Affinity Luxury Lifestyle Magazine March 2020

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PRICELESS

www.affinitymag.co.uk AFFINITY LUXURY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Fashion Fix This seasons wardrobe must-haves

WWW.AFFINITYMAGAZINE.CO.UK

SPRING GREENS Botanicals to brighten up your interiors

Keep Your Energy Levels Soaring

Our experts share their tips

ISSUE 105

BEAUTIFUL

Carole King tells us her story

SOPHISTICATED SWAN

Read Our Review and *WIN* Your Own Overnight Stay!

Mumma I Love You Gifts your mum will love this Mother's Day

Smell Scentsational ISSUE 105

With these springtime fragrances

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LETTER EDITOR’S

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Spring is looming although if the last few weeks weather is anything to go by it’s taking its time to appear! Why is it when the sun is shining we always feel more upbeat and raring to go whether it’s work, family commitments, days out, it all just seems a little easier when the sun is shining. We seem to have a more positive outlook on life, although being positive doesn’t mean that we no longer experience difficulties or challenges but it can certainly change the way we view those challenges it’s all about the mindset, turn to page 16 to see how you can implement steps to help with a more mindful life.

Mother’s Day is once again upon us (22nd March) a time to show all those amazing mums out there how much we love and appreciate them (and dads who take on the role of Mum and Dad) – We’ve been busy finding our favourite gifts (page 20) that we know will bring a smile to your mum’s face.

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If you’re busy planning your getaways for this year we have a great selection of places we’re sure you’ll love, and if you’re feeling an overnight break to recharge your batteries is just what the Doctor ordered, turn to page 58 for your chance to WIN an overnight stay at the recently refurbished Bedford Swan Hotel.

And if that’s not enough of a Giveaway, we’ve also got the chance for two lucky readers to WIN an Illuminating Facial at The South Kensington Club (page 49) courtesy of South African Stone Fruits.

This year sees us celebrating TEN years of Affinity, which of course means we have to celebrate, and celebrate we are with our ‘Summer Loving’ Grease Party on Friday 10th July, so all you T-Birds and Pink Ladies, there’s. no excuse to be ‘Stranded at the Drive in’ it’s time to brush down those rock n roll feet for some Electrifying ‘Grease Lightning’ turn to page 25 for more information.

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Until Next Month

Jane x 1. Flamingo Pendant, £498, Thomas Sabo 2. Ted Baker 'Highland' Luggage From £140, www.caseluggage.com 3. Notebook, £8, National Trust Shop 4. Embellished-Trainers, £130, www.celticandco.com 5. Dreamer Jumper, POA, Debenhams Don’t forget to join us on social media, we love getting to know you!

www.affinitymag.co.uk

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Editor: Jane Fry jane@affinitymag.co.uk 07507 602401 Advertising: Jane Fry jane@affinitymag.co.uk 07507 602401 Graphic Design and Photography: David Zita dave@affinitymag.co.uk

@affinitymagz

All adverts are printed in good faith. Affinity cannot take responsibility for the content of adverts. Advertisements are accepted on the understanding that descriptions of goods and services are accurate. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.

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Contents 52 Affinity

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March 2020

10 14 22 28 31 36 41 44 50 54 62 66

Boost your Energy Levels Scentsational Scents Beware of Comparison Spot the Trend Chic in Culottes Foodie News Veg Out With Rosé Spring Greens Fry’s Footie Corner Elegance & Charm in Malta Carole King’s ‘Beautiful’ Weekend Starts Here

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On The Cover M&Co

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Keep Your Energy Levels Soaring With the clocks going forward at the end of this month (March), although the days will be getting longer and lighter, we will be losing that one extra hour of shut eye. There are however, things we can do- besides shuteye- to conserve our energy in these upcoming few days. We have gathered some of the best tips to make sure you are preserving your energy, and great ways to boost it too!

Exercise As the weather starts to get a bit warmer and the days become a bit lighter, there is no better time to pull on your gym gear and head outside for a little work out. Although it may feel like it is sucking the life out of you after a heavy weekend, exercise is a brilliant way to conserve and boost energy levels. This is because it has a knock on effect; the harder you work out, the easier it will be for you to fall asleep and therefore, saving you more energy! Don’t feel confident enough to work out outside or at the gym yet? Try online workouts from the comfort of your own home!

