
dry with kitchen paper • 2
, 1
chopped and 2 finely
• 200g
buckwheat soba noodles • 100g
Ingredients hoisin sauce • ½
Method Preheat the oven to 160oC, gas mark 3. Heat a frying pan over a mediumhigh heat. Score the skin of the duck breasts in a criss-cross fashion, season all over and dry-fry, skin-side down, for 5 minutes. Turn and cook the flesh for 1 minute, then transfer to a small roasting tin. Mix 1 tbsp hoisin sauce with the Chinese five spice and brush all over the meat; roast skin-side up for 12 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, mix the remaining 1 tbsp hoisin sauce with the sesame oil, vinegar, soy sauce, 1 tbsp water and the finely chopped salad onion; set aside. Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil. Check the duck is cooked, ensuring the juices run clear, then remove from the oven and leave to rest in the tin for 5 minutes. As the duck is resting, cook the soba noodles in the pan of boiling water for 4 minutes. Drain in a sieve and rinse thoroughly under warm water to remove the starch, then shake dry and toss in the bowl with the hoisin dressing, adding any juices from the duck. Divide between plates; top with the cucumber, mango and remaining salad onions. Slice the duck and arrange on top, drizzling over any carving juices. minutes Gressingham patted tbsp Cooks’ tsp Chinese five spice tsp toasted sesame tbsp Chinese rice vinegar tbsp soy onions finely sliced pack cucumber halved mango
sauce • 3 salad
oil • 1
and sliced • 100g
Cooking time: 25 minutes Total time: 35 minutes Serves: 2 Ingredients 2
duck breasts,
• 1
, sliced Sticky hoisin duck and soba NOODLES Cook’s tip Wholegrain basmati rice would make a lovely alternative to noodles in this dish, if you prefer.56FOOD • CLOSEUP
CHICKEN GYOZA
Recipes and images courtesy of Waitrose. Thousands of recipes can be found at www.waitrose.com Cook’s tip For a chickenalternative,vegetarianswapthedumplingsforfrozenitsuVegetableFusionGyoza. Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes Total time: 30 minutes Serves: 2 Ingredients ½ tbsp reduced salt soy sauce • 2 tsp Japanese rice vinegar • 1 tsp clear honey • 1½ tsp toasted sesame oil • 2 salad onions, finely sliced (greens and whites separated) • 150g frozen edamame beans • 2 nests (125g) dried fine egg noodles • 3 tsp vegetable oil • 12 frozen itsu Chicken Gyoza • 1 clove garlic, bashed and halved • 90g pack baby pak choi, halved or quartered (or one pak choi, quartered) Method Mix the soy sauce, vinegar, honey and sesame oil in a small bowl. Transfer ½ of this dressing to a large mixing bowl along with the sliced salad onion whites. Set both bowls aside. Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil. Cook the edamame according to pack instructions and add the noodles for the final 3 minutes. Drain both in a sieve and rinse under warm water to remove any starch. Shake dry thoroughly, then tip into the mixing bowl with the dressing and salad onion whites. Toss together and set Meanwhile,aside.heat 2 tsp vegetable oil in a medium non-stick frying pan over a medium-low heat. Add the gyoza and fry for 8 minutes, turning regularly. Add 1 tbsp water, cover with a lid and steam for a final 2 minutes until fully cooked through. Take out of the pan; set aside. Return the pan to the heat with the remaining 1 tsp oil, the garlic, pak choi and a pinch of salt. Fry for 2-3 minutes, then add 1 tbsp water, cover and steam for another 1 minute until the pak choi is tender. Divide the noodles and edamame between plates, and top with the gyoza. Add the pak choi (discard the garlic) and scatter over the reserved salad onion greens. Drizzle over the remaining dressing and some chilli sauce for extra heat, if liked. Serve immediately.
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Ingredients
Method Preheat the oven to 180oC, gas mark 4; grease and line a 20cm deep, loose-bottomed cake tin. To prepare the pears, heat the 20g butter in a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Cook, swirling occasionally, until the foaming subsides and it starts to smell nutty and turn golden. Add the sugar and pears and cook gently for 2-3 minutes, turning in the butter from time to time. Set aside to cool.
Arrange the pears on top and evenly scatter over the streusel topping. Bake for 45-55 minutes until golden, risen and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool completely in the tin on a wire rack. Cut into slices to serve, with a spoonful of crème fraîche on top.
