FRANK June/July 2019

FRANK M A G A Z I N E

Issue 02 June - July 2019

W E

L O V E

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The colour and thickness of the bottles is important as it prevents light effecting the quality of the product inside.

4% (400mg) CBD in Organic Cold Pressed Hemp Seed Oil 10ml www.maripharm.co.uk

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E D I T O R ' S N O T E

''Frank is for adult women who want to be informed, inspired, amused, look good and be healthy.''

W

elcome to our second issue of Frank, the new bi-monthly magazine for adult women who want to be informed, inspired, amused, look good and be healthy. We shine a spotlight on and celebrate women over forty and this our summer issue is stacked with great interviews.

We talk to an art dealer and art curator Fru Tholstrup about her life, work and the issues female artists face. We hear from Carol Morley, writer and film director of the recent hit ‘Out the Blue’ who talks about her career, process, latest project, and her starstruck conversation with her biggest fan and fellow film director Martin Scorcese.

Fashion illustration by Jacqueline Bissett

Amid the menopause topic explosion, we talk to Meg Matthews about how she has pretty much started the conversation singlehandedly with www.megsmenopause.com website We feature the brilliant Dr. Louise Wiseman and her thoughts on sleep hygiene and how to get enough shut-eye through these summer nights.

In our fashion pages, we look at modern neutrals that will keep you cool in the city heat and beauty Editor Fiona Eustace shares her vital tips to best protect our skin from the sun.

So kick back, keep cool and enjoy

Melanie Sykes *** An online magazine aimed at women 40+.

Speaking openly about women's topics without avoiding any issues. www.thefrankmagazine.com

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contents

Summer summer summertime Time to sit back and unwind

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Fashion Shoot ''Summer Neutrals & Cool Whites''

Cover Model Shalke Gummels

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Fashion Editor's Summer Picks

Beauty 36 Sun, Sea, Sand & Sunscreen 38 Colour for Summer 40 Up the Anti Pollution

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Jacqueline Bisset Fashion Illustration

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contents

Melanie interviews Marco Pierre White

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54

Getting Personal with Giles Coren

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Health & Wellbeing

60 Sleep with Dr Louise Wiseman 72 Michelle Langer

Meditation

76 Allergies with Gabriel Peacock 82

Meg Matthews talks Menopause

60 76

82 www.thefrankmagazine.com www.thefrankmagazine.com www.thefrankmagazine.com

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CBD Explained with Colleen Quinn

104 130

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136

Ian White Founder of Bush Flower Remedies

Jane Fonda Portrait of an Icon

122 Frank Interview with Carol Morley 158 Romantic Getaways

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170 Kate Braine Artist and potter

Motoring special with Jacqui Furneaux

178 Book Review 182 Podcassts

122 www.thefrankmagazine.com

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T E A M F R A N K

Editor-in-Chief Melanie Sykes

MELANIE

Design Director Millie Cooper Beauty Editor Fiona Eustace Fashion Editor Contributors Dr Louise Wiseman - Sleep Michelle Langer - Meditation Gabriela Peacock - Allergies Tamsin Flower - Womens Circles Kate Tilston - Life Coach Shaima Al- Obaidi - Portrait of an Icon Wendy Eular - Influencer Emma Harrison - Travel Lara Platman- Motoring Dale Pinnock- Recipes Eleanor Tattersfield - Book Review Samantha Baines- Film Review Tamsin Flower - Theatre Review

Photo by Sam Hemsley

MILLIE

London hello@thefrankmagazine.com

''Melanie Sykes was a fashion model before moving into hosting TV and Radio shows. Alongside her presenting work, she is now Editor in chief of FRANK magazine. As a woman in her late forties, she felt there was a gap in the magazine market for women her age and wanted to rectify that. “I believe it is never too late to try something new and creating and editing FRANK is the perfect project at this stage in my life and something I am relishing."

''After 15 years in the tech world, Millie now has successful businesses in publishing and social media, delivering original content and design. She says she is excited about helping FRANK to be the magazine of choice for women over 40.''

International Distribution | FRANK Magazine FREE Subscriptions Worldwide | www.thefrankmagazine.com Free subscriptions may begin at any time throughout the year. You can cancel a a subscription anytime.

Copyright Š 2019 The Frank Magazine.

@thefrank_mag

Nothing from this or any other publications of The FRANK Magazine may be reproduced by letterpress, photo-offset, photocopying, microfilm or any other method whatsoever without the express written consent of the publisher or of the holders of the copyright of the author in question.

This publication has been compiled with the greatest care. However, the publishers do not in any way hold themselves liable for any errors that may have arisen. www.thefrankmagazine.com Summer 2019

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Photographer Kim Knott Stylist Sarah Christie Hair stylist Tim Crespin Make-up Eli Wakamatsu Model/Agency Shalke Gummels at Models 1

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C O V E R M O D E L

D

utch-born Shalke Gummels is a model, practitioner, healer, and jewelry designer. She traveled the world extensively before moving to the UK in 2000. She works with energy healing disciplines such as Reiki, Regression Therapy and Shamanic Healing. Shalke trained in Shamanism with world-renowned teachers Sandra Ingerman through the Shift network and Imelda Almvqvist. The latter with whom she completed a two-year intensive Shamanic practitioner training course.

When did you start modelling?

friend.

What are your passions?

I started Modelling 25 years ago.

I am a Shamanic Practitioner, which I How were you discovered? love and want to share. My journey of Shamanic healing has allowed me to I went to Paris on a school trip and heal challenges held around was approached by a scout for rejection, trust, and my sense of Metropolitan. At the time, I was quite belonging. Through this work, I now unsure as I had not considered experience a deeper understanding modelling at all and wanted to go and of myself and my place in the web of pursue dance. life. I now wish to share this beautiful and compelling work with those who How has the business changed as feel called. I also love nature, travel, you have become a women and in food, and my lovely family, which terms of how it has responded to include our three cats and the rabbit.. you?

Tell us about your jewellery I never thought that I would still be a business? model at this age (43). When I was in my modelling prime, I noticed other Shalke Jewelery is handmade by me models would retire very early or be from my home studio in Folkestone. classed old before they were 30. But I When making the jewelry I draw feel that the industry has undergone inspiration from nature, symbols, and a considerable change and is travel. I love creating pieces that feel embracing different age groups, personal to the wearer. This can sizes, and cultures, as it should, which include looking at the meaning of has been amazing. Work has been stones, inscriptions or creating a exciting and Inspiring. bespoke piece. Currently, I am It’s great to be part of this industry at working with Lotus love pieces, this time.

Chakra symbols, and stack rings which include birthstones.

How would you describe yourself?

I would say I am curious and eager to explore and learn new things, I am somewhat impatient, but I am learning. I am the only one who laughs at my jokes. Adventurous certainly. I want to think I am a good

Instagram @shalke_gummels www.threadsofhealing.co.uk www.shalkejewellery.com

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S H A L K E

Creating jewellery is almost meditative to me; it feels like a great joy in which I can play with semiprecious stones. I try to source my materials as ethically as possible.

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F A S H I O N www.thefrankmagazine.com

F A S H I O N

Stylist Sarah Christie shows us how to keep the heat down in the hot city with her cool summer neutrals.

Fashion illustrator Jacqueline Bissett champions a red hot Victoria Beckham shirt and skirt combo. Sexy and oh so chic. & We take the plunge with the timeless one piece swimsuit. Practical, flattering and super glamorous. Get packing !

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SUMMER NEUTRALS & COOL WHITES

Photographer Kim Knott Stylist Sarah Christie

Hair stylist Tim Crespin Make-up Eli Wakamatsu Model Shalke Gummels at Models 1

Jumpsuit COS Gold necklace COS Trainers Converse

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Earrings COS Jacket and trousers AllSaints White shirt, All Saints Shoes Converse

Shirt Cos White trousers L’index Earrings & otherstories

Beige blouse Arket Trousers Zara

Rings &otherstories Dress Lindex Shoes Arket

White shirt AllSaints White denim jeans Lindex Jumper Great Plains Skirt Burberry Earrings Latelita London Ring Latelita London

SUMMER NEUTRALS & COOL WHITES

STOCKISTS: COS AllSaints Converse Lindex &otherstories Arket Zara Birkenstock

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The newest trend in non-invasive body contouring, the Body BallancerÂŽ lymphatic massage system will help slim the abdomen and legs, firm the skin and diminish the appearance of cellulite

bodyballancer.co.uk

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Splash out on that all important one piece, whether you are reclining by the pool or having a cool down dip, here are some of our favourites to pop into your suitcase this summer.

Marysia Santa Barbara reversible scalloped-edge swimsuit £305

Heidi Klein Casablanca V Bar One Piece £220

Melissa Odabash Panerea Navy Classic Over The Shoulder Ruched One piece Swimsuit. £224

Johanna Ortiz Anastacia Ballet Swimsuit £525

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Johanna Ortiz Aloha One Shoulder Swimsuit £525

Lazul Embellished Plunge Swimsuit £350

Seafolly printed one piece £150

VIX Lucy embellished swimsuit £196 www.thefrankmagazine.com

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F A S H I O N P I C K

BEACH BAG ESSENTIAL

Pocket & leather tote by STAUD ''The Pocket Shirley''

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STAUD's classic go-to bag 'Pocket Shirley' is now updated to include three slide-in pouches along with their standard removable pouch.

The Pocket Shirley ÂŁ196 www.staud.clothing www.thefrankmagazine.com

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S T Y L E I L L U S T R A T I O N

''VB DESIGNS HAVE SUCH A FABULOUS CONTRAST OF CLASSIC LINES WITH QUIRKY TWISTS. THE SLEEVE OF THIS SHIRT HAS A DEEP CUFF WHICH IS INCREDIBLY FEMININE AND FLATTERING AS WELL AS BEING VERY SHARP, DESIGN-WISE. I LOVE THE SHIRT TEAMED WITH THIS ASYMMETRICAL RUFFLE SKIRT WHICH IS CUTE BUT NOT OVERTLY SEXY- BANG ON POINT!'' JACQUELINE BISSETT FASHION ILLUSTRATOR @JACQUELINEBISSETT

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Illustration by Jacqueline Bissett www.thefrankmagazine.com www.thefrankmagazine.com

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www. odabash. com

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B E A U T Y

B E A U T Y

TAKE IT TO THE BEACH Beauty editor and makeup artist Fiona Eustace gives us the lowdown on that all important protection from the summer sun with her top choice sunscreens, Bright eyes and blue mascara! Fiona talks us through makeup products to get that splash of colour this season, & Up the anti and shield your skin from pollution with Franks top protective beauty care products.

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Sun, Sea, Sand & Sunscreen

By Beauty Editor Fiona Eustace

With summer on the way, it's time to wise up But what about UVA rays? about sunscreen.

You may of noticed that some bottles have the We all want to ensure that we are getting the additional grading PA+. This Japanese method is protection that our skin deserves and that we're now widely recognised. The more plus signs, the not wasting our hard earned cash on tubes of better the protection against UVA rays. hollow promises that will leave us out of pocket PA+++ is the highest grade currently available. and under-protected.

How do we choose the right one from the masses With a few simple nuggets of info, we can help of brands on the market today? you navigate this overcrowded market with confidence leaving more time for the essential To achieve maximum protection from both UVA things in life. and UVB, always look for a broad spectrum sunscreen that contains zinc oxide. This is a stable Let's get back to basics and learn a bit about UV sunscreen ingredient that is less likely to break light. There are two types of UV light radiation, down in the sun, unlike other active sunscreen UVA and UVB; both can harm your skin. UVA rays ingredients such as Avobenzone, which quickly are responsible for causing age spots, wrinkles degrades in the sun only offering 30 minutes sun and prematurely ageing your skin. UVB is what protection, as well as Homosalate and Octisalate will cause your skin to burn and can contribute which are all found in other sunscreens. to cancer. Using sunscreen will allow us to protect ourselves from those harmful rays.

Application What do we really know about choosing the Sunscreen should be worn every day of the year, correct sunscreen? even on a cloudy day the UV rays can still affect your skin. Always apply a generous amount onto When we look for a sunscreen, we always reach dry skin 15 mins before sun exposure. Using for the highest SPF (sun protection factor) sunscreen sparsely can result in under a believing that this will provide us with the best protection. Reapplying every 2 hours regardless protection, but this isn’t strictly true. of the SPF will ensure you stay correctly protected throughout the day. No sunscreen can be Dermatologists recommend using an SPF15 or expected to remain active for longer. Remember SPF30 sunscreen. Anything over SPF30 does not the sun is at its strongest when its the highest in offer significantly better protection and often the sky. So the recommendation is to stay out of mislead people into believing that they are direct sunlight between the hours of 10-4. adequately protected for longer.

When choosing the right SPF for your skin, So which one would you choose? remember that the scale isn’t linear Here are a few of my favourite products that you SPF 15 blocks 93% can choose from, whatever the event.

SPF 30 blocks 97% SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB rays only www.thefrankmagazine.com

Green People. Natural sunscreen Scent free facial sunscreen SPF30 £22.50 (200ml) / £15.00 (100ml) This little beauty is one of my favourites and the perfect multi tasker. Its rich in natural anti-oxidents, retains your skins moisture, water repellent and it won’t clog your skin. Whats not to love? www.thegreenpeople.co.uk

Skin Ceuticals physical eye UV defence. £28 Don’t forget to look after your delicate under eye area. This is a great base for makeup and is lightly tinted to brighten up the skin. www.skincity.co.uk

La Roche-posay Anthelius Mineral sunscreen SPF 50+ £16.50 50ml 100% mineral uv filters in a beautiful lightweight formula which can be worn everyday. Contains both Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide for that perfect protection against UVA and UVB. www.laroche-posay.co.uk

Elta MD Broad spectrum. Moisturising Facial Sunscreen SPF 40 £24.00 This gorgeous lightweight lotion glides on and is quickly absorbs. The tinted versions will even out the skin tone and with Hyalauronic acid included this product is perfect for your summer skin. www.strawberrynet.com

Babo Babys and Grownups SPF 30 Clear Zinc Sunscreen £11.26 Developed for super sensitive skin and safe for your baby as well. Perfect for those warmer summer days outside, this mineral sunscreen is reef safe, hypoallergenic and sweat resistant. This little beauty has it all. www.amazon.co.uk www.thefrankmagazine.com

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B E A U T Y

E D I T

By Beauty Editor Fiona Eustace @fionaeustace

Bright eyes and paired back skin was all over the catwalk for S/S 2019. If you remember wearing rainbow hues on your eyelashes back in the 80’s well get ready as coloured mascara is a big trend at the moment and I love it. This is how I would wear Colour for Summer.

Milk Makeup. Lip and cheek tint. ÂŁ20.50 I adore a multi-tasking product, and this one is at the top of my list.

Pop it into your bag for a no mess, no fuss makeup on the run. A quick sweep across the cheeks for that flushed look or add to your lips for a hint of colour. There are five shades to choose from. www.cultbeauty.co.uk

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Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Antipollution sunshine drops £30 Get beach ready, banish dullness and create a radiant complexion with this highly concentrated bronzer. Mix a few drops of this silky oil to your daily sunscreen or moisturiser. Not only will it give your skin that glorious golden glow but the omega-rich formula will also improve skin texture and elasticity. Now you’re ready to hit that beach. www.spacenk.com

Hurraw Raspberry tinted lip balm £4.99 Kiss me quick. This lovely tinted lip balm contains wild-crafted ingredients such as jojoba oil and cocoa seed butter for ultra moisture and purple carrot extract to give you a sheer tint of colour. It's a must-have for more kissable lips throughout the year. Individually poured into recyclable plastic tubes not only does that mean these vegan and organic balms are good for you; they are also suitable for our plantet. www.mypure.co.uk

YSL Vinyl Mascara £26 This mascara creates a beautiful burst of colour on the lashes as bright as vinyl. Wear one coat for a more subtle hint or go loud and bold. Blue mascara will make grey, brown or light green eyes pop and will make a statement if used on other eye colours. For a more subtle shade, you can opt for mauve which would suit brown, blue or green eyes. With 9 Colours to choose from you are spoilt for choice. www.debenhams.com

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UP THE ANTI POLLUTION Protection is better than cure...Pollution is damaging us, our hair and skin right down to our toes.

Uneven skin tones, large pores, pigmentation, spots and wrinkles are just some of the results of the pollution we face daily. Here are a few we have tried and tested for their effectiveness to protect.

2 Chantecaille Anti Pollution Essence £112

1 DR ROEBUCK'S TASSIE Anti-Pollution Serum £46

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this works In Transit Pollution Shield £26

skin tone large pores wrinkles spots

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4 Dr. Barbara Sturm Anti-Pollution Food £85 ORIBE Power Drops Hydration & AntiPollution Booster £55

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Verso Anti Pollution Protecting and Strengthening Mist £45

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R E A D E R R E V I E W

ULTRASUN sun care

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ou’ve probably been hearing a bit of buzz around the Swiss sun protection brand Ultrasun of late. But if you’ve caught the tail end of the hype and you’re not quite sure what Ultrasun is or what’s so special about it. You need to take note of this new generation of sun protection because it could change the way that you look after your skin this summer.

If you have heard about Ultrasun before, you’ll know that it’s suitable for even the most sensitive of the skin; its streamlined formulas are free from emulsifiers, perfume and preservatives, so the risk of allergy is significantly reduced. Everyone, even children, can indeed use it.

Another big reason people love Ultrasun so much is all down to its most famous claim: you only need to apply it once a day. According to the brand, it’s all down to unique encapsulation technology that places sun filters into little liposome jackets that don’t just sit on top of skin, they’re actually absorbed into the skin cell itself (but don’t worry, it always stays in the uppermost layers of the skin and won’t be absorbed into the body). This ensures that the protection you receive is water resistant and long-lasting, and it won’t break down during its 8-10 hour wear time.

After this time, the protection is naturally released from the skin, no scrubbing or rubbing required.

Apply to clean and dry skin at least 30 minutes before sun exposure – if you apply it in the sun, it may evaporate before it has time to bond with the skin. For the face, apply Ultrasun after cleansing, and then follow with your usual moisturiser and makeup.

Apply liberally! You’ll need a minimum of six teaspoons’ worth to cover the entire body – one for the face, one for each arm and each leg, then one for the front of your body, and one for the back.

Artist - Rose Paxton

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F R A N K

I N T E R V I E W

Marco Pierre White at The Rudloe

Editor in Chief Melanie meets her friend Marco at his hotel in Bath

Photography Millie Cooper

When did you acquire the Rudloe?

These are 100 years old/120 years old from 1880 or something. They are Howard & Son's I acquired it two and a half years ago, give or who made the Rolls Royce of armchairs and take. sofas. When you buy them, they tend to be wholly destroyed. All you've got is a carcass, And why did you choose here? and you've got to get everything reupholstered.

Well, I've always said in life that I never choose They are very comfortable. anywhere, everywhere picks me.

My bank approached me and asked me Can we talk about your Robert Thompson' because it was on their assets, which they had Mouseman' collection? repossessed. They asked me if I would be interested in it, but I wasn't at first, and then I I'll talk about the Yorkshire Critters. We've just came for a weekend, and it looked like a 70s finished the new snug bar where the taverners care home. tables are by Robert Thompson, the back of the bar and all the stools are Mouseman. I had It was very dated, and I didn't see the potential dinner there last night with a friend of mine, because it was in a right state. The back, the and it was just a pleasant environment to sit in. orchard was a scrap yard. It was all overgrown, With a hotel, you've got to create different but over the weekend I started to see its spaces, which have different feels because potential. I didn't know the size of the task in everyone wants something different. turning it, however, having to re-do all the I believe in putting partitions so the customer plumbing and all the electrics etc. When I can be sitting with six of their friends, they've started to get involved in the development of got their little space within a space. I think it's it, I then fell in love with it. vital that you share the energy with others, but My vision going forward is to end up with 61 you've got your own space. bedrooms. We have 38 at the moment, and Oh, and the floor in there is a reclaimed then we'll do glamping in all the grain stores Georgian floor, which is 300 years old. and the shepherd's huts. It will be quite a substantial size when it's done. We've mostly got about another two to two half years of When I retired from development because it's organic rather than cooking I was quite just closing it down, bang, let's buy loads of scared of the outside furniture from Asia pretending to be old. If you look at everything around us, it's old, and a lot world and I turned back of it is restored. to nature for the next four Tell us more about the interiors. You've always had a fantastic eye. Where do you look? How do you source stuff?

I find it. The most important thing for me is creating the feel. It's not a look. How many times do you see a photograph of an establishment in a magazine or online, you go there, and it looks better in the picture than it does in real life, and that is why it is essential to create the feel not look. By doing things slowly, you tend to buy the right, not the wrong things.

Can you tell me about specific furniture, the chairs we are sitting on for example?

to five years. Just doing everything I did as a child: fishing; shooting; spending time in nature.

We're always drawn to environments or spaces which make us feel comfortable and I never feel more comfortable anywhere in this world than I do in the English countryside.

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Tell me about the food? What can people enjoy here?

Well, it sort of country house in a sense, so it's not posh food. It's not all those little portions times by 10, 12, 16, 18 - I couldn't imagine anything worse. So for example, on tonight's menu, we have the duck pie, which is a traditional pie. In French, it's a pithivier of duck. People don't understand the word pithivier, so we call it a pie. We've got the pigeon with the peas. The pigeons at the moment are fantastic. They'll eat cherries during the season; they'll eat the elderberry, they'll eat the acorns, so they are always feeding off the best. We have the beef; we tend to use a lot of smoked haddock or salmon here. We get fish from the south coast like cod.

We keep it very simple because what I do here is I package it. So when you pay to get your dinner and your bed and breakfast all in one price.

The location is pretty good too.

We are six miles from Bath, and we are 5 mins from Lacock, where they filmed Harry Potter.

Twenty minutes from Stonehenge. Twenty minutes from Avebury. You know half an hour from Longleat. So we're in quite a unique place.

Can we talk about the photographs you have on display because they're a massive feature in the hotel, there's Terry O'Neil, you've got Bailey...

People adore the photographs here. What I like are collections. So, for example, this room we're sitting in now is all David Bailey. In the hallway and throughout the house is all Bob Carlos Clarke. The entirety of his last exhibition that was never sold because he died just before and then we have Terry O'Neil's work, and we have Goddard's.

People like photography more today then they do, in the strange sort of way, oil paintings because if you've got a collection of photography by someone like David Bailey or by Tony Hill or by Richard Young, they tend to be of famous people. This room features 60s icons, whether it's Jean Shrimpton, whether it's The Beatles, whether it's Terence Donovan. What's interesting is you look at what Bailey did to Terence Donovan, he made him really small. Donovan, as one of the great British photographers and Bailey, makes him just so tiny.

I have photographs of my mother here too, which are there for me. I think photos bring life into a room as well, and these of my mother keep her alive, and that's very important to me.

As a boy, I found this piece of paper at home from Lawnswood Cemetery, a record of where my mother was buried. I memorised the plot. It said it was New Adel Lane, Plot L1, and that's where I knew my mother had gone. As an adult, I went back to New Adel Lane Plot L1, and my father hadn't done anything, and so that bothered me. I plan to go and take some of that soil from that plot and bring it here and give her a headstone. My father sort of eradicated her really after she died like she never existed, but I am quite a sentimental creature.

Do you get a lot of fans coming to catch a glimpse of you?

Do you get away from it all here in the UK too apart from Rudloe?

I don't know.

I'm planning on going to Yorkshire for a few days because as a boy I never caught a pike where I lived. I used to fish the Wharfe and dream of catching a pike, and I never did. I'm going to go with my daughter. I took her pike fishing this year on the Test, and she kind of liked it. She wasn't so keen on the size of the fish. She thought they were a little large.

You must know if you're here and they ask after you, want to see you?

Well, when I bump into people, they tend to ask for a photograph, or they ask for their menu signing. But as I get older, and you know this, Mel is that I'm becoming more and more reclusive. And what I've learnt in my life is that She asked me if we could catch something privacy is freedom. smaller. The first fish we caught was nearly 26 pounds. She couldn't believe the size of it, and Absolutely right. then we caught another one of 23 pounds, and she said, Daddy, can't we catch something So, therefore, I tend to keep myself to myself. I normal. I said, your father's life has never been try not to go to London. I mean sometimes I normal. can come to Rudloe, and I can be here for ten days without leaving the house, and the truth So you live a simple life? is I've never been happier in my life than I am now and where I am now.

Yes and nine times out of ten I am wearing my wellies and when I'm away the one thing that I You still travel so much, don't you? What are miss is my wellington boots. your other projects?