Nutrition It may seem obvious, but a healthy, nutritious, balanced diet will do wonders for your energy levels. Try and steer clear of processed foods that are high in sugar and fat- this doesn't mean that you have to skimp out on the calories though. Instead, try gaining your calories from healthy, nutritious foods that will provide you with essential nutrients and see your energy levels soar.

Eat Oats!

Oats are somewhat of a super food, and whilst a lot of people will associate oats with porridge and run the other way, they are in fact very versatile and can be whisked up into any tasty treat that takes your fancy. Oats break down in your body to become energy, and are released very slowly. This means they are giving you energy that lasts! Don’t have the time to come up with different ways to eat your oats? Nairn’s have got you covered. With a passion for oats, Nairn’s have a vast range of oat-based products-

why not try their new Gluten Free Oaties (Waitrose £1.50, www.nairns-oatcakes.com).

They have 45% less sugar than other gluten free biscuits, and are syrupy, crumbly and delicious with a nice cup of tea to warm you up! Biscuits and tea not really your thing? Visit the Nairn’s website for exciting recipes and inventive ways to use your oats.

Reduce Stress When you are feeling stressed, you might find that you are finding it hard to concentrate and have difficulty switching off. Whilst it is nearly impossible to reduce 100% of the stress from your life, start by reducing lifestyle stress by taking some time for yourself to relax. The UK’s Leading Burnout Coach Rosie Millen aka ‘Miss Nutritionist’ comments on this explaining: “Have a breather where you can - even just for 5 minutes or taking your full hour lunch break and stepping outside - or even better - plan a trip away to escape the never ending demands! The best way to do this is to block out time in the diary to actually do this AND do it with someone else so they are accountable for you doing it! For example, block 2 hours off on the next coming Sunday to go for a massage or a long walk in the park with a friend. As soon as you meet both of you turn off your phones for the following 2 hours and make an effort to switch off. It will seem hard but so easy and refreshing when you've done it once.”

Go Wild!

Whether this be meeting up with an old friend for dinner, or heading on a big night out, go wild!

You will feel considerably more energised having gone out and done something rather than just hiding inside!

You Finally, look after yourself. Take all of these points into consideration in the next upcoming months and make sure you are looking after number one. www.nairns-oatcakes.com

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Welcome to Serenity

Serenity Box is the new subscription box, that includes some of the best CBD products from trusted brands. With CBD Oil rapidly becoming the go-to wellness product, Serenity Box Co is a safe and reliable way to introduce CBD into your daily wellness routine.

When you subscribe to Serenity Box Co, you will receive a monthly CBD oil subscription box containing 4 to 6 premium products, direct to your door.

Products include CBD Oil, Topicals, Edibles and More. With no contract or commitment, you can cancel at any time.

Subscriptions start from £44.99 a month and available from www.serenityboxco.com

Glossy Hair Heroes

Real Retinol - Real Results

Douvall’s new vegan and cruelty-free Argan & Ungurahua Oil Shampoo (£24) and Conditioner (£26) offers deep nourishment and strength to hair leaving it glossy, healthy and radiant. The Shampoo and Conditioner’s rich and restorative ingredients deliver a wealth of nutrients such as omega 3, 6 and 9, vitamin E, antioxidants and fatty acids leaving hair hydrated and fortified and boasting shine and softness. Essential oils of raspberry, honeysuckle and rosemary give it a delicate and natural scent. Available from www.douvalls.com

Murad have released their new and improved Retinol Youth Renewal Collection, powered by Dr Murad’s Retinol TriActive Technology. The formula is part preventative, part corrective helping minimise the signs of ageing you can see and those you can’t see yet.

Being potent yet gentle, results are impressive, not aggressive, designed to visibly minimise lines and deep wrinkles, even skin tone and boost radiance for a more youthful-looking complexion. Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum (£70 ), Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream (£70), Retinol Youth Renewal Serum (£75). Available from www.murad.co.uk

BEAUTY UPDATES

Lavender Love

Why cleanse with Cotton when you Can Have Silk?

