Northern Notes

Northern By Debbie Orme Notes

The lockdown caused by COVID-19 may have forced many of us to step back and take some time out, but two Northern Ireland ladies certainly haven’t taken their foot off the accelerator!

Just before the lockdown began, I had the privilege and pleasure to meet these outstanding women who, I have to say, really made an impression on me.

First of all, I met with Belfast woman, Bernie Allen.

Bernie really is an inspiration. Not only has she risen from the ashes of collapsed businesses and personal devastation, she’s now revealed some of the secrets of her journey back to success in her new book, How To Succeed in Business and Life: What’s Holding You Back? There’s no doubt that, over the past two decades, Bernie has overcome a lot of adversity, including difficulties in family and business, and relationship breakups.

Two businesses also collapsed, leading to debts of £78,000, and she then, perhaps unsurprisingly, suffered significant health issues. ‘I owned a restaurant in a mall that didn’t live up to the promises I was made,’ Bernie told Northern Notes, ‘and I also had a newsagent that failed because a big garage opened next door. I truly didn’t know where to turn; I used to tell people my duvet became my best friend because I didn’t want to get out of bed and face reality.

‘I didn’t know where my next source of income was coming from, but I was then introduced to the world of network marketing and set up a home-based business opportunity with no overheads. Needless to say, I grabbed it with both hands and ran with it.

‘I set myself a five-year business plan and my top priority was to pay off my debts, but I actually managed to achieve that in four-and-a-half years and I became debt-free and financially secure.’

Spurred on by her own experience, Bernie decided to try and help others who had experienced the difficulties that she had encountered. She began by interviewing hundreds of entrepreneurs, business owners and thought leaders to find out what had either held them back or what was continuing to hold them back, ‘In my experience,’ she continued, ‘all those who succeed are the people who are prepared to do what they need to do to get what they want to get, don’t make excuses, are always prepared to learn more of the how-to and are genuinely interested in helping others achieve and get out of the money versus happiness trap,

‘To get to the top it’s all about what is going on between your two ears, so self-development is even more important than learning.

‘I have travelled the world in search of empowerment knowledge and have spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on seminars, books, webinars, CDs, booking trainers and attending conventions globally. ‘While I was growing my self-confidence and motivation I had to make sacrifices, to succeed, but, it was all worth it. I tell everyone I come across

Bernie Allen at the launch of her book

that they shouldn’t let anyone tell you that you can build a successful business without having to make sacrifices.’

Armed with her new self-knowledge, Bernie decided to put her own experiences and subsequent success into print after a talk she gave at a convention called ‘Camp Someday’.

‘During that talk, I spoke about the difficulties and challenges I came up against both in my personal and business life, and how I identified and overcame them,’ she says. ‘The audience response was overwhelming and after every event, it was the same response. I decided to put it into this book to help others overcome some issues that might be holding them back.’

Since achieving her success, Bernie has been working to support charities, including Puppies for the Blind and fundraisers for schools and children in Uganda.

Bernie says she wrote the book to help readers identify where they have been and why they have been there, or where they are now and how they got there. She also wants to help them get to where they want to go.

Patience Bradley with her husband Ivor

Patience in her modelling days

Not long after I met Bernie, I was invited to Holywood in County Down to spend a day with a former Vogue model! Try as I might, I can’t really think of an adjective to describe my meeting with Patience Bradley. From her pink wig, to her leather-look leggings, to her ’diva’ Chihuahua, Mary Rose – an actress and a model – my day with Patience is one that I will never forget.

This unique, absolutely fabulous woman has led a life that many would only dream of but she’s now enjoying her retirement in the seaside town with the ‘love of her life’, husband Ivor. Whisked away from her Northern Ireland home at fourteen to appear on the front-page of international fashion magazines, Patience Bradley certainly experienced the glamorous lifestyle. From photoshoots in Milan, to becoming a brief stand-in dancer for Legs and Co on Top of the Pops, it was a lifestyle that saw her on everything from television to billboards. But it all came at a price.