I miss the rain. I miss the wind. I like building the dry stonewalls with the boys or bringing I spend a lot of time in Singapore. I travel the blacksmith in to do the fence or you know because I work with P&O Cruises and so I'm to develop the grain stores and get the always on a ship. I'm always travelling to Thatchers in to do the roofs or spending time Barcelona or Lisbon or Cรกdiz, for example. So I with the gardeners. I'm always... let's build don't need a holiday really because when I go another orchard. Let's get the beekeeper in. I'm away, it's like going on holiday. a country boy at heart. www.thefrankmagazine.com

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Look you can't please everybody in life and what your taste is, somebody else may dislike it enormously.

Some people like minimalism. I'm not into minimalizing. I believe that more is more not less is more. The eye must always be amused as far as I’m concerned.

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You are, aren't you but you just had a vast period where you were in kitchens in the city?

My dreams as a child were to be a gamekeeper or a riverkeeper. It was my father who turned me into a chef. I never wanted to be a chef. I never had aspirations of being a chef. And my first job was at the Hotel St George in Harrogate, and it was just a job. I got my ÂŁ50 a week. I grafted as you do and then one day I found a little book called the Egon Ronay Mini-Guide to Hotels Restaurants in Britain. I started flicking through. What I noticed was that restaurants had stars and there was one restaurant down the road, which was regarded as the best restaurant in Britain called The Box Tree and then about six months later I was still thinking about The Box Tree, and I used to say to myself, if I'm going to be a cook, maybe I should work in the best restaurant in Britain. So one day, I plucked up the courage, and I got a job there. That's when it all started.

Mr Reed, Mr Long, Mr Lawson and Mr Lamb were my mentors. Those four people were the people who influenced me and made me dream. Working for the Roux brothers, working for Pierre Koffmann, yes they taught me about cooking, and they taught me a lot, and without their assistance, I would never have realized my dream. But my dream was given to me out The Box Tree in Yorkshire by Mr Reed and Mr Long who told me about a certain restaurant called La Saix in Paris, which had three stars and five black knives and forks and then I had this, I suppose it was a fantasy, more than a dream, of winning three stars and having a restaurant with five knives and forks. And the truth is that it was a pipe dream. You know a boy from humble beginnings in the middle of Yorkshire, in Ilkley, no chance. But in the end, my fantasy turned into a reality. So, first of all, I won three stars of Michelin with four black knives and forks and so the next three years I put all my energies into getting three stars with five knives and forks and Rudloe is like winning three stars. It wasn't planned, just opportunity arose. I didn't realize that Rudloe would become a love affair. I fell in love with Harveys. I fell in love with the Mirabelle, and I'm now in love with Rudloe. I reckon Rudloe will be a lifelong project.

At my age fifty-seven, I don't think I want any more jobs.

But you'll never retire, will you?

No. I won't. I think you need projects in life and what's really important is to do things that you enjoy. When we're young, we have this tendency of taking on every job or every opportunity. We just want to be loved by everyone, liked by everybody. We want people to tell us we are fantastic. As I've grown older, I don't care what people think. I keep myself to myself, and I do what I do, and some people may love Rudloe, some people may not. You can't please everybody in life, and what your taste is, somebody else may dislike it enormously like some people like minimalism. I'm not into minimalizing. I believe that more is more, not less is more. I mean, what are they talking about it. The eye must always be amused as far as I'm concerned.

What are your plans for the land around the hotel?

Well the other day I saw an aerial view of the grounds, from Google Earth and when you look at it from the sky you can see how balanced the grounds are, and everything that we've done is quite amazing. I was quite mesmerized by it. You see the orchards all in lines from above. You know where the pigpens are. You see the piggery around the beech tree, and you think wow it's quite balanced. www.thefrankmagazine.com

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Next, we're building a Stonehenge for this summer. It will be enormous — giant stones from Wales.

All aligned with the stars. I am bringing in the artist Paul Fryer, who's a dear friend of mine, who by coincidence grew up at the top of my road and so he's going to work out all the alignments so it will all be done mathematically.

You are nothing like your public persona, are you?

Well, I don't spend time in public. So I don't really have an understanding of what people may think of me anymore. The press says that I'm fiery, well, I never lose my temper, and I'm quite a patient person, but you always see volcanic chef, fiery chef. I retired from cooking 20 years ago, so the people who write this about me don't know me and they have this pre-conception of me. It's not interesting to say that, 'he's a nice man, and he's calm, and he's pleasant' no one would ever write about you, would they?

I do feel it's a shame that you don't let your guard down with journalists a little because it means that your personality is perpetuated in print in a way that doesn't reflect you at all.

I remember a journalist once described me as having Aspergers because they couldn't get a reaction out of me. I wouldn't go down the road that they wanted me to go down. It was a very good piece; overall, I think they liked me, but what they wanted me to do was a bit deeper. They wanted me to go into my family, my son. And I said I'm not here to talk about my son. So when you're so aware and so distrusting of a journalist, you can never be yourself.

However, I'm always very truthful. I did an interview the other day, for Mother's Day in Ireland about the importance of mothers and how mothers impact you and how my mother's death impacted me.

The reason why I gave that interview was very simply that if one person who may be struggling or have gone through a similar tragedy, is assisted and helped by it, then that is a good thing. I cherrypick who I interview with. If I do an interview what I tend to do is read up on the journalist, so I get an understanding of how they write, are they cynical? Are they bitter? Are they vicious? And I say no or yes simple as that.

Who did you admire when you were younger?

I think it was Peter Marinello who played for Arsenal. He was quite handsome. I suppose he was the Scottish George Best.

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You are an unusual, aren't you? You don't drive, and you are the only person I know who still uses a Nokia.

I never had a driving lesson. I never applied for a licence. I can drive off-road. Driving in a Range Rover off-road is like driving a big bumper car. You just put your foot on the accelerator, it goes forward, you put your foot on the brake. It's simple; it's not complicated, is it?

I mean, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to be able to drive a car, and as for the phone well my battery lasts longer than yours. I don't even know how to send texts. I tend to write letters and notes. Because It's simpler, isn't it?

But I'm dyslexic, and I'm not very good at spelling, and I've got this sort of dyslexic scribble, no one knows whether I can spell or not. Try reading one of my letters would be like trying to crack the Enigma.

I don't have email.

I've never sent an email I don't even know how to open a laptop.

Do you ever, unwind? Get rest?

Oh, I'm an insomniac. I don't really sleep, and I don't dream. I go to bed, and I wake up two hours later. If it's early hours, I go night porter stalking.

Making sure the hotel night porter is doing his job. It's my favourite past-time, it used to be fishing, it's now night porter stalking.

(Laughs) And have you caught him out snoozing on the job?

Oh yeah.

Back when you were a child, did you watch much telly? Or were you out fishing most of the time and causing trouble?

Well, firstly, when I was a kid, there wasn't much TV for children. It ended every day at 5.45 with the Magic Roundabout. But my two favourite programmes as a child firstly was Out of Town by Jack Hargreaves who was this old man on the programme "How" and he used to spend time in the countryside, he might have been pike fishing one day, or he might go

down on a farm another. His knowledge of woodcraft and rivercraft was enormous. I used to run home to watch that programme. Then the other one was Follyfoot Farm. My dad's best friend Roland Ray owned Loft House farm, and because mum had died, we used to go there for our summer holidays or Easter and the farm next door was where Follyfoot Farm was set, so we used to watch them filming.

Arthur English played a character called Slugger. They only made one or two series of it, but it was rather nice.

I always measure an individual's success by how much they've discovered themselves and their emotional intelligence. I don't measure success through materialism.

There was the Colonel in the show who ended up being Q in the James Bond movies.

Tell us about your 'country boy' upbringing?

I used to spend my childhood in the English countryside. So that's where my love for nature came, and I suppose, if I'm brutally honest, it's because mum died. I was six, and I spent all my time in Harewood, and I presume mother nature became my surrogate mother. It was the only place that I felt safe. I never felt safe at home, and I never felt safe on the council estate. When I retired from cooking, I was quite scared of the outside world, and I turned back to nature for the next four to five years. Just doing everything I did as a child: fishing; shooting; spending time in nature.

We're always drawn to environments or spaces which make us feel comfortable, and I never feel more comfortable anywhere in this world than I do in the English countryside.

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Is the best thing about getting older would you say is knowing yourself well and coming to these conclusions about where you are the happiest?

Well, the truth is, there are very few things you can say in a positive manner about growing old. You lose your looks; you lose your energy, your friends die...

Oh, Marco!

I think the one positive thing is that life is about walking down a road of self-discovery and by discovering yourself you then have the opportunity to accept yourself for who you are and through acceptance, you tend to give for the right reason and except for the right purpose. You can fall in love for the right reasons. You have the opportunity to show off your true potential as a human being. That's what I think life is all about. I always measure an individual's success by how much they've discovered themselves and their emotional intelligence. I don't measure success through materialism.

So what of love?

There was once a girl who loved me very much, and I loved her very much, but I didn't desire her and desire is really important.

I think to desire somebody and like somebody, to enjoy someone's company is to fall in love, but it's got to be two-way. I do believe that true love is when two people share the same dream. And I don't think I've ever shared a dream with a woman. I don't think a woman's ever shared a dream with me. You also have to admire the person greatly, and for all those pieces to come together, I think it's quite hard.

Our decision making on love can be borne out of physicality and beauty, and that's where the flaw begins because you're not looking at them as people and a lot of us have this...

Because let's be honest, we respond to beauty.

You off the market? I can't believe you're off the market, a man like you!

And I'm too busy in what I do in my life to have to be in a relationship. You need the time to invest, and I wouldn't want anyone to invest in me either.

I do enjoy female company. I prefer female company to male company, but I don't want a relationship, I really don't. And that's not being a cynic, and I've just got so much to do in my life.

We respond to desire. When I was young, I might not like someone's personality, but I would find them terribly attractive and desire them, and so that overrides everything. I've come to that point in my life where I don't want a relationship anymore. I accept that I'm unemployable on that front. www.thefrankmagazine.com

I'm too busy to be in a relationship. You need the time to invest and I wouldn't want anyone to invest in me either. I enjoy female company. I prefer female company to male company but I don’t want a relationship. I really don’t And that's not being a cynic, I've just got so much to do in my life.

And to finish a deep probing question. In your opinion what makes the tastiest sandwich?

Well, yesterday for my lunch with a friend, I had an egg sandwich. Eggs cooked in butter just with salt and pepper and cheap white bread. It's like a chip butty, and it only works in that type of bread. It doesn't work in posh bread. Firstly when you fry an egg, you're poaching it in butter then you put it on the bread with salt and pepper it's just delicious and what I've taught myself is you have to smash the egg yolk and spread it across the top otherwise it explodes all over you. That's the secret of cooking an egg and eating it.

Enjoy a beautiful stay at The Rudloe Arms www.rudloearms.com Leafy Ln, Corsham SN13 0PA 01225 810555 www.thefrankmagazine.com

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F R A N K

I N T E R V I E W

I don't generally cry about the things that worry me illness, death, insolvency, the future of my children the country and the planet - I put on a brave face, bottle it all up and then cry at shit movies when I am alone on airplanes traveling for work.

GETTING PERSONAL WITH...

Photograph Colin ThomasŠ

Restaurant critic and columnist for The Times and Esquire. Presenter, Amazing Hotels (BBC2, Netflix). www.thefrankmagazine.com

What has been the biggest surprise in your life What do you spend the most money on? that you could never have predicted?

Two mortgages and two sets of private school That I have ended up making a living doing the fees followed closely by family holidays in only thing in the world that I am any good at and beautiful places (in the posh seats if its long haul). love doing, most people have to express their Actual possessions don't interest me. I've had the creative side - their love of painting, dancing, same small car, a blue ford fiesta, for 18 years. I books, sport, sex, dancing, writing, whatever - in don't have a watch, and I think fashion is for w* their spare time, while doing jobs that are not all nkers, I wear the same trainers and jeans for three that fulfilling. Whereas I get to write stories, years and only buy a new set when they wear out. express my opinions about the news and sound All that said, I probably do fifty grand a year on off about all the restaurants I go to for an actual restaurants but half of that will be on expenses, living which are things almost everybody else has and the rest is tax deductible. to do on the side.

What was your favorite childhood (baby or Who was your very first pin-up, and why? teenage) TV, and why?

Debbie Harry. Because she was so beautiful and had such a fantastic voice and was just everywhere in 1979 when I was ten and deciding what my 'type' was: skinny, blonde, pointy nose, blue eyes, smart, scary... (I married a redhead with plenty of tits and arse but, you know, our tastes change. And she is quite frightening.)

The Six Million Dollar Man. Mostly for the theme tune. But also for the delicious irony at its root in which you think this is an ordinary guy, he looks like a regular guy, but he can do amazing things.

I Ioved Batman for the same reasons. I felt like that was going to be my story, too, when I grew up. But it turned out not to be. I look like just another ordinary guy, and I am.

What type of driver are you?

In your opinion, where is heaven on earth?

Impatient, irresponsible, cavalier with the rules of the road but incredibly polite and apologetic The earth is f*cked, so let's hope there is a heaven when I f*ck up. somewhere else.

When was the last time you cried and why?

I don't generally cry about the things that worry me - illness, death, insolvency, the future of my children the country and the planet - I put on a brave face, bottle it all up and then cry at shit movies when I am alone on airplanes traveling for work. I think I cried five times while watching wonder woman the other day, while also having a raging horn for Gal Gadot at the same time. It's complicated being a man.

What kind of sleeper are you?

F*cking epic. Nine hours a night plus an afternoon nap for ten minutes around 3 pm every day. If I drink more than a glass or two of wine at dinner, I do then wake up at 3 am needing a wee and sometimes can't get back to sleep for a while for all the existential angst. But that's my fault for boozing, isn't it? (If I am properly rat arsed I usually take three Neurofen and a Nytol, conk out like a corpse and wake feeling more or less fine).

What was your last handwritten note or letter and who received it? (Contents) It said "no milk today thanks" and was left out for, hang on I can't remember who it was for. Oh, yes, the milkman.

Who or what was your first love?

Debbie Harry. Also Vicky Wimpenny, a girl from Huddersfield who I met on holiday in Torquay when I was 14 in 1984. I was at single-sex schools all my life, so she was the first girl I had ever met apart from my sister.

I tried to show off to her by the swimming pool by picking up my new Casio digital watch (which I'd just got for my birthday) with my toes and flicking into the air and catching it, but I missed, and it fell on the concrete surround and smashed into a million pieces. I'm not sure we ever actually spoke.

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H E A L T H & W E L L B E I N G

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Dr Louise Wiseman

Sleep is the ultimate lifestyle accessory by necessity. No matter age, social status, or bank account, investment in sleep is a basic human need. You cannot purchase, delegate, or avoid it.

This ubiquitous beauty boost and ‘nourishment for your being’ is yours for free if you want to take it.

Shift workers and young parents become obsessed with their shuteye bank. Sleep requirements vary between individuals based on physiology, age, and health. If you don’t get the correct sleep for you, your mood deteriorates, energy and motivation are sapped. Chemical changes mean your immune system comes under threat; weight can increase, libido, and even fertility can decline. The ability to concentrate and retain information worsens and relationships and selfesteem are not enhanced either.

After a bad night, you may miss exercise that day and crave sugar, thinking it will give you a buzz you are missing. There is no quick fix to replace sleep. Medical studies differentiate between real insomnia and sleep problems. True insomnia is a case for a doctor’s appointment.

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Healthy sleep cycles between three deepening stages of Non-rapid eye movement (NREM) dreamless sleep and Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. About 90 minutes after falling asleep, REM sleep occurs and is when most dreaming occurs. We have 3 to 5 cycles of REM per night.

During sleep, our brain stores information for memory.

BASIC SLEEP HYGIENE ‘Not the shower before you slip between the sheets,’ this term originated as recommendations for professionals to give poor sleepers. It reflects our society that we need to create a routine to sleep consciously- generations ago slumber would have beckoned after a working day with exhaustion and no electronics.

TIMING and ROUTINE Most people need 7 - 9 hours sleep- research suggests that alongside deficient sleep, excessive sleep may also predict some disease.

We have a Circadian Rhythm (24-hour sleep/wake cycle) influenced by light exposure and chemical pathways. It tells us when to feel awake and sleepy. With jetlag, this is thrown into chaos. Drinking plenty of fluids, changing to meal timings of the destination country and morning light exposure, all lessen the effects.

We are happiest when adhering to natural sleeping times. There is a link between worsening mental illness and poor sleep. Control your routine and symptoms may improve.

Consciously enjoying the process of beauty regimes before bed may subconsciously prepare you for slumber.

Waking at the same hour helps our sleep routine- a ‘lie in’ does not improve body clocks long term.

Power nap? Scientists suggest that < 30-minute naps could be useful if tired, with more than 4 hours to go before, so it doesn’t interfere with sleep. www.thefrankmagazine.com

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ENVIRONMENT

removal of waste products from the brain. Many procedures that we would consider anti-aging in the body are performed during sleep. Hunger and other hormones are regulated.

Body temperature needs to drop slightly for sleep. Ideal room temperature is 16-18 degrees Celciusabove 24, and we get restless. Wearing socks to keep extremities warmer Reduce sleep, and you are literally helps some drift off. aging faster.

If suffering menopausal flushes, consider cooler bed covers and clothing that may wick away moisture.

You must recoup any fluids lost in sweat to avoid headaches the next day.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), yoga, acupuncture, hypnotherapy, and reflexology may help you cope with flushes, but if seriously affecting you, then discuss with your doctor. HRT may be the answer.

Significantly reduced melatonin reduces protection from breast, prostate, and other cancers. Put your tech into night mode early and remove electronics from your sleeping area. It only takes a cheap alarm clock to replace your phone in the bedroom.

Your love life and sleep may benefit and anyway with or without partner consider the sleep-inducing effect of orgasm!

Light keeps us awake. Blackout blinds are not just for babies. Be like Audrey Hepburn and try a silk eye mask loosely fitted around this delicate area.

The act of wearing the mask signifies ‘sleep mode’ to your brain and may prevent early morning light waking you. A glowing alarm clock must be moved if stopping you sleeping.

A pet may disrupt sleep/cause allergies.

If it is for your reassurance, establish where the pet sleeps. Allergies or scratching from a pet in bed are more detrimental than a pet sleeping on the floor.

Noise disrupts sleep for some. ‘Pink noise’ is a range of frequency of sound (similar to the sound of running water) Blue light emitted from electronics is a used in studies to stimulate changes in new threat. Scientists are still collating sleep waves and possibly also improve evidence to understand the effects on memory recall. This will be explored humans. Sit in front of a computer more in future research but for now, if screen all day, and it is no coincidence you discover a calming soundtrack that that your makeup sweats off. The helps you drift off, then that is the right power of the blue light from your one for you. phone ‘conveniently’ taken into bed at night is worrying. The light tells your body it is still daytime even though the owls may be hooting. Your body reduces its melatonin (a biological marker of night time). Your circadian rhythm is set later than it should. The fact that scientists are studying whether there is going to be a future link between eye disease and blue light is a concern. The melatonin our brain produces at night is needed to regulate many processes in our bodiescholesterol, sugar, calcium regulation, recovery of the nervous system, and www.thefrankmagazine.com

MENTAL

LUXURY SLEEP HYGIENE

Early morning awakening is a feature of depression, and sleep problems can stem from anxiety. In milder cases, work on what you can control. Journal or list your worries in the evening to offload onto the next day. If it helps, be a girl guide and prepare the night before- clothes, your bag, anything to reduce your morning ‘to do’ list! Avoid horror films and similar before bed as they may stimulate your brain too much!

The power of bathing and magnesium salts Expert Medical Herbalist Katie Pande BSc explained to me how magnesium plays a vital role in the functioning of nervous system cells and many processes in the body. Magnesium salts are best absorbed through the skin, so there has been an evolution in people using Epsom salts in the bath. Absorption through feet is allegedly effective, so foot baths are recommended by nutritionists to aid sleep. Try before bed, and the cooling effect after warming may also help. Replace any fluids lost in bathing with a drink of water.

If waking in the night and watching the clock, maybe get up and make yourself a drink. The act of rising may lower your temperature aiding sleep. Try 4/7/8 breathing – breathe in for 4s, hold for 7 s and breathe out slowly for 8 seconds. The physiologist in me knows this works because it stimulates our vagus nerve (slows the heart), but the worrier in me knows this relaxes! Find your own combo of slower breathing. If meditation is your thing, work on a mantra that calms you.

PHYSICAL Exercise within the day may aid sleep at night.

Relaxing yoga helps some before bed.

Stressful exercise just before bed may disrupt sleep. Find what is right for you.

Can food help you sleep? Specific food studies are challenging to find as we eat many various foods in the day. In theory, magnesiumcontaining foods have a calming effect upon the body- green veg, nuts, seeds, legumes.

Tryptophan-containing foods can help melatonin production- grains, dairy, poultry, seafood, fruit. Vitamin B6 containing foods aid melatonin synthesis. Bananas, avocadoes, and tuna, for example, are good sources of all three but avoid eating late as protein and fat digestion delay sleep!

Katie explains Lavender is a sedative to the nervous system and will relax nervous system tissues. As an aromatherapy oil, it can reduce Alcohol encourages drifting off to sleep, but insomnia exacerbated by stress or anxiety. you are likely to awaken in the night. You have Rose and chamomile also reduce stress. Teas less REM restful sleep after alcohol. You can containing Lavender and other herbs are be dehydrated/need the toilet, so the quality readily available, and just the simple act of of sleep is reduced. You produce heat as you enjoying the tea can start your evening wind metabolise the alcohol preventing sleep. down. Sleep pillow sprays are practical to use.

Assuming you have no allergy to any Nicotine is a stimulant, and smoking may dry components, they can also become part of the out nasal passages and cause potential chronic subliminal routine that symbolises to you that inflammation of throat tissues increasing bedtime is near. snoring or disrupted breathing.

Be aware that just because sedative herbal The caffeine effect will depend on your medicines like Valerian taken orally are tolerance. Triple espressos at 9 pm will leave ‘natural,’ they are still powerful. Discuss with all but caffeine aficionados wired between the your doctor interaction with your other sheets. A reasonable rule is none after 4 pm. If medicines such as beta blockers. Valerian you are caffeine sensitive, then STOP midday. increases deep sleep, so it needs to be taken with caution. You would not take it unless you Spicy food tolerance may be different between were going to sleep, certainly not for driving, individuals. If you suffer reflux or indigestion and if given sedative medicine by your doctor, eat earlier in the evening the combined effect might be too potent to be thought safe.

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Melatonin is readily available in the US as a supplement. A slow release version is sometimes prescribed in the UK to those over 55 with chronic sleep disorders. There is concern over prescription in the UK due to the drowsiness (driving) and whether it alters the body’s response to natural melatonin long term, so doctors are divided. There is less regulation of supplements compared to medication, so doctors are cautious about what may be in contained in over the counter supplements.

Silk pillowcases are kinder to hair and skin than cotton. Many models I know have trained themselves for back sleeping. There are studies of how folding of our skin as side sleepers contributes to passive wrinkles. Sleep therapists believe that we turn far more than we realise.

Pillow density and shape may improve your ability to get your beauty sleep back prone. Trial and error to find your perfect ‘beauty pillow’ match may be essential.

When to see the doctor If insomnia is an aspect of your mental illness, then discuss seriously with your doctor and all symptoms may improve if sleeping is corrected.

SLEEP PROBLEMS - DO YOU RECOGNISE YOURSELF? - taking a long time to drift off - drifting off then waking with an overactive mind - not sleeping long enough - not waking refreshed AROUND HALF OF AMERICANS AND A THRID OF EUROPEANS MAY HAVE 'SLEEP PROBLEMS'. IF THIS IS YOU, PLACE SOME VALUE ON ADDRESSING IT. THERE ARE GREAT BENEFITS FOR OVERALL HEALTH AND HAPPINESS More women are seen in sleep clinics for snoring as the rate of female obesity rises. Muscle weakness around the airway increases with age, and the muscles relax as we sleep. The air passing through the smaller airway creates noise. Symptoms worsen after alcohol or certain foods. Snoring on one’s back may be stopped by sewing in a golf/tennis ball to your PJ top to keep you sideways! Losing weight is the first step.

Sleep apnoea means breathing stops intermittently at night and can trigger dramatic falls in oxygen levels, leading to daytime drowsiness. Long term serious implications are the risk of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and possible weight gain. Referral to sleep clinic is essential. Losing weight and lifestyle changes help. Patients may be treated with quiet machines providing humidified air under pressure by mask.

Less commonly, conditions arise as sleep disorders.

REM parasomnias -someone acts out their dream- usually later in sleep and can involve swearing, shouting or physical movement. The patient typically experiences violent dreams.

Non REM parasomnias cause sleepwalking and talking in children, resolving in teenage years. www.thefrankmagazine.com

and talking in children, resolving in teenage years. More seriously, adults may More seriously, adults may suffer, and it can lead to automatic activities while suffer and it can lead to automatic activities whilst asleep- cooking, eating, asleep- cooking, eating, even attempting sexual activity, which can be even attempting sexual activity which can be distressing for the partner. distressing for the partner. These episodes occur as the brain is part sleeping/ These episodes occur as the brain is part asleep/part awake. part awake.