What is the secret of beautiful skin? The answer may lie in the type of face cloth you use. In Japan it has long been believed that using silk cloths to cleanse kept skin looking young and beautiful. Now, thanks to British company ‘This is Silk’ these luxurious cloths are available in the UK. A box of three cloths come with their own signature gift box and cost £24.99 from www.thisissilk.com

Jo Malone London introduces a new limitededition collection, offering a fresh perspective on an iconic ingredient: English lavender. Discover a trio of takes on this timeless note, each offering a different presentation of natural lavender. One strikingly aromatic, the second fresh with a cool woodiness, and the third cascading with soft florals. The full collection includes Lavender & Coriander Cologne (£50), Silver Birch & Lavender Cologne £50), Wisteria & Lavender Cologne (£50), Lavender & Musk Pillow Mist (£25),Lavender & Musk Diffuser (£67).

Available at: www.jomalone.co.uk/ lavenderland-collection

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Perfect Fragrances for your Mum this

Mother’s Day A beautiful perfume is the ideal Mother’s Day gift for any mum, we’ve rounded up some of our favourites all available from www.perfumedirect.com

Hugo Boss The Scent, £32.99

Jean Paul Gaultier La Belle Eau de Parfum, £75.99

Jimmy Choo Flash, £29.99,

Thierry Mugler, Alien Flora, £29.99

Mark Jacobs Daisy Sunshine, £47.99

Boucheron Place Vendome, £18.99

Issey Miyake L'Eau D'Issey, £45.99 Kenzo Jungle L'Elephant, £45.99

Guerlain Mon-Guerlain Eau de Parfum, £53.99

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Five Steps to a

More Mindful Life Mindfulness is about paying attention in the present moment on purpose and without judgement. It is a powerful practice which can transform our lives. The only time we truly have is right now. When we lose presence, we run the risk of missing the moments that matter and not appreciating the value in our life. Mindfulness can change how we react to stress, how we deal with anxiety, how we interact with our friends and family and how we think, feel and behave.

Yoga specialist Hannah Barrett tells us “Bringing mindfulness into my life has been a game changer. It’s enabled me to address the challenges I used to face and flip my perspective on life. I set out five of my top tips below which will help you to bring more mindfulness into your everyday life and at the same time bring more happiness.

1. Take a deep breath Most people who teach mindfulness will start with the breath. After you read this paragraph, close your eyes.

Bring to mind something that however big however small that you are finding difficult at the moment. Now notice the sensations that come up when you think of this. Maybe you feel it in your stomach or maybe your chest tightens. Now I want you to take five deep breaths. Inhale through the nose breathing into the belly, filling the chest and sending the breath all the way to the collar bones. Exhale slowly and

mindfully through the nose. Don’t try and cover the feelings, instead breath into them. Let them be there and use your breath to help you.

Before you blink your eyes open, notice how those five slow breaths made you feel. Even if they helped even the tiniest amount, how huge is that? That we have this incredibly powerful tool in built in us that often we take for granted.

Deep breathing triggers your body’s parasympathetic nervous system or your rest and digest system and it will also give you a greater sense of self awareness.

In your day to day life, pay attention to the way breathing feels. Watch your belly and chest rise and fall and feel your heartbeat. Notice how each breath looks different. This will immediately help you to feel more connected to your body and more grounded. You don’t need to change anything about the way you breathe, just being aware of your body will deepen your connection to the present.

And this ties in with meditation. There’s a good reason why many of the world’s most successful people practice meditation every day. We live in this society, particularly in London where everything is constantly moving, surrounded by technology and rarely switching off. It seems counterintuitive to prioritize time to be still when there are so many things to do. In fact, research shows that

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just 10 minutes of meditation is enough to overcome stress and anxiety, will help you block out the internal thoughts of restlessness and allow you to concentrate better.

automatic, switch off the autopilot and pretend you’re folding for the first time. Bring gratitude into it. Be grateful for the clothes in front of you, the washing machine, the tumble dryer, the house over your head. The clothes you are folding for your children or your partner. Find gratitude that they are present in your live. It’s this simple act of being there, being present and flipping your perspective to see the beauty surrounding you rather than focusing on the negative.

