Lifeguide Essentials January/February 18

essentials

ISSUE 2 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018

Anti-ageing FACE-SAVING:

no-knife wonders

Downsizing Urban or

RURAL?

Stay young WELLNESS

tips to try

Spa and gym Memberships Serenity Spa at Seaham Hall is an award winning Spa, recently voted the Best Spa in the North East. With the finest facilities and a hi-spec gym, why would you not want to get fit the luxurious way? Spa and Gym Memberships start from just £55.

Enquire today about the memberships available.

Seaham Hall Hotel, Lord Byron’s Walk, County Durham, Sr7 7Ag Tel: 0191 516 1400 Email: Hotel@Seaham-Hall.com www.seahamhall.co.uk

The Essentials

Welcome

ISSUE 2 • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018

04 Generation Ageless

12

Meet Laura Ashurst

06 Skin-saving N0-knife anti-ageing

12 Walk !

Pound the hills

14 Mindful moments Take a break

18 Downsize Rural or urban?

22 10 steps To ageing well

New year, time to think.

January brings with it all kinds of things to ponder. Quitting stuff, starting stuff, trying not to be overwhelmed by life’s fast pace. Lifeguide is here to offer some food for thought as you plan another year.

So, take a breather and flick through the pages, be inspired by interesting people with sound advice that comes from a good place. Make healthy cakes, take purposeful walks and luxuriate in a sudsy bath without an ounce of guilt!

30 Family trip Luxury getaway

34 Bliss Soak it up

Kathryn Armstrong, editor Photography Kevin Gibson www.kgphotography.co.uk Chris Auld www.chrisauldphotography.co.uk Cover Image: hush-uk-com

If you wish to advertise with us please contact our sales team: Lisa Anderson: lisa@remembermedia.co.uk / 07734 560565 or Debi Coldwell: debi@remembermedia.co.uk / 07910 918366

Remember Media Ltd, e-volve Business Centre, Cygnet Way, Rainton Bridge South Business Park, DH4 5QY remembermedia.co.uk All contents copyright ©2017 RememberMedia Ltd. All rights reserved. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, no responsibility can be accepted for inaccuracies, howsoever caused. No liability can be accepted for illustrations, photographs, artwork or advertising materials while in transmission or with the publisher or their agents. All information is correct at time of going to print, December 2017. Life Guide is published annually by Remember Media Ltd.

03

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

Life Guide

Generation ageless Laura Ashurst from Stokesley turned 50 in October. She has lived with breast cancer for the past 16 years – ten of them with the incurable form of secondary breast cancer. She has far exceeded her original prognosis and is referred to by one oncology professor as ‘an exceptional survivor’, in the world of metastatic breast cancer; somebody who has survived ten years post diagnosis.

Laura is a volunteer speaker for Breast Cancer Care and an Ambassador for Cancer Research UK for the Richmond (Yorks) constituency.

I USED TO DO THIS… My career until 2006 was in education. I worked as a senior manager at Hartlepool College of Further Education. I was a full-time working mum with two small children, permanently playing catch up whilst dashing up and down the A19 every workday.

Now life is about… a much slower pace of life and minimum stress levels. I’ve been given something that is precious to people like me; extra time that I never thought I was going to have.

WHY AND HOW I MADE A CHANGE… I was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was 34. My daughter Megan was three and son Jack was six-months old.

I had a lumpectomy followed by 25 sessions of radiotherapy.

I even worked through some of my radiotherapy because we were undergoing an OFSTED inspection and I thought I was superwoman.

Unfortunately another aggressive and more complex tumour developed in the same breast three years later. After being diagnosed with breast cancer twice by the age of 37, I was forced to reassess my life and make some major changes; I left my lecturing post to set up a home-based complementary therapy business. I seemed to have finally found a balance between being a working mum, seeing more of my children and feeling fulfilled.

Then on December 12th 2007, I was diagnosed with terminal cancer and my life changed forever.

At 40, to be told I had developed secondary breast cancer in my lungs, the incurable form of the disease, and that my life expectancy from that point forward would be approximately two years, changed everything forever.

My entire view of the world took on a completely different slant. Our world fell apart overnight and I entered a world of chemotherapy, anxiety and depression.

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

04

Life Guide I’M LUCKY I CAN… live a relatively normal life with the treatment that I’m currently on. I’ve far exceeded my original prognosis.

There are side effects to the drug I take such as, bone pain and fatigue. Cancer fatigue in particular is a poorly understood condition. It can be frustrating not being able to do everything I’d like to, but it’s nothing in comparison to the drug not working and having to start chemotherapy again. In fact, the discussion that I had with my oncologist in August centered around the next steps for me: the new generation of immunotherapy drugs that are now becoming available.

In the ten years that I’ve been living with secondary breast cancer, I’ve lost six friends to the disease. It leaves you feeling very angry and afraid of what the future holds but I have a lot of help and support from my clinical psychologist, Dr Annie Hickox. I’ve reached a point where all I want to feel is gratitude for the extra time I’ve been given.

Family is all about…

the little things and the big things that happen within a family unit. Being there for one another through the highs and the lows and supporting and loving one another to the very best of your ability.

DAY IN THE LIFE OF ME… I wake up at around 6.30am and spend time with my son Jack before he leaves for college. I’ll go to my local leisure centre early. I’ve recently started blogging so I’ll try to get some words down. I like to include some meditation: it helps me focus. I like to keep abreast of what’s happening in the world of cancer and health and wellbeing.

Everything seems to take me so much longer these days and I’m always trying to remind myself that it doesn’t matter.

I might catch up with a friend in the afternoon.

I’ve recently started doing some personal public speaking too. I always like to check in with Megan, see how her day’s going. Evenings are usually spent relaxing and family time. My eyes close easily on the settee by 9.30pm!

WORK/LIFE BALANCE… is crucial and without it you soon come unstuck. All of us think we are invincible to a certain degree and then life has a way of reminding us we’re not. Advice to my younger self would be to take care of your wellbeing. You have one mind and body; look after it.

I thrive on…

being able to wake up each day, say ‘thank-you’ and whatever the day throws at me, it’s a day I’m grateful I’ve had.

I’ve got time for…

my voluntary work as a speaker for Breast Cancer Care and as an Ambassador for Cancer Research UK, within their Cancer Campaigns division. Being involved in their Secondary Not Second Rate Campaign (which has highlighted the lack of secondary breast cancer nurse specialists), has helped me feel as though I’m helping others who live with secondary breast cancer. This disease can be very isolating.

THINGS ARE DIFFERENT BECAUSE… I’ve been given something that is cherished in patients like me, and that is extra time. Time, that ten years ago, I was told I wouldn’t have; time to spend with the love of my life Paul, my two lovely children and my wonderful family and friends.

I live with a disease that’s incurable, but I’m living through exciting times in the field of cancer treatments. If I look back to when I was first diagnosed, there have been so many drug developments.

I try to remember that every day when I’m going about my daily life, there are scientists working in research labs in Newcastle, making crucial steps towards better understanding this disease.

THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IMPORTANT IN MY LIFE… My husband Paul, my children, my siblings (Laura’s twin sister is the actress Liz Carling) and my parents, but it also includes my wider, extended family.

I also have very close friends who I enjoy spending time with. They have propped me up and helped me so much to cope, often with a good dose of humour along the way.

If cancer has taught me one thing, it’s to appreciate everybody around you. None of us can exist in isolation. I have a whole team of people who help me to be Laura.

This also includes the staff at The James Cook University Hospital and The Friarage Hospital. I will always be grateful to them too.