After sleep clinic assessment these can be helped by medication, treating any After a sleep clinic assessment, these can be helped by medication, treating breathing problems and CBT. any breathing problems, and CBT. Restless legs is an overwhelming urge to move the legs or may consist of a Restless legs is an overwhelming urge to move the legs or may consist of a crawling sensation. Usually with no cause, but the doctor will exclude iron crawling sensation. Usually, with no cause, but the doctor will exclude iron deficiency and kidney problems. Stopping smoking and good sleep hygiene deficiency and kidney problems. Stopping smoking and good sleep hygiene will help (including Epsom salt baths), sometimes medication is needed. will help (including Epsom salt baths), sometimes medication is needed.

True insomnia can arise from deep rooted psychological and emotional issues.

Real insomnia can arise from deep-rooted psychological and emotional issues.

It can greatly benefit from talking with a clinical psychologist and receiving It can greatly benefit from talking with a clinical psychologist and receiving CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy).

CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy).

After a bad night you may miss exercise that day and crave sugar, thinking it will give you the buzz you are missing. There is no quick fix to replace sleep.

Value sleep like a best friend. Give it priority, time and it will give back to Value sleep like a best friend. Give it a priority, time, and it will give back to you a thousand fold. you a thousand fold.

Dr. Louise Wiseman MBBS BSc(Hons) DRCOG MRCGP Dr. Louise Wiseman MBBS BSc(Hons) DRCOG MRCGP My writing does not constitute medical advice or replace any consultation My writing does not constitute medical advice or replace any consultation with your own doctor who knows you, can examine you and understands your with your doctor who knows you, can examine you and understands your medical and family history. Always seek the opinion of your health care medical and family history. Always seek the opinion of your health care professional if you have a question about your health or changing your professional if you have a question about your health or changing your lifestyle. lifestyle.

Louise is a former GP, who worked for 15 years in the NHS. She is now using Louise is a former GP who worked for 15 years in the NHS. She is now using her medical and life experience to write a book about womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health over her medical and life experience to write a book about womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health over 40.

40. www.drlouisewriting.co.uk Instagram @drlouisewrites Twitter @drlouisewriting

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When you need that little bit of extra comfort and help for a wonderful night's sleep.

Silk fabric is a magical thermoregulator: It can keep you warm when you’re cold and cool when you’re hot.

Ermanno Scervino Lace Trim Silk Camisole £525 Lace Trim Silk Shorts £330.00

They look like tiny headphones but, instead of streaming music, they deliver pre-loaded soothing sounds to cover up unwanted noises.

Bose SleepBuds £229.95

This peaceful pillow mist is the ultimate bedtime staple for a restful slumber. With a blend of seven calming, sleep-inducing essential oils this travel-friendly mist will help you fall asleep anywhere.

Tropic So sleepy pillow mist £20 www.thefrankmagazine.com

de Mamiel's 'Settle' formula works to calm the spirit and body to give you a restorative night's sleep. Acting to help reduce inflammation that hinders your ability to wind down de Mamiel Sleep Series - Soothe

Utilising a harmony of synergistic ingredients, the Elemis Instant Refreshing Gel combines extracts of Arnica, Birch, Witch Hazel, Camphor and Menthol. Providing instant relief for twitchy legs, muscle tension and tiredness it helps to energise and sooth the muscles.

Elemis Instant Refreshing Gel ÂŁ37.50

This unique pillow can improve the quality of your rest and helps minimize sleep lines that can be etched into the skin from side sleeping.

Nurse Jamie Beauty Bear Age Delay Pillow ÂŁ56

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This beautiful eye mask is anti sleep crease, reduces friction & absorbs less face cream.

Brilliant.

Slip Silk sleep mask £50

Pure Elixir is specifically formulated to support a deeper, longer and more rested sleep, whilst promoting a healthy balance of micro flora in the intestinal environment. Giving you back your glow!

Pure Elixir 02 Smart Sleep Supplement £30

Let the hush replace the chatter as you fall into a restful calm: a sleepy crush of oat flower, soothing lavender, and silky-sweet limeflower. One cup and the path to sleep is clear.

PUKKA Night time tea £3.29

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Magnesium is readily absorbed through the skin. From here it penetrates into the muscles and blood stream. Soaking in a magnesium bath is an ideal way to top up your levels and promote relaxation.

BetterYou Magnesium Flakes 250g £3.99

A great aid for sleep and a little multi tasker too. It also helps with worry, mind chatter, irritability and impatience Australian Bush Flower Essences Calm & Clear Oral Spray 20 ml £11.95

No more excuses for having your phone in the bedroom. This award winning alarm clock even has a sunrise & sunset simulation mode to ease you in and out of your day.

SOLMORE Alarm Clock Wake Up Light £20.97

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Crystal Contour Gua Sha Rose Quartz Beauty Tool

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MEDITATION MICHELLE LANGER TV producer, Thrive Global facilitator and executive coach.

My Story At the turn of the millennium on the outside, I was flying high, producing some of the biggest entertainment shows on UK television. People saw me as a calm producer, but on the inside, it was a different story. Panic attacks, palpitations, insomnia, and imposter complex were a regular theme experienced every time I started a new contract, which in the fast pace of television was every 3-6 months. As the daughter of a pharmacist, I first turned to medication. Sleeping pills, beta blockers, anti-depressants - if you shook me, I would have rattled. I knew this couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t continue, so I started exploring alternative therapies which led me to meditation and The Chopra Center in California where I began studying with world mind-body expert Dr. Deepak Chopra. www.thefrankmagazine.com

The effects were transformative. Research shows that it takes somewhere between 6-61 days to form a new habit. In meditation, we find 40 days is the magic number. I was told to practice every day for 40 days, and then it would be with me for life. Well, I had a great test as I flew straight from the course to Australia where I was working on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here which was terrific fun and also one of the most intense shows to make. On day 20 of meditating, I had my first live show where I was the series producer on the ITV2 show, so I was the voice in the ear of the presenters. Usually, my heart would have been beating so fast and loud I’d have been convinced the whole studio could hear it, but for the first time ever the calmness I was acting was reflected on the inside.

I’ve never looked back, and I decided it was a gift I wanted to share, so I became a teacher 12 years ago.

on a deeper level, it helps you connect to your inner purpose and to recognise what is most important in your life and goals.

Why Meditate?

I could fill the magazine with the benefits of meditation. Over the last 40 years, there has been a considerable amount of scientific research showing how it helps to reduce anxiety, aid sleep, focus, concentration, memory, boost immunity, empathy and serotonin levels (natural happiness drug). As a woman in my mid-forties, I was particularly excited when they recently discovered that it has anti-aging properties.

Regular meditation has been shown to increased the production of the anti-aging hormone DHEA, and on a cellular level, recent studies have shown it slows down the biological clock. What are you waiting for!

It’s incredible to see the transformation in attitudes towards meditation and mindfulness over the last decade. When I first started teaching, my corporate clients and sports people wanted to keep it secret. Meditation was seen as an alternative or as an admission somehow of weakness. With the explosion of the modern form of mindfulness, scientific research showing its powerful benefits and with its adoption by key figureheads, it’s now become a badge of honor. The CEOs who saw me in private are now inviting me into their companies where wellbeing is now a key benefit to retain and support staff. I see people from all walks of life from stretched FTSE 500 CEOs to premier league footballers, stressed hedge fund managers to government ministers, new mums, children, actors, and presenters.

They are often motivated by a desire to tackle stress, to bring some calm to overstretched techfilled lives, and it’s incredible to watch the transformation when they start to introduce a meditation practice. I love teaching people and witnessing that aha moment when they realise they’ve got the tools that will not only reduce stress but also provides a pathway to feeling more present, content and in control of their lives.

In the West meditation is known as the ‘antidote to stress,’ and that’s why a lot of people try it but www.thefrankmagazine.com

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Sample meditation There are many approaches to meditation that all use a different anchor for your focus. This could be focusing on a chant, the breath, sensations in the body or a mantra which is a word without meaning. Mantra-based meditation can be simple and effective. Readers could try this approach using the mantra ‘So Hum’ or ‘I am.’ Sit comfortably with back supported, close your eyes, and take a few moments to check in with your body noticing where you might be holding tension and using each exhale to release gently. Spend a couple of minutes moving your focus from the head down to toes telling each part of the body to let go, relax. Then gently start silently repeating ‘So Hum’ or ‘I am’ in your mind. After a short time, you will naturally feel distracted by thoughts, sounds, or sensations in the body. This is perfectly natural, but when you become aware that your focus has moved away from the mantra, gently start repeating it. In every meditation, we swing between mantra, thoughts, and distractions. Over time it’s easier to let the distractions go. Start by doing this for 5-10 minutes a day and then increase the time when you feel comfortable to a maximum of 30 minutes. The key thing to remember is that it’s not a competition, don’t enter your meditation with expectations or judge what happens during the meditation itself. We judge it by changes we experience in our lives. Regular practise is the key and if you can breathe you can meditate.

Recommendations App – Insight Timer. Lots of people have heard of Headspace but Insight Timer is a wonderful free app with thousands of guided meditations from teachers across the world. It’s also a timer where you can choose between a variety of Tibetan bowl sounds to gently bring you out of your meditation. Check out meditations by Tara Brach, Davidji and for something quite different Sarah Blondin. Under my name you’ll find Rainbow Revitaliser for energy, Insomnia to help when you wake in the night and Stress Less for relaxing. https://insig.ht/michellelanger

Books The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle Synchrodestiny by Deepak Chopra, The Happiness Prescription by Deepak Chopra (in fact any of his 80+ books) Frantic World by Mark Williams & Danny Penman (a practical guide to mindfulness through an 8 week course) The Science of Meditation by Daniel Goleman The Sleep Revolution & Thrive by Arianna Huffington

As a woman in my mid forties I was particularly excited when they recently discovered that meditation has anti-ageing properties. Regular meditation has been shown to increase the production of the antiaging hormone DHEA and on a cellular level recent studies have shown it slows down the biological clock. What are you waiting for!

www.thefrankmagazine.com

Courses Primordial Sound Meditation & Mindfulness with me over 2 x 2 hour sessions to set you up with the tools you need to reduce the causes and effects of stress and have a daily practise for life.

Quote FRANK20 for a 20% discount on courses booked in June at www.michellelanger.com On Demand meditation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; if you prefer to learn at your own pace the Chopra Center offer an online course in the foundations of meditation here. Mention my name for the best available fee. www.chopra.com/online-courses/primordial-sound-meditation/on-demand Mindfulness 8 Week Course â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Find a trusted teacher in your area at the UK Network for Mindfulness-Based Teacher Training Organisations www.ukmindfulnessnetwork.co.uk

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By Gabriela Peacock Nutritionist

If you suffer from hay fever, the arrival of summer can bring with it sneezing, runny noses and watery or itchy eyes. Alongside the more typical antihistamines and hay fever remedies, nutrition could also have a role to play in helping to manage symptoms of seasonal allergies. Read on to find out alternative ways to scratch that itch…..

What’s happening?

Allergies occur when the immune system overreacts to substances that are usually harmless. These substances, called allergens, come into contact with mast cells primarily located in the liming of the nose, lungs, skin, and intestinal tract.

For example, hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen (an allergen) in the atmosphere which sets off a cascade of reactions and creates an inflammatory response. Some people react to grass pollen, while others are more affected by trees or flowers – so different symptoms can cause trouble at different times of the year.

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IIn response, your body produces antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE) as a means of protection. These are attached to your mast cells. The IgE antibodies cause the release of several chemicals — including histamine — into the bloodstream. Histamine is responsible for the uncomfortable symptoms.

There are several different ways to treat seasonal allergies. What works for you will depend on many things — namely, what you’re allergic to and the severity of your reactions.

kombucha, and a high-quality probiotic supplement. Evidence is growing to show that the health of our beneficial gut bacteria is integral to our immune system. One study showed that a particular probiotic supplement containing three strains of beneficial bacteria – Lactobacilli gasseri, Bifidobacteria bifidum, and Bifidobacteria longum – helped to reduce the severity of allergy symptoms compared to a placebo.

What can we do?

While altogether, avoiding the allergen is not always possible in daily life. The good news is there is strong evidence to suggest that improving gut health can help to manage the symptoms. Research is growing regarding the connection between gut integrity, bacterial balance, and allergic tendencies. Probiotics teach the immune system appropriate ways to respond. They strengthen the integrity of the gut wall and reduce inflammation, which overall results in calming a hyper-reactive immune system, as typically seen in allergies.

Repairing your gut will restore your immune system’s balance to help banish seasonal allergies naturally. Start by removing any food sensitivities. These are likely to include alcohol, sugar, caffeine, dairy products, wheat or citrus fruit.

Then try to restore gut function by improving digestive secretions. Consider digestive enzymes, supplemental bitters, and improving eating habits. For example, sit at a table when eating and chew your food thoroughly between mouthfuls.

For efficient digestion, the stomach needs to be highly acidic, so that the stomach digestive enzymes are activated. If there is too little acid, digestion will be impaired. Starting the meal with a small salad with a lemon or vinegar based dressing will provide an acidity boost to help with digestion.

The immune system takes a big hit when you’re stressed and stress management should really be prioritized.

Keeping a food/ symptom diary may also be a helpful tool to highlight links between what you are eating and symptoms.

Re-inoculate the gut with probiotic and prebiotic rich foods such as kefir (a fermented milk drink), yogurt, sauerkraut, miso or www.thefrankmagazine.com

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Reduce stress The immune system takes a big hit when you’re stressed and stress management should really be prioritized. Keeping a food/symptom diary may also be a helpful tool to highlight links between what you are eating and symptoms.

Other nutrients: Chillies contain an active ingredient called capsaicin that acts like a natural decongestant. Foods like horseradish, chilli, ginger, pepper, thyme, garlic and curry may have a similar effect.

Load up on vitamin C: It helps to support our immune system too. Vitamin C rich foods include berries, kiwi, oranges, peppers, blackcurrants and broccoli. Researchers recommend about 500 mg per day to combat allergy symptoms.

Quercetin: Hay fever sufferers produce a lot of histamine in response to the high pollen levels.

Quercetin is an that essentially inhibits your body’s immune cells from producing or releasing histamines (so it has antihistamine effects). This polyphenol compound is found in onions, garlic, peppers, broccoli, apples, berries and beans, so it is worth packing these into your diet.

Omega 3 fats: These have anti-inflammatory properties, so are a go to for anyone suffering with allergies. Aim to have oily fish in your diet a couple of times a week – salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines or trout. If you don't eat fish, or are vegetarian, then you can get some omega 3 from chia seeds, flax seeds or walnuts.

Turmeric is another great food source for fighting allergies. Turmeric contains curcumin, a powerful anti-inflammatory compound. It can decrease oxidative stress in the body by decreasing the release of histamines and preventing an allergic response. The more inflammation inside your body, the higher risk you are for developing allergy symptoms. So cooking with turmeric is a great way to combat disease and prevent allergies.

A good quality daily multivitamin, like GP Nutrition Gold is a good way to help balance out the immune system.

If you exercise outdoors, consider doing so in the early morning or late afternoon when pollen counts are lower.

The immune system is incredibly complex. Each individual is unique. Trying to navigate the subtle needs of your own unique system can sometimes be overwhelming, but it’s a lot easier to take preventative measures than overcome allergy symptoms once they have set in.

www.thefrankmagazine.com

Gabriela Peacock @gp_nutrition

If you suffer from hay fever, the arrival of summer can bring with it sneezing, runny noses and watery or itchy eyes. Alongside the more typical antihistamines and hay fever remedies, nutrition could also have a role to play in helping to manage symptoms of seasonal allergies.

www.thefrankmagazine.com

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"Women are born with pain built in.

It’s our physical destiny: period pains, sore boobs, childbirth, you know. We carry it within ourselves throughout our lives, men don’t.

By Phoebe Waller- Bridge

“They have to seek it out, they invent all these gods and demons and things just so they can feel guilty about things, which is something we do very well on our own. And then they create wars so they can feel things and touch each other and when there aren’t any wars they can play rugby.

“We have it all going on in here inside, we have pain on a cycle for years and years and years and then just when you feel you are making peace with it all, what happens?

The menopause comes, the f***ing menopause comes, and it is the most wonderful f***ing thing in the world."

“And yes, your entire pelvic floor crumbles and you get f***ing hot and no one cares, but then you’re free, no longer a slave, no longer a machine with parts. You’re just a person."

Belinda in Fleabag - Kristin Scott Thomas

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F R A N K

I N T E R V I E W

Meg Matthews Congratulations on the success of your website. How does it feel to be helping so many people?

Well, thank you very much.

It feels incredible to be helping all these women, mainly because it all just came about by accident. I think at the moment, probably over a million people have visited the website. That's even without Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook so altogether I don't know how many it is, but I do know that we are making a difference, which is impressive.

When did the idea come into fruition?

The idea came into fruition when I was absolutely on my arse. It was back about three years ago. I was 49, and I just hit this wall. I had been away with my boyfriend, we had gone to the country for new year's eve, and I woke up on new year's day, and we hadn't drunk, we hadn't had one of those massive mad nights.

We had watched the fireworks, we'd got cozy, we'd stayed in, and I didn't feel right. I felt really flat. Something wasn't right. And that's how it hit me. I felt a bit anxious, and I just said, look I want to get home. And it was from that day that I felt I had absolute awful social anxiety. I wasn't sleeping. I had a foggy brain. My bones were aching. Everything was too overwhelming. AnaĂŻs, my daughter, was doing her GCSE's; I was trying to do a hundred million jobs at once. I couldn't do anything. I just spent three months in my house.

It's crazy I'm a woman of the world. I know the world. I'm really street wise. I know most things and all of a sudden the word perimenopause I'd never heard of or post-menopause. Menopause, for instance to me, was not having a period and having a hot flush. Number one I had the Mirena coil in so I didn't have a clue because I was only having a bit of spotting. I hadn't even noticed that for six months, and secondly, I didn't get a hot flush. I didn't recognise it in myself.

One day a lady in AA was telling me when I was having a moan-up about how I thought I was going mad and she said I think you're going through the menopause, you should get to a menopause clinic. www.thefrankmagazine.com

I had absolute awful social anxiety.

I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sleeping. I had foggy brain.

My bones were aching. Everything was too overwhelming.

Photography Debbi Clark

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What is one good bit of advice that you have received regarding the survival of menopause and the hormonal havoc?

One good piece of advice: talk to your friends; ask for information, sharing at my AA meeting helped me. If you are feeling any of these symptoms, you can download the Nice Guide. It's on www.megsmenopause.com, you tick any of the ten symptoms, and if you've got more than five, you're probably menopausal and definitely peri-menopausal which would mean you should go to your GP. If you can afford to go private, of course, it is a lot quicker and blood test results you will get back within a few days.

But of course, a lot of people can't afford it, and all the stuff you get from your private doctor, all the things that I take, my oestrogel, my testosterone, my progesterone is the same as my NHS prescription. So what I'm getting at Harley Street at these great clinics, Sarah Matthews (my favorite gynecologist) is available on the NHS. Also, there are such things as menopause clinics.

There's 27 of them in the UK and women don't know about this. I think I might be one of the first people to put it out there because of the lady at the AA meeting telling me about them. So if you ask your GP to refer you, it could take six months or eight months but you can go to them, and they will give you testosterone which your GP is not allowed to provide you with, something to do with your respiratory system, very bizarre. But you can get it if you go to the menopause clinic. The testosterone helps you with your libido and your muscles staying healthy and getting you to the gym, giving you that little bit of a step up, which is excellent.

Talk us through the services, private and NHS? You can go to a private menopause doctor, a gynecologist. There's Louise Houston, Sarah Matthews as I've mentioned, there are Nick Paney and a lot more. It'll probably cost you about ÂŁ180, on top of that you will have to pay for your blood test which could be ÂŁ400 upwards, and then you buy your prescription as well, which is full price. If you use the NHS you will get your blood tests, you won't get them in 24 hours, but you will get the same treatment or prescriptions, but you might have to be a bit more forceful and push to have a blood test.

I use the NHS because with my site and the millions of women that I want to get through to and reach I have to know what it's like and be informed about the process and go into a menopause clinic so I can write about it Around 30 million women are peri-menopausal in this country trying to live and work while dealing with it. Tell us about the campaign and how symptoms can become better understood in the workplace?

I've started being invited to the Foreign Office, Commonwealth, global women in the news, Ministry of Defence, British Library, HSBC, I go and talk about my experience and what we can do for women. How we can speak to line managers, how we can speak with HR and keep bringing up the subject to help menopause not be taboo or stigma at work. We need more understanding which will hopefully cut out people muttering 'oh, she's going through the change.' All this derogatory stuff. We need to start talking. When you were pregnant at work, you'd be looked after. We're looking at flexible hours. We're looking at quiet places, somewhere that you can hydrate, somewhere that you can have a bit of time to drop out of a hectic office if it's overwhelming. Also, women don't want to take on any good promotions, they're 50 something, and they're getting offered these fantastic jobs and what they want is less responsibility because of their symptoms and lack of understanding of them in the workplace, which is sad.

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Women don't want to take on any good promotions, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re 50 something and they're getting offered these amazing jobs and what they actually want is less responsibility because of their symptoms and the lack of understanding of them in the work place, which is sad.

www.thefrankmagazine.com

Your Feature about parenting throughout the changes is a fantastic idea, and We love the video of you and your daughter. Sweet that she wanted to do that?

Yeah, Anaïs was great. We just did another one for the BBC today. We're very open, and we chat, we're very close. We have a great relationship. It's just me and her live at home. When the menopause started my partner and me, split up, and it's only been the dogs, me and Anaïs and Anaïs' best friend since. So it's' quite a girly house, and it's fun, very open and anything goes, and it's very laid back. It's just full of teenage kids all the time, which is fine by me.

Talk us through your menopause products, for example, motion lotion, genius.

So I have Blossom Bar, which is an intimate vegan natural vaginal intimate wash and a moisturiser which we need as we go through menopause. Everything gets dry down there, and it's not as plump as it was. I decided I wanted to bring out a range of really lovely vaginal products, package it well and keep it low cost. It's organic and vegan and made from sugar cane husk, and I'm so proud of it. It's in Superdrug and Boots, and it's going into Tesco and Meg's Menopause store. You can throw it in with your weekly shop. I've also got Sealed With a Loving Kiss and Rosy Rain for a spray for when you have a hot flush.

www.thefrankmagazine.com

I want megsmenopause.com to become a place that lots of women can visit and feel as one and just be part of this whole Meg's menopause movement. Just to help women and just make it easy and fun and bright and colourful and you know at times when it is tough, there will always be somebody there to answer you or to help you.

There's a whole section on masturbating on the website. Why does it help women going through menopause apart from the obvious?

We've been told scientifically, that masturbation does help.

When you are in the menopause less blood is pumped to your vulva and down there is left to die a little bit, so you want to keep it going.

I use a bullet, and it just helps to reach a climax quicker because it does take longer when you are in the menopause. When you orgasm blood pumps to every part of your body, and you are genuinely open, which gives you a little lift, puts a smile on that face of yours and a spring in your step. As well as its health benefits, they say that women who masturbate/ have regular orgasms are more likely to get promotions at work. There you go!

There are many blogs on the site. People's personal stories shared. Is this key to the acceptance of this huge change that women have and the success of the website?

Yeah. I love the fact that we invited women to tell their stories because everyone is different, and that's why it's so important to see that. It would be boring just to have my story on there. We hear from women with cancer, women who had menopause from an early age, we have women who are 65 who have not yet had their menopause. There are great stories up there. You know there are famous people. There are normal people. There is just a whole mixture. I want it to become a place that lots of women can visit and feel like one and be part of this entire Meg's menopause movement.

To help women and make it easy and fun and bright and colorful, and you know at times when it is tough, there will always be somebody there to answer you or to help you.

How does it feel to be a poster girl for positive menopause?

It feels amazing. It is probably one of the best, most fulfilling things that I've done in my life. I love being of service to women. I love helping women, and I love being able to make a difference

www.megsmenopause.com.

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A TRIBUTE TO MENOPAUSE

By Marion Gluck

W

hen I read through the British Menopause and the International Menopause Society messages to women, I realised it was all about creating awareness for women facing health issues while approaching or going through menopause.

The International Menopause Society is concentrating on sexual wellbeing after menopause and the British Menopause Society is concentrating on cardiac health. The wellbeing of women is very important, no matter where you are in your stage of life. However, I felt that their messages were somewhat discouraging, amounting to a statement of resignation that a woman’s health inevitably declines after menopause.