A few years ago, Patience published a heartfelt account of her battle with bulimia a she pursued her modelling career. My Secret Is Out was an honest, gripping and at times humbling diary of her struggle against this terrible condition that afflicts so many. As always, Patience laid her soul on the line. ‘No matter what I’ve done in life since I’ve had bulimia,’ she says, ‘I have never been able to get away from the haunting thought of food. That’s why I wrote the book in diary form. It’s my diary and how I feel about things. I wanted it to be a help and a comfort.’

Now, however, Patience has turned her attention to a more enjoyable subject: her fascinating life! ‘Where do you go to my lovely?’ is a frank and honest romp through her life at the top of photographic modelling, and Patience draws on a bank of amusing anecdotes about her time in front of the camera. mid-late teens she was rubbing shoulders and partying with the biggest names in showbiz. She recounts, for example, how she became friends with ‘Superman’, aka Christopher Reeve, during her modelling heyday. Patience hit it off with superstar Reeve over their mutual love of horse riding. ‘Many years ago,’ she writes in her book, ‘I had a chance encounter at a party with a very handsome young American actor called Christopher Reeve. He was charming and oh so handsome. He was also in London making a film where he played the lead role - Superman. ‘We had a mutual love of and interest in horses and when, over the years, we were at the same events, he would always make a point of coming over to chat with me.’ Christopher Reeve certainly made an impact on the young model. ‘During that time I would have encountered a lot of people who were incredibly false,’ she says. ‘Everything to them was about image, looking for the next big break. You could see as they were talking to you that their eyes were scanning the room looking to see who could help them in their career and, as soon as one was spotted, you were dropped like a hot potato. ‘This wasn’t the case with Christopher. He was a genuinely charming man. The charm was not an act, it was simply who he was. Good looks in men can work in one of two ways. Some good-looking men feel entitled. They are gorgeous and you should be grateful that you are breathing the same air as them. Christopher was genuinely uninterested in his looks. He was simply a very nice person. But why shouldn’t he be? He had a beautiful wife, a great career and three beautiful children.’

Patience even remembers fondly the moment she met the Hollywood superstar after his widely publicised accident that left him paralysed. ‘After he fell from the horse during a show-jumping competition, everything changed. He was left paralysed from the neck down, unable to breathe without the aid of a

Patience got to know Superman (Christopher Reeve)

ventilator. No-one would have blamed him if he had just given up,’ she says. ‘What we all learnt was that he didn’t just act like Superman, he really was a super man. Instead of retreating from society, he embraced it.

‘It was a few years after the accident that I found out I was going to be at the same event as him. I’ll be honest, I was nervous about how I would cope with meeting him again. His young son was there and I watched from across the room as his son held a drink up for his father, wiped his mouth and then lifted his father’s hand to his own cheek.

‘I took a deep breath and walked over to see my old friend. We chatted and he introduced me to his young son, Will. The same charm was there, the blue eyes still held you mesmerised and suddenly all pity was gone. In its place was an overwhelming sense of admiration and pride for such a wonderful individual.

‘When I decided to write this memoir,’ says Patience, ‘I imagined that it was a chat with a friend over a coffee. These are the tales and stories from back stage and the limelight.’ As someone, who spent a day that I will never forget, I can assure you that Patience Bradley’s life is one unlike any other. Brave, unique and yet totally humble, she really is a special lady.

Community pharmacies throughout Ireland – north and south – really stepped up to the plate during the height COVID-19 pandemic. Many communities would have been left in dire straits had it not been for the amazing contribution that pharmacists and their teams made to their patients and their welfare.

Now, the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Councillor Peter Johnston, has awarded Kells & Connor Pharmacy with certificates of recognition for their tireless work throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Councillor Johnston’s sincere thanks and congratulations were offered to the local volunteers, who had come forward to offer support to the local community pharmacy by way of completing mass deliveries of prescription medication to those shielding.

‘It was great to have the opportunity to go out and deliver some of the medication for the pharmacy,’ Councillor Johnston said. ‘I have been very encouraged to see the work of MEAAP right across the borough as they have stepped up to serve the community when we needed it most.