Mid life means to me…

reaching 50 when I never thought I would and having the chance to celebrate this milestone with my twin-sister. Being 50 is wonderful. Many of my friends didn’t get the chance to see their 50th birthdays and that’s a sobering thought. My biggest dream has been achieved: to see my children grow to be young, happy adults. Everything else is a bonus. I want to be able to look back at my life and say it was well lived. I’ve just watched the one of my favourite films, It’s a Wonderful Life, it is indeed!

Laura has recently started blogging at www.lauraashurst.com

05

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

Life Guide

Turn back the years ER UND THE KNIFE

A FULL-ON FACELIFT

ONE-STITCH FACELIFT

This is an under-anaesthetic job – so not one for the faint-hearted.

Expect to pay at least £5,000. A facelift will tighten and lift the loose skin of your face below the eyes. (Anything above the eyes is a browlift.) A necklift tightens and lifts the skin of the neck. A facelift gives the best results if your face and neck have started to sag but your skin still has some elasticity and your bone structure is strong and well defined. Most people who have facelifts are in their 40s to 60.

The ‘thread lift’ is a mini facelift procedure which works by inserting medical-grade threads just under the skin, and gently pulling these to lift the cheeks and jowls. It tightens mid-face, jawline, and upper neck. The results produce a more natural look lasting up to 36 months. However. there has been some controversy surrounding these treatments.

NON SURGICAL ‘TWEAKMENTS’

These are knife-free but promise genuine results. Non-invasive cosmetic procedures can have lasting effects.

Procedures like Botox, non-permanent fillers and laser technologies are now used to offer non-surgical face-lifts, skin resurfacing and plumper lips without the need for heavy anesthetic or lengthy recovery times.

EYELID SURGERY (BLEPHAROPLASTY)

What you might call bags under the eyes or droopy eyelids, caused by skin slackening Blepharoplasty surgery, commonly known as an eyelid reduction, is an operation to reshape the eyelids. An uppereyelid reduction can improve your vision and make you look younger. A lower-eyelid reduction can help to reduce wrinkles and puffiness.

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

DERMAL FILLERS

These are injectables which can be used to plump up sagging skin – and work for lips and cheeks. They work on ‘tear troughs’ under the eyes to lighten dark circles.

06

Life Guide

HONOUR PLASMA FACIAL

At Honour Health in Jesmond, Dr Onkar Dhanoya and the team perform a range of non-surgical anti-ageing cosmetic procedures.

Among them is the plasma facial.

He realised the effectiveness of plasma’s healing properties when treating dental patients with implants. In effect, it is making use of the body’s own natural healing system.

“When dental patients had plasma there was an improvement in bone-healing and we realised this could be applied to the skin also,” he says.

An amount of blood is taken from a patient and the plasma is separated from it. The plasma is then re-injected in to a patient’s skin. The blood’s platelets release their own growth factors stimulating skin repair, increasing volume and rejuvenating the skin.

The results are long-lasting. The ‘miracle’ factor in the treatment is the skin’s own wonder-product, hyaluronic acid, something that is increasingly being used in new generation anti-ageing products.

Single treatments, £425.

HONOUR POWER BROW

No doubt about it, brows are having a moment. Never before have they been so preened and perfected.

A good brow frames the face and Honour Health’s ‘Power Brow’ treatment is all about using latest techniques to open up the eye area to create a beautiful arch, lifting the upper half of the face so it immediately looks more youthful.

Two or three key areas are treated – the side of the eyes, near the hairline and above the brows – effectively six tiny pin pricks, relatively painless with the whole treatment taking just a few minutes (there is a separate pre-treatment consultation).

The key is the placement of fillers to ensure lift in the right places and the perfect balance of filler to ensure an even look. Treatments are effective for 3-5 months.

Power Brow treatment. £260.

www.honourhealth.co.uk

Before you consider plastic surgery, check out your clinic is affiliated to BAAPS – British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.

See morexinformation and all aspects Luxebaaps.co.uk Essentials Adfor 137mm 192mm_Layout 1 guidance 21/12/2017on14:01 Page 1 of cosmetic surgery.

Exclusive

SPA WINTER ESCAPES

Beat The Blues Twilight

New Year, New You

Spa Winter Escape

Your Spa experience includes:

Your Spa experience includes:

Your Spa experience includes:

- Full use of spa facilities from 5.30pm till 9.30pm - Two course Dinner - 30 minute treatment each

- Welcome drink on arrival

- Use of spa facilities between 10am - 4pm

-

Enjoy a few hours together to relax in the Spa...

Only

£135 per couple

Sunday – Thursday only

Start the New Year in style & enjoy a luxurious spa day.

- 60 minute face or body treatment

- Two course Lunch served in Fusion restaurant

Only

£109 per person

Our most popular spa experience Overnight stay in a Premier Room Spa Brunch Full Spa Access 30 minute treatment each

From £219 per stay

0191 375 3088 | www.ramsidespa.co.uk | enquiries@ramsidespa.co.uk T&C apply. All offers subject to availability & may change. Full non-refundable payment taken at the time of booking. A supplement applies for Fridays & Saturdays.

Free Wi-Fi & parking. Treatment times subject to availability.

Life Guide

Lift me up THE ANTI-AGEING PRODUCTS TO TRY AT HOME: we love

Spa and skincare specialist Sothy’s has a lovely anti-ageing range of products with a science hit and ‘results-driven’ effect.

The Youth Cream range targets wrinkles and plumps the skin with specific cream which address firmness and skin structure. Restructuring, firming, redensifying and vitality products all target ageing skins with ingredients for tightening the skin. Products, £58. www.sothys.com

Chanel’s Le Lift range comes with exacting instruction on facial massage to ensure its anti-ageing products are applied thoroughly for maximum do-gooding effect.

They are intended to boost skin’s firmness while at the same time adding moisture and lift.

LE LIFT Skin-Recovery Sleep Mask, £72), is created specifically for overnight use – a bit like when you slather handcream and gloves for an overnight refresh. The formula absorbs quickly into skin and delivers anti-aging benefits while you sleep to firm, smooth and restore radiance.

It is a bit like your very own silk PJs for the face.

The mask creates the kind of wake-up call everyone likes – perky, plump skin ready and waiting for a new day. Take care to follow the massage instructions for maximum feel-good factor.

Le Lift range also includes an on-the-go instant boost called Le Lift V-flash, (£67) with an instant ‘tensing’ result, which promises to work for eighthours. Your new best friend.

On counter at Chanel.

Espa’s bedtime buddy is the reviving and relaxing (smells fabulous too) TriActive Advanced Night Booster, £42.

It replenishes skin cells overnight with key ingredients including ‘Four O’clock Flower’ and Caffeine to help intensify skin’s natural overnight renewal cycle and daytime barrier.

Soothing Canola Oil and Winged Kelp protect the skin and the plant booster Bidens Pilosa, a natural and gentle source of Bio-Retinol, helps improves the appearance of fine lines for a smoother complexion and youthful appearance.

www.spaskincare.com

we love

Few things work as effectively as a skin peel for giving an instant glow and anti-ageing pick-me-up.

Murad’s Hydro-Glow Aqua Peel is certainly fun to use, as you sit there with your cloth mask on with its eye, nose and mouth cut outs. It feels great when you peel it off to reveal smooth, squeakyclean, happy skin. Definitely worth having on stand-by for your sad skin days. Pack of four treatment masks, £40.

The DIY Purifying 3D Clay Mask with Activated Charcoal, £6.95 (single application).