Menopause is a totally natural occurrence that affects all women when they reach that time of their life. In today’s age there is no longer any reason that a woman’s health should decline as she ages. Hormones control our wellbeing, energy, moods and metabolism. In fact they control and nurture – yes, nurture – every function in our body.

Both menopause societies sent wise messages of awareness and guidance particularly to doctors and health practitioners on how to deal with health issues facing menopausal women. But there was nothing about prevention, nor guidance for health practitioners and women on how to maintain a vibrant and abundantly healthy life post menopause.

Menopause or ‘the change’ as it is sometimes called should only mean that a women’s reproductive stage in life has ‘changed’. Nothing else needs to change, certainly not in today’s time. We cannot stop menopause, but we can certainly replenish all the hormones our body is beginning to produce less of. We do not need to change or feel any different as long as we have our full complement of hormones keeping us vital and healthy.

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We age when our hormones run out. Our hormones do not run out because we age.

This is an important fact to acknowledge. We have moved on from the times when women ‘past their use by date’ had to succumb to the inevitable loss of their hormones and live a lesser life. .

Thankfully this attitude has changed. Menopause and the understanding of how it affects women, their families and societies is now on the agenda. The awareness has been created. Menopause has become a public health issue – especially in the work force. In some parts of the world, menopause cafes are springing up and the topic is discussed openly. Women and men are talking about it.

Shame is no longer involved.

Now we need to create the same awareness of the fact that nothing needs to change for women with menopause. Women’s quality of life can remain the same if we replenish, rebalance or replace their hormones. We need to get to know our hormones and understand them better. By this, I mean all the naturally occurring hormones which we produce. Hormones need to be embraced because they are the key to a healthy life. When hormones are out of kilter then so are we. When hormones are balanced our wellbeing improves.

Don’t forget “hormones are a girl’s best friend”.

www.mariongluckclinic.com

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Rise Sister Rise!

The Rise of Women's Circles and what we can learn from them...

Written by Tamsin Flower www.thefrankmagazine.com

Tamsin Flower 9/5/19

Rise Sister Rise!

The Rise of Women’s Circles & what we can learn from them...

Sixteen women sit quietly smiling at each other in the hub of an urban wellbeing centre. We have just completed ritual greetings of holding hands, stating what feeling/quality we bring to the evening’s ‘circle’ and ‘hugging each other hello.’ One woman brings ‘tiredness,’ one ‘love,’ another ‘curiosity.’ We all bring laughter in a five-minute rush to give each other a warm squeeze! In the language of ‘Sistership Circles,’ our circle is ‘stitched.’ Now Sharlene, the Circle Facilitator, reads out some ethical housekeeping proposals, to which we raise hands, pow-wow style, in agreement. We agree to keeping what is said confidential. We agree to refrain from judging other women in the room. We agree to letting go of expectations as to what this meeting will deliver for us...In her words, ​‘we remain open to the magic and medicine of circle.’

If the above plunges you into a handful of generic movie scenarios involving female sacrifice and hauntings you could be forgiven. We live in a society where ritual is largely the domain of religion, and in the UK more than half of us identify as having no faith. A family in which female members gather en-masse can often seem like the benchmark of another culture, or the exception to the rule. All-female gatherings (and certainly those involving ritual conventions) are foreign to many of us, outside of the Brownies, Women’s Institute and regrettable Hen-parties. So if this scene isn’t one of organised religion, a youth programme or 12-step therapy, what is it?

I caught up with Sharlene Belusevic, spearhead of ‘Sistership Circles’ in the UK, before attending April’s circle, aptly entitled ‘Bloom into Radiance.’ A naturally beautiful woman, she presents as both certain and vulnerable at the same time. Maybe this is what ‘being authentic,’ a phrase so popularised by self-development culture, really is. ​‘All are welcome’ she says lightly​, ‘the circles are accepting of all ways of life.’ She affirms that in the course of a circle, rituals, activities and archetypes from a rainbow of cultures are drawn on to explore a single theme.

This evening we will take it in turns to share a neat minute of what’s working and not working in our current lives. We will pick flower-themed oracle-cards and reflect on how we relate to their symbolism. We will pair-up with another ‘sister’ to share how each element: fire, water, earth, air, are present in our lives in the form of: passion, emotion, security and intellectual pursuit. Finally, we will dance before ‘unstitching’ the circle. One woman takes away ‘joy,’ another ‘friendship.’ I take away a Springtime feeling of renewal.

‘It’s about creating a sacred space, stepping out of the mundane so that women can get in touch with their inner-voice while feeling totally seen, safe and held…’

This point about about safety and visibility (or safety ​in v​ isibility) seems key. Considering the British sensibility of ‘stiff upper lip’ or ‘pull your socks up and get on with it,’ it’s no mystery why women, perhaps especially of the Baby-Boomer and war generations, find it challenging to identify and express their emotional and physical needs. Not to mention the effects of

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Tamsin Flower 9/5/19 years spent occupying roles within patriarchal hierarchies. Among a landscape of questions, the circle experience seems to beg at least two - ‘why are my needs/truths/opinions important?’ and more poignantly, ‘why are my needs/truths/opinions ​not important?’ There is an urgency to how Sharlene speaks of her facilitation role “I want women to feel ‘it’s possible for me.’ Through leading circles, I’ve seen women get in touch with their voice and take positive, radical steps that have a ripple effect throughout their lives.”

I can relate to this. In attending a dozen circles throughout the last year, I have witnessed women’s confidence grow sufficiently to leave jobs and relationships that no longer support their happiness, as well as start brave ventures. My gain has been developing an emotional weathervane - in recognising emotions as they arise, identifying their cause and communicating ‘authentically’ what I need. Sharlene’s journey centres around the original starting point - Motherhood.

‘I first went to a circle in Bristol when I had my first child, Olivia. I felt so alone in the experience and it made me feel held, supported. So when I moved to Peterborough I started one using ‘Meetup’ groups...First I did Wild-Woman training, then I did the 12 week Sistership Circle course.’ ...And this is a point worth mentioning...aside from the circle rituals of ancient civilisations and tribes, variations of women’s circles have been active in the UK for decades, with ‘Red Tent’ and ‘The Wild Woman Project’ perhaps providing the most well-known. Traditionally, circles occur around the times of the New and Full Moon as a way of observing the beginning and end of a cycle. However, this is a movement without, as yet, an official history. Type ‘Women’s Circle’ into Wikipedia and you will be met with no results. Sharlene’s model, ‘Sistership Circle,’ derives from a fast growing movement in the US, with a healthy online following. It would be safe to assume to that the growing popularity of these meetings has risen with the power of social-media and particularly that most photogenic of platforms, Instagram. Vibrant Images of circle cloths, candles, oracle-cards and the flora and incense of circles make tantalising lifestyle invitations.

The sensory richness of the circle experience is entwined with the concept of ‘The Divine Feminine’ - one I find as abstract as God. But the attention given to physical comfort and pleasure, ignites a desire to maintain this level of holistic contentment. Sharlene likens the body-mind awareness encouraged in circles to that of a yogic ‘Kundalini awakening.’ She also cheekily uses the term ‘Fanny-Fire’ to describe the sum of emotional/intellectual empowerment and respecting the needs of one’s body - a term forever burned into my brain!

There is no doubt that the Sistership Circle celebrates traditional feminine qualities such as nurturing, compassion and sensual celebration of life. But how does this fit with vital efforts to break-down gender prejudice and stereotypes?

‘I think women often feel they have to be or act like men to succeed in the world. It’s about integrating the feminine and masculine aspects within us to find balance...and

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Tamsin Flower 9/5/19 knowing that you can use compassion and flexibility to lead. The same works for those who identify as male too.’

I chat to Sharlene about the job market...about how millennials have been educated to see it as a highly competitive place where you achieve or fall victim to an overwhelmed system.

We share experiences of office politics and stinging competition between women. ‘I’d call it sister wounding.’ She asserts: ‘A circle helps to heal those experiences where we’ve been pitted against each other and encouraged to compete, whether that’s for the approval of men or for professional power.’

I hazard ‘...and what would you say to the men or the partners of women...who are just beginning to find their voice and lead, who are attending circles?’ Sharlene grins with recognition - ‘I would say, you will feel the benefit...definitely!’ My mind flashes back to the ‘Aphrodite Awakening’ circle last June, which included discussion of orgasm and the nature of surrendering to joy. But I’m also reminded of the difficult but necessary conversations I have initiated, that without the support of such a group might never have taken place. In an era where much of our interaction is faceless and success can be measured by virtual Likes and Follows, talking in a circle of sixteen women at 9pm on a Sunday feels reassuringly real. tf.

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L I F E C O A C H

''Not enough hours in the day'' Kate Tilston has been working as a Life Coach for 12 years now. She specialises in practical coaching methods, encouraging and enabling her clients to find solutions to various challenges they have in their lives. Kate is known for her ability to see things with immense clarity and non-judgementally.

How often have clients proclaimed this to me? In answerâ&#x20AC;Ś nearly every new client I work with starts the session with some reference to time management whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personally or in the workplace or both.

I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to tell you that in this day and age, we all feel like we are wearing many hats, have many job titles (not always recognised) and spend our lives juggling so many balls, we live in fear of dropping something with terrible consequences.

So, let me reassure you, you are not alone, nearly everyone if not everyone feels like this at some point in their adult lives. www.thefrankmagazine.com

Something I regularly work on with clients is task management and how to prioritise them, especially when they are conducting a juggling act. A recent client, a single Mum who works full time, was finding that by the weekend her energy was sapped from a hectic week and she was feeling guilty that she didn’t have the energy (or time she sensed was needed) for her children.

So, we planned ahead, we looked at the month/2 months in advance and identified one weekend each month where she agreed to not schedule any activities or plans with friends. My client discussed this with her husband, and he also bought into the new plan, the idea being that it left them a window in their hectic lives to actually spend time with each other and their children.

We worked together looking through her week and where perhaps we could “manage her time more effectively” and therefore take some pressure off. To do this, I asked her to keep almost an old-style school timetable, where she noted down all the things her day involved but also highlighted her mood and where she felt particularly under pressure or stressed.

My client found this incredibly hard and was worried that she would lose spontaneity by being so “rigid” as she put it. I explained that ironically you need to create space to be spontaneous and when I asked when was the last time she was impulsive, she laughed and said she’d been too busy!

Four months later, we met, and she explained Once we’d identified the pressure points, we that this change had made a fundamental looked at how we could change the patterns or difference to her life and her family’s. habits to free up some time. Little things that seemed common sense until you’re caught up They had been more spontaneous as they had in the whirlwind of life, like organising a weekly the space and time to suddenly decide to go for online food shop to free up some time (and a picnic or a bike ride without having to juggle actually budget better). We looked at her other arrangements. Equally, the children had children’s various clubs and decided which were appreciated the occasional weekend where they essential/enjoyable and which were just could chill after hectic school lives and didn’t habitual and therefore no longer needed. have to be anywhere at any particular time.

By the time we had identified 4 or 5 things that could be remodeled to fit her life now, we were able to find pockets of additional time that had been filled with tasks before.

This works for so many of my clients whether married, single, working, not working – just giving themselves permission to have a “weekend off” once a month even if it’s pottering around their flat catching up on personal admin, It sounds simple, but when we’re in it, we household chores or vegging in front of a box sometimes can’t see the wood for the trees, and set and just switching off from life and it’s that’s where I come in, to look objectively, and expectations. the issue and help enable my clients to find a solution.

I’m sure you’ll agree with me when I say that "I explained to a client that one of the things that consume the most amount ironically you need to create of time in our lives is our lack of ability to say “no!” How many events do you accept and agree space to be spontaneous and to when actually thinking “how on earth am I when I asked when was the going to manage that?”

One of my clients was struggling with this, and we decided that she needed to change some deeply ingrained habits otherwise she was going to end up ill and not able to function for her family but more importantly herself.

last time she was spontaneous, she laughed and said she’d been too busy!"

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This works for so many of my clients whether married, single, working, not working – just giving themselves permission to have a “weekend off” once a month even if it’s pottering around their flat catching up on personal admin, household chores or vegging in front of a box set and just switching off from life and it’s expectations.

We have grown up in an era where multi-tasking and being busy has become the norm, that doesn’t mean to say it works or is a healthy way to lead your life. Sometimes we need to stop, ask ourselves “is the way I’m managing my life serving me well right now?” often we find that we’re doing things the way we’ve always done them and not necessarily are they suitable for our current lifestyle.

Kate’s Suggestions;

Take some time out to look at areas of your life that currently consume your time causing you stress or anxiety and identify which of those you need to lose.

Could you make some practical changes – an on line food shop? A “present box” for those birthday’s that creep up on you and you suddenly need to find a present?

If you have children, look at their clubs, hobbies, activities and ask yourself if they are still relevant to their lives – do they enjoy what they’re doing or is it just habit?

Diary planning – give yourself permission to have a “free weekend” once a month with nothing arranged. Be strict with yourself and others and stick to it, see what a difference it makes.

Finally…..be kind to yourself, you don’t have to be super woman, small steps can create big changes, be brave and have a go.

For more information on how I coach, please feel free to email me Kate@katetilston.co.uk You will also find me on Facebook, Instagram @katetlifecoach Twitter KateTlifecoach www.thefrankmagazine.com

“We have grown up in an era where multi-tasking and being busy has become the norm, that doesn’t mean to say it works or is a healthy way to lead your life.

Sometimes we need to stop, ask ourselves “is the way I’m managing my life serving me well right now?” often we find that we’re doing things the way we’ve always done them and not necessarily are they suitable for our current lifestyle.” www.thefrankmagazine.com

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I N T E R V I E W

CBD EXPLAINED Colleen Quinn Cannabis Researcher

Interview by Genevieve Nikolopulos Why should we be taking it – and what’s it going to do?

Its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties are superb for the skin. In particular, the one famous cannabinoid Cannabidiol (CBD) is credited for its potential antiaging properties especially when used with a blend of other phytocannabinoids (other components found in the Cannabis plant species) and terpene (plant-based components from other aromatic plants).

Will it get me high?

In order to get the psychoactive affect from cannabis you need to be consuming THC (phytocannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol). It is currently illegal to have THC in products in the UK, so brands are mostly using CBD as an isolated component within their formulations. There is no ‘high’ effect from CBD isolate. www.thefrankmagazine.com

THC Explained..

So, what is the difference between THC and CBD? THC can cause psychoactive adverse effects depending on dose and your previous tolerance. Its use is applicable for many symptoms and conditions including; pain relief, nausea, muscle spasms, appetite stimulation, anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), etc. whereas CBD is non-intoxicating and helps with similar symptoms, with added benefits as an anticonvulsant, immunity stimulant, and antiinflammatory.

In the UK/EU, at least in theory, CBD that does not contain THC is not banned or restricted for use in cosmetics or skin care products. THC is a controlled substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. In the UK, CBD oil must contain no more than 0.2% THC, but it is immensely challenging to prove THC levels are that low in cannabis extract hence smart CBD brands in the UK are using isolated CBD to avoid the risk of having too much THC in their product and ultimately legal infringement. Cannabis sativa extracts met the definition of ‘narcotic’ in the 1961 single convention act with the exception of hemp cold-pressed seed oil (hemp seed carrier oil) which we all have been happily using for years.

therapeutic value as they mediate the body’s interaction with cannabinoids. We are waiting for more research to come through to help us to define how and to what extent, but early research supports terpenes to enhance the effect of cannabinoids which means they add great value to our skincare!

The whole cannabis plant, also referred to as full spectrum Cannabis, is said to have a greater impact on our endocannabinoid system. Cannabinoids and terpenes collectively have been termed as having the ‘entourage effect’ meaning they have a more powerful effect on the body and mind than an isolated cannabinoid. However, the cannabinoids individually are still beneficial to the body.

CBD also has well documented antioxidant properties but not necessarily through the skin; hence, people choose to take CBD internally in the form of tinctures or capsules in order to get these antioxidant benefits.

The question for the companies that are marketing health and skincare products containing CBD is what the consumer and ultimately MHRA think they are buying. If the CBD source is isolated CBD, it is legal as there is no risk of THC; otherwise, the CBD can be considered illegal. Unfortunately, there is a vast difference between what the law allows and what scientists say our body needs.

Whole Cannabis Plant v CBD Another aspect of the cannabis plant worth understanding is the terpenes. There are over 100 different terpenes identified in the cannabis plant. Terpenes are found in essential oils in more significant numbers, so they are not a new concept as such, but they do make cannabis very interesting. Each terpene is associated with unique effects largely supported by research and clinical studies. Aromatherapists and herbalists have used the science of terpenes for years to affect the body and mind. For example, to promote relaxation and stress-relief, or stimulate focus and clarity. The difference terpenes make to a product can be subtle, but they can add great power to a skin care formulation. Most relevantly they may offer additional

"If the retailer or brand is unable to tell you, I recommend you find a brand you know and trust who can supply this information. There is a risk of spending a lot of money on brand who are not authentically selling CBD!”

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How do we know what to buy – it seems that every health store is promoting a different brand?

First, you need to be careful about what they are selling. A lot of stores are selling hemp seed carrier oils as cannabis or CBD, which it is not. Within skincare, hemp seed carrier oil is a brilliant skin nourishing ingredient.

However, it is not the CBD rich product you are hoping for. Ask what concentration of CBD is in the product. If the retailer or brand is unable to tell you, I recommend you find a brand you know and trust who can supply this information. There is a risk of spending a lot of money on brands who are not authentically selling CBD! For ingestible CBD or tinctures, ideally you want a brand who discloses the CBD concentration in their products and whether they are using CBD isolate or hemp seed carrier oil – or in fact Full Spectrum CBD. There are currently some brands offering full spectrum CBD oil, but the question remains whether these brands should be offering this in the UK and how long they will, therefore, be available for.

You should be able to find good CBD products in some of the more reputable health food stores such as Holland and Barrett and Planet Organic. Brands such as CBD Life UK and LoveHemp offer CBD capsules and tinctures which can be taken daily as a wellness product.

What’s the best way to take CBD? For skincare, I recommend you use a CBD rich serum nightly but also, a CBD tincture blended with other plants, based in honey is a brilliant daily skin supplement. CBD taken daily as a wellness supplement offers great support to your overall health.

How about in beauty products? What is it adding?

Beauty products are using hemp, which typically have low THC levels and significant CBD levels. Smart brands are blending their hemp with terpene rich plants and antioxidant ingredients to enhance the CBD effect. Antiinflammatory and antioxidant functions for example What kind of products should I be looking for with CBD in them – and how do I know how much is actually in there?

Look for brands that have a trusted history of plant-based products (and aromatherapy) and ask them for their CBD concentrations. A basic level of 1000mg per 100ml product is ideal in terms of concentration. Both skincare and wellness products like tinctures and muscle balms should have the same. There is a trend to add CBD to makeup which is a fun novelty but maybe consider if it is useful to spend money on an expensive CBD mascara when the CBD is not going to penetrate your skin therefore you do not get the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits for the phytocannabinoid.

"For skincare I recommend you use a CBD rich serum nightly but also, a CBD tincture blended with other plants, based in a honey is a brilliant daily skin supplement.

CBD taken daily as a wellness supplement offers great support to your overall health.” www.thefrankmagazine.com

"Look for brands that has a trusted history of plant-based products (and aromatherapy) and ask them for their CBD concentrations. A basic level of 1000mg per 100ml product is ideal in terms of concentration. Both skincare and wellness products like tinctures and muscle balms should have the same.â&#x20AC;?

What CBD products or brands do you rate?

The following brands are the best options currently on the UK market; MGC Derma are presently promoting their CBD Hyaluronic & Peptides Day Cream containing Cannabidiol (CBD) however they are not disclosing the CBD concentration levels. LoveHemp are proudly listing their CBD concentration levels between 400mg and 800mg per 10ml product, and they are using cannabidiol from hemp extract as their CBD source. Concentrations of between 100mg â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 500mg of CBD per a 15ml product are typical for wellness and skincare brands.

Additional products and brands for both skincare and ingestible CBD: https://mgcderma.com/product/cbd-hyaluronic-peptides-day-cream-for-regular-to-dry-skin/ www.hempura.co.uk https://love-hemp.com www.cbdlifeuk.com https://www.theoriginalalternative.com/product-category/cbd-oils/ What can we expect next? Is CBD here for the long term?

Yes. I can definitely see credible, authentic brands doing it right in the next 12 months. Proper consumer-focused brands creating intelligent CBD centred formulations, which is very exciting. In the next five years, CBD will be a standard health and beauty ingredient. However, innovative formulations intelligently combining other plant terpenes with the cannabinoids within hemp will be the science that will significantly impact our skins anti-inflammatory and antioxidant function. Moreover, utilising hemp as a daily health supplement will ultimately be the driver to stimulate our endocannabinoid system and consequently support our immune system. Cannabis will become a whole-body supporter, not just a novel skin care ingredient. www.thefrankmagazine.com

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SEBASTIAN POLE

MASTER HERBSMITH CO-FOUNDER OF PUKKA HERBS

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Sebastian Pole is co-founder and Master Herbsmith of Pukka Herbs, producer of organic herbal teas and wellbeing supplements. Pukka Herbs started Pukka started life in the year 2001 as a simple idea: connect people with the incredible wonders of herbs when Sebastian answered an advert in a local magazine, placed by his future business partner, Tim Westwell. The advert called for a likeminded, green business partner who wanted to promote natural wellbeing and grow a sustainable business.

Sebastian is passionate about the sharing the benefits of herbs, the sustainable supply of organic herbs as well as working with communities to protect both their livelihoods and local ecosystems.

As well as formulating all Pukka Herbsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; organic products, Sebastian also runs his own herbal practice. Sebastian has been in clinical practice since 1998.

Sebastian is a registered member of the Ayurvedic Practitioners Association, Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine, and the Unified Register of Herbal Practitioners.

Fluent in Hindi, a registered Yoga therapist and passionate about running a business that brings benefit to everyone it connects with, Sebastian is on a mission to bring the incredible power of plants into peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life.

When/where did you first discover for yourself that plants had the power to support our wellbeing?

I spent my early twenties, after getting my degree in Hindi and Religious studies, wandering around India, learning yoga, becoming a vegetarian, sleeping under the stars, and walking for weeks in the Himalayas. I was searching hard to find what my life was all about. These were wild and formative times. After a couple of U-turns, I realised that I wanted to spend my life working with people and plants. The dream of becoming an Ayurvedic practitioner and herbalist became a huge inspiration in my life.

manifested when I met my business partner, Tim Westwell.

We wanted to create a business centered around mutual benefit; one where everyone who came into contact with Pukka would profit, sensually, healthily, ecologically, socially, and financially.

We wanted to reach millions of people so that their lives could be touched with the wonders of herbs.

We thought that at the very least if they drank something delicious, or used a herb that helped their health, they would feel more positive about herbal medicine. Perhaps they would even choose to include herbs in their lives more, and we could create millions of herb champions?

Traditional herbal medicine is so personcentered and provides such profound insights into the workings of nature. Herbalism teaches people how to support their everyday health and wellbeing, naturally and by taking preventative measures.

I went back to college to study Ayurvedic, Chinese, and Western herbal medicine. I fell head-over-heels in love with the poetry of traditional medicine and was blessed to have some great teachers who nurtured this kernel of passion. Traditional medicine is so personcentered with such deep insights into the workings of nature that I was completely inspired. And the plants just lit me up.

Herbs also help to reconnect people to the soil, Pukka began life in 2001 as a simple idea; to the plants, and the planet, which are all equally make the incredible health and wellbeing dependent on one another for their health and benefits of organic herbs accessible to as many happiness. people as possible, and in doing so, to connect people, plants and the planet. This idea 105 www.thefrankmagazine.com

How do you source your herbs ?

value directly with the growers and collectors.

When sourcing herbs to help support women's health, it's important to remember that herbs are derived from plants that might be exposed to chemicals as they grown. Buying organic is the only way to ensure that what you're consuming hasn't been tainted with pesticides, chemicals, or genetic modification.

Additionally, non-organic herbs and spices may contain fillers and artificial flavorings to enhance flavor. You won't have these issues with organic herbs and spices. We also make sure that where appropriate our herbs are certified fair with Fair For Life so we can share

Looking at the human health perspective, organic foods have also been shown to contain up to 60% more antioxidants than non-organic food. So, organic herbs may cost a little more, but your health will thank you. It's also important to point out the many environmental benefits of growing organically. Organic farms have been shown to have 50% more biodiversity than non-organic farms, so eating organically is good for wildlife too. Pukka Herbs has been and always will be 100% organic for these important reasons which I'm passionate about.