Start small. Start with five minutes after you wake or before bed where you simply sit and focus on your breath.

Your mind with wander and that’s fine, gently bring yourself back to the breath. That simple act is mindfulness.

There are loads of incredible apps out there which can help you too - my personal favourites are Headspace, Calm and Expectful.

To avoid going through life on auto-pilot, consciously focus on the sensory experiences that make life worth living.

Next time you are out for a walk take note of your five sense. Take your headphones out and listen to the sounds around you, look for things you haven’t noticed before, maybe even literally stop and smell the roses.

2. Happy Habits Happy habits are a simple way to add more mindfulness and positivity into our lives. For me, my happy habits are in my morning and evening routine. Every morning I aim for ten minutes of meditation before I get out of bed. This doesn’t happen every day as life gets in the way. What I will say though is that when it doesn’t happen for days in a row I feel it, I notice that I get more stressed and challenges impact me more.

4. Listen. Really listen When someone else is talking, do you often find yourself focused on your own thoughts? Thinking, do I agree, has this happened to me before? What can I say next? Did I turn the oven off? On the flip side, how many times have you experienced extreme frustration when trying to speak to someone who isn’t fully present.

After I get my kids up I then include them in the rest of morning routine. We are think of how we are going to make the day great and three things we are grateful for.

Maybe we sound like the Brady Bunch but try it next week and notice how starting your day with gratitude makes a difference. Starting the day with a positive outlook can make a huge difference. And doing it with the children can be really eye opening (and hilarious). The other day my four year old was grateful for his body because (in his words) I love jumping, his warm house and his chocolate croissant, and my two year old was grateful for daddy (it always starts with daddy!), mummy, Bernie the dog and after a bit of coaxing her big brother. Quite the variety but I love that we have these precious moments together.

If someone is talking to us, focusing all attention on them is an act of kindness and love. You will immediately be able to think of friends you have who are brilliant at really listening and being present. Start being fully present in conversations and you’ll be surprised how many people notice and appreciate this simple act.

This also relates to putting your phone away. Again, how many times have you been with a friend who spends half the time glancing at their phone? If you can, put it away and give your friend your full attention.

5. Immerse yourself in a meaningful hobby What do you love doing so much that being fully present isn’t an issue and time seems to fly when you’re doing it?

Adding a mindful hobby into your life can add fulfilment, richness and most importantly fun.

My evening habits involve ending the day with a book (even if just for 5 minutes) and thinking back over the day and thinking of three good things that happened. This has the biggest impact on the bad days. The days which force you to rethink and again flip your perspective. Because if the good things that happened are that you had a warm shower, saw a loved one and you had a nice dinner actually how huge are those things.

My guilty pleasure is reading and when I was little, I would stay up at night reading the night away. In my twenties when I had a stressful job in finance my love of reading became a distant memory and only on a holiday I would return to books.

3. See daily tasks as an opportunity to practice mindfulness Using mindfulness in daily tasks can help life feel less of a constant race and more meaningful. Folding laundry is a great example, how often do you fold laundry and let you mind race away with the days to do list or alternatively maybe your mind fills with negative feelings of the relentlessness of laundry and how you have better things to do.

When I was reassessing my morning and evening routine, I realized that reading gives me time to unwind, let go of worries and simply be present. So now I read every night before bed and it brings me such joy and fulfilment. On nights I notice that my mind has started to wander and maybe I’ve read a page without taking it in, I’ll reset and go back to read with a more present mind.

Next time you’re in this situation, pay attention. Pay attention to your hands. How do they move, how do the different clothes feel under your skin? Notice the different textures and temperatures of the materials. Notice how each hand moves differently to the other.

We overlook SO much in life. Try and switch off the

So, whatever your vice is, whether it’s a good book, cooking, dancing, colouring... find something you love and add it into your life. You won’t regret it!

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Yoga Instructor Hannah Barrett’s Strength Through Yoga: The Circuits e-Book is available now at www.yogagirllondon.com

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Midlife Madness Like a lot of other people, I have become aware of the need to live a more sustainable lifestyle, and no I do not mean I am going to move to a croft or small holding, there won’t even be chickens in the garden. But I do try to do the right thing. I have become conscious of what I eat, what I wear, where I shop, what I drive and how I dispose of rubbish.