You’ll look a bit like Hannibal Lecter for an hour or so while this grey charcoal mask does its stuff but the results are very tasty. The silky mask sticks on your face and charcoal and volcanic ash give skin a real deep clean. The mask hardens and you leave it on for 40-60 minutes. Results are instant as skin is brightened and tightened and pores minimized.

www.murad.com

www.beautypro.com

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

08

Life Guide

On-message

Anti-ageing treatments that really work – without the needle.

3D COLLAGEN SHOCK

We’ve tried this so we can talk results. Our tester, “never had a facial that made my skin look so good afterwards. I even went shopping bare-faced – pretty much a first. My skin looked lifted, plumped and so healthy”.

The Spanish skincare company Natura Bisse creates this amazing facials. What they call ‘results-driven’ You begin with an uncomplicated cleanse and tone before the start of the three step exfoliation. If you’ve ever had a glycolic peel then you’ll know the feeling; there’s a prickly sensation as the exfoliation happens. There’s the dabbing of another collagen compound on to the skin and then utterly fabulous sensation of a frothing, fizzing mask tickling the skin – it feels amazing!

You move on to a warming mask – a silicon mask over the face then it gets better still as two thick brushes are used to ‘spread’ an intense plumping mask over the face. Deep lines are ‘ironed out’ eyes are lifted, in fact everything seems to move up a notch – and the results do stay afterwards.

It’s one of a number of more high-tech treatments at the beauty rooms in Wynyard Hall itself.

Try it: 3D Collagen Shock facial, £90.

CELEBS LOOKING GOOD

BBC R4 presenter.

Kirsty Young, 50

The Salon, Wynyard Hall www.wynyardhall.co.uk

MESOTHERAPY

If Botox is a needle too far for you, the secret of smooth might be Skeyndor Mesotherapy. Sounds techy but basically it means ‘filling in the gaps’. The treatment and the products used work to plump out lines for a smoother skin finish.

Putting it simply, imagine the skin cells as a brick wall – there’s grouting in between which holds a wall steady – once that starts to crumble then the bricks start to sag and the wall weakens.

What you need to do is re-build that wall, firm it up and strengthen it again. Doing the trick is hyaluronic acid, which gets to cell level to smooth and firm lines and wrinkles.

Plumping ingredients are delivered straight into the mesoderm — the middle layer of the skin — using electric pulses.

Probes with a gentle current deliver mesofiller to the deepest level.

The result is a definite and noticeable instant lift. Skin feels smooth and looks perky and bright.

It’s a good one for instant rejuvenation and brightening – great for a one-off special occasion or for lasting lift if you have a course of six treatments. Non-invasive but still effective.

Try it: Treatment £68 (course of six, £272).

Actress Emily Watson, 50 (seen here in raunchy drama, Apple Tree Yard)

Presenter Lorraine Kelly, 57

Saks Beauty Salon, Gosforth High Street.

Saks.co.uk/gosforthbeauty

RESERVATROL

we love

The anti-oxidant properties Reservatrol, the magic ingredient derived from vines once they’ve done their work with grapes, is a key player in the Caudalie skincare range.

At Rockliffe Hall, the Resveratrol Lift Facial is a magnificent experience.

The very best bit is a very hard, firming mask that sets on the face like a cast – and in fact comes off in one impressive piece like a mini sculpture of your features.

When it comes off and you see your face, you really can tell the difference in lift. Even if it’s just a few millimetres of eyebrow heightening, there’s a definite firming effect and lovely brightness to the skin.

Singer Elaine Paige, 69

Supermodel Eva Herzigova, 44

www.rockcliffehall.com/spa Try it: Facial, £120

Rockliffe Spa, Hurworth www.ockliffehall.com

09

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

Life Guide

Age-defying advice

Skin specialist Nicky Mark owns Saks beauty in Gosforth. She’s a go-to for age-beating advice.

WIN: a Saks skincare package worth £265 Win a package of Three CosMedix Benefit Peels with Saks Beauty Gosforth along with a CosMedix Age-Defying Skin 4-Piece Essential Kit, which contains everything you need to prevent premature ageing as well as help to treat existing signs of ageing.

IN THE KIT YOU HAVE:

• BENEFIT CLEAN 15ML - Gentle cleanser for all skin types.

• CELL ID SERUM 15ML - Antioxidant serum with peptides and growth factors • SERUM 16 15ML - Retinol, Retinaldehyde & Glycosaminoglycans complex cream with Vitamin E • EMUSLION 15ML - Deeply hydrating moisturiser

“Rejuvenation is the name of the game when it comes to ageing skin and it’s a combined approach that gets the best results.

Before I list my top three, I can’t progress without first mentioning the two obvious and MOST important things for everybody’s skin; water and sunscreen. Despite this being very common knowledge, a lot of people neglect these two, and not drinking enough water and not protecting your skin in even dull, winter weather is a huge no, no.

So, assuming you’re doing that, my top tips for inspiring the wonderful rejuvenation process are: 1. LED LIGHT THERAPY As we age, our cell rejuvenation cycle slows – this treatment effectively speeds it back up, stimulates collagen production, rejuvenates skin cells and revitalises tired skin – all of which leads to less fine lines and wrinkles.

2. AHAS These are ingredients found in products and effectively they exfoliate the older, tired skin to allow the shiny new stuff to come to the surface! It’s no good over moisturising and throwing money at dead skin…. you have to ‘shed the dead’ periodically.

3. DERMAROLLER THERAPY A derma-roller contains hundreds of tiny needles. When in use, these needles create micro-injuries on the skin, which in turn sends collagen and elastin production into overdrive to compensate as it heals. This stimulation —leaves your complexion tighter and plumper than it was beforehand reducing fine lines and wrinkles, thickening and plumping the skin under the eyes and diminishing the appearance of dark circles and bags.

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

10

CosMedix Benefit Peel is a gentle but effective Retinol skin peel that is suitable for all skin conditions. The Benefit Peel is a metabolic skin peel that helps to resurface, correct and protect the skin. Using a combination of Vitamin A in the form of 10% encapsulated Retinol AGP and Vitamin C in the form of 20% L-Ascorbic Acid. CosMedix Benefit Peel brightens, remodels and strengthens the skin from within.

Unlike traditional skin peels that rely on acids for exfoliation, the Benefit Peel works with the skin’s natural renewal process and increases cell turnover. While basic chemical peels exfoliate from top-downwards, the Benefit Peel stimulates renewal from bottom-upwards. A much gentler, more effective method.

The CosMedix Benefit Peel is effective yet so gentle, it’s even suitable for sensitive skin, rosacea prone skin and black skin.

In clinical testing, 91% of Benefit Peel recipients reported brighter skin, more uniform tone and less apparent wrinkles in just six weeks.

To enter this prize draw visit www.luxe-magazine.co.uk/win and enter your email, name and a contact phone number, or email prizedraw@remembermedia.co.uk stating in the subject line the prize draw you wish to enter, include your name and a contact number. T&Cs apply, available upon request. We do not datashare, but your email will be added to our Luxe Loves The Weekend database - if you do not wish this to happen, add no contact.

Advertorial

Do you know how much money you really need to retire? £4,000 into a Lifetime ISA then you only have £16,000 remaining for your standard ISA allowance.

3. Pensions Annual Allowance

Planning for your future can be difficult and everyone has a different ‘magic number’ that they would need to retire. The first step is understanding how much money you will need to maintain your current lifestyle (or your desired lifestyle) and enjoy a comfortable retirement. Are you prepared, or do you need to rethink your finances and work out where you can make them go further?