‘I am excited to be touring across Mid & East Antrim to personally offer my thanks and that of the Council to over 500 volunteers, who Seven of Belfast’s historic entries are getting a makeover as part of Belfast City Council’s regeneration plans, with ambitions to upgrade more in the future. Work is underway to transform Castle Arcade, Crown Entry, Wilson’s Court, Joy’s Entry, Pottinger’s Entry, Cole’s Alley and Winecellar Entry. Along with general repair works and repainting, there are also plans for enhanced lighting and bespoke artwork. The £870,000 project is scheduled for completion this autumn and has been part funded by Department for Communities. ‘Our entries are an important part of our city’s history,’ said Belfast Lord Mayor, Alderman Frank McCoubrey, ‘but in recent times, some have become forgotten and are not used by people because they have seen better days and there is a perception that they are unsafe or unwelcoming. ‘This project aims to breathe new life into the entries, to make them more attractive, and also to inspire people to explore their heritage and find out more about their connections to the past.’ The aim of the project is to transform the entries into more welcoming and vibrant thoroughfares to better connect the city and improve wayfinding, as well as celebrating and enhancing the unique heritage of each individual entry.

have been nominated for their efforts during this difficult time.’

Needless to say, William McCaughey, Manager of Kells & Connor Pharmacy, said he was very proud of how the local community had handled the crisis.

‘The offers of support have been warmly welcomed by our team,’ he said, ‘and they came in abundance, so much so that I was able to encourage volunteers to also support our local grocery store to help ensure people shielding During the research phase of the Belfast Entries project, people were asked to share their ideas for the lighting aspect of the project. People asked that the lighting be playful, interactive, and distinct to the city. Under the plans, previously dark and overlooked entries will become well lit, immersive spaces, with feature lighting using innovative technologies and sustainable materials. ‘My department is delighted to be working alongside Belfast City Council to help transform some of Belfast’s most historic entries,’ added Communities Minister, Carál Ní Chuilín. ‘The entries play a vital part in linking streets and contributing to the vibrancy of the city centre. As the city centre continues to recover from the COVID-19 crisis, these entries will provide a key means of moving around our city centre and will contribute to its recovery.’ had access to food as well as medication.’ Local teacher, Marcus Morrow, has been volunteering alongside Kells & Connor Pharmacy for several weeks now and said he was delighted to have been able to go out and about this rural community to deliver the prescriptions.

‘Finding some of the homes in this rural area has been fun,’ he said, ‘with many very remote but for some we are the only face they will see all day and so the chance to have a chat at a

safe distance is welcomed by many.’

Mayor, Alderman Mark Fielding, lays his wreath on behalf of the Council

The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council took part in a commemoration to mark the Battle of the Somme in Portstewart on Wednesday 1st July.

During the service organised by Portstewart Royal British Legion, Alderman Mark Fielding laid a wreath at the War Memorial on the Promenade.

For the past fifty years Pat has worked with people of all fitness and ages helping them overcome many obstacles in their lives. From weight issues, anorexia, bulimia and paralysis from surgery or from stroke, helping clients fulfil their true potential and being the best they can be. Pat says sometimes we all need a little help to keep the flame burning or reignited when things look bad. This is achieved by a very realistic approach with exercise, yoga, meditation, visualisation and working out a blueprint to help the client keep moving forward with their lives. Weight issues is only a small part of the success, being comfortable with who you are no matter what weight or shape you are in, Pat feels this is more important. You have to love yourself before you can love someone else.

To be comfortable within yourself and your own company is also important especially in the times we are going through with this virus but Pat says it gives us time to reflect and plan for the future or escape from your own mental lockdown and be mentally free from fear of the future. It is now time to plan.

Pat has lectured on health, work/life balance and stress management in Ireland, the U.K. and the US, where he has acquired a reputation as an effective and knowledgeable fitness consultant and a compelling motivational speaker. He has worked with leading companies and individuals world-wide as a personal coach and is the author of best-selling books and videos on fitness and health. He has appeared regularly on television where his health and fitness instruction has reached an audience of over 6 million people in Ireland and England. He has participated in radio programmes and has written numerous articles on wellness related issues for many leading magazines and newspapers. He has also developed a comprehensive system of anti-ageing strategies.

His background is in fitness, wellness and yoga, developed during his years in California, working with Hollywood’s top fitness expert Vince Gironda, top trainer in the world. Pat was awarded Master Trainer of the American Academy of Body Sculpting and President of the Irish Academy of Body Sculpting, Pat advocates a wholly natural approach to fitness including mental fitness, based on fifty years of helping clients achieve their maximum potential.