And frankly all of them cause me grief.

But the source of the greatest contention is recycling.

What you can and can’t put where. Now every area is difficult and I tend to travel about the UK quite a bit for work and I almost go into a state of panic if left with a teabag to dispose of in a staff room! There are so many bins and sometimes a compostable bin too and some people say teabags are ok in there and others don’t. So, I stand there in the kitchen used teabag on a spoon and go into a state of panic. I have been told off before for putting it in the wrong bin, well not actually told off, but someone drew attention to the fact that a teabag had found its way into the wrong bin – I must confess I tutted with the best of them but didn’t own up. Terrible I know! Instant coffee for me now – it just saves the hassle!

I haven’t eaten meat for years and generally feel that helps the world a bit, I’m careful to read labels but I do enjoy vegetables (we seem to say plant based food now!) but then someone on the radio was telling me it’s probably better to eat locally sourced sustainably produced meat than foods like avocadoes flown from far flung continents?

Well that threw me!

At home compostable food waste isn’t collected so tea is still on my menu there. However, there are a lot of other issues on the recycling conflict agenda for us. I mean what does recycling mean? What can you actually recycle anyway? And does it need to be rinsed, or crushed or something else! And what about the things that are paper, I thought that was a given, but apparently not. Wrapping paper for example, a big fat question mark over that one and what if it’s got Sellotape on? Does that mean it’s no longer recyclable? And I honestly just don’t know any more about paper wrapping on foods – does it have to be pristine and clean?

Like many families we enjoy a good debate! By that I mean a heated discussion that usually stops short of physical violence – the kind you can have in families, coz generally you love and accept each other even if some of the views of family members don’t align with our own. Well, from such family debates, I gather dairy isn’t very sustainable or kind, but I genuinely do not understand how people live without cheese, yoghurt, porridge eggs etc. Anyway, I can work on that!

I’m trying really hard not to buy so many clothes and think about re using adapting or giving to and buying from charity shops. I even started trying to knit myself a jumper – I haven’t actually given up but pace is so slow I may be deceased before I finish it!

Then there’s the issue of cars – it wasn’t so long ago that I bought a diesel car because it had such a low road tax – but hey they’ve changed their tune now about that – I feel like a climate destroyer every time I get behind the wheel.

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In our house I tend now to do secret recycling after too many stand up rows about what we all think should or shouldn’t go in the recycling bin. Some things I understand unequivocally shouldn’t because if the bin emptier finds them they don’t empty the bin and leave a very helpful leaflet about what can and can’t be recycled.

No it hasn’t happened to us….yet!

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Coco & Cherimoya Body Lotion, £34, www.guavaandgold.com

Butter Dish, £19.50, Oliver Bonas

AFFINITY HOT PICKS

Gold Leaf Spoon, £12, www.shop.roh.org.uk

Dragonfly Ring, £198, Thomas Sabo

Jasper Conran Acrylic Clutch, £75, Debenhams

Gold Beetle Wall Decor, £74, www.audenza.com

This month’s must have gifts and accessories

Red Herring Cropped Jacket, £35, Debenhams

Sunglasses, £35, Dune London

Sling Back Heels, £85, Dune London

Rotary Watch, £239, www.rotarywatches.com

The Little Book of Nature Blessings, £10.99, www.watkinspublishing.com

Toscana Sheepskin Gilet, £420, www.celticandco.com

Vase, £25, Neptune

Cami & Short Set, £22, Debenhams

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Mum’s the Word This month is Mother’s Day, which means only one thing, it’s time to spoil all those amazing mummy’s out there. We’ve put together some of our favourite gifts.