Getting your finances in the best possible order and ensuring that you’re making the most of everything that’s available to you - now and when you retire - is key to living the lifestyle you deserve.

Here are few things that you should consider to help you get the most from your finances:

Use all of the allowances available to you It is essential to use all of the schemes available to you that could enhance your retirement package, including the Personal Allowance, ISA accounts and topping up your state pension.

Withdrawing money from your pension, even if it’s to invest in something else, allows you to use this tax-free allowance. You will pay tax on any income above your tax-free Personal Allowance.

2. Individual Savings Account (ISA) Allowance Individuals within the UK have an ISA allowance which is currently £20,000 for tax year 2017/18. There is also a Junior ISA allowance of £4,128 for children. This allowance can be paid into cash, stocks and shares, or a mixture of the two. They are an alternative way to build wealth for retirement as they are very tax efficient.

In terms of retirement saving, you can save up to £4,000 a year into a Lifetime ISA, until you’re aged 50. The government will add a 25% bonus to your savings. You can take your savings out of a Lifetime ISA when you’re aged 60 or over, without paying a charge. If you contribute the

The pension annual allowance is the overall amount of pension savings you can make within a tax year without triggering any tax charges – you should make the most of this where possible.

The annual allowance for tax relief on pension savings into a registered pension scheme is currently £40,000 (for 2017/18). This includes contributions made by someone else into your pension, such as your employer. You can also contribute into a pension for your non-working spouses and children.

It is important to remember that your annual allowance will drop if you take cash from a pension pot, cash or a short-term annuity from a flexi-access drawdown fund, or if you take more than the limit from a capped drawdown fund. The allowance can also be tapered if you are a high income earner.

4. Cash flow When you are ready to retire, you will likely receive income from a variety of sources at different times. It is important to manage these payments in a way that reflects the changes to your lifestyle, making sure you always have the right amount for what you really want to do in life.

You will need to take into account the cash you need for short and long term needs, including everyday living expenses, short-term savings goals and for those unexpected emergencies.

You also need to make sure that your money can be easily accessed, moved and invested when needed. Cash flow planning is key to making sure you get the retirement you’ve worked so hard to get to.

1. Personal Allowance Your Personal Allowance is the amount of money that you can earn each tax year before you pay income tax. The standard Personal Allowance for the 2017-18 tax year is £11,500.

www.taitwalker.co.uk

Tait Walker Wealth Management is a trading style of Tait Walker Financial Services Limited which is authorised & regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

Life Guide

Walk well

Walking is simple, FREE, AND

ONE OF THE EASIEST WAYS TO GET MORE ACTIVE, LOSE WEIGHT AND BECOME HEALTHIER.

Image: Barbour

IN THE CITY

Walking briskly can help you build stamina, burn excess calories and make your heart healthier.

You don’t have to walk for hours.

A brisk 10-minute daily walk has lots of health benefits and counts towards your recommended 150 minutes of weekly exercise.

Wear shoes or trainers that are comfortable, provide adequate support and don’t cause blisters.

If you’re walking to work, you could wear your usual work clothes with a comfy pair of shoes and change shoes when you get there.

For long walks take some water, healthy snacks and invest in a waterproof jacket and some specialist walking shoes for more challenging routes.

A brisk walk is about three miles an hour,

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

which is faster than a stroll.

One way to tell if you’re walking briskly is if you can still talk but can’t sing the words to a song.

The Active 10 app on your smartphone tells you when you’re walking fast enough and suggests ways to fit in some more brisk walking.

The easiest way to walk more is to make walking a habit. Think of ways to include walking in your daily routine. Examples include: • • • • •

using the stairs instead of the lift leaving the car behind for short journeys walking the kids to school doing a regular walk with a friend going for a stroll with family or friends after dinner

12

Walkit offers an interactive walk planner to help you find the best walking route. Each suggested route includes your journey time, calorie burn, step count and carbon saving.

walkit.com

LISTEN TO MUSIC

Walking while listening to music or a podcast can take your mind off the effort.

Music can also get you into a rhythm and help you walk faster. You’ll be surprised at how fast the time goes when you’re walking to your favourite tunes.

Add variety to your walks. You don’t have to travel to the countryside to find a rewarding walk. Towns and cities offer interesting walks, including parks, heritage trails, canal towpaths, riverside paths, commons, woodlands, heaths and nature reserves. For inspiring walks, visit Walk Unlimited. www.walk.co.uk

See more at www.nhs.uk

Life Guide

Weave, paint, grow...

LEARNING NEW SKILLS, HOBBIES OR CRAFTS THAT YOU’VE BEEN PUTTING OFF FOR TOO LONG CAN BE SOCIABLE, MINDFUL AND FUN. GET YOUR APRON ON, FINGERS MUDDY AND CREATE SOMETHING SATISFYINGLY EARTHY OR A DESIGNER ONE-OFF.

Image: National Trust

we love

Try your hand at willow weaving with a basket-making masterclass at Middleton Lodge near Darlington, one of a number of creative workshops happening in 2018, including a silk scarf design day.

www.middletonlodge.co.uk we love

Plant snowdrops as part of National Trust’s bid to grow 100,000 snowdrops at Wallington in Northumberland. Happening in February 2018.

Explore painterly passions at regular Sunday Art Schools. These are some of the many workshops from the team at A Still Life. They are based in the quaint Reading Rooms in Crathorne Village near Yarm. Throughout the year learn new pastimes – from photography to ‘considered crafts’.

www.nationalltrust.org.uk

www.astill-life.co.uk

13

Grow veg, design a flower garden or create pots to make the neighbours ache with envy. Linnels Farm near Hexham hosts courses throughout the year in fabulous farmhouse-chic surroundings. Lovely Karen Philips is your host. The welcome is always warm, food always fabulous and knowledge-imparted, priceless.

www.linnelsfarm.com

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

Life Guide

Take a moment

HERE SEAHAM HALL’S SPA DIRECTOR HELEN COULON EXPLAINS HOW TO CALM THE ‘HEADLESS CHICKEN”!

Midlife is a challenging time for the mind and it is essential to find ways to switch off.

Midlife can mean your worries multiply: caring for ageing parents, looking after grandchildren, keeping half an eye on ‘just about’ grown-up kids - or students away at Uni. Not to mention ‘the bank of mum and dad’. Money priorities change and you have to have a handle on now – and the future.

Image: hush-uk.com

Quite simply, wellness is when all the various elements of your life from the food you eat, the movement you enjoy, career, finances, relationships (and on it goes, you get the picture) are all bringing you happiness, health and contentment.

Mindfulness does seem an impossible task to take on this wellness path, especially when most of us feel we’re running about like headless chickens trying to survive.

Being mindful is all about trying to be aware of the present.

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

It’s a lifestyle change and a challenge in itself so that ageless means, ‘I am totally happy to be old and healthy - but not old and not healthy’.

It seems impossible to have everything ‘just perfect’ but make small changes to cultivate more balance.

Wellness is really a lifestyle choice. Yes, we can go to the spa to get a wellness fix, but what matters more is what you do after you leave the spa.

How you eat, how you sleep, where you live, even the products you buy and consume.

14

Life Guide

A FEW KICK STARTERS TO ROLL INTO A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE. JUST START WITH ONE OR TWO… CARE ABOUT WHAT YOU FUEL YOUR BODY WITH. Look at the food you put into your body. Start to respect your body and its amazing intelligence. Nourish it with fresh fruit and vegetables, water and wholefoods.