He has had David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Gabriel Byrne, Helen Mirren, Matt Dillon, Christina Ricci, Ellen Barkin, Julie Ormond, Dolores O’Riordan, Michael Flatley, Fionnuala Sherry, Carol King, Emily Watson, Keith Duffy, Def Leppard, Damien Lewis, Joseph Feinnes, Katherine Winnick and many more through his gym in Dublin and at his West Cork retreat. Pat is the originator of the hugely successful Anti-ageing Programme, which is now the future of health and fitness worldwide, using simple techniques combining nutritional and exercise strategies to overcome the pitfalls of feeling old, looking old. It is designed to have you feeling stronger and healthier, having energy, avoiding injury.

He has also created the Company Wellness Programme, helping many companies unlock the potential of their people. Clients in this area include Aer Rianta, Deloitte, ILAM, Scottish Provident, IBEC, AABS, Network Business Associates, Mainstream Energy, Bank of Ireland, London, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Belfast, Cookstown, FBD Insurance, William Fry, Maples and Calder, Mercer, Eugene F Collins solicitors, Brendan Read Pension Group, The Accountants Society of Ireland, Microsoft Copenhagen, Insurance Institute of Ireland and Europe, Garda Siochana, Dail Eireann and various Government Bodies.

What do people expect when they seek out the services of a financial broker/consultant? What are the key roles of a financial consultant and what aspects of this relationship, add value? The real answers to these questions may surprise you! Typically, financial consultants will tell you they provide advice on cash flow analysis, asset allocation, investment, retirement planning, protection, wealth preservation, estate planning and so on. But are these the real benefits they provide? You might want to think about this differently. For example, when you seek out the services of a mechanic, what are you paying for? Brake pads? Filters? Oil? Full Service? Repairs? What most people want from a mechanic is a car that gets them from A to B. They want it serviced in good time, they want a fair estimate of what it will cost, an itemised invoice and a guarantee for parts and repairs. Likewise, the value of a good financial consultant, will often be different to the services advertised. Sure enough, asset allocation and portfolio advice are important components but these are just means to desired ends.

What individuals and companies should be getting in the final analysis, is guidance to a goal, peace of mind, a sense of security, a feeling that someone has their back and an assurance that they will be okay whatever this world throws at them. Furthermore, people value a sense of structure about their financial lives and an understanding of the recommendations and choices at their disposal. The technical tools a financial consultant employs such as, an understanding of what drives returns, the role of diversification and a knowledge of the tax system, are without doubt critical components in delivering these desired outcomes. But these are only part of what different roles financial consultants play. In fact, a good financial consultant will play several pivotal roles for their clients, none of which are set out in a typical job description. Here are just five of them:

1. A guide - Most people know what they want, or at least, know what they don’t want in life. What is often missing is a sense of how they can get there. A financial consultant provides a plan with recommendations, showing possible pathways and the trade-offs involved within each. 2. A teacher - Many people’s sense of what drives returns comes from the day-to-day noise in financial media. It is normally all about product and short-term returns. A good financial consultant shows the client what drives long-term returns and educates them along the journey.

3. A coach - It is easy to make financial resolutions- to save more, to spend less, to grow wealth and to leave a legacy. It is not easy keeping them. A financial consultant at their best will ensure goal accountability, keep the client on their desired path and talk to them when they are anxious in uncertain times.

4. A filter - The problem with the world right now is not a lack of information. We are overloaded with the stuff. The challenge is finding the right information, in a form that can be understood. The right financial consultant becomes a trusted source and an information filter.

5. A sentinel - Good financial consultants are not only looking at your circumstances as they are today, but what might be coming over the horizon to change all that. They are mindful of your legacy- the welfare of future generations and how your wealth can keep working beyond your lifetime.

These five roles are not exhaustive by any means. There are many others, but this gives you an idea of the depth and breadth of services a good financial consultant will provide.

Again, to use the mechanic metaphor, a financial consultant is not simply trying to fix your car but is looking to ensure you and your family reach your desired destination safely and reliably while enjoying the journey along the way.

That is where the value lies.

If you have any financial planning requirements, please contact me, John Miller, at any time on 087 629 1863 or email at jmiller@campion.com

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