Seb with a shatavari plant

Aswagandha team www.thefrankmagazine.com

Herbs from Seb's garden

Do you do treat a lot of women at your practice. What do they come to you about?

supplements. However, lots of my male patients are also connected in this way, with a similar openness to be supported by herbs. So I Yes! Well, over three-quarters of my patients would say, one's attitude to the natural world are women, and the key issues tend to be and our connection with it is more important digestive health, dealing with the effects of than gender here. stress and skin health. Looking more broadly, When thinking about the effectiveness of much of a woman’s life is guided by hormonal herbal treatment for 'women's health issues, as cycles from adolescence all the way through to a general rule, 'it's recommended to allow post-menopause. Maintaining a healthy cycle between 2-3 months treatment, or 2-3 and hormonal balance will impact upon a menstrual cycles to pass. This allows typically woman’s health, vitality, wellbeing, and enough time to assess how well the herb has general feelings of ‘wellness.’ We are all adapted and how it has interacted with a familiar with the term ‘PMT’ or pre-menstrual 'woman's hormonal balance. tension. This is just one indicator of how a woman can feel when hormones can become Hormones and their effects have a permanent even slightly tipped out of balance. For women fixture in a 'woman's life, and we are even to maintain a healthy hormonal balance medicated form an early age in the shape of determines a woman’s ability to endure a pain- the pill. free, hassle-free menstrual cycle, to conceive and give birth successfully and to experience Is there way to not be a slave to our hormones stress-free menopause. Essentially, it is vital to and not take to pharmaceuticals to counteract her core wellbeing. them?

Women are so in tune with the natural world and guided by the moon, are we more susceptible to the healing powers of plants?

This is a really interesting question. I would definitely agree that the women who are more connected with the natural world and the power of plants are, of course, more open to the healing effects of herbs through teas and

Hormones affect literally every part of our lives, including whether we feel tired or awake, how hungry we are, our sex drive, our bone density, our body temperature, and whether we feel relaxed or stressed, happy or sad. So, the ebb and flow of hormones changes throughout each stage of a woman's life and can profoundly impact, not only health but how a woman relates to the world around her.

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If a woman is completely balanced and in tip top condition then she will be experiencing: * Healthy appetite and digestion * Consistent energy and stamina * Deep and restful sleep * Freedom from enduring pain * Being open to your emotions & healthy monthly cycles The effect of hormones on health is a broad topic, but I'd like to focus on how managing the impact of stress can be very helpful in allowing women to feel more balanced. A woman's ovaries are linked to her brain, nervous system, and endocrine (hormone) system like a finetuned orchestra. When we get stressed, something is known as the hypothalamus, the pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) controls the response. You might be wondering, but why is this relevant to hormone balance in women?

How does stress affect our monthly cycle or hot flushes?

Interestingly, in women, the sex hormone balance is maintained by the hypothalamus, pituitary, and the ovaries (or HPO unit). So, I am sure you can now see the link. If a woman is experiencing chronic 'stress' and her adrenals are continually under a level of pressure, it will tip other vital hormones being produced by these glands totally out of balance. For example, chronic stress can lead to a dominance of oestrogen, which has been linked to many women's health issues, such as fibroids and endometriosis.

been expertly created to help maintain gentle rhythm and provide strength, nourishment, and support for the whole reproductive system.

Another key women's reproductive tonic from Ayurveda is Aloe Vera. This soothing, cooling, moistening and healing, herb enters all body channels acting as a perfect carrier for other healing herbs.

Herbal teas containing green tea or licorice are also great at helping balance oestrogen levels for all women. Many delicious herbal teas are incorporating these nourishing herbs. However, these herbs can also be used to make useful women's decoctions. Herbs such as Triphala, Shatavari, aloe vera, raspberry leaf, rose and licorice can be boiled with water and cooled to make a cleansing or nourishing decoction. This is used for a vaginal douche. Of all Ayurveda's extensive treatments, this is seen as the single most essential practice for women, from menarche to menopause and beyond.

Mood balancing and anxiety

Adaptogenic herbs are the ‘go to’ herbs here.

They do what they say on the tin and help the Looking at herb’s for women’s health body to ‘adapt’ both to the surroundings and cope with both physical and emotional It is essential for women to be in harmony with stressors. Adaptogens include key herbs such their natural rhythms and gentle, nurturing as shatavari, ginseng, ashwagandha, and herbal support can sometimes help. One herb licorice. Traditional herbal medicine uses in-particular is Shatavari, an age-old Ayurvedic many adaptogenic herbs for rejuvenation. remedy for women's health. It can be translated as 'the woman who has 100 Often growing on the 'edge' of the world, in husbands,' and it is a renowned tonic for the jungles, mountains and in extreme climates, female reproductive system, supporting these herbs help us 'come back from the edge'. whole-body female health and wellbeing.

Used properly, they improve our ability to not Shatavari contains natural precursors to only tolerate stress, but also increase our female sex hormones, which help to balance immunity, regulate our hormones, enhance our hormonal irregularity, promote conception, adaptation to mental and physical challenges and improve menstrual and menopausal and make us stronger. They are suitable for the symptoms such as hot flushes and PMT. young and active right through to the elderly, Pukka's Womankind Premenstrual formula has supporting both a vibrant and active lifestyle. www.thefrankmagazine.com

A Pukka favorite is Ashwagandha as it is the supreme anxiety remedy, offering an antidote to the pace of modern life. It’s been used for thousands of years in Ayurveda to nourish the mind and enhance vigor. It’s both an adaptogen and tonic – both calming the stress response and building energy. It’s particularly helpful in supporting restorative sleep, which in turn helps the body deal with the effects of emotional stress. Another lovely herb to support anxiety is chamomile, which helps relax a stressed and anxious nervous state by calming nervous anxiety and relaxing the muscles. Looking beyond the Ayurvedic tradition, Reishi, a traditional Chinese herb used to prolong life through its protective qualities for the immune system and the ability to balance the stress response.

Rose petals treat the heart, nerves, and lift the spirits. Why not try Pukka’s Love blend, which contains rose, and other healing flowers, to help feel good by releasing physical and emotional tension. Vanilla is also a sweet and delicious aphrodisiac, boosting mood and emotional wellbeing. The delicious herb fennel is also brimming with therapeutic benefits. For women, fennel stimulates the libido and promotes breast milk production.

Fertility issues Hormonal irregularities or changes in the female reproductive system can lead to menstrual imbalances, having a knock-on effect upon fertility and the ability to conceive.

Shatavari is a key herb to support here, helping to balance hormones, enhance fertility, and promote conception. As it’s also an adaptogen, it can also help reduce the effects of stress, which can often affect fertility. Pomegranate is famed for its taste as well as being a fertility symbol. This beautiful red fruit both nourishes the heart and balances levels of oestrogen, so drink the juice freely.

Aphrodisiacs and our libido

Sebastian in his herb garden

Ashwagandha can also be taken to help improve libido. Its additional benefits of helping us adapt to physical stress and relax without feeling exhausted could explain why it helps women achieve orgasm. Unlike some herbal tonics, Ashwagandha can also be taken safely with contraceptive pills, which for some women can be a factor associated with low libido levels. One medical study has shown that women who took a daily dose of Ashwagandha over a month saw significant improvements in achieving orgasm and sexual arousal. According to the results of the study, ashwagandha supplementation also caused a significant reduction in sexually related distress. Another tradition herb for getting in the mood is rose, being the symbol of love. www.thefrankmagazine.com

Wholistic Shatavari

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I went back to college to study Ayurvedic, Chinese and Western herbal medicine. I fell head-over-heals in love with the poetry of traditional medicine and was blessed to have some great teachers who nurtured this kernel of passion. www.thefrankmagazine.com

Cystitis If you are suffering from a sudden, acute onset of cystitis, then herbs such as cranberry, and aloe vera may prove useful. Cranberry is nature’s gift to cystitis sufferers. Its ability to grow in water suggests its affinity for the waterworks. It is a fantastic urinary antiseptic, preventing the adhesion of bacteria to the bladder. Shatavari and Aloe Vera are both soft and bursting with anti-inflammatory compounds. They ease excess inflammation and irritation caused by infection. Shatavari is especially valuable as an excellent preventative for conditions like cystitis as it helps to tone and strengthen the urinary tract in the long-term. By combining these herbs with plants that have a natural diuretic effect, you can assist the body in literally ‘flushing’ out any left-over infection. Pukka’s Womankind tea blend contains both Shatavari and cranberry, for example. Dandelion and fennel can be particularly helpful, alongside drinking plenty of water.

The Peri-Menopause The menopause causes a significant hormonal shift within the body, so it would be unusual for a woman not to experience any form of change at all, whether it be physical or emotional. The main difference is in the severity of the symptoms. One of the very best herbs for supporting hormonal change throughout a woman’s lifecycle is our women’s hero herb Shatavari again, as it contains natural precursors to female hormones that help to balance hormones and reduce menopausal symptoms. It is also cooling and moistening to the reproductive tract, making it perfect for the hot, dry symptoms of menopause. The characteristic essential oils in sage are also supportive in decreasing sweating by strengthening the skin and helping it to retain fluid — the perfect solution for hot sweats.

Rosewater also soothes menopausal hot flushes.

A woman’s ovaries are linked to her brain, nervous system and endocrine (hormone) system like a fine-tuned orchestra.

After menopause, lower levels of oestrogen can impact on bone density, so increasing essential minerals to support bone health and incorporating herbs that boost circulation to the muscles, such as turmeric, can be especially helpful. Shatavari also supports bone health after menopause.

The hormonal change experienced during the menopause can be a shock to the body and influence the onset of critical symptoms that can become debilitating and tiresome. Long-term this can create fatigue, adrenal strain, and frustration. Pukka has expertly blended Womankind Menopause to provide a natural remedy to help with menopausal symptoms. The formula supports a healthy transition through a period of hormonal change and adjustment. It allows the body to adjust to a new environment while also reducing key symptoms and keeping vitality, wellbeing, and libido alive.

Research cited *Source: BioMed Research International Volume 2015, doi: 10.1155/2015/284154 “Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Root Extract in Improving Sexual Function in Women: A Pilot Study” Authors: S. Dongre, D. Langade, S. Bhattacharyya www.pukkaherbs.com

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Ian White is the founder of the Australian Bush Flower Essences and a 5th generation Australian herbalist.

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What are flower essences?

Flower essences are a vibrational remedy produced by imprinting a flower’s unique vibrational healing signature onto a carrier solution, such as purified water.

Bush Flower Essences are similar to that of meditation in that they enable the person to access the wisdom of their Higher Self. This releases negative beliefs held in the subconscious mind and allows the positive virtues of the Higher Self - love, joy, faith, courage, etc. to flood their being. When this happens, the negative beliefs and thoughts are dissolved, balance is restored, and true healing occurs.

earliest European recorded use of Flower Essences was by Abbess Hildegard von Bingen in the twelfth century.

Your love of the land and interest in plants is a family affair isn’t it?

Yes, I grew up in the Australian bush. As a young boy my grandmother, like her mother before her, specialised in using Australian plants and would often take me bush walking. From her deep understanding she would point out the many healing plants and flowers. I learned a profound respect for nature through her and went on to become a practitioner and a pioneer working with and researching the rare remedial qualities of Australian native plants.

What is the difference between homeopathy and flower essences?

Flower Essences are produced by imprinting a flower’s unique vibrational healing signature onto the carrier solution and are used to treat imbalances at a higher level, bringing about emotional and spiritual balance and well-being in the whole person.

Homoeopathics are prepared in a somewhat similar way to Flower Essences using animal, mineral and herbal bases imprinted upon the solution at varied dilution ratios and are generally recommended for a specific ailment. Homoeopathics are not selfadjusting or without side effects and can result in severe aggravations.

Flower Essences are the best and most effective modality to reach and treat the subtle-energy bodies, along with the meridians.

How long have flower essences been used for?

For thousands of years Australian Aborigines have used flowers to heal emotional imbalances and physical injuries. Flower Essences were also used in Ancient Egypt, as well as India, Asia, Europe and South America. The

How have the demands for the healing powers of flowers essences changed in terms in what people need?

Needs of today’s society has changed from twenty – thirty years ago, for example our communication and technology has changed dramatically, creating a need for bush flower remedies that can help people deal with radiation and radio-frequencies we cannot see, but feel drained by it.

Overwhelmed by excess communication. Also, hormonal & mood imbalances from our environmental changes.

What tools do you use to keep your focus and stay in tune with yourself in order to be well and more productive as a person?

Meditation and bush flower essences. I also wear a glass pendant with the protective essences inside, particularly when travelling.

Hormonal issues are prevalent amongst many women. What sorts of flower essences have you specifically created for them?

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I created a Woman Essence blend with all the best bush flowers for harmonising any emotional imbalances during menstruation and menopause. It allows a woman to discover and feel good about herself, her own body and her beauty.

One key essence is She Oak which helps with hormonal imbalances and emotional blocks around conceiving and fertility. Old Man Banksia flower in this blend has helped women with under active thyroid and lethargy and helps regain enthusiasm in life.

What are the issues that women come to you about?

A wide range of hormonal and gynaecological issues. From infertility to menopause, thyroid to endometriosis. What comes up a lot is womens dislike of self or needing to love and accept ones self, hence putting Billy Goat Plum and Five Corners into the Woman Essence blend to help with these important deep emotional needs.

What is your process of creating essences? You travel extensively to find the flowers. Do you work alone?

3 hours under the Australian sun of up to 50 celsius heat.

To prepare the Boab Essence I have to fly 5 hours from Sydney to Perth then wait for a connecting 3 hour flight to Broome in the north west of the country. This is then followed by a minimum 2 hour drive to where the Boab trees are found.

Can we take more than one type of tincture? Can the drops work immediately and create a shift quickly or are they beneficial over a longer term?

It is more effective to focus on just one issue and one dosage bottle, at a time, otherwise the results can be very scattered as they have no main focus to address. You can, however, use a remedy for example Emergency Essence in a one-off acute situation whilst still taking another remedy over the standard two or four week period.

The essence starts its work immediately and are very deep acting. The more we take the bush essences over time we can experience a deeper and faster response.

I am still the person who travels to remote areas of Australia to make up the Essences in the most pristine environments that I can find.

Not only are the Essences only ever made in ideal conditions and certainly away from any form of pollution, but I would never contemplate making an Essence if I was in any way out of balance. The plants are grown in the wild. These plants have a much higher lifeforce as they have to cope with Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s harsh weather conditions where they are likely to experience extreme heat, drought and floods.

The flowers I choose for an essence are placed into a glass bowl and the infusion or imprinting takes place over www.thefrankmagazine.com

"I grew up in the Australian bush. As a young boy my grandmother, like her mother before her, specialised in using Australian plants and would often take me bush walking. From her deep understanding she would point out the many healing plants and flowers. I learned a profound respect for nature through her.â&#x20AC;?

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I created a Woman Essence blend with all the best bush flowers for harmonising any emotional imbalances during menstruation and menopause.

It allows a woman to discover and feel good about herself, her own body and her beauty.

One key essence is She Oak which helps with hormonal imbalances and emotional blocks around conceiving and fertility. Old Man Banksia flower in this blend has helped women with under active thyroid and lethargy and helps regain enthusiasm in life. www.ausflowers.co.uk

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The main blends for women we have are...

Woman Essence with flower essences: Billy Goat Plum, Bottlebrush, Bush Fuchsia, Crowea, Five Corners, Mulla Mulla, Old Man Banksia, Peach-flowered Tea-tree, Pink Flannel Flower, She Oak. Harmonises any emotional imbalances during menstruation and menopause. It allows a woman to discover and feel good about herself, her own body and her beauty.

Just to mention a few of the flowers usedBilly Goat Plus is for feelings of shame, self-disgust and self-loathing.

Peach-flowered Tea-tree is for people with extreme mood swings, hypochondriacal people and those who have a fear of getting old.

Bottlebrush helps people move through major life changes and the overwhelm that often goes with those changes, especially retirement, menopause, adolescence or death, etc. It 'brushes' out the past and allows the person to move on. An excellent remedy for pregnant women and new mothers who feel inadequate.

Calm & Clear Essence With flower essences: Black-eyed Susan, Boronia, Bottlebrush, Bush Fuchsia, Crowea, Jacaranda, Little Flannel Flower and Paw Paw. Helps to find time for oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s self, to relax without external pressures & demands, to wind down and enjoy relaxing pursuits. For women who are impatient or always 'on the go'. These women are continually rushing and their lives are always overflowing with commitments. This Essence enables them to slow down, to reach that still centre within and find calmness and inner guidance.

Confid Essence With flower essences: Boab, Dog Rose, Five Corners, Southern Cross, Sturt Desert Rose.

Brings out the positive qualities of self esteem and confidence. It allows us to feel comfortable around other people and resolve negative beliefs we may hold about ourselves as well as any guilt we may harbour from past actions. This combination also helps us to take responsibility for situations and events that occur in our lives and realise that we have the ability and power not only to change those events, but also to create those we want.

Sexuality Essence With flower essences: Billy Goat Plum, Bush Gardenia, Flannel Flower, Fringed Violet, Little Flannel Flower, Sturt Desert Rose, Wisteria.

Helpful for releasing trauma associated with one's sexuality or experiences. It allows one to feel comfortable with and to fully accept oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s body. It enables the individual to be open to sensuality and touch and to enjoy physical and emotional intimacy. Sexuality Essence renews passion and interest in relationships.

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ife assions www.thefrankmagazine.com

LIFE PASSIONS

Director Icon Influencer Creative www.thefrankmagazine.com

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F R A N K

I N T E R V I E W

C A R O L

M O R L E Y

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Carol Morley was born in Manchester, England. She attended Central St Martins College of Art, where she graduated with a first class degree in fine art film and video. Her films include The Alcohol Years, a BAFTA nominated film about her scurrilous teenage past, Dreams of a Life, which went behind the anonymous newspaper headline about Joyce Vincent who lay dead in her flat for three years, and The Falling, a BBC Films/BFI backed film, set in a girls' school in England in 1969, which revolved around an outbreak of mass psychogenic illness, featuring Maisie Williams, Florence Pugh and Maxine Peake.

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Congratulations on Out of Blue. How did the film come to you?

My film before 'Out of Blue' was 'The Falling' STARRING MAISIE WILLIAMS, MAXINE PEAKE AND FLORENCE PUGH - the producer along with Cairo Cannon was Luc Roeg. His dad, Nicholas Roeg, the filmmaker who made 'Don't Look Now' and the David Bowie film 'Man Who Fell to Earth', had always wanted to TURN the MARTIN AMIS book NIGHT TRAIN INTO A FILM, but IT HAD NEVER COME TO FRUITION. Luc said that he had the rights to NIGHT TRAIN and did I fancy looking at it? So I did, and I thought THIS feels like a real opportunity TO EXPLORE the themes of cosmology and the female detective. But I did change a lot, including the title, which became OUT OF BLUE, and in particular, I changed the female roles.

How did you change the female roles?

role. Every actor has a different approach. All the actors that I worked with on the film were looking for their own way into their character.

And Patricia Clarkson?

She is dedicated to her work. She lives it, breathes it, she goes inside herself to search for a character. She found Mike Hoolihan within herself. I mean obviously there's external work to be done on what a detective does and analysing the script, but she ultimately found Mike within herself. Patricia lives on her own; she lives with her dog, Isadora Duncan, she doesn't define herself through living with a guy. She's very uncompromising. She loved playing Mike because often she'll get a mother role or a wife or somebody that wants a man role. So for her, it was thrilling to play somebody that wasn't restricted by that â&#x20AC;&#x201C; somebody that wasn't defined by a man, or by domesticity.

Well Mike Hoolihan, Patricia Clarkson's character in Out of Blue, has a boyfriend and you could interpret that he ultimately saves her - and I didn't want that! I didn't want her to need a man to get out of her situations. It felt at times like I was rescuing the characters from the book! Miriam the mother is barely in the book - so I thought I was putting more women at the centre of the story. And there are additional women characters that aren't in the book, like Stella Honey, the reporter.

What was it like working with such accomplished actors?

I saw them as my characters, so it enabled me to move away from being overwhelmed by all the stuff they'd done before. With James Caan who'd been Sonny in the Godfather, when I met him there was a moment of oh my god it's James Caan! I met him in the Beverley Hills Hotel, and he had never had avocado on toast, and I introduced him to it. It came, and it was really elaborate with grapefruit and he was quite alarmed but after that, we had a joke that any time he was going to cause me any trouble, I would say, Jimmy if you're not careful I'll grapple you to the ground and force you to have avocado on toast! He's got a great sense of, and that's the thing, you're always trying to look for your actor's way into their www.thefrankmagazine.com

''Out of Blue’ is a film that has polarised people – it has been described as a Marmite film! I think partly because it's taken on a traditional genre and experimented with it, it departs from being your typical police procedural and also that it is centred around an older, untraditional, woman. That's challenging because we are so used to representations of women in cinema in a particular way.''

Did someone send you the review - how did you see it?

You know you are going to be reviewed. You wait for that Friday the film comes out!

But you don't know the content?

No. You don't know. It's frightening. But the five-star review is like Ker-ching. Yeah.

So what has been your passage to being a filmmaker? Where did you start?

I never grew up thinking I was going to make films. When I was 11, and my brother was 20, he got a job writing for the New Musical Express, which at that time was massive. I think that was when I realised a sense of, there is Amazing review from Mark Kermode. something else out there for me. He left school at 16 as I did, but he started writing for the Yes, that was great! Incredible that someone NME, and I was like wow. like Mark, who sees so many films got so I'd read his articles, and Manchester is music behind OUT OF BLUE. based so I was in bands and I thought I'm going to sort of do something like being in a band, How did it feel? but nothing happened! I did a lot of everyday jobs, as well, working in shops and cleaning and When you get someone like Mark Kermode then when I was about 23 I thought I must do who has such status in this country and something else with my life because I'm feeling worldwide too, it's impressive. 'Out of Blue' is a frustrated. I enrolled for evening classes in A' film that has polarised people – it has been levels and I did film studies and photography described as a Marmite film! I think partly and the film studies teacher, Bev Zalcock, was because it's taken on a traditional genre and just inspirational, and that changed my life. experimented with it, it departs from being your typical police procedural and also that it This is why I'm passionate about teachers and is centered around an older, untraditional, not just in the sort of standard age woman. That's challenging because we are so environments but the ones where you can go at used to representations of women in cinema in different ages and do evening classes and adult a particular way. What I've noticed on education. Bev definitely changed my life, and Twittersphere is that a lot of people have been in that year I got enough together for a taking their mums and their mums love it, and I portfolio, and an interview and I got into love that. Someone wrote to me and said my Central St Martin's in London and studied Fine mum is 82 and she said this film is ace. I think Art Film where you are literally taking bits of maybe because it isn't tied up in a lot of blood, film, a frame of film and gluing it together, even or women's bodies being laid out naked on the writing on it! I got to understand the slab and it's not very sweary! But ultimately, materiality of film and what a frame is – a 24th the fact that Mark Kermode got it was a of a second. wonderful moment. www.thefrankmagazine.com

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“Mike Hoolihan, Patricia Clarkson's character in Out of Blue, has a boyfriend and you could interpret that he ultimately saves her - and I didn’t want that! I didn’t want her to need a man to get out of her situations. It really felt at times like I was rescuing the characters from the book!”

Then after I graduated, I applied for Art Council's grants and made art films. I then made a film exploring my drunken teenage years in Manchester, The Alcohol Years, which drew me into documentary. And then that led, ultimately years later, to 'Dreams of a Life,' which I felt I could make because I had made The Alcohol Years, so I had exposed something of myself. So I'm not somebody likes Spielberg, who at eight had a super eight camera and was gunning at a young age to make films. Later on, I felt all the things like music and writing that I'd been interested in when I was young sort of came together in filmmaking.

well we've hired a woman director, and she's going to direct a big franchise film which will have a big budget. But what if the director wants to go and do a different kind of film and maybe not do a franchise, not just step into what is traditionally a male landscape. Perhaps the films women want to make and the way they want to make them don't necessarily fit into that traditional model.

So it's complicated. I've heard of companies saying we'd work with more women directors, but they're not there! But no, they're there, and it's the same with women directors of photography they'll be working in commercials, they'll be working in other means, but they are not necessarily working in feature films. And then someone will go, I want to work with this woman Director of photography, and a financier will say, but they don't have enough history of working in feature films. So it's a vicious cycle. It's complicated.

What has been a career highlight for you so far?

For me, it's making the work because ultimately it gives you a way of life, and constructing something is the most important thing. It's not easy. When I get to the end of something I'm like, oh wow I did it, or rather we did it - because film is always a collaboration - but there is a sense of I wonder in the world of movie making, are something inside of you that knows you took there levels that you can get to as a woman, this on and took it forward. The process to me and you have to fight the rest of the way? is the most important, the most special when you suddenly know that you are so passionate I think a lot of women directors are involved in about something, you'll see it through to the independent film, and often writing their own end like you and your magazine. scripts – and involved in the struggle that all independent filmmakers have – to raise money Because there is so much pleasure and pain for their films! 7% of women at the beginning involved with it. But there's flashes, moments of cinema directed film, and it's similar now where you just like, I bloody love this... across the globe. It's even less if you're a director of photography - women DoP's are Yeah because it's so rewarding and that energy below 5%, and also I think what you find is, for and commitment and knowing that you'll do example, when a woman does make a film, the anything for it. Reviews are essential, but if I marketing budget for that film will be a lot less did something and it got universally panned, I than what is often given to a male director. would still stand by it because you love your work. For me, you are sending something out What do the studios give as a reason? into the world, and if everyone dislikes it, I'm not going to dislike it. It will find its place at If it was a Hollywood studio, they might say, some point. www.thefrankmagazine.com

Which other directors have inspired you?