MAKE MOVEMENT PART OF YOUR DAILY LIFE. You need to find something that works for you; there is so much out there from tap to Pilates to meditation START YOUR DAY IN STILLNESS Not stress create a morning routine; drink some tea, read, meditate, run.

BE GENEROUS. You might find that the more you put yourself out there and help others that you will reap the karmic rewards.

LIVE WITH GRATITUDE TO yourself and to everyone and everything around you.

FOCUS LESS ON YOUR PROBLEMS. If you can’t change or leave the problem then acceptance is the only way!

LAUGH. A lot. This is amazing therapy.

SLEEP. Find a way at all costs BE ON GOOD TERMS WITH PEOPLE, especially those closest to you.

DRINK LOTS OF WATER. Hydration affects what you eat, how you function and how you feel.

BREATH. Inhale. Exhale. Take the time to focus in on your breath; listen to it, feel it and slow it down. Become mindful of stressful moments in life when your breath becomes short and sharp and consciously slow the breath down.

www.seahamhall.co.uk

Image: hush-uk.com

15

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

Life Guide

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

16

Life Guide

WE’RE TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE INTERESTING LIFE/WORK CHANGES AND HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TO MID-LIFE, DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY, CHANGING THEIR PACE OF LIFE, THEIR PRIORITIES, REFLECTING ON WHAT’S GONE BEFORE AND THE NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES TO COME

Generation ageless Jeremy Middleton CBE, is a well-known North East face, establishing and supporting new businesses, entrepreneurs and social enterprise.

I USED TO DO THIS… I started a few small businesses with my business partner, Richard Harpin, one of them went on to be very successful and is now a FTSE 200 company… HomeServe PLC.

Now life is about…

Running Middleton Enterprises Ltd, an investment company focused on early stage, high growth venture capital based on the Quayside… and creating a new social enterprise called Charity Escapes that will generate significant sums of money for local charities every year.

WHY/HOW I MADE A CHANGE… I figured I was a better investor than an operator! My best successes have been backing great individuals… not trying to run the show.

I’VE GOT TIME FOR ….

People who want to improve their own lives and those of others; especially those prepared to take the risk of developing their own businesses.

I’m lucky I can…

THINGS ARE DIFFERENT BECAUSE….

I’m 57 and the decisions I make now will decide what I do and what I achieve in the latter part of my life.

Spend my time how I choose.

Day in the life of me …

Early gym… nice breakfast… office… meetings with the team… meetings with businesses we have invested in… developing new ideas for our business or Charity Escapes… get back home for 6 pm/7 pm… watch Netflix! Wild…!

THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IMPORTANT ….

My family and friends… the people I work with… the people who give time or money to help others… anybody who goes the extra mile.

Work/life balance?

FAMILY IS ALL ABOUT….

Caring about each other… and supporting each other.

I THRIVE ON …..

Making things happen.

My work and social life are very integrated… I love my work and I integrate it into all aspects of my life… I will never be retiring!

17

MID LIFE MEANS TO ME ….

I still have half my life to go!

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

Life Guide

Downsizing RURAL OR URBAN?

If you’re selling up to move down in size, what’s the ideal location? The lure of the buzzy city life or the calm of a rustic retreat? We size up the options in the North East.

BUY THIS CITY SCAPE The new 26-storey Hadrian’s Tower is Newcastle’s highest building, complete with a glitzy sky lounge. Floor-to-ceiling windows take advantage of amazing views and the fittings are slick and stylish. The city’s amenities are literally on your doorstep.

Two bed penthouse flat £400,000.

Avocado estates

Northumberland vs Newcastle

Market towns, like Morpeth, Hexham, Alnwick and Corbridge regularly top the ‘quality of life stakes.

If you hanker for an easier pace of life with acres of space – be it beach or countryside - on your doorstep, then a bustling town could be the move to make.

A city like Newcastle has much going for it in terms of amenities – from culture to leisure to food and festivals. There’s always something going on to tap into, plus plenty of daytime and early-bird discounts and concessions for those with time on their hands. Take advantage of the Metro system to buy into chic suburbs.

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

18

RURAL RETREAT The Maltings, Alnwick offers a hint of the historic with the mod cons of apartment living in a thriving market town. From the outside it’s a honey-coloured restored mill, but inside it provides light, airy living space in the heart of Alnwick. You’re moments from Barter Books and the Alnwick Garden.

Two bed apartment £185,950.

Bradley Hall

Life Guide

BUY THIS

Tees Valley vs Durham

The Tees Valley boasts some great quality-of-life areas to live. Rail access is good and the Tees Barrage is home to a host of watersport activities if that’s your thing. Middlesbrough is having a moment in terms of its food offering, seeing an upsurge in independents and a regular arts and food market. Likewise, smaller market towns like Yarm, Norton and Hurworth are the places to find character properties, independent shops and quality restaurants, cafes and wine bars.

As a Unesco World Heritage heritage city, Durham is one of the most stunning places to live on the planet.

Discover amazing architecture on the doorstep, great culture and landscape. A well-loved theatre and cinema as well as beautiful river walks add to the attraction, as do some remarkable properties. The city boasts great access to the rest of the UK thanks to the East Coast rail network.

VILLAGE TOWNHOUSE The Mews in Marmaduke Terrace in Norton village is the ultimate downsizer property. A state-of-theart new-build interior with a village green and duck pond on your doorstep and great café culture in walking distance.

£250,000 Browns estate agents

FacialFacial Veins?

Veins?

CITY VIEWS Period property, city centre views and an historic address. A luxury apartment development with lashings of original features within the 1700s building that was the former home of the Durham County Club, which once entertained HM the Queen.

The development will be complete by March 2018.

Fiftytwo-group

Skin SOS Thread Veins, Warts, Skin Tags, Rosacea, Sun Spots?

You don’t need to live with unsightly skin problems.

ThermaVein provides incredibly fast and safe removal of common skin issues.

From £50 at Saks Beauty, Gosforth.

Permanent results with no risk of scarring, no down time and minimal discomfort.

As seen on

Safe, Instant and Effective Removal The gold standard for facial vein removal

www.thermavein.com

167 High Street, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 1HE. Speak to one of our skin proffesionals 0191 340 0420.

Safe, Instant and Effective Removal

Life Guide

North Yorkshire vs York

North Yorkshire’s market towns such as Stokesley and Helmsley are the epitome of rustic downtime living.

They are rustic, pretty and thriving thanks to their chocolate box charm. You might not always find a bargain but you will bag a property in a place that will mean you’ll never be short of visitors!

Rural

WHAT’S GOOD: Relaxed pace of life Often more for your money price-wise Fresh air & farmers’ markets Community spirit WHAT’S BAD Community spirit – will they let you be part of it?

Facilities – such as health, culture, fitness Transport – is everywhere a car journey away?

Routine – a lack of spontaneity

Urban WHAT’S GOOD Plenty going on, all the time Access to culture, galleries and events Food – great choice of restaurants on your doorstep Transport links All-ages WHAT’S BAD Not being able to switch off from the frenzy Traffic Property more expensive Noise

ALL ABOUT DEMOGRAPHICS; According to the Office for National Statistics, on average 55to 65-year-olds across all price preferences still tend to move away from urbanised areas once they retire.

Rural and coastal regions report net “in migration”.

Yet there is anecdotal evidence that the trend is shifting.

Newer city buyers are increasingly long-time homeowners moving to cities for urban offerings such as restaurants and theatres.

In the UK about 40 per cent of over-65 households can afford to downsize within the same area and still have a least £50,000 left over to supplement their pensions, according to property specialists Savills.