Recipes and images courtesy of Waitrose. Thousands of recipes can be found at www.waitrose.com
For the cake, use electric beaters to beat the butter and sugar for 2 minutes until pale and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then beat in the dry ingredients until just combined. Tip into the base of the lined cake tin and even the surface with the back of a spoon.
Cook’s tip This cake is just as good made with apples instead of pears – or you could try a mixture of both.
FOOD
Pear & pecan streusel CAKE
100g plain flour • 75g granulated sugar • 75g Président Unsalted Butter, chilled and cut into small cubes • 50g pecans, roughly chopped
Preparation time: 35 minutes + cooling Cooking time: 1 hours Total time: 1 hour 35 minutes + cooling Serves: 10
For the streusel topping, put the flour, sugar, butter and a pinch of salt in a bowl and rub together with your fingertips until you have a clumpy mixture. Stir in the pecans.
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125g Président Unsalted Butter, softened, plus extra for greasing • 125g light brown soft sugar • 2 British Blacktail Free Range Medium Eggs • 125g plain flour • 50g ground almonds • 1 tsp baking powder • 1 tsp ground cinnamon • Crème fraîche, to serve For the brown butter pears 20g Président Unsalted Butter • 1 tbsp light brown soft sugar • 400g conference pears (about 2 large or 3 small), peeled, cored and cut into thin wedges For the pecan streusel topping
CLOSEUP • 59 Restaurant, Lounge & Bar A Middle Eastern gem in the heart of Southgate, serving you the ultimate dining and bar experience. 020 8882 3277 the-hart.co.uk 290 Chase Rd, London N14 6HA @thehartlounge
60 • CLOSEUP 020 8365 7102 148 High Road, Wood Green, N22 6EB BUZZING ATMOSPHERE, IT’S A MUST TRY!“ “ A UNIQUE GREEK BAKERY IN THE HEART OF WOOD GREEN FEELS LIKE HOME WHEN YOU GO IN AMAZING SHOP! VERY FRIENDLY STAFF“
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By Tom Bower
By Duncan Mavin
In March 2021, financial BritishthatcompanytechnologyGreensillCapitalcollapsed.Asitunravelled,amultibillion-dollarscandalemergedwouldshakethetheBritishpoliticalsystem,drawinginSwissbankers,globalCEOs,andworldleaders,includingformerPrimeMinister,DavidCameron.AtthecentrewasanAustralianfinanciernamedLexGreensill.FinancialjournalistDuncanMavin,tellstheincrediblestoryofhowaformersugar-canefarmerwouldgoontoputtensofthousandsofjobsatriskandgainunfetteredaccesstotheinnerworkingsoftheBritishgovernment.
EDITORIAL
Inside the pages:
The Pyramid of Lies: DollarGreensillLexandtheBillion-Scandal
62 • CLOSEUP MOST ANTICIPATED
sourcingbeginningthecelebratedwatchedwedding,andaroundworld,wastheofanewerafortheWindsor’s.Yet,withinonetumultuousyear,thedreambecameanightmare.IntheaftermathoftheinfamousMegxitsplitandtheOprahWinfreyinterview,theRoyalFamily’sfateseemspersistentlythreatened.Withextensiveresearch,expertandinterviewsfrominsiderswhohaveneverspokenbefore,TomBower,Britain’sleadinginvestigativebiographer,unpicksthetangledwebofcourtroomdrama,courtierpoliticsandthwartedchildhooddreamstouncoveranastonishingstoryoflove,betrayal,secretsandrevenge.CantheWindsor’srestoretheirreputation?
The sequel to Jessie Burton’s million copy bestselling The Miniaturist, set in the golden city of Amsterdam in 1705, it is a story of fate and ambition, secrets and dreams, and one young determinationwoman’storuleherowndestiny.TheaBrandtisturning18,andisreadytowelcomeadulthoodwithopenarms.WhenshereceivesaninvitationtoAmsterdam’smostexclusiveball,sheisoverjoyed–perhapsthiswillsettheirfortunesstraight.Andindeed,newfiguresentertheirlife,promisingnewfutures.Buttheirfatesarestillunclear,andwhenNellafeelsastrangepricklingsensationonthebackofherneck,shewondersiftheminiaturisthasreturnedforher...