Definitely Jane Campion. There was a raft of Australian women alongside her that directed feature films, such as Gillian Armstrong, who I also deeply admire. In the 1970s there was a specific scheme set up by the Australian government for women directors and out of that emerged a lot of women directors that then made very significant films and some of them went to Hollywood. So it does work when there is a direct intervention that says, here you go, make the films that you want to make. Tell your stories. It does work.

Jane Campion won an Oscar for The Piano, and she started out making these brilliant short films, Passionless Moments, Girl's Own Story and Peel. They're wonderful.

I love her films. I would also say someone like Peter Weir is an inspiration, he did The Truman Show, and he did Picnic at Hanging Rock, one of my favorite films. He's not showy in what he does. When I watch something, and you feel the hand of the director behind it, such as being all crane shots all over the place and all of that for no real reason, I'm not impressed. I like modesty in the direction, and I like it coming genuinely from the characters and story. So he's definitely one of my heroes and of course Martin Scorsese.

Last year he actually phoned me up! He knows Patricia Clarkson, and she said Martin Scorsese really likes your films. You and Joanna Hogg are his favorite British filmmakers. It was brilliant.

He was going to phone me up at a particular time, and I'd given my home number, and my mobile phone number to his office and I didn't go out for the whole weekend, and I had my mobile phone by the window because it has terrible reception in the house, but it never rang!

And then I had to go to LA to meet Jimmy Caan, and I contacted Martin Scorsese's people, and I said, oh look I'm on a different time zone if he wants to ring me and they said he would, between two and four in your hotel room. Nothing happened until about ten past four, time dragged and dragged, and then he phoned me. I was so star struck. In the end, though we spoke for 45 minutes and that was a highlight of my life because it was such validation and we just talked about filmmaking, and he said he had screened my films for himself and then for his friends. He was so encouraging, and he said, 'The Falling was phenomenal-phenomenal.' I've never told another journalist that!

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Scorcese - he phoned me. I was so star struck.

In the end though we spoke for 45 minutes and that was a highlight of my life because it was such validation and we just spoke about filmmaking and he said he had screened my films for himself and then for his friends. He was so encouraging and he said 'The Falling was phenomenalphenomenal'. â&#x20AC;&#x153; www.thefrankmagazine.com

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Oh wow, just brilliant, what a scoop! So what are you working on now? How do you look for your next project? Do you read a lot of books?

I always feel like you're surrounded by things all the time, and I'm always trying to be open. I have a little notebook, and I write down things I hear something like a line of dialogue, for example, something overheard but the big ideas generally are from reading something or looking at archives.

passport was in one of the boxes, and you used to have to state your occupation, and she put, Typist, Artist, Pirate, King. So that's the title of the film. It will be her story told from her point of view. What's really weird as well is she always believed in connections. So the fact I've gone from adapting Out of Blue from Night Train by Martin Amis to Audrey Amiss, she would find fascinating!

And have her family been really helpful?

My next film is called 'Typist Artist Pirate King,' and it's the story of Audrey Amiss. I wrote about her for The Observer. I did that before I made the film because I wanted people to hear about it – and to somehow announce I would make a film about in – in that way I would HAVE to do it! I got a Wellcome (IT" S DOUBLE L!) screenwriting fellowship; they're a science organisation. When I went there, I came across this un-cataloged archive of Audrey Amiss. She was from Sunderland and won a place at the Royal Academy of Arts when she was in her 20s but in her final year had a massive breakdown and was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and ended up in a mental hospital, psychiatric hospital. She spent her life as a revolving door psychiatric patient but kept up with her art.

Amazing. Dorothy, her sister is wonderful, and she's so excited about it, and then there's Stephen and Kate, the nephew and niece who donated the archives. So they are involved. I am also going to write a book. The film is Audrey's perspective, and the book is the families perspective. People say about Audrey she was having a great time but causing mayhem, getting arrested and all of that so I do want to do the book which includes the family's point of view.

When I went into the archive her nephew and niece had gone into her apartment in Clapham, where she ended up living for fifty years, 30 years with her mum and they found 50,000 sketches, all her diaries, her letter logs and she'd write these fantastic letters, you'd love her! She's funny, and she's a northerner. She'd write letters to the Sherlock Holmes Society about a missing sock or a ten-page letter to the Salvation Army about her on-going issues with thrush. She's brilliant. She would go to Speaker's Corner and just talk about all sorts of issues.

She was very timid and quiet as a child and then later found her voice, and she always disagreed with her mental health diagnosis. In 1985 she went to China on her own, which was just opening up. I see her as a hero. Her

Do you write alone? How do you keep motivated?

The new film is a gift, in a way. For my documentary film 'Dreams of a Life,' there was nothing left behind from Joyce Vincent, apart from the memories of the people that knew her –but with this film about Audrey, she has left so much behind!

I do write alone and then when I've done a rough draft I will show it to my script editor Kathryn Castles and my producer, Cairo Cannon, and then they feedback and then I carry on. But you have to go it alone for a while, to go inside yourself, or I do anyway.

There is a lot of grunt work. It's the very last line of Syd Field's screenwriting book that I always think of when I'm writing; the last line is 'don't get it right, get it written.' So I keep motivated by knowing that at some point it will get better, and it's all about trusting the process and that if you push and push, your ideas must eventually become a film – and that film will one day meet its audience!

P O R T R A I T O N A N I C O N

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JANE FONDA THE CULTURAL ICON PAVING THE WAY FOR OLDER WOMEN

Written by Shaima Al-Obaidi

Oprah Winfrey called her the “queen of self-reinvention,” and she has a myriad of incarnations to prove it. From sex icon to activist to workout pioneer, no one makes comebacks quite like the award-winning actress, Jane Fonda. Even at 81-years old and in an industry that prides youth over experience, the Hollywood legend is arguably still in her prime and a living example that age is merely just a number.

“How many other 80-year-old women currently have a hit comedy series on Netflix (Grace and Frankie), as well as movies coming out, a documentary on their life…and no signs of stopping any time soon?” A valid question posed by The Guardian that even Fonda herself can’t quite believe.

If you had told me when I was 20 or 30 that I would still be acting at 80 on a show like [Grace and Frankie], I would have said, 'You're out of your mind.' I didn't think I'd live this long. Every day I get up, and I want to pinch myself. I feel very blessed," she said in an interview with American talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres.

Born in 1937 in New York City, Fonda belongs to a distinguished acting family. She's the daughter of the legendary actor Henry Fonda, sister of actor and director Peter Fonda, aunt to actress Bridget Fonda and mother to actor Troy Garity and documentary filmmaker Vanessa Vadim. Her career in Hollywood spans over five decades, and we've seen her evolve from wideeyed ingenue to socially conscious film star and producer. Millennials may be more familiar with her as Grace in the hit Netflix show, Grace and Frankie, but for legions of fans across the globe, she's known in several different capacities not limited to the big screen.

She became known worldwide as a sex symbol when she was cast in the erotic sci-fi film Barbarella (1968), directed by her then-husband Roger Vadim. She later reinvented herself when she was offered a part in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969). The movie defined her career, and her turn as a destructive young girl caught in the grip of the Great Depression earned her a reputation as a serious actress. Her spectacular performance was met with critical acclaim, and she was nominated for a Golden Globe and her first Oscar nomination. Even though she did not win that year, her roles in many of the socially conscious films that followed, captivated audiences around the world.

She has since had a total of seven Academy Award nominations and won the Best Actress category twice for her performances as Bree Daniels, a prostitute who helps solve a missing person investigation in Klute (1971) and as the wife of a Vietnam War soldier in Coming Home (1978). Her next film, 9 to 5 (1980), a comedy starring Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton, played a huge role in redefining perceptions of working women and remains relevant to this day nearly 40 years on.

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“On one level, I hate the fact that I’ve had the need to alter myself physically to feel that I’m OK. I wish I wasn’t like that. I love older faces. I love lived-in faces. I love Vanessa Redgrave’s face, I wish I was braver.

But I am what I am.”

In the 1970s, she became known for her political activism and carved herself as a woman willing to fight for injustice to give her life meaning – but not without controversy.

During her infamous visit to North Vietnam in 1972, she drew bitter criticism from Americans and was nicknamed ‘Hanoi Jane’ after a photograph emerged of her sitting on an antiaircraft gun.

Fonda made many public apologies and shouldered the blame. “The buck stops here. If I was used, I allowed it to happen,” she wrote 30 years later in her 2005 memoir, My Life So Far. “But the photo exists, delivering its message regardless of what I was doing or feeling. I carry this heavy in my heart.”

at the rare intersection of celebrity and fierce intelligence,” British Vogue declared.

An octogenarian in demand, the fashion magazine chose her to be the cover of their ‘Non-Issue’ issue, a special edition produced in partnership with L’Oreal Paris that was out in May 2019. The supplement was an “important project” for British Vogue as it took a stance against age discrimination in the fashion industry and aimed to make women over 50 more visible in the media. Fonda was proud to join forces with their editor-in-chief, Edward Enniful, calling on the world to take notice of older women. “It’s important to understand that older women are the fastest growing demographic in the whole world. It’s time to recognize our value,” she said.

Her most famous reinvention came in the In her candid interview with Vogue, Fonda 1980s when she was 45 years old - and it opens up about her recent health problems. caught everyone by surprise. Fonda released “I’ve had a lot of cancer,” she said. “I was a sunan exercise video - Jane Fonda’s Workout, for worshipper. When I have a day off, I frequently women to be able to have a quality workout on go to my skin doctor and have things cut off me their own terms in the privacy of their own by a surgeon.” homes. And it did exactly that. Seventeen She recalled her appearance at the 2016 million copies later, Fonda inspired a Golden Globes where she was nominated for generation of women, sparked an exercise Best Supporting Actress in Youth. craze and helped turn leotards and legwarmers While she looked every inch luminous with her into fashion. It became one of the highestdistinctive Yves Saint Laurent Couture dress, selling exercise videos of all time, although she reveals that her gown served a purpose unknown to many, it was created as a means to beyond looking stylish. fund a new left political organisation by her “I get out of the car, and I have the strange then second husband, Tom Hayden. white dress with all the ruffles? That’s because “Whatever the era, whatever her age, Fonda I’d just had a mastectomy and I had to cover my has set the zeitgeist. Why? Well, firstly, she sits bandages,” www.thefrankmagazine.com

She said. When she was asked what her diagnosis is now, Fonda replied, "it's an ongoing process.

So there's that."

Despite her battles with cancer, living with osteoarthritis and having both a knee and hip replacement, Fonda is still just as glowing and energetic as she was 50 years ago. And sure, her cosmetic surgeries may have had a part to play for her youthful looks which she has been equally candid about – and famously claimed that it bought her a decade.

Fonda revealed that she got plastic surgery around her eyes and jawline because she "got tired of looking tired" when she wasn't.

Nevertheless, she says she wishes she could have aged the natural way and she feels terrible about wanting to get work done in the first place. "On one level, I hate the fact that I've needed to alter myself physically to feel that I'm OK. I wish I weren't like that. I love older faces. I love livedin face. I love Vanessa Redgrave's face," she confessed in a documentary that pulled the curtain on her remarkable life. "I wish I was braver.

But I am what I am." Directed by Susan Lacy, Jane Fonda in Five Acts sees a 360-degree portrait of a cultural icon. Fonda narrates her story with a series of on-camera interviews and also features chats with co-stars Robert Redford and Lily Tomlin; her son Troy Garity, stepdaughter Nathalie Vadim, and her adopted daughter Mary 'Lulu' Williams; best friend and producer Paula Weinstein; two of her ex-husbands, Tom Hayden and Ted Turner; plus, fascinating archival footage from every era of her life.

The film is gripping from the very beginning as it starts with audio of the then-President, Richard Nixon in 1971 asking, "what in the world is the matter with Jane Fonda?" at a time when she was actively protesting against the Vietnam war. "I feel so sorry for Henry Fonda, who's a nice man.

She's a great actress. She looks pretty. But boy, she's often on the wrong track."

His chauvinistic comments set the tone for the first four of the five acts where her life was dominated by the men in her life. She opens up about the pain when her socialite mother, Francis Seymour, committed suicide when she was only 12 years old, her father's emotional unavailability and how desperate she was to please him, the ex-husbands who defined her younger years and the political activism that invigorated her spirit – holding nothing back.

Fonda speaks candidly on the profound effect her father; Henry Fonda had on her – arguably the one man who defined her the most. "He was a hero to so many people, but these kinds of men aren't always good fathers. It's hard to be both," she says.

She recalled how he would continuously critique her body, and as a result, she became afflicted with an eating disorder while at boarding school.

"You know, one of the things about bulimia is that it's a disease of denial. It takes a lot of deception.

You're very tired, and you're, and you're very selfhating," she explains.

The last of the fifth act belongs to Fonda alone when she left her third tycoon husband, Ted Turner. She says that this was a significant turning point in her life and that she's finally come to the realisation of who she is supposed to be – and that is, a brave new Jane without a man to define her. A woman who's discovered her own power and ability to raise the voice that she held back while married to three very different, yet highly visible men.

“I cannot be in a relationship with a man it is my only failing. I realise I can never over come it. When I'm with a man I lose myself,” "None of my marriages were democratic because I had to be a certain way," Fonda admits. I had to look a certain way. " It's the reason why now, she embraces her time alone and reflects on feeling whole without a man.

"I cannot be in a relationship with a man; it is my only failing. I realise I can never over come it.

When I'm with a man I lose myself," she shared more recently.

For half a century, Fonda has challenged perceptions and is a woman who is unafraid of extremes. It's the reason why her name resonates with generations of women and would come to no surprise if she one day reveals a 'sixth act.'

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I N F L U E N C E R

,

What would Brene Brown do? ''Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.''

- Marcel Proust

Wendy Euler speaks to many women on her blog www.goodbyecroptop. She champions the mature woman with her motto ''50 is the new 50. Make the rest the best.''

www.thefrankmagazine.com

Last month I met a new acquaintance for lunch.

As we made our way to the table, she scolded a mutual friend. Once we were seated, she was rude to the waitress. “I do not want ice in my water. Please bring me a new one.” When the waitress brought our salads, “I asked for dressing on the side.” Then, “The wine list says this cab is robust. Well, it’s not.”

My colleague introduced us a couple of weeks before when we were seated together at a business lunch. My new acquaintance mumbled and complained about the speaker during the presentation. I was suspicious about seeing her again, but I thought she might be reaching out for help.

But on our lunch outing, she met me in worse form. I was asking myself, is it possible to have empathy for someone and choose not to have them in my life? What should I do?

Should I excuse myself and head to the ladies room to Google, “What would Brenè Brown do?”

Maybe I should walk away. But no, I’d made a choice to be there and I felt a responsibility to figure this out. So, when we finished our salads, I asked what was going on, if she needed to talk. She grimaced and asked me what I meant. Things went south, fast. We walked to our cars and made no plans to meet again. I was off the hook, thank you very much.

drag others down to make themselves look and feel better. I’m thinking about the old saying, a true friend is there for you when the going gets tough. I feel the guilt already. But this person was not my friend and quite likely will never be. I want to be empathetic, but I know I don’t have to like everyone.

I have a handful of close friends, including my husband. The others are people I can go to for anything — any time. They are my soul mates. I share my life with them in difficult times and good times. The older I get, the more I believe it’s likely there will never be more than a few close friends in my life. There’s no time or room for more.

I was with my first best friend during the last weeks of her life. She had grown wise while she suffered and died her slow death. One of the things she told me was, “Wendy, always hang-out with people who are smarter than you.” I believe she meant more than that. She meant no person is complete in themselves. No person has enough love or joy or patience or self-control, or smart, in themselves. The best of friends share.

I’m still thinking about what I will say to my unhappy lunch acquaintance if I see her again.

Perhaps if I want to help, I can establish boundaries about who I am not; her mother, her therapist, or her friend. I understand pity is not empathy.

I know people behave like this because they may be at a spiritual or emotional low, or And although I do not know exactly what Brenè maybe that’s just who they are. They choose to Brown would do, I do know when to walk away.

By Wendy Eular @goodbyecroptop

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I N T E R V I E W

Fru Tholstrup

Photography by Richard Braine

is a London-based art consultant with a deep knowledge of the contemporary global fine art market, advising collectors and international businesses on building museumquality art collections.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST REALISE THAT ART WAS YOUR PASSION? I grew up by the River Thames in Chelsea which in the past had lured Turner and Whistler to paint light and nocturnal paintings, when I saw their works I was so inspired that I knew art was to be my passion from an early age. Breathe in Chelsea, and you breathe Art History so I was very privileged and the impact was huge.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE BUSINESS? My late Father was a collector and an art dealer, so it was in my blood.

WHO WERE YOUR MENTORS? My Father early on and then at Sotheby's the legendary Chairman Melanie Clore. Melanie joined Sotheby's in 1981 as a graduate trainee and worked her way literally from the Front Desk to becoming Chairman having led the Impressionist & Modern Art Department since 1990, collecting many accolades along the way, including that of being the first female auctioneer to take an Evening Sale of Impressionist & Modern Art. In a somewhat all-male environment when I began my career at Sotheby's for the first time (I was there for 8 years and was then asked back 15 years later) Melanie was a total inspiration in every sense, her art historical knowledge and her leadership skills encouraged us all as young female creatives and when I came back to Sotheby's 15 years later she was the first person to come to my office and take me out to lunch.

WAS/IS THE BUSINESS MALE DOMINATED? The Art Business used to be a very male dominated arena, although there were certain key powerful women but the landscape is changing rapidly, more elite strong women are becoming confident and influencing and mentoring other women to do so.

YOU ARE A BIG CHAMPION OF FEMALE ARTISTS, TELL US HOW YOU BACK THEM? Having just had a hugely successful allfemale show, 21st Century Women, this brand has become recognised and genuinely strong, which is why I intend to drive it further. I am also in conversations with the visionary Deputy Mayor for Culture, Justine Simons who has begun a new directive called The Creative Land Trust which is an independent organisation that will attract public, philanthropic and social investment to acquire property for affordable creative workspaces in perpetuity. My part in this will be to enable predominantly female artists to remain in our city so that they can continue to innovate, and London can continue to thrive.

Photography by Richard Braine

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This June (27-30) I will be curating an exhibition for female ceramicist, Kate Braine in Chelsea alongside Masterpiece. ‘Tendril is the Night’ will be Braine’s first exhibition showing twodecades of her inspirational work that she is now ready to show the art world. ( Go to page 70 for more on Kate Braine).

I WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR ABOUT THE TATE AND THIER POLICY RE FEMALE ARTISTS AND HOW LITTLE OF THIER BUDGET IS EARMARKED FOR FEMALE PAINTERS? Yes, when you look at the stats it's quite shocking but Tate is certainly trying very hard to rectify this, but it won’t happen overnight, after all, there has been a disparity for many, many years and this problem has been the product of institutional structures. The most important thing is that this transparency will enable change.

“We need to ensure that women’s work is purchased, we need to continue to curate womenonly and feminist exhibitions as well as ones with gender parity.

Curators need to work harder, and become much more informed. Art collectors have the power to demand a broader selection than what they’re being offered by most gallerists so we need to educate them to buy the work of female artists.

Let’s not just talk about feminism, let’s live it and be proactive. “ Photography by Vianney le Caer for Roland Mouret

IS THE IMAGE OF THE MALE ARTIST AND HIS FEMALE MUSE HARD TO SHAKE FOR PEOPLE? I think it is ingrained in the generic art psyche and nothing can change that. Let’s not forget that Muses have been incredibly important throughout art history, inspiring artists to produce great works, but I think the question is, has this been at a cost to their liberation?

HOW DO FEMALE ARTISTS SURVIVE IN A WORLD THAT SEEMS RESISTANT TO THEIR WORK? New research from the Freelands Foundation has shown that although 66% of postgraduate arts students in 2017 were female, just under a third of artists represented by London’s major galleries were women. In 2017, only 22% of solo shows presented by major London non- commercial galleries were by women artists. Shockingly, this figure has decreased since 2016, which shows why it is more important than ever to champion female artists.

We need to ensure that women’s work is purchased, we need to continue to curate women-only and feminist exhibitions as well as ones with gender parity. Curators need to work harder and become much more informed. www.thefrankmagazine.com

Art collectors have the power to demand a broader selection than what , so we need to educate them to buy the work of female artists. Let’s not just talk about feminism, let’s live it and be proactive. Its survival of the fittest right now, whoever has another income it’s as simple as that.

It is imperative that women become speaking subjects rather than silent objects. Sexism is still so insidiously woven into the institutional fabric, language, and logic of the mainstream art world that it often goes undetected.

WHAT BIG CHANGES HAVE YOU SEEN IN THE ART WORLD SINCE YOU STARTED? Firstly the entire Art Calendar has become frenetic; global Art Fairs are almost weekly alongside a plethora of Auctions. Secondly, the Art Market is steadily improving for women at a faster pace in the last ten years than in the previous 50. Thirdly the internet and social media have made art accessible to the world, now that has to be an inspirational and seminal change.

Photography by Vianney le Caer for Roland Mouret

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I N T E R V I E W

KIMBERLY KLAUSS An emerging artist based in Munich and London. Kimberly's art is about the sometimes universal, sometimes specific experience of being a person. Her interests are in how accurately we're able to view ourselves and each other, and in confidence, empathy and trust. Kimberly's work uses formal elements and figuration to question our perceptions of people and their interactions.

Kimberly Klauss Red Self Portrait

When did you discover you had a gift for painting/ drawing?

I don’t know that I ever have, to be honest. I have always had an interest. My parents would give us these great presents, and after the initial excitement, I’d always return to the coloring books. Gift is a tricky one because I think nearly all children express themselves in painting and drawing to some degree, and some kids seem to lose that love once there’s a right way and a wrong way? I got lucky in that I always found it fun, no matter what. And my interest and joy in it was fostered, which in turn made it easier to get better at.

When I was applying for university, my art teacher tried to get me to take my artistic interests seriously and to go to art school. That should’ve been a moment of reckoning, but I don’t think I knew you could be alive and earn a living wage with art. I remember thinking I will be idealistic and starving, and ending up resenting this thing I love.

Does being creative run in your family?

It does! Everyone in my immediate family has artistic sensibilities. My dad has always been a drawer and used to hand design our family’s greeting cards. He also designed this incredibly dense poster mapping Tokyo’s sights. My mom is a decades-long quilter, and my sister runs her own graphic design business and has been returning to her art more recently too.

What has been your career path to get to this point?

It’s been a slow and meandering one, with lots of stations. I studied product design, twice, first at home in the U.S., and then again after I moved to Germany. www.thefrankmagazine.com

Kimberly Klauss Self Portrait

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That second stint took me nearly ten years! Finally, I was equipped to work in my field! But instead of working in product design, after all that time and parental debt, I got a job in art direction at an advertising agency. It’s when I moved to London in my late thirties that I finally decided to pursue art full-time. Up until then, I had always chosen to couch my creative interests in what I saw as pragmatic fields. I had always found time for some kind of art but never dared to try to make a living from it.

Tell us about your beautiful work, how do you create that feel?

Thank you! I paint with oil paint but very thinned. Typically you would use it more additively, with lots of layers and blending; it lends itself to that. And you’re often advised to work from dark to light because you can’t darken a color that has white or something light already in it. But I kind of draw with the paint, and move it around on the surface, as you would with pastel or charcoal, varying the pressure to get more or less transparency. And I work from light, or medium, to dark, and let the white of the surface act as its own color, which also comes from doing a lot of drawing, especially design drawing. Plus erasure plays a big part in how I paint. I am often taking the paint off. That’s like drawing too.

There is a lot said of your use of large brushstrokes, yet the work is still subtle. How do you achieve that?

Large brushes are great because they allow me to stay broad in my focus, especially in the beginning, and you can use all different parts of the brush too. I have these slanted brushes I use a lot. I can use the broadside, the slim side, and each of the tips, one of which might have more color and the other more thinner, which I’ll use to take the paint away. So a big brush might seem to be a coarse tool, but it can achieve quite a lot of delicacy on its own. Beyond that practicality, it also lets me yield some control, and be surprised by what the paint does. I know I’m going to go wrong when I am itching for a small brush too early.