BUY THIS COTTAGE LIFE Honeypot heaven in Helmsley – with an English country garden included. A sweet, pretty postcard-perfect character cottage which has been tastefully updated for convenient living. Right in the heart of this popular village.

£289,950 Carter Jonas HISTORIC CITY VIEWS A truly grand apartment in a historic city centre building in York with lashings of character and airy, light-filled rooms. Everything that’s good about city living is on your doorstep but you’re also in a relatively quiet location.

£525,000 Lancaster Samms

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

20

Life Guide

Light my fire For author Sally Coulthard, the sweet smell of woodsmoke takes her straight back to her childhood home, a tall Victorian townhouse blessed with open fires on every floor.

She loved the ritual of helping her dad make a fire: scrunching newspaper and arranging bonedry twigs on a bed of ash.

“I especially liked it when he would hold a large sheet of newspaper over the mouth of the chimney to draw air up the flue. This adroit trick would transform a few infant flames into a roaring inferno in seconds – a feat both thrilling and the right side of deliciously dangerous,” she recalls.

“Fire also takes me back to messing about outdoors as a child. My brother and I would sneak to the bottom of the garden, having smuggled out a box of matches, and while away dry afternoons building small campfires and setting fire to anything that came to hand.”

So that’s what Sally newest book is all about in praise of the snug, cosy feeling an open fire always brings.

“Nothing beats the companionable crackle of an open fire. In this world of fast-paced technology, steal time for just one bit of slow living and let it be the enjoyment of a traditional wood fire. Build it, and you’ll find yourself strangely drawn to the flames. You’ll feel compelled to sit, stay and talk - or warm your toes in comfortable silence.”

So, to get your festive flames fired. Here are Sally’s red hot tips:

PEEL AND SPICES

Citrus peel and spices add a heady mulled-wine note to the fragrant fire.

As the components are smaller and fiddlier, you need to wrap them in newspaper; Whole spices are expensive, so this is a good way to recycle aromatics that have already had one round in a recipe. Vanilla pods scraped of their seeds still have lots of sweet-smelling potential, as do cinnamon pods that have been simmered, cloves from a ham, or bay leaves fished out of a stock pot. Just dry them off and add to the mix.

Similarly, bought citrus peel is too expensive to burn, but you can easily dry your own anywhere that’s warm and airy. Lay on a plate and rest it on the Aga, at the back of the airing cupboard or propped on a radiator, and the peel will be dry in days. Tangerine, satsuma, orange, lemon and clementine peels are brilliant oily fire starters and really give these bundles some oomph.

Take a double-spread from a broadsheet newspaper and fold along the crease.

Use black-and-white pages only (coloured

Few things are as magical as the crackle of a real fire. NORTH YORKSHIRE AUTHOR SALLY COULTHARD GETS THE FIRE STARTED WITH THESE WITH TIPS ON MAKING YOUR HEARTH SMELL AS GOOD AS IT LOOKS.

ink or glossy pages can release noxious fumes).

At one end of the sheet, place a handful of dried citrus peel and whole spices – cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cardamom pods, cumin, coriander seeds, used vanilla pods, spent coffee grounds, fennel seeds – create your own blend, but always include plenty of peel as that’s the tinder that will really catch.

Roll up the newspaper and twist both ends to make a cracker shape – this will stop the spices falling out. Use in place of other tinder.

HERB BUNDLES

The idea of herb bundles (also called smudge sticks and herb cakes) isn’t a new one. For thousands of years, people have used aromatic smoke to bless, cleanse and heal – ceremonies and sacred spaces were filled with the scents of burning herbs, resin and bark. In medieval times, herbs were dried and tied ready to toss onto an open fire to sweeten the air and stave off ill-health.

You need cuttings or prunings of about 15

21

centimetres (6 in). Choose any fragrant herbs – the woodier the better, as they’ll survive the drying process intact. Rosemary, bay, lavender, eucalyptus, thyme, lemon verbena, sage – there’s a whole apothecary of herbs to try. Tie a handful together with natural string or raffia, and experiment with combinations of herbs for different aromas. These fragrant bundles will not only gently perfume the living room while stacked patiently in a basket, but throw a few on the fire, either at the very beginning or on the embers at the very end, and you’ll be rewarded with a gentle waft of incense-like smoke.

PINE CONES

There are few things more evocative than the smell of spruce. Pine cones – those woody, tactile pockets of scent – are the perfect way to capture that feeling, and make excellent kindling for an aromatic fire.

Pine cones actually drop throughout most of the year, depending on the species of tree, weather conditions, and whether the cone is male or female.

The little book of building fires, Sally Coulthard, £10

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

10

Life Guide

STEPS TO STAYING YOUNG!

Dr Sophie Cassidy is a research associate and clinical exercise physiologist at Newcastle Medical School.

She was heavily involved in the recent BBC series, How to Stay Young which revealed dramatic health benefits from a change in diet and exercise.

“We are living longer than ever before, but we aren’t ageing well. More and more people are facing health challenges such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease”, says Sophie.

“As shown on How to Stay Young, many people are living unhealthy lifestyles and making their ‘body age’ up to 30 years older than their ‘birth age’. Making simple lifestyle changes like these can have huge impacts upon your health.”

Here’s how

ONE

GET ACTIVE!

Try and increase your everyday activity so that you reach 10,000 steps per day.

Research shows that 10,000 steps is related to a number of health benefits.

Buy an activity tracker to help you monitor your steps. Some ideas to help; • Ditch the bus or car and walk/cycle to work.

• If you can’t do this, then park your car further away from your destination or get off the bus one stop earlier.

• Take a lunch time walk.

• Reduce your time spent sitting at work. Get up every 30 minutes and walk about. Or try a standing desk.

2.

MAKE SURE YOU INCORPORATE SOME SHORT PERIODS OF HIGHER INTENSITY EXERCISE INTO YOUR WEEK. Research shows that even just three 20-30 seconds of high intensity exercise, 3 x per week can improve heart health. A good indication that you are doing higher intensity exercise is that you should feel breathless and shouldn’t be able to talk easily. Stair and hill climbs are a good way of challenging your heart.

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

22

3.

TRY AND DO SOME RESISTANCE EXERCISES,

at least twice a week. You lose muscle as you age, and this accelerates once you hit 40. This doesn’t have to be in a gym, but body weight exercises at home such as lunges, step ups, press ups and burpees can be very effective.

FOUR

FOLLOWING A MEDITERRANEAN STYLE DIET has proven health benefits. Fill up on vegetables, wholegrains, dairy, seafood, pulses and nuts. If you are struggling to maintain a healthy weight, cut back on carbohydrates. As you age, the amount of calories you need declines therefore you probably don’t need to eat as much as you did when you were younger.

Life Guide

Five

CUT BACK ON REFINED SUGARS

Six

which are mainly found in cakes, pastries, biscuits and sugary drinks. It’s fine to enjoy treats now and again, but these foods spike your blood sugar levels and increase fat storage around important organs in your body.

SLEEP IS IMPORTANT FOR GOOD HEALTH. During sleep, your body carries out a number of important functions such as repairing damage and releasing important hormones. If you struggle with sleep, try and minimize the time you spend looking at a screen just before bed and reduce napping throughout the day.

7 8.

ENJOY THE OUTDOORS! Make the most of any opportunity to being outside, and especially make an effort to get in green spaces. Research shows it’s not just good for physical health but also mental health, and increases your vitamin D levels!