Pureshore Tulipa Necklace, £119, www.pureshorejewellery.com

NEOM Organics Happiness Home Fragrance Set, £70, www.neomorganics.com Jo Malone Wisteria & Lavender Cologne, £50, www.jomalone.co.uk

Cyberjammies Pyjamas, £48, John Lewis

Dartington Crystal Deco Vase, £35, www.dartington.co.uk

Caorunn Scottish Raspberry Gin, £21, www.caorunngin.com

Jasper Conran Coin Purse, £220, www.jasperconranshop.com

Flower Diffusers, Starting from £8, www. vintageandbespoke.co.uk

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Herbae by L'Occitane Luxury Collection, £80, www.uk.loccitane.com Hotel Chocolat Pink Champagne Truffle Tin, £10, www.hotelchocolat.com

Hotel Chocolat Mother's Day Sleekster, £22.95, www.hotelchocolat.com

Paco Rabanne Pure XS Gift Set, £78.99, www.perfumedirect.com

ChloBo Cube Heart-Bracelet, £59, www.the-dressingroom.com

Kurt Geiger Bag, £159, www.kurtgeiger.com

Limited Edition Safari Laurent Perrier Cuvee Rose, £79.99, Selfridges

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Beware of Comparison!

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I came across a quote the other day (below) that got me thinking.

“The things that make me different are the things that make ME” (Anon)

As individuals we are wonderfully unique. Every single one of us are truly individual with a perfectly unique blend of characteristics, skills and abilities that only WE have. It is something that is often talked about in very positive terms by wellbeing promoters because very often it is our own uniqueness that can cause us problems. There is a part of many of us that wants to be the same as everyone else and our wonderful differences can be something we find uncomfortable.

But as a society it would be simply no good if everyone was exactly the same. Think about your own circle of friends, there might be some you ‘d go to because you know they will always find a way of cheering you up, others because you know they are massively practical and will help you out with ‘tasks’ then are those who just ‘know things’, those who are so organised they really ought to work in government and those who have a great way of remembering things.

So why on earth would we want to all be the same!

Well, there is something quite safe and comforting about being the same, blending in, not standing out.

Many of the people that we admire or look up to are those who weren’t afraid to stand up, stand out and be counted. But sadly, what we also learn from history is that doing that can be uncomfortable or even dangerous.

Maybe in fact the problem is not with us as individuals but with a society that seems to want everyone to be the same. Even something very straightforward like sizes for clothes only cater for ‘standard’ shapes and sizes. But we know that people come in all different shapes and sizes and that’s ok as long as they don’t want to shop in the high street retailers! It’s the same with schools we know children all learn in different ways, we have even identified different styles for the ways people learn, but we test all children in pretty much the same way and structure the majority of schools to suit the majority not individuals. We might make a passing wave at individuality mentioning it in values or mission statements but then try and squeeze everyone into roughly the same shaped mould.

We will all have read in the news about the ‘problem’ of people comparing themselves to others, particularly on social media but that is just a relatively new vehicle that makes comparison easier – we as humans have always compared ourselves to others. We may be able to blame social media for all sorts of ills but I’m not sure we can really lay comparison at its door. When it comes to comparison the problem is that we usually come up

wanting. That is often how we judge ourselves, we aren’t as good as, not as attractive as, don’t have as many followers as, don’t travel to as many places as…….. and so it goes on.

Problems with Comparing Ourselves to Others Life isn’t fair - It will certainly be the case that some people can do things better than we can. They may have had a whole bunch of better opportunities so comparing what we can do with what they can do may not be a level playing field.

What we see might not be accurate - Comparison can also be motivating, reading biographies of people who have triumphed over great odds can definitely be inspiring and make us aim higher. But they can also make us feel somewhat inadequate.

We are also aware of people who have later been found not to have achieved what they were ‘lauded’ for or at least not in the way we supposed, for example athletes who were later found to be using performance enhancing drugs.

Then there is the issue of social media where the picture may be accurate, but it may not be the whole picture. The instagram feed may tell you they are eating in fancy restaurants, enjoying exotic holidays but they may also be struggling with other areas of life. People don’t tend to post much about those struggles. When we think about ourselves, we know the whole story and that is simply not going to feel as glamorous at those stories where we only see ‘snapshots’ of the good parts and not the rest.’

It can become a destructive obsession - What we know from recent tragic cases among young people is that comparison can become a negative cycle of destruction. Whether comparing ourselves to ‘peers’ or to some kind of icons the risk is that as our brain has a tendency to focus on the negative, we become a huge critic of ourselves, beating ourselves up that we haven’t achieved as much or are liked as much or becoming somehow resentful of others who have, or appear to have, or do more.