I also often limit my palette, so I think some restraint comes in there. And as a person, well, I suspect some of that subtlety comes from parts of me that I can’t get away from.

I Love that baby wipes are an essential piece of kit. It really made me smile. How did you discover their use?

City Lit! I took a portraiture course, taught by Wendy Elia, and that was one of the tips she shared with us. Thank heavens.

When /how did you hear about SKY’s ‘Portrait artist of the year’?

The program aired for the first time right about when I had moved to the U.K. I watched it religiously and made everyone else watch it too. I thought it was brilliant from the start.

What were your feelings around it, did you have any hesitation about applying?

I started to think I could or would apply (illusions of grandeur!) but hadn’t lived in the U.K. long enough to be eligible. The year that I was, Sky aired the landscape format instead, so I was very ready and excited by the time the application process for Portrait Artist of the Year rolled around!

By then I had learned that applying for (end getting rejections from) open calls and juried shows was one way to get your work seen, and especially important if like me, you were at the beginning of your art practice. That made it feel less intimidating—it was one of the many opportunities I was applying for, and hoping for but not expecting a yes. www.thefrankmagazine.com

What was the process of application?

All entrants applied with a recent self-portrait, and I believe two other supporting works. That was it which is fantastic. There were no “casting,” no screen tests, no interviews before being accepted based on the quality of your work.

You must have been thrilled to have been accepted, were you confident you would?

I was sooooooooo thrilled! I got the call while I was on the bus, and I remember hobbling off in disbelief, making sure I heard things correctly. I felt good about the painting I submitted, it was the best one I had made to date, but I had had no illusions.

Winning the first round must have been fantastic? What was the experience of painting under the scrutiny of lights and cameras?

It was unreal. It was like walking into the TV. Being on the inside of what you’ve only seen from the outside is truly weird. It felt strangely familiar. My parents were there from the U.S., and we’d missed out on sharing so many of life’s big moments together, so that was really special. I was surprised how into all the excitement I was – it was a good kind of discomfort, a now-ornever feeling. I loved it.

Did the paint behave differently to being in your studio? Were there any surprises?

Most surprising I think was the thing that is great about painting, or any kind of creative work: you can still find focus and be lost in it, even amongst all the hubbub. It is a kind of thinking and processing, the doing of it, and so you settle into it, even though you’re having one of the most unusual days of your life.

One part that was much harder than in my studio was capturing a likeness. You do need a lot of concentration to ”see” correctly, and when that much adrenaline is coursing through your body for that long, it’s hard to find the right kind of quiet to do that, at least for me. And there isn’t really time to course-correct so staying loose and unafraid as the clock ticks; it’s intense.

How important has your appearance on the show been to you personally and professionally?

It has been huge.

Prior I was almost apologetic about my art, a little sheepish. As if I was being permitted a fancy until I was ready to face real life again. That’s how I talked about it to friends and family. My participation equipped me with something tangible to show others and myself that I wasn’t crazy to try to do this. Having such renowned people whose artistic opinions I value – Kate Bryan, Kathleen Soriano, Tai Shan Schierenberg – look at my work and see something worthwhile?! I was very honored. It let me know I was making a least some good choices.

Professionally it has made all the difference as well. I had only just started my art practice, so my paintings were known to me, my family and my studio mates mostly. The show has an extensive viewership so suddenly there was a lot more exposure, and that has led to new opportunities I would not have had otherwise. It jump-started everything. I am fortunate and very grateful.

There is no guarantee you can sustain an art practice, so there’s a genuine possibility I would still be apologising for trying to, or I would have had to give it up by now.

I also met a lot of wonderful people through the show, and I keep in touch with some of them even now. You can’t discount this. Art can be very solitary; art friends are really important.

It’s changed my life. www.thefrankmagazine.com

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"Prior to portrait artist of the year, I was almost apologetic about my art, a little sheepish. As if I was being permitted a fancy until I was ready to face real life again. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how I talked about it to friends and family.

My participation equipped me with something tangible to show others and myself that I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t crazy to try to do this.''

I gots tah be a part of it ~ Lisa B Vabaza www.thefrankmagazine.com

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We talk to Fru Tholstrup in this issue about female artists and how they battle to be funded and be seen. What is your experience if any of this?

I am fortunate enough to still be early enough in my career to not yet be able to recount any specific personal experiences on this front, but as someone attuned to the art that is being made, seen and purchased, I know about these very real challenges. And I can say that most of my support has come from other women working in the arts.

How do you feel being compared to the other artists such as Alice Need and Elaine de Kooning? *blushes* Let’s not be crazy! No seriously, it makes me feel like I have to hurry up. It makes my stomach turn with urgency. If I am ever going to earn that compliment, there is a lot of work to do, and you can’t get to that work unless you do the job so…

When do you feel you are at your most creative?

Within the first hour or two of a new painting. I love a blank canvas; I love the start. I am totally uninhibited and feel the most confidence then.

Do you paint every day? Where do you paint? What is your routine if any?

I’ve recently set up a studio space in Germany, and I’ve been traveling back and forth to London, and that’s taken quite a lot of time away from painting. I’d say at the moment it’s more like two to three days a week. It’s not nearly enough.

I like to get in first thing in the morning, which means I wake up between 7 and 8 and wonder how it can be that I only make it to the studio by 11. Then I sit and stare, and eat, and sometimes I write.

I have been changing the way I make paintings in an effort to be more productive, so I have been experimenting with that. I used to try to keep the paint wet throughout and finish them relatively quickly, but I spent a lot of time ruining paintings, especially at the latter stages, as the stakes got higher. It was very impractical, but now and again you could get it just right. Anyway, I’ve been trying to adapt to painting in layers. It’s nice because I have more choice once I finish my sitting and staring, I have several paintings at different stages, and I can dial into whatever suits me on that day. Then I always forget to leave and end up scrambling home too late and very hungry.

Large brushes are great because they allow me to stay broad in my focus, especially in the beginning, and you can use all different parts of the brush too. I have these slanted brushes I use a lot. I can use the broad side, the slim side, and each of the tips, one of which might have more color and the other more thinner, which I’ll use to take paint away. So a big brush might seem to be a coarse tool, but it can achieve quite a lot of delicacy on its own.

www.thefrankmagazine.com

How do you wind down? Can you forget about a piece you are working on ever? Can you ever switch off from it?

It depends. In general, I am a person who is where she is, so I am not great at shifting gears, but when I do, I’m all in. The transitions can be tough. I definitely have those non-sensical half-dreams of circular logic where I think I am solving a painting problem, but it’s just humbug. And some paintings I’ve repainted and repainted. I’m in a cycle like that right now. When I am dissatisfied with a painting, that’s the hardest, or when I cannot evaluate it yet, then I have a really hard time switching off. But once I do, it’s off. I find the best way to get some distance from the work, and from myself, is to do something physical. I almost never do that, though! I’ll drink wine and think about how great it would be to do something physical.

Whose work are you a huge fan of, historically speaking and the more current artists and why?

There are so so so many artists whose work I love. Right now, a lot of the artists I am quick to think of doing something that relates to questions I am trying to answer in my work.

Of course, I love Alice Neel. I look at her paintings so often. There is a seeming lack of affectation & self-consciousness in her work that makes it look inevitable, as if every mark was always going to be, and still going to be just that way. There are unusual choices that make complete sense inside the paintings, and things aren’t still “right” but are just right. I like that they are a witness of her time and life and that there is a force in that kind of record-keeping. I also love Sigmar Polke, who has this vast range of different types of work, and a sense of humor. He was pretty irreverent.

Because of the long time I’ve spent in Germany I like his artistic jokes. The scale and breadth of his explorations are humbling, and they are so beautiful. I especially love the works he’s done on cheap bedding fabric and on transparent surfaces.

The first two current artists that come to mind are Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, whose work literally makes me feel like I am going to burst, and Chantal Joffe. Then the list becomes never-ending; there is so much amazing work that comes to mind. Yiadom-Boakye is my contemporary, and one of the many amazing black figurative artists currently getting due acclaim (among others Jennifer Packer, Kerry James Marshall, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Devan Shimoyama), so I find not only her work phenomenal, but knowing she and her paintings are in the world also helps me thrive. Her life-sized paintings are of imaginary people. Usually, black men and they are specific and also elusive and sumptuous. They’re also about paint and painting itself. They’re actually very formal, and cerebral. If I could die and come back as one of her paintings, I would.

Chantal Joffe’s paintings hit me in my gut the same way Alice Neel’s paintings do. She too is painting the life around her, and you have to be such a sharp and no-nonsense observer to be able to distill such universality while your own subjectivity is so on display. They’re seemingly zero neutrality in her observation. I love that. Her paintings make me want to get to know her.

Have you any events coming up that we should know about?

I have a residency coming up this October that I cannot wait for, at Villa Lena, in Tuscany. In Tuscany!

There will be people from all kinds of creative backgrounds, not just the visual arts, so I am excited to see the ways the place and the other residents will make their mark and the work that results from my time there. It’s remote and lush. I think it’s going to be a perfect environment to paint.

@kimberly_klauss www.thefrankmagazine.com

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M O T O R I N G

Seven years, Twenty countries, No plan With Jacqui Furneaux ''When I met Jacqui Furneaux at an Adventure Overland show recently where, compete with her trusty Enfield motorcycle beside her, I learnt that she had just returned from her latest travels on the said bike, but the adventure began in India where she would take over seven years to return to Bristol, I was most intrigued.''

by Photojournalist Lara Platman

Mrs Christian Miller, a well-established lady bought a fold-up bicycle, a tent and a saddle bag and cycled 4,500 miles across America just after WW2, whilst earlier Mrs Edith Fraser Benn, in 1901, rode side saddle from India to Persia, a 600 mile camel ride with her whole household along with a Fox Terrier. From intrepid travelers such Amy Johnson, the Aviatrix of Hull to FJ Erskine who, in 1888 began writing books for ladies who wished to be women ‘awheel’ swerving themselves around Europe and far beyond, writing tips and ideas of survival and amusement.

Perhaps the most famous of all these wayward women (in the two-wheel world), is Peggy Iris Thomas – otherwise known as Gasoline Gypsy, along with Oppie the motorcycle, Matelot the Airedale and Peggy, they sniffed their way around 14,000 miles of the United States, Mexico, and Canada. She went on to compile her diary into a book entitled ‘A Ride in the Sun.’ Back in print after 60 years, the rise of the intrepid traveler is firmly in vogue. “There is a touch of a vagabond in all of us,” said Peggy.

Whilst many travelers today have taken on the ‘Van Life’ trend (even my parents went off for one year in their motorhome and returned after twelve, having seen most of Europe from the comfort of their own pace cocooned of their immediate necessities, returning purely for family duties), caravans, vans and motorhomes may seem to be hindrance for the true open road to freedom.

When I met Jacqui Furneaux at an Adventure Overland show recently where compete with her trusty Enfield motorcycle beside her, I learned that she had just returned from her latest travels on the said bike, but the adventure began in India where she would take over seven years to return to Bristol, I was most intrigued, not because of her being a woman, but simply because of today’s political climates in the countries of which she ventured into for her journey home and for me, my automatic thought is always “My camera kit takes up so much luggage how would I cope?” www.thefrankmagazine.com

Her latest travels in Australia, over six months, a place where she returned to after learning a friend was there on his Enfield motorcycle, she thought it would be jolly fun to join him, seems a breeze compared to some of the stories she tells on her long seven-year journey, after all, Jacqui is now a well-hardened traveler and is accustomed to anything that might get thrown at her.

“I went to the Furneaux Islands in Tasmania to see what I could find about my ancestry,” she tells me, “Captain Cook who circumnavigated the area back in the 18th Century, had a sister ship captained by Tobias Furneaux, who didn’t actually set foot on the Islands but reported back to Cook that they were there.

Cook was so impressed he named the set of Islands after Furneaux. I had a good rummage around in the museum to see if I could be related, but as yet have not found any evidence. It’s a great reason to return.”

Jacqui tells me that her favorite thing to do while on the road is to simply look at the world around her, off the beaten track on lanes, seeing flora and fauna, which made the decision to return to Australia to accompany her friend all the more easy to decide upon.

Keeping in mind that women have been traveling on their own for centuries, I still needed to ask the most poignant question.

How did you manage, did you feel safe – in today’s climate - as a woman?

Immediately Jacqui responds, “Well, I didn’t have any concerns as a woman. Because I don’t think of myself as a woman. I am a person riding a motorbike.”

stories of people hell-bent on harming us, but I didn’t experience this at all, you keep yourself aware of your new and unknown surroundings, whatever perils awaited us we set off to meet our fate.”

“It is an interesting question though,” she begins, “in some places, I raised an eyebrow in Pakistan, in Pakistan you wouldn’t be a woman traveling on your own, let alone on your own on a motorbike.

It is true; cultural changes occur all the time. It is apparent when you travel to a different culture. “Knowledge of the location and understanding and researching where you visit help,” she concludes.

Smiling, Jacqui reminisces about another encounter, “I was at the side of the road on my own in India with spanners in my hand happily fixing the bike, and a chap came by and took the spanners from me and offered to help, I said, oh thank you, but I can do this myself” she explains.

And how is Jacqui with mechanics and selfsufficiency and looking after the bike?

“Well I had my first bike when I was in my twenties, a modern thing a Honda 50 or something, always took it to the garage to get serviced and ready for the season ahead, and I only really got on a bike because the summer was so hot my husband thought it would be a good idea to go for a ride on a bike to cool down, which I did and I was hooked on bikes, but never serviced them and although now I can understand what is wrong with it and fix minor roadside emergencies, I still take it to the garage to get serviced, but at least now I know what is wrong and can get it working.”

Jacqui had not intended to buy the Enfield in 2000 (a fully manual bike without all the modern additions, it has drum brakes without a gear indicator for example, and one major element to start the motorcycle one must kick start it, it has no electronic ignition), but after a backpacking holiday to Indonesia after she split up with her husband, she met a Dutchman who had an Enfield motorcycle and invited her to travel with him. So in India she bought the bike she rides today, and they both set off.

While Jacqui goes into great detail about this in her book, ‘Hit the Road Jac’ where, she writes, “Where does fear come from? Is it inbred, or do we learn it?” She tells me that her career as a nurse along with working with many different cultures in Stoke on Trent as a Health Visitor, she already began to see how to respect and appreciate the complexities of each community, that assisted her when she visited countries of similar and different cultures.

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“I have had this bike for nineteen years now, I know everything about it.”

Did it really take the dropping of the bike to realise that?

I mention that I think it is huge, especially as Jacqui is small in frame how does she physically manage it?

“For when I dropped my motorbike, I felt humiliated and thought I was the only one to do such a thing.”

“It is an Enfield not a Royal Enfield, in 2000 they didn’t have the rights to use the Royal part not that it being a Royal charter or anything but it is the same as a Royal Enfield, it’s 168kg along with the crash bars and luggage racks so a little heavier, but the weight ratio is low, so it is easy to manage, and I can touch the ground with my feet.

“It was such an exciting moment,” she continues, “exciting as it was the moment when I realised I was truly self-sufficient and self-reliant, for the first time in my motherhood and career, it was a revelation to be responsible for a motorbike and myself.”

You learn with confidence and the day that I started traveling on my own when my Dutch friend had gone his own way; I realised that my life was now totally up to me, I dropped the bike at some point soon after and had to pick it up. It was then I realised that I could achieve anything, pushing the bike up with my legs and not my back, letting it lean-to on the crash bars and luggage racks, I got the bike up, and the revelation hit me, I can do anything.” www.thefrankmagazine.com

Jacqui Furneaux

photos by Lara Platman

Speed, freedom and breeze, all those things with the Enfield is a joy, Jacqui tells me, it isn’t the speed it’s not a fast bike, but this ‘wayward woman’ isn’t about getting to places on a schedule and even today fitting back into a civilised society she finds a task. Staying with her daughter and getting to re-know her family after seven years apart shows how the lives of each have moved at such different paces and for different needs. Jacqui although loving her family very much didn’t feel drawn to coming back – and only did so for important occasions, her stories of travel kept daily in her journal were a far off interest to those living in the ‘real’ world. The language barriers that she found in Indonesia, I read from her book, are not too dissimilar to the cultural barriers she discovered on returning to the UK after such a period of time.

I leave Jacqui by asking what advice she would give to her 20 year old self.

“Do exactly what you did.” She relishes, “everything has led to this time. If I had changed anything I may not be this happy.”

On advice to someone who wants to travel on a motorcycle?

“Definitely do it. If it’s possible and it’s the right time. Do it and go for it. Don’t hesitate as there is nothing to be afraid of. I was braver, I think coming back and trying to settle down. Yes. Do it.

Go and just wallow in it and you can always come back.”

‘Hit the Road Jac’ by Jacqui Furneaux is published by Shuvvy Press and is available for sale.

Jacqui can be found on Instagram @jacqui.furneaux

Lara Platman is a keen motorcyclist, holds a motor racing license and is about to embark on a small adventure in her own 1964 Series2 Land Rover which she fully restored. Lara can be found on Twitter @photofeature and Instagram @photo.feature www.thefrankmagazine.com

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T O D O L I S T

COOK SHOP TRAVEL STAY

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DALE PIN The Medicinal Chef @themedicinalchef AAhh, the humble courgette. This seemingly innocuous ingredient seems to make its way into a vast amount of my cooking. These little gems often get overlooked, but I love them for several reasons. Firstly, they are an excellent fibre source, which supports digestive transit, the growth, and flourishing of gut flora, and the health of the cardiovascular system. Secondly, this is a pretty nutrientdense vegetable. Good amounts of beta carotene 9the plant source of vitamin A), potassium, and magnesium. Finally, for me, they are incredibly versatile as an ingredient.

Simply slice them. You can stuff them, use them as an alternative to pasta in dishes like lasagne, or roll them up like cannelloni with different fillings.

Steak With Mashed Peas, Green Beans and Courgettes Serves 2 2 sirloin steaks 200g of garden peas 100g of green beans 1 large courgette â&#x20AC;&#x201C; cut into rounds 100g of feta cheese Place the peas into a saucepan and cover with boiling water, and simmer until they soften.

Saute the courgettes and green beans in a little olive oil until the courgettes soften, and the green beans have turned a brighter green, softened slightly but still retain bite.

Cook the steak according to your preferences.

Mash the peas and then combine them with the beans and courgette. Crumble in the feta, season with some black pepper, and toss well. www.thefrankmagazine.com

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Courgette Topped Baked Pilaf 3-4 large courgettes 1 large red onion - peeled, halved, sliced thinly 2 cloves of garlic - finely chopped 150g of brown rice 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 8 dried apricots 3 tablespoons cashew nuts 500ml vegetable stock 3 handfuls baby spinach Sea salt & black pepper

Preheat the oven to 150°C Heat a little oil in a large frying pan and fry the long courgette (zucchini) slices until soft and completely malleable. Season well and set aside.

Heat a little oil in a separate pan, add the onion and garlic and sautĂŠ until soft. Add the rice, cinnamon, apricots, cashews and half the vegetable stock, and allow to simmer until the rice is cooked. Keep topping up with stock if it begins to dry out before the rice is cooked. Just before the rice is cooked, add the spinach and allow to wilt. You want it to cook to the point where the rice is soft and fully cooked, but there is no noticeable liquid left in the pan.

Use the cooked courgette slices to line the base and sides of a small, round baking or casserole dish, so that the slices overhang the edge of the dish. Spoon the rice mixture into the courgettelined dish, press down to pack it in, and fold any overhanging courgette slices back over the top to cover.

Bake for about 25 minutes, then remove from the oven. Place a tray over the top of the dish, and flip it over. Gently pull the dish off and slice like a cake to serve.

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Roasted vegetables with White bean Mash 4 peppers - cut into long wide strips 2 courgettes - cut into 2.5cm chunks 2 cloves of garlic - finely chopped 400g can cannelloni beans - drained 400g can of butter beans - drained Small handful fresh coriander - roughly chopped Juice of half a lemon Salt & pepper

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Put the peppers and courgettes in a roasting tin, drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and add half the crushed garlic. Stir well. Roast in the oven for about 15–20 minutes, or until soft.

Meanwhile, heat a little olive oil in a pan, add the remaining garlic and cook gently for 1–2 minutes, until it begins to turn fragrant. Add the drained beans and stir well.

Mash the bean mixture in the same way you would mash potatoes, using a hand-held masher.

Instead of adding milk and butter like in a traditional mash, add a little extra-virgin olive oil to give it a creamy texture.

Stir in the chopped coriander and the lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper. Serve the roasted vegetables and bean mash with a mixed leaf salad.

Anxiety & Depression: Eat Your Way to Better Health by Dale Pinnock (Quadrille, £14.99) Photography © Martin Poole The Medicinal Chef: How to Cook Healthily by Dale Pinnock (Quadrille, £20) Photography © Issy Croker The Medicinal Chef by Dale Pinnock (Quadrille, £18.99) Photography © Martin Poole

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T R A V E L

The UK’s most romantic hotels A romantic staycation is not necessarily exclusive to Valentine’s Day or a special occasion.

Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, Oxfordshire The perfect destination for foodies! Often described as Oxfordshire heritage meets French flair, the Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons is one of the country's most cherished manor house hotels. The accommodation is both sumptuous and cosy in equal measure and the food – exquisite! Top Tip – If you are looking to channel your own Raymond Blanc, why not sign up for one of the cookery courses where you can create phenomenal cuisine in a fun, relaxed setting.

Lime Wood, New Forest Set in the heart of the stunning New Forest National Park, the Lime Wood is laid-back luxury at its best. Celebrated chefs Angela Hartnett and Luke Holder do the cooking, pulling together both of their much-admired signature styles, to create Hartnett Holder & Co, the hotels relaxed Italian restaurant. Top Tip – Why not pay a visit to the Herb House Spa you can do yoga on the roof in an herb garden, revive together in double treatment rooms and take in the forest views from the massive sauna. www.thefrankmagazine.com

Top tip – Check out their Champagne Dormy House, Cotswolds Nail Bar by Veuve Clicquot and the bespoke treatment using locally-sourced Cotswold lavender. With a chic spa, this 17th Century converted farmhouse is one of

the finest boutique hotels in England. This peaceful rural bolthole offers oodles of character, impeccable service and great food and is an ideal retreat for a long weekend away.

Stoke Park, Buckinghamshire This 18th century mansion house has more of a feel of a private country club. All the bedrooms and suites are individually designed with most having breath-taking views of the 300-acre estate. There’s a superb spa and exceptional restaurant, run by head chef Chris Wheeler. Top Tip – Enjoy a game of golf on one of the finest parkland courses in the country. This 27-hole championship course also offers exceptional practice facilities too.

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Gidleigh Park, Devon Set in 107 acres of woodland and garden on the upper reaches of the River Teign, Gidleigh Park offers an air of tranquillity and romance within a Tudor-style country house. All individual in style and design, they feature the most stunning bathrooms, wet rooms and spa suites that inspire a true sense of indulgence. Top Tip - At the heart of the hotel is the two Michelin-starred restaurant, an intimate dining area with magnificent views across the hotel’s beautiful gardens.

Haven Hall, Isle of Wight With guests such as Colin Firth and Peter Crouch enjoying the spectacular seaside views at the Haven Hall hotel on the Isle of Wight, it is easy to see why this is one of the most popular places to stay on the Island. Each of the rooms has been carefully individually designed by the owners.

Our favourite room is the delightful ‘Seagulls’ suite which has a real quirky and quaint feel with its own porthole. Top Tip – Why not hire the entire house for an exclusive-use getaway? You can take advantage of the incredible views, graceful grounds and elegant interiors with your friends and family. www.thefrankmagazine.com

Lympstone Manor, Devon This Grade II listed Georgian mansion is set in 28 acres with unrivalled views overlooking the Exe Estuary is steeped in history. With Michael Caines, one of Britain’s most celebrated and best-known chefs at the helm, it is no surprise that exceptional cuisine and wine lies at the heart of the experience. Top Tip - There is nowhere more special than Lympstone Manor to enjoy the full Devon afternoon tea experience. Enjoy freshly made sandwiches; scones just out of the oven to be spread with thick Devon clotted cream, local jams and preserves washed down with a glass of English sparkling wine.

Lakes by Yoo, Cotswolds

Top Tip – Don’t leave the Lakes without paying a visit to the luxurious spa, The Orchard and taking a dip in the glorious 17-meter heated pool with panoramic views of Clear Water Lake.

With interiors designed by Kate Moss, Elle MacPherson, Jade Jagger, Kelly Hoppen and Phillipe Starck. Our favourites have to be the glorious ‘Barn House’ which was designed by Ms Moss herself and the ‘Pool House’ which is the first ever UK holiday home to feature a heated rooftop pool.

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For all your stationary lovers we bring you the all-important notebook. Here are Frank's fun and fresh favourites to inspire all your scribbles.