TheHutchRabbit By Tess Gunty The House of Fortune By Jessie Burton Inside the pages:
Inside the pages:
Meghan,Revenge:HarryandthewarbetweentheWindsor’s
Inside the pages: A bitingly funny, razorsharp debut about a motley assortment of residents in a swelteringsolomotherAnapartmentcrumblingblock.onlineobituarywriter.Ayoungwithasecret.Awomanwagingacampaignagainstrodents.SeparatedbythethinwallsofTheRabbitHutch,alow-costhousingcomplex,theseindividuallivesunfold.ButBlandineisn’tliketheotherresidentsofherbuilding.Ethereallybeautifulandformidablyintelligent,shespendsherhoursreadingDanteanddreamingaboutbecomingafemalemystic.Until,thatis,threedaysinJulyculminateinanactofviolencethatwillchangeeverything,andfinallyofferherachancetoescape.
September 2022 book releases look like they just might be the most anticipated new book release
multiculturalcrimetoMcAveetyandhallucinogenics,tranquilisers,ofValium,FelixdecidessolvethemurderofMarina,hisbestfriend.Buttobreakthroughhisdrug-inducedfogandgetclosertothetruthFelixenliststhehelpofadyingnovelist,JanePickfordandhiscrisis-riddenfriendScott.MeantimeisawildridethroughGlasgow’spresentandexaminesitscolonialpast.It’sdazzlinglyfunny,grapplingwithbigideas,andisheartbreakinglytingedwithpersonalandpoliticalloss.
The yet.
The British Royal Family believed that the dizzy success of the Sussex
An epic true story of ambition, greed and hubris that nearly brought down the British government.
Meantime By Frankie Boyle Inside the pages: Marina Katos’ body is found in a park and the police don’t seem to know or care who committed the crime. In a haze
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The seemingly endless scroll of Netflix’s treasure trove of terrific shows and movies can be more than a little paralyzing when trying to choose something to watch. If you’ve just finished a good series and need a new one to fill the void, Close Up is assembling a monthly list of the best TV shows currently available on the streaming service, from classics of yesteryear to the hottest new titles. Below, we’ve rounded up the best shows on Netflix right now, so you can binge-watch without having to hunt for the right title.
THE WINX SEASONS:SAGA2 School’s back in session under the militant authority of Alfea’s former Headmistress Rosalind. With the Burned Ones gone, Dowling “disappeared” and Silva imprisoned for treason, the Alfea of last year has grown up with new magic, new romances and new faces. But when fairies start to go missing in the night, Bloom and her Suitemates discover a dangerous threat lurking in the shadows. One they’ll have to stop before it wreaks havoc on the entire Otherworld.
1FATE:
I JUST KILLED MY SEASONS:DAD1 I Just Killed My Dad is an unprecedented documentary series, which tells the unbelievable, never-beentold-before true story of the Templet family. Anthony Templet shot his father and never denied it. But why he did it is a complex question with profound implications that go far beyond one family. This three-episode documentary series explores the psyche of Anthony leading up to the events of June 3, 2019 and the journey of his mental and emotional aftermath.
DEVIL IN OHIO SEASONS: 1 Devil in Ohio is an upcoming suspense thriller limited series based on the book of the same name by Daria Polatin for Netflix. When hospital psychiatrist Dr. Suzanne Mathis shelters a mysterious cult escapee, her world is turned upside down as the strange girl’s arrival threatens to tear her own family apart.
WHAT’S ON
2 3
EDITORIAL
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Lori Vallow was known to friends and family as a devoted mother of three, a loving wife, and a woman of God. But over the past three years, something went very wrong: Now Lori is in jail, waiting to stand trial for conspiracy to commit murder and first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of her fourth husband, her fifth husband’s wife, and her two youngest children. At the heart of this three-part series is a single burning question: how did a seemingly normal woman become the most notorious mother in America?
CLOSEUP • 65
SINS OF OUR SEASONS:MOTHER1
Echoes is a mystery thriller about two identical twins, Leni and Gina, who share a dangerous secret. Since they were children, Leni and Gina have secretly swapped lives, culminating in a double life as adults: they share two homes, two husbands, and a child but everything in their perfectly choreographed world is thrown into disarray when one of the sisters goes missing.
Imagine having to think about your sibling dating –how they flirt, how they treat their partners, and what their signature moves are. In this brand-new reality dating series, pairs of siblings will be seeing each other’s love life up close and personal as they search for ‘the one’ together. Having the person who knows you better than anyone should help you navigate the tricky world of dating. But will they act as the ultimate wingman and help you find love?
NETFLIXDATEDANDRELATEDSEASONS:1
SEASONS:ECHOES1
Early in September days can still be warm enough to head to the ocean but beaches near Barcelona are not busy at this time of year. Late in the month, you can enjoy La Merce, a festive celebration with daily parades, acrobats, and entertainment.