SKIN AGEING CAN BE SLOWED DOWN

by wearing SPF which protects against sun damage.

THE ONE EVERYONE KNOWS,

stop smoking and limit alcohol intake.

TEN

Nine

CARRYING TOO MUCH FAT,

especially around the middle leads to a number of complications we see with ageing. If you follow the steps above you should be on your way to improving your weight. Remember that if you are eating more calories than you are burning, you will store these excess calories as fat.

Losing weight is much easier to achieve by focusing on your diet. Exercise is good for heart and mental health, but isn’t very good at helping you lose weight. To burn off just one Costa caramel shortcake I would have to run at a fast pace for 50 minutes!!

So reduce your calories if this is a problem.

Some tips for this: • • • • •

Reduce your plate size. This helps with portion control.

Load up on vegetables. They can fill you up and are less calorie dense than carbs.

Limit the amount of carbs on your plate.

Include healthy sources of protein in your diet - this keeps you fuller for longer.

It’s a myth that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and that you need three meals each day. If you find it easy to skip a meal, then do that.

As long as you don’t overcompensate on the next meal.

23

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

Life Guide

grey scarf from a selection tuttiandco.com

Jones Giovanna trainer, £95, Jones Bootmaker

Pumps, £98, Jigsaw

It’s the coolest colour around.

Sharp silver, gunmetal grey, pared-back pewter or any shade in between.

Grey is having a moment, be it, wear it.

Grey matters Sweater, £70, Betty & Co Cardigan, £90, Betty & Co

Silver backpack, £315, Michael Kors, House of Fraser

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

24

Life Guide

Betty Barclay, Jacket, £175, Stockists include The House, Yarm

Witham Teddy Coat, £130, White Stuff

Grey cross back cashmere jumper, £220, Repeat Cashmere, House of Fraser Wyse scarf, £155, John Lewis

Creenstone down coat, £305.90 Jules B

25

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

Life Guide

Generation ageless

Broadcaster Mike Parr, 56, presents BBC Tees’ morning music and talk show.

He has worked in radio for 35 years and last year was able to take a six-month sabbatical to travel.

I USED TO DO THIS… Worry too much. I still do it and I think I’ll always be that way inclined. I know I can be a bit of a perfectionist. It really worries me if I don’t do a good job.

Now life is about…

The bigger picture. Getting the balance right. You’ll always do a better job on the radio if you do other things away from the studio and keep yourself in touch by talking to all sorts of different people. I’m a bit of a foodie and I love cooking, so I do that to relax. I’ve always wanted a fish and chip shop. I even went on a fish frying course.

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

HOW I MADE A CHANGE… I think I’ve probably done around 8,000 radio shows. I still love doing it and it’s the best job in the world, but I decided to step back for a while. I knew radio would always call me back, but I think it’s important to try new things.

Last year I was lucky enough to take a break of six-months from the daily radio show and see a bit more of the world. I also felt it was time to spend more time with the people who are important to me. Time has a habit of just slipping away.

So amongst other things, I spent some time in Australia and China. It’s one the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’ve come back thinking very differently. They’re both huge countries and both very different to the UK. Australians have a great sense of wellbeing and a great work/life balance. The Chinese have a great sense of purpose and work ethic. Travel makes your world bigger and it makes you realise that all the little things that you used to worry about aren’t that important at all.

26

Life Guide

The people who are important...

People who do as much listening as talking are very special. Hold onto them.

WHAT MID LIFE MEANS TO ME...

It’s all about confidence. Life experience gives you the confidence to lead your own life without bothering too much about what other people might think.

Best advice I’ve ever been given? Enjoy the journey. I was always looking for the next thing.

Now I try to make the most of every minute.

I thrive on...

FAMILY IS ALL ABOUT...

Listening and being supportive without being too judgemental. I think if you’re too quick to judge, the lines of communication can break down. You realise as you get older that the gift of time is more valuable than anything you can buy.

I’m lucky I can...

Go into a radio studio, switch on a microphone and talk to interesting people every day. My listeners tell me the most astonishing things. They share their lives with me every day and you never know what they’re going to reveal. It could be anything from dealing with an addiction to wanting advice on their love life!

THINGS ARE DIFFERENT BECAUSE...

I’m getting better at getting on with things. It’s all too easy to sit and think about doing something or saying “I’ve always wanted to go there”. During my six-month break I was determined to make every day count. If you can do it…do.

The buzz that you get from doing a great radio show! You know when a plan comes together and you get the right mix of guests and topics.

Listeners let you know what they think very quickly these days via social media. When I first started they would write you a letter. Now they contact you within seconds through Facebook and Twitter!

WORK/LIFE BALANCE...

Getting this right is really important. Get the balance right and you will be happier and healthier. I couldn’t always see that when I was younger.

A day in the life of me...

My job has nearly always involved an early start. I love it. I actually thrive on going to bed early and getting up with the larks. At the moment it’s a 5am start and then a drive to BBC Tees in Middlesbrough. I’ll spend up to three hours preparing for the show at 9am. It’s a live show of music and current affairs and anything can happen, so you need to be on your toes.

When the show finishes at midday, the team gets together to discuss how things went and we’ll start planning for tomorrow.

I’m trying to lose weight at the moment, so I’ll have a light lunch that doesn’t involve any bread before heading off.

I’m trying to do more exercise in the afternoons, so I’m often out on my bike. It’s my job in our house to do all the cooking, so then you’ll find me in the kitchen.

I’ll end the day with a bit of TV. I’ll catch the news and I’m watching more drama these days (absolutely loved Line of Duty) although I seem to have got into the habit of nipping out to our local. It’s a good way of keeping in touch with what people are thinking!

27

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

Life Guide

PU D fo r G O O D

We’ve grown very fond of Midlife Kitchen, a cookbook that keeps on giving: It’s a do-you-good food lifeguide of sorts.

Writers Mimi Spencer and Sam Rice, themselves the best possible advert for looking amazing in midlife, do their bit to make middle years anything but a time of crisis.

Instead they take a brisk approach to well-being with a sensible, creative and altogether delicious guide to food in this Midlife Kitchen recipe book.

It’s not ‘clean eating’ nor about ‘superfoods’ or in any way abstemious but it is about eating well and tucking in to great dishes which are packed with stuff that’s good for you.

Which brings us on to midlife sticky toffee puddings.

Points for being being fat free and for the sweetness coming direct from Medjool dates. Whisked egg whites give the lightness and a bit of science backs it up – a recent health study showed date syrup as bacteria fighter – and dates are a great source of gut-friendly fibre.

Date night sorted then!

MIDLIFE STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING WITH CARAMEL SAUCE SERVES 4

CARAMEL SAUCE

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

175g Medjool dates, pitted 175ml water 2 tbsp maple syrup 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 large eggs, separated 85g self-raising flour a pinch of sea salt flakes 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 4 tbsp date syrup

METHOD:

Preheat the oven to 160°C/Gas Mark 3.

Place the dates and water in a saucepan and bring to a simmer, then cook for 3–4 minutes until softened. Leave to cool slightly, then transfer to a food processor or blender, add the maple syrup and vanilla extract and blitz until almost smooth.

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

Tip into a bowl and stir in the egg yolks. Sift in the flour, add the salt and bicarbonate of soda and stir well.

Whisk the egg whites in a clean bowl until stiff peaks form, then fold into the date mixture, ensuring they are fully incorporated.

Put 1 tablespoon of the date syrup into each of 4 pudding moulds or ramekins, then divide the mixture between them. Transfer the moulds to a roasting tin and pour hot water into the tin to reach halfway up the moulds.

Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the puddings comes out clean (the timing will depend on the depth of the moulds or ramekins).

Run a knife around the edge of the moulds, then invert the puddings on to individual plates. Serve immediately.

28

SERVES 2 50g coconut sugar a splash of water 50ml coconut milk 1/2 tsp vanilla extract A pinch of sea salt flakes (optional)

METHOD:

Mix the coconut sugar with a splash of water in a small saucepan, then bring to a simmer. Add the coconut milk, vanilla and salt (if using); bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is reduced and darkened.

Leave to cool slightly, then chill – it benefits from 30 minutes in the fridge to thicken before serving, but it can also be served warm. The sauce will keep in the fridge for up to a week.

Life Guide

Cheat & chic sipping THE DILEMMA OF WHAT TO DRINK WHEN YOU’RE NOT DRINKING IS SOLVED WITH A GROWN-UP TIPPLE THAT’S A WORLD AWAY FROM THE FIZZY WATER, ICE AND LEMON OPTION.

RECIPE:

SEEDLIP SPICE & GINGER ALE

Ingredients

Seedlip Spice: 50ml Ginger Ale: 125ml

Glass & garnish

Rocks and Orange Full Moon

Method

Build over Ice

RECIPE:

SEEDLIP PEAS & LOVE

Ingredients

Seedlip Garden: 50ml Indian Tonic: 125ml

Glass & garnish

Highball with a Handful of Peas

Method

Build over Ice

Seedlip is a non-alcoholic spirit made from botanicals, distilled over six weeks in copper stills just like a gin or vodka.

You can take a non-guilty Seedlip and tonic at any time of the day – it has zero calories, zero sugar and no additives – or of course, alcohol so it is the credible adult alternative to alcohol if you’re not drinking. [mid-week, driving, pregnant, teetotal] Chose from two flavours: Seedlip Garden 108 captures the essence of the English countryside with sophisticated top notes of the handpicked peas and hay from the founder’s family farm with a complex herbal base character of spearmint, rosemary & thyme.

Seedlip Spice 94 is aromatic with strong spice (all spice berries & cardamom) & citrus (lemon & grapefruit peel) top notes and long, bitter wood notes

RRP £27.99 available online and at Fenwick Food Hall

29

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

Life Guide

ALL-AGE GETAWAYS Welcome to the house of fun No place for sulky teens or surly seniors in this generations-friendly dream getaway near Petworth East Sussex. Family harmony is surely guaranteed at Cornucopia whether you’re an early riser or night owl.

WHY WE LOVE IT They’ve thought of everything. It’s a bit like your own personal Center Parcs. Bowling alley? Tick. Heated pool? Tick. Private cinema?

Yes please!

SENIOR MOMENTS Get away from it all in gorgeously-manicured gardens, snooze beneath a tree or watch re-runs of fabulous movies on the biggest home-screen imaginable.

WATER BABIES Splash about in a heated pool (May to September), relax in the hot tub or take to the lake in boats moored off a private jetty.

TRYING TEENS No room for boredom. Wifi is a given but they might even put down the phones for a while for games of air-hockey, tennis, pool – or some crazy bouncing on the trampoline.

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

30

Life Guide

NEED-A-BREAK MUMS The twinkly starry ceiling and swathes of luxe fabrics in the Moroccan-style relaxation room on the lower ground floor create a pampering retreat for some blissful ‘me time’ away from the main house.

TEAM TIME Gather together for a ten-pin bowling, tournament, chill-out with a family movie or feast al-fresco on the lazy and lovely terrace.

OUR & ABOUT Close by is Goodwood with a host of festivals: Goodwood Festival of Speed is the largest motoring garden party in the world – a unique summer event that brings together a heady mix of cars, stars and the motor sport elite.

Glorious Goodwood is a summer social calendar highlight buzzing with fabulous fashion, top racing stars, chilled champagne and dancing.

Goodwood Revival steps back in time to indulge in the charm and appeal of this romantic era at one of the world’s most authentic motor racing circuits.

FRESH AIR Acres of outdoorsy goodness where little ones can run wild, big ones can escape the workday pressures or simply bask in the do-nothing emptiness of the day.

PRICES Three-night weekend from £8,750 Week from £12,500 www.uniquehomestays.com 01637 881 183

SNOOZE & STAY Cornucopia sleeps 14 people in seven rooms. There’s a housekeeper on site and you can hire a chef for your stay.

31

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

Life Guide

Feel-good buys 1

2

4

5

3

6

7

8

9

1/ Masons Yorkshire Gin, £39.99, masonsyorkshiregin.com 2/ Cap, Stetson, £78.99, Julesb.co.uk 3/ Tweedmill Picnic Rug, £94.95, Black By Design Ltd, black-by-design.co.uk 4/ Izipizi readers, £28.99, Julesb.co.uk 5/ Barbour Munro tee, £34.95, barbour.com 6/Avoca throw, £115, Johnlewis.com 7/ Astrid Flower Flask And Cup, £12.95, dotcomgiftshop.com 8/ Travel bag, £70, Greatgiftcompany 9/ B&O PLAY wireless headphones, £149, Johnlewis.com LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

32

Life Guide

Outdoors or indoors, some treats to help you work, rest and play 10

11

12

13

14

16

17

15

10/ Lulu Guinness hard-sided case, £239.99, Very.co.uk 11/ Candice Cooper statement sneaker, £214.99, Julesb.co.uk 12/ Barbour tartan dog collar, £29.95, Johnlewis.com 13/ Unisex Breton sweater, £95, thenauticalcompany.com 14/ Urban Apothecary London Oudh Geranium Scented Candle, £30 amara.co.uk 15/ Family of Birds notebook, £7, magpieline.com/shop/ 16/ Knitted hottie, £25, johnlewis.com 17/ Rattan Bone Pet Storage Basket With Lid From £59.99, dobbies.com

33

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

Bathe beautiful

Life Guide

Scents: Bella Freud - Night Music Candle, £45.00

The best me-time IS WHEN YOU’RE BATHED IN BUBBLES, LULLED BY WARMTH, WITH COSY PJS, CLEAN SHEETS AND A GOOD BOOK WAITING FOR YOU…

www.amara.com

Snuggle: Monogram robe, £75

www.kellyhoppen.com we love

Spray: Oliver Bonas sleep mist, £15

www.oliverbonas.com

Sleep: Stay cosy in PJs with a heart. Hush has teamed up with domestic violence charity Refuge to produce a limited edition pyjama set with matching eye mask. For every set purchased, Hush will donate the equivalent cost of one night in a refuge for a mother and child. The set is £60.

Bathtime bliss

Make it a sensory experience. Get the temperature right: For a detoxifying, tension relieving muscle soak, then the bath should be between 39°C and 42°C. This improves circulation, helps open pores and release toxins.

www.hush-uk.com

Soak: Neom Six Blissful Nights in oils, £30

www.neomorganics.com

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

34

Stimulate the senses. Try a lavender oil in your bath before bed for a relaxing and sleep-encouraging soak. Eucalyptus and ylang ylang are also recommended. Scented candles are lovely in the bathroom, just make sure they complement your oils rather than fight them.

Listen up. For a spa experience try a relaxation CD, or music of nature. But in the evening we’re great fans of Dinner Jazz with Sarah Ward on Jazz FM. Calming sounds for downtime. …and sip! For a pre-bed treat, how about a cup of hot chocolate or glass of wine in the tub?

Life Guide

35

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

Life Guide

LIFE GUIDE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 18

36