SMTHSON THE MARA COLLECTION Soho Notebook ÂŁ195 The Soho notebook is handcrafted in England from the finest leather and contains 192 leaves of Smythson's signature gilt-edged, pale blue featherweight paper. Practical and luxurious, this mid-size notebook transitions effortlessly from your desk to your bag. www.smythson.com

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Mulberry Small Classic Grain Leather Postman's Lock Notebook Cover, Sorbet Pink ÂŁ250.00 Part of our iconic Planner and Agenda range, the Postman's Lock Notebook Cover is a smart and timeless leather casing for a simple A5 notebook, featuring our iconic Postman's Lock closure.

Inside there's four credit card slots, a slip pocket and it comes complete with One A5 Mulberry notebook. www.johnlewis.com

NOI Naked Ladies Lined Notebook ÂŁ11.95 Let it all hang out with this delightful lined notebook from Noi. With its joyful design and practical size, this notebook is perfect for doodlers and diarists. It has 160 lined interior pages, with a gold-toned elastic closure and a sturdy ring-bound spine. Give the notebook as a gift to a keen scribbler, or keep it to record your own brightest thoughts and ideas. www.libertylondon.com

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KATE SPADE NEW YORK Stripe Notepad Folio £36.00 Keep your thoughts organised with this delightful Stripe notepad folio from Kate Spade.

With its leatherette cover and perfectly laid out inner spread, this notepad is the perfect spot to jot down everything from to-do lists to start-up ideas. The eye-catching striped exterior is finished with an elasticated loop, to keep papers safe and secure within. It features lined interior pages and an interior pocket – slip it into your bag or keep it handy on your desk to grab whenever inspiration strikes.

ARK Careful Or You’ll End Up In My Novel A5 Notebook £15.00 Give your favourite aspiring writer a place to scribble all their bright ideas, with this notebook designed by Ark. Its leather cover is embossed with the phrase ‘Careful Or You’ll End Up In My Novel’, making it the ideal tongue-in-cheek gift. www.libertylondon.com

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Nikki Strange Cosmic Carp A5 Notebook with lined pages ÂŁ4.99 This design features majestic koi carp,fish that are synonymous with persistence, fortune and determination. Inspired by oriental Japanese paintings and Nikki's love of kimonos, this design sees koi carp swimming in rippling dark blue water.

Record your adventures, plan your dreams and keepsake your ideas in this beautifully printed A5 notebook. www.nikkistrange.co.uk

Dolce & Gabbana Medium Carretto Princess ÂŁ51.95 Boldly patterned with regal motifs, the notebook from Dolce & Gabbana depicts the Teatro dei Pupi - the puppet theatre - a marionette theatrical representation of Frankish romantic poems. Rich in character and signature dramatic glamour, this notebook is made in the label's native Italy. www.harrods.com

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S H O P G A D G E T S

THE FACE GADGETS Skincare has truly evolved beyond the Oil of Olay days Here are six of the latest innovations in beauty gadgetry!...

Jillian Dempsey Gold Sculpting Bar The Jillian Dempsey Gold Sculpting Bar, aka this sleek-as-hell T-shaped contraption, could be your skin's new best friend. Comprised of 24-karat gold, the Japanese-inspired device works by lifting and sculpting the skin with a series of vibrations meant to mimic the effects of a professional massage. By stimulating circulation and allowing the soothing vibrations to relax the facial muscles, tension is alleviated and the skin appears smoother and tighter.

Price: £185 Crystal Contour Gua Sha Rose Quartz Beauty Tool The Gua Sha facial massage is an ancient beauty ritual known for its ability to breathe new life into the skin.

Used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine, this effective treatment will smooth away the appearance of wrinkles and help to visibly firm the facial contours while awakening skin’s natural glow.

When used around the eyes, it helps reduce the look of dark circles and puffiness.

The Crystal Contour is hand carved specially for the face, making your Gua Sha facial massage ultra-effective. Exceptional quality Rose Quartz makes this treatment even more luxurious and high vibrational.

Price: £40 NUFACE Mini Facial Toning Device Treat skin to a five-minute facial lift with NuFACE Mini Facial Toning Device, a portable skincare solution that delicately but effectively stimulates larger surface areas of the face to improve the appearance and suppleness of skin.

Harnessing microcurrent technology, the hottest innovation in the anti-ageing industry, NuFACE Mini Facial Toning Device is perfect for those seeking to lift jowls, contour jawlines, reduce folds and wrinkles, and smooth complexion.

Price: £167.00 www.thefrankmagazine.com

Dr Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite™ FaceWare Pro In just 3 minutes this FDA CLEARED, LED device smooths wrinkles and zaps acnecausing bacteria—hands-free! Inspired by Dr. Gross’s professional in-office lasers, this medical grade mask harnesses a full spectrum of therapeutic red and blue light. Experience a fading of wrinkles in as early as 2 weeks and begin seeing an improvement in acne within days.

Price: £430.00

IRIS Illuminating Eye Massager The first place stress, tiredness and ageing makes their mark is your eyes, yet this area is delicate and requires specialised care. That’s where the FOREO IRIS™ comes in. Its soothing Alternating T-Sonic™ technology gently fades the signs of ageing and fatigue, leaving you with eyes that look strikingly smooth, fresh and youthful.

Price: £119.00

KAT BURKI Micro-Firming Wand Enhance the effects of anti-ageing ingredients with Kat Burki MicroFirming Wand. This innovative beauty accessory increases the penetration of skin products.

Kat Burki Micro-Firming Wand uses micro-vibration and iontophoresis to increase the absorption of active anti-ageing nutrients into the skin as well as increasing micro-circulation. With a lightweight design and no cord, it is easy to carry for radiant skin on the go. By increasing the penetration of skin products, it helps to reduce the visible signs of ageing, such as wrinkles and fine lines.

Price : £82.00

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W H A T

T O

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E X H I B I T I O N

Kate Braine Artist and Potter To Exhibit Twenty-Years of Work In Her Chelsea Studio Home

‘Tendril Is The Night’ This June 27-30, London based artist, Kate Braine, will reveal twenty-years of work at her historic 18th Century townhouse on Cheyne Row. The exhibition, ‘Tendril Is The Night,’ curated

by Fru Tholstrup, will present over 300 of Braine’s sculptural pots, which have been directly influenced and born out of the striking interiors in Cheyne Row. In addition, the garden bears a ‘Pottery Graveyard’ of 500 glazed tendrils sprouting from the soil.

On display throughout the house, the exhibition will see Braine’s works emerge from the walls, shelves, and plinths of the unique space. Braine’s vast array of sculptural pots take inspiration from the natural world. The works are created organically as Kate rolls and moulds the clay, shaping each design into its own being. From the botanical to marine life, forms manifest themselves in the artist’s subconscious and emerge through her pots, resulting in works that are both at once recognisable and yet simultaneously otherworldly. www.thefrankmagazine.com

Curated by Fru Tholstrup

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On entering Kate’s historic Cheyne Row house, where her studio resides, I was immediately mesmerised by the vast array of her sculptural pots. I realised that these extraordinary pieces should be exhibited in-situ, creating an immersive experience for the onlooker. It has been a pleasure to curate ‘Tendril is the Night’ for Kate’s first exhibition showing twodecades of her inspirational work.

Curator Fru Tholstrup

Born in London and having grown up in Cheyne Walk, Kate has deep-rooted synergies with the local area. Cheyne Row is a fitting location from which to work, due to the street’s great ceramic legacy, having been the home and workshop of the celebrated Victorian potter, William de Morgan. De Morgan transformed Cheyne Row into a place of interest for London’s contemporary artistic and literary crowds, making Chelsea the heart of the London ceramic scene. It was on Cheyne Row itself that Josiah Wedgwood established his London Decorating Studio.

Charting the development of Braine’s practice over the past two decades, audiences will first encounter a collection of white glazed ‘Storm Lamp Tendril’ pots, which are lit from within.

Along the corridor, a series of threedimensional ‘Veg and Vag’ shapes adorn the entranceway wall. The inspiration for this body of work came from slices of onion and garlic, but the title is derived from people’s varied and humorous reactions. Opposite, flat cut-out shapes in a Tenmoku dark brown glaze, follow the stairs upwards. www.thefrankmagazine.com

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Continuing through the house, visitors are confronted by the dramatic atmosphere of the green malachite sitting room, which is offset by a mass of rich red pots. Mainly featured in this room are Kate’s ‘Shiny Poppy Red Glazed Triffid’ works and the ‘Red Poppy Glazed Flower Pots,’ with melted Murano glass. These works were particularly inspired by the dynamic sculptural glass creations of Venetian artist, Napoleone Martinuzzi, also on view in the room.

Martinuzzi’s vibrant use of red tones are heavily present throughout both Kate’s body of work and her studio home.

Glass plays an important role in Kate’s practice. In several series the artist has combined glass with clay, adding a further dimension to the ceramic work.

Kate is committed to using sustainable materials in her work, recycling found and broken glass in her pots, to achieve a striking pooling effect.

Venturing on, audiences will encounter a pine-paneled dining room which features a contrasting range of white shiny glazed ‘Coronet Pots’ and ‘Carmen Rollers Creatures.’ In addition, resting along the top of the bookcase, Kate’s plaster feet and hand forms add to the ethereal feeling of the room.

Through the archway, back against the malachite walls, works range from ‘Flower Pots’ with bright aquamarine melted glass, to sea creatures that seem to have unfolded their arms and legs – as if asleep on the ocean floor. In the nearby bar, a ‘Buttoned Metallic Tendril Pot’ sits against the gloom of the black marbled surround, perfectly placed next to the old hand beaten copper basin.

Entering into the large, light Edwardian drawing room, originally an artist’s studio, visitors find themselves in the heart of the exhibition. Here, Braine’s series and colourways are united. On the large windowsill, ‘Teal Glazed Walking Creatures’ have manifested as if threatening to crawl down the wall.

The opposite table bears the weight of a twenty-piece series, delicate ‘Rusty Orange Scorched Lava Alien Flowers’, with droplets of glass beads nestling in their leaves, which adorn the dark green marble top. On the mantelpiece, above the fireplace, a series of ‘Dark Forest Green Lagoon Beings,’ with geometric circle cut outs and multi fringe layers, dominate the space.

In the centre of the room lie various slash pots, including the large-scale ‘Sunbathing Teal Glazed Sea Creature’ and the ‘Underwater Sleeping Monster’ series. Two quince coloured marble plinths lead the way to the garden, topped by white glazed ‘Flowered Tendrils.’

In the garden, visitors encounter Braine’s ‘Pottery Graveyard.’ Kate’s broken pots have been recycled to form a bed of 500 shooting ‘Red Poppy’ glazed tendrils, which sprout through the soil, emerging as if reborn from the earth below. A life-sized bronze figure of Chuck Berry, performing the duckwalk with his guitar, created by Kate, also stands amongst the clay. It is here that visitors are met by Braine’s studio, a former Turkish Bathhouse, which has found a new life as the artist’s pottery retreat.

Upon re-entering the house, sitting on a marquetry table, as if it has just scuttled down from the rafters, is a dark brown gothic spider-like creature, which inhabits its wooden clad surround. Leading on upstairs, in Kate’s master bedroom, a collection of larger white glazed ‘Coronet Cut Pots’ add to the lighter interiors. In the bedroom above ‘Shiny Ice Blue Coronet Cut Pots’ are set against the paisley material of the large bookcase. Above the fireplace are ‘Apocalypse Forms’ in shiny white and matte turquoise glaze. The bookshelf adjacent displays larger shiny turquoise ‘Multi-Tendril Sea’ works.

‘Tendril Is The Night’ marks a pivotal moment in Kate Braine’s career, presenting her work in the exact location that has inspired her. www.thefrankmagazine.com

In the garden, visitors encounter Braine’s ‘Pottery Graveyard.’ Kate’s broken pots have been recycled to form a bed of 500 shooting ‘Red Poppy’ glazed tendrils, which sprout through the soil, emerging as if reborn from the earth below. A life-sized bronze figure of Chuck Berry, performing the duckwalk with his guitar, created by Kate, also stands amongst the clay. It is here that visitors are met by Braine’s studio, a former Turkish Bathhouse, which has found a new life as the artist’s pottery retreat.

Upon re-entering the house, sitting on a marquetry table, as if it has just scuttled down from the rafters, is a dark brown gothic spider-like creature, which inhabits its wooden clad surround. Leading on upstairs, in Kate’s master bedroom, a collection of larger white glazed ‘Coronet Cut Pots’ add to the lighter interiors. In the bedroom above ‘Shiny Ice Blue Coronet Cut Pots’ are set against the paisley material of the large bookcase. Above the fireplace are ‘Apocalypse Forms’ in shiny white and matte turquoise glaze. The bookshelf adjacent displays larger shiny turquoise ‘Multi-Tendril Sea’ works.

‘Tendril Is The Night’ marks a pivotal moment in Kate Braine’s career, presenting her work in the exact location that has inspired her. www.thefrankmagazine.com

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E X H I B I T I O N

‘The Camouflaged Beauty of Fashion’

Will bring together Isabelle Van Zeijl’s varied bodied of enigmatic photographic selfportraits, which challenge the oppressive idealisation of beauty. The works take female architypes of the past and sabotage them in the context of today, by referencing and merging imagery from a historical context, particularly works of the Old Masters, with modern-day consumer content.

The result, van Zeijl’s unique female characters, confront the significance of aesthetics throughout history and society.

The exhibition will be presented by The Cynthia Corbett Gallery from the 24 – 30 June 2-19 at the Royal Opera Arcade Gallery, Pall Mall.

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B O O K S

by Eleanor Tattersfield

Death & Other Happy Endings

By Melanie Cantor

Here are some recommended reads for the summer months.

This debut novel by Melanie Cantor is as impressive as it is enjoyable - it may just be the book we see on every tube, bus, and beach this summer.

Our protagonist Jennifer is catapulted into a new dimension by some bad news from the doctor. As she readjusts her perspective her seemingly out of character actions lead to an explosive three months during which she lives (and we are taken on ) a rollercoaster ride of experiences and emotions in a condensed and heightened version of her life which provides some Waller-Bridge- esque funny moments alongside heartbreaking truths.

The main characters are drawn with an accuracy that makes them seem familiar and utterly believable. The story is told in a page-turning, heartwarming, tearinducing, laugh-out-loud zippy prose. Her friendships, sisterhood, and romantic relationships are upended and re-calibrated. There is even a heterosexual encounter on Hampstead Heath - who could ask for more?

Her journey is fable-like and has resonance for all of us who may have left things unsaid. For some, this book could be a catalyst for change like the news Jennifer receives is for her.

I urge you to strap in and get reading. www.thefrankmagazine.com

The Cost of Living

By Deborah Levy ‘To strip the wallpaper off the fairy tale of The Family House in which the comfort and happiness of men and children have been the priority is to find behind it an unthanked, unloved, neglected, exhausted woman.’

The Cost of Living is the second of two memoirs about a woman ( Levy ) re-evaluating her life after leaving her husband, moving into a new flat with her daughters and starting to write in a shed at the bottom of a friend’s garden.

It is full of the hopes and horrors of starting a new life alone at fifty as Levy releases herself from the patriarchy.

The pearls of wisdom within make this almost a poetic self- help book: pearls which at one point become unstrung and bounce off in all directions as she is being berated on her new doorstep by a neighbor. Keeping it together in the face of societal forces is what she is up against and from which she prevails.

Like Joan Allen’s character in The Ice Storm, Levy’s new electric bicycle is both a metaphor for an actual freedom itself. “ I became obsessed with my electric bicycle. I had wheels. One night I rode it to a party at least twenty miles away. I whizzed along the roads with my dress flying in the wind behind me. It was hard not to whoop. “ The observations Levy makes from everyday life, be they a bird, a plant, an overheard voice on television, a song in a cafe become symbolic of her inner life. She is profound, eloquent, and thought-provoking and at the same time, heart-wrenchingly moving.

This book makes me want to track her down, sit her down, and hear more… www.thefrankmagazine.com

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A Manual for Cleaning Women

By Lucia Berlin Sadly Lucia Berlin died before knowing how deeply affecting her stories would be and what a cult figure she would become in the world of short fiction. She had a few small publications of stories seen in her lifetime, but her audience was never what it deserved to be.

This is a book of 43 stories, derived mainly from her varied and diverse life as a thrice-married ( by the age of 32 ) single mother of four boys who struggled with alcoholism and traveled extensively throughout the States, Mexico and Chile. Her stories are set in many of the places she worked in or frequented; laundromats, prisons, hospitals, and abortion clinics, and although this sounds dark, her wit and irony flow throughout.

Her sparse, Carver-esque prose exalts in ordinary lives again and again with humor and a sharp eye for detail.

The unspoken, the gaps, the spaces she leaves, like in fine art, allow for a more profound poignancy.

As she said once in a letter, â&#x20AC;&#x153;no words are written that arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessary.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; I would add that all of the words she has deemed so, are very necessary, if not essential reading. www.thefrankmagazine.com

My name is Lucy Barton

By Elizabeth Strout For anyone who has never read Elizabeth Strout I highly recommend all of her books and this one is a great place to start. My name is Lucy Barton is a twohander about a mother and daughter. ( Both characters were recently played to great acclaim by Laura Linney at the Bridge Theatre ).

Lucy, who is in hospital in New York, wakes from an operation to be confronted by her estranged mother, who insists on being her constant companion over the days of her recovery. The strained conversation moves from hometown gossip to deeply uncomfortable truths and unspoken hurts. Strout deftly navigates around these difficult areas; Lucy oscillates between feeling aggravated and craving her mother's love.

I said suddenly, as the lights started to come on throughout the city, 'Mommy, do you love me?'

My mother shook her head, looked out at the lights. 'Wizzle, stop.' â&#x20AC;Ś 'Come on, Mom; my eyes are closed.'

There was a silence for a while. I was happy, 'Mom?' 'When your eyes are closed,' she said 'You love me when my eyes are closed?'

'When your eyes are closed,' she said. And we stopped the game, but I was so happy â&#x20AC;&#x201D;" The mother-daughter relationship is given centre stage and explored in often excruciating depth. For the whole of the book, we are trapped with Lucy in the claustrophobic confines of the hospital room - a metaphor for the weighty presence of her mother from which she cannot escape.

www.thefrankmagazine.com

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L I S T E N

WHITE WINE QUESTION TIME KATE THORNTON White Wine Question Time, with Kate Thornton, is the podcast that brings together three well-known friends, three bottles of wine and three thought-provoking questions.

Discover the friendships behind the entertainment headlines, and listen in on their conversations for a side to the celebrities you've never heard before. www.podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ white-wine-question-time

HOW TO FAIL ELIZABETH DAY How To Fail With Elizabeth Day is a podcast that celebrates the things that havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t gone right. Every week, a new interviewee explores what their failures taught them about how to succeed better. www.howtofail.podbean.com www.thefrankmagazine.com

MY GROWN UP LIFE SAM SIMMONDS & LAUREN LIBBERT IT’S A GROWN UP LIFE! Journalists and lifelong friends Samantha Simmonds and Lauren Libbert come together in this topical podcast to discuss the issues facing midlife women today – the highs, the lows, the challenges and the rewards. . . www.podtail.com/en/podcast/it-s-a-grownup-life/

GOOP GWYNETH PALTROW Gwyneth Paltrow and goop’s Chief Content Officer Elise Loehnen chat with leading thinkers, culture changers, and industry disruptors—from doctors to creatives, CEOs to spiritual healers—about shifting old paradigms and starting new conversations. www.goop.com/the-goop-podcast www.thefrankmagazine.com

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A T T H E T H E A T R E

Review by Tamsin Flower Book & lyrics by Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss Direction by Lucy Moss & Jamie Armitage

Henry the Eighth’s six wives appear ‘for one night, live’ to reclaim their stories with the sass and balls of a Nineties girl-band. And there’s nothing more satisfying than a simple concept executed well.

From the opening of Marlow and Moss’ punchy musical Prologue ‘Ex-Wives,’ we know where we stand. These are characters ‘in concert,’ and for that reason, the show’s episodic structure makes sense, as cleverly framed by a competition - Which wife was the most hard-done-by? Each sequinbedazzled tudor babe takes her turn in the spotlight, selling us the highs and lowest lows of her time with Henry, as the other five support with attitude. A WAGish Anne Boleyn played by Millie O’Connell sings to the jilted Catherine of Aragon ‘he doesn’t want to bang you, somebody hang you!’ during ‘Don’t Lose Your Head.’ After introducing us to the electronic dance beats of ‘The House of Holbein,’ Anne of Cleves (Alexia Mcintosh) sings ‘Get Down’ in celebration of her hedonistic lifestyle in exile from Henry’s court. In a typical girl-power injected lyric she proclaims ‘I’ve got acres and acres paid for by my own riches. Where are the hounds? Release all my bitches!’ Aimee Atkinson’s Katherine Howard is portrayed as the long-suffering sex-toy of a dull, old king in the repetitive and catchy number ‘All you wanna’ do.’ www.thefrankmagazine.com

It is safe to expect the infectious verses and choruses typical of the nineties/noughties pop when picking up a ticket for Six. What catches you unawares are the razor-sharp lyrics fusing social-media shorthand, history, and story with the impact of tabloid headlines. Henry ‘got a promotion, caused a commotion, set-inmotion the C of E.’ This combination of references serves to constantly delight and surprise. The piece is well pitched, not least because the musical era it channels will be close to the hearts of parents in a mixed family audience.

strength of characterisation as much as vocal and movement ability and because of this, delivers an evenly weighted, royal-flush.

However, the likeness of Millie O’Connell’s Anne Boleyn and Aimie Atkinson’s Katherine Howard to members of a Spicy girl-band is compelling and memorable.

Also admirable is the tightness with which Six works as an ensemble piece. All the wives are present on-stage throughout, seamlessly weaving in and out of Carrie-Anne Ingrouille’s choreography and Moss/Armitage’s direction with flawless timing and skill. It would be inappropriate to pick out individual performances. The show has been cast for the

Running at approx’ one-hour in length and featuring rehearsed encores, my only qualm was a hunger for slightly more - less encore and more storytelling, perhaps satisfying a desire to see the figure of Henry finally revealed or defamed. But this is their story ‘the history remix, switching up the floor as we add the prefix...’ Fun!

Beyond a clever concept and strongly realised production, the themes of sex, love, and death are clearly (and sometimes touchingly) communicated in the Six’s storytelling, making an evening that cannot fail to entertain.

www.thefrankmagazine.com

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F I L M

R E V I E W

GLORIA BELL Starring

Julianne Moore

J

Review by Samantha Baines Comedian, actress and writer @samanthabaines

ulianne Moore stars in this beautifully shot remake of 2013 release Gloria, which premiered in competition at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival. Academy Award winning director Sebastiรกn Lelio directs this American remake of his own foreign language original. Executive produced by Moore, Lelio attributes her passion for his original film as the reason Gloria Bell came into being.

Moore is stunning in the principle role of the relatable Gloria Bell. Gloria is a divorced single woman, struggling with family dynamics, loneliness and removing her neighbours cat from her apartment.

John Turturro plays Moore's new and troubled love interest and there are appearances from Emmy Award winner Holland Taylor, Arrested Development's Michael Cera and Lord of the Rings actor Sean Astin. Despite its impressive American cast this film couldn't be further from a Hollywood blockbuster. Lelio brings a quiet intellect to his vision for the film which offers us a compilation of moments from the life of one woman. Gloria Bell highlights the captivatingly mundane and brings humour and empathy to its slice of life structure. From removing her love interests girdle before sex to attending laughter yoga there are laugh out loud moments in the film but comedy it is not. www.thefrankmagazine.com

One of the best aspects of the film is the celebration of a middle-aged woman just as she is. As Olivia, Moore flits between plucking chin hairs, washing her bras in the sink and discussing cell structure while topless in bed with her lover.

The film takes the clichĂŠ of the lonely divorced woman and unravels it completely, leaving us with a nuanced portrayal of identity and love. A scene that sees Moore discussing with her beautician while having a bikini wax is a stand out moment and something that we so rarely see represented in film. In addition, the exploration of identity as a single woman versus that as a mother and confidante brings an interesting undercurrent to the plot that could have been explored more fully.

This is an excellently made and beautifully performed snapshot of life although something feels a little lacking in this remake. While we get to know and understand Gloria, one can't help feel there is a lack of action and advancement of character. There's isn't enough humor for a comedy, and it's not eventful enough for a drama so in some ways Gloria Bell stands apart on its own. The film doesn't trade in comedy or drama, and even the humorous climax moment feels every day. Lelio places style over action, so if you are looking for a tale of twists and turns this is not the film for you. However, if you are looking for a film that will challenge you and leave you analysing long after you leave the cinema, then book a ticket now.

Release date in cinemas across UK 7 June 2019

Gloria with Arnold (John Turturro) www.thefrankmagazine.com

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