TRAVEL
Sadly, for many travellers, September marks the end of travel season. It's back-to-school, back-to-work, back-to-reality drudgery. But if you can buck the trend, you'll find that September is when those with the savvy and the means pack their bags and embark on adventure.
Sunny Crete
The busy and beautiful city of Barcelona is one of Spain's most stunning destinations, and September is an ideal time to visit. Summer vacation crowds can make lines long at the top attractions, like La Sagrada Familia, and oftentimes limit availability if you do not book days ahead of time.
SEPTEMBER
Besides the cooler September temperatures and fewer people, you can find lower rates for hotels.
The streets in popular areas like the historic Barri Gòtic and Las Ramblas can be so overcrowded in the high season that most of your time is spent just getting from point-A to point-B. Crowd concerns are lessened in September when there are fewer vacationers, so you can enjoy all the attractions and fun things to do in Barcelona with fewer people and cooler temperatures.
There is no better month to travel than September: it sees a remarkable confluence of happy circumstances around the world. In the northern hemisphere, prices and blood pressures plummet as sizzling days give way to a more temperate existence. In the southern hemisphere, the chills have all but disappeared as mountain passes reopen, frozen lakes thaw and wildflowers bloom.
Many visitors arrive by air or ferry in Heraklion. Other popular tourist towns on the island include Rethymnon, Chania, and Agios Nikolaos.
The Greek island of Crete is a natural sensory spectacle of mountains, turquoise water, beautiful beaches, and palm forests that are pleasant to experience in September. Flowers are in full bloom, and water temperatures are ideal for swimming and snorkelling. The summer months, while still a great time to visit, can get quite hot when you are spending the days out in the sun walking the streets of the old towns or exploring archaeological sites like Knossos. Many of the beaches in the summertime are overcrowded, but September enables you to enjoy the pink sands of Elafonissi more comfortably.
Barcelona
Amalfi Coast
Croatia September is a nice time to visit Croatia, when the local and foreign crowds have dissipated a bit. On the weather front, it is also a great time to visit. Many people head to the beautiful city of Dubrovnik. If you base yourself in the capital, you will find many attractions in Zagreb, like The Cathedral and the Museum of Natural History, and you can split your time between the Upper Town and the Lower Town. There are a number of festivals that take place in September, so that will add to the cultural experience. Flights to Croatia are still in full swing in September, so there will be ample availability, and transportation on the ground like ferries and buses will still be operating on summer season schedules. You can find great deals on hotel accommodation, including luxury resorts in September.
Honolulu If you are looking for an ideal (and more affordable) time to visit Honolulu, Hawaii on the island of Oahu then September is it. From festivals, cooler temperatures, fewer crowds, and pleasant water conditions, there are so many reasons to target Honolulu for travel this month. September is a month filled with Aloha festivals and parades, so you will have many opportunities to enjoy Hawaii's Theculture.comfortable September weather makes it pleasant for hiking to Diamond Head; relaxing on Waikiki Beach; and spending time at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, the memorial for the USS Arizona and the sailors who died during the Pearl Harbour attack. Fewer tourists in September means more availability at hotels, and you can likely find great deals as resorts look to fill rooms.
The pleasant weather and fewer tourists make it ideal to fully experience the deep history and architecture that Istanbul is known for. This is also when you will find affordable rates for hotel rooms and airfare.
There’s little to dislike about the Amalfi Coast, especially if you visit in September. Traveling at this time means you’re in for massive perks like fewer crowds; mild temperatures (highs are in the 70s and 80s Fahrenheit); warm water to swim in; and lower prices on hotels and attractions. Add the area’s remarkable beauty and impressive sightseeing opportunities, and you’ll pat yourself on the proverbial back for timing your vacation so perfectly. It’s best to hire a driver if you plan to tour the famous Amalfi Drive (also known as the SS163), a winding cliff-top adventure more beautiful than mere words can describe. This is one of the popular things to do on the Amalfi Coast. Be sure to make stops in the postcard perfect towns of Positano, Amalfi, Sorrento, and Ravello. You’ll want to plan time to enjoy a meal (or many) in their fabulous restaurants.
Istanbul One of the best times to visit Istanbul is in September, when you have a better opportunity to fully experience the top attractions without the crowds that can make them tough to experience during the high tourist season, which runs from June through August. There are comfortable temperatures in September making it easy to enjoy shopping and the popular attractions like the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia Museum, and the Grand Bazaar, which are all easy to explore on foot as you walk around the city.
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