A better approach is to put some effort into valuing what we do have and being grateful for that and in establishing what our own strengths are and how we can best utilise those for the good of ourselves and others. Each and every one of us is unique. What is sad is that we seem to value sameness rather than difference, perhaps that is what we really need to change so we can truly rejoice in our unique persona.

“You are an original an individual, a masterpiece.

Celebrate that, don’t let your uniqueness make you shy. Don’t be someone other than the wonder you are.

Every star is important to the sky.”

(Douglas Pagels)

Find out more about living the life you want at www.attunededucation.com

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Mighty Moisture Whether you’re dealing with colder weather, using a particularly harsh skin care product, or have to spend way too much time in front of the air con or heating, make sure you use a daily facial moisturiser, here’s some of our favourites

Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture, £60, www.murad.co.uk

24 Hour Balancing Moisturiser, £42, www.espaskincare.com Liz Earle Superskin Moisturiser with Natural Neroli, £42, www.lizearle.com

Timebomb Collagen Bomb Essential Skin Fuel, £42, www.timebombco.com/uk.

The Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Cream, £26, www.thebodyshop.com

Elemis Peptide Adaptive Day Cream, £50, www.elemis.com

Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Cream, £75, John Lewis

Skin Sapiens Face Cream, £12, www.skinsapiens.com

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To Book Tickets Contact Jane Fry: 07507 602401 jane@affinitymag.co.uk

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FASHION

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Dorothy Perkins

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Spot The Trend Fashion’s gone dotty for spots again, with eyecatching polka dots everywhere, it’s time to give your look a playful touch with a few spots this season

Cashmere Cardigan, £170, Pure Collection

Green & Lilac Jumpsuit, £42, Glamorous Polka Dot Dress, £55, Oasis Spot Tie Waist Jumpsuit,£35, Glamorous

George at Asda

Hanky Hem Dress, £38, Roman Originals

Polka Dot Blouse, £26, Dorothy Perkins

Organza Spot Blouse, £19.99, New Look Polka Dot Heeled Sandals, £47, La Redoute

Rust Spot Jumper, £39.50, Oliver Bonas Spot Midi Skirt, £30, JD Williams

Bag, £45, Crew Clothing

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Jump to It

Jumpsuits are versatile pieces that work for holiday, travel, nights out, and beyond. We’ve chose some of our favourites, choose one or two and wait for the compliments to flow.

Ditsy Flower Jumpsuit, £25, Glamorous

Broderie Jumpsuit, £50, Very

Blue Jumpsuit, £89, Debenhams

Leaf Print Jumpsuit, £45, Roman Originals

Tie Waist Jumpsuit, £35, Pretty Little Thing

Green Zebra Jumpsuit, £18, M&Co

Frill Jumpsuit, £42, Roman Originals

Miss Selfridge

Stripe Jumpsuit, £45, Very Tie Dye Jumpsuit, £42, Glamorous

Scallop Jumpsuit, £40, Accessorize

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Kool in Khaki Khaki is the new black, this army and military colour is back in fashion and we all know how awesome the outfits look.

Cap, £4.99, British Heart Foundation

Button Back Jumpsuit, £75, Oliver Bonas

Tie Waist Trousers, £19.99, New Look

Trench Wrap Dress, £32, Dorothy Perkins

Overshirt, £59, FatFace

Very Suede Skirt, £26, M&Co

Wide Knot Hairband, £9, Accessorize

Bag, £70, Dune London

Jumper, £35, Roman Originals

San Fran T-Shirt, £6, TU Clothing

Tiered Maxi Dress, £38, Roman Originals

Strap Sandal, £6, Primark

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Chic in Culottes

Thanks to the genius cut and fluid fabrics, the must-have style of the season - culottes are as comfortable as trousers and as graceful as a skirt.

Floral Culottes, £38, ELVI Emerald Culottes, £39.99, TK Maxx

Orange Linen Culottes, £135, People Tree Faux Leather Culottes, £35, Very

Stripe Culottes, £30, Joe Browns

Triangle Print Culottes, £22, Glamorous

Sosandar Sage Culotte, £59.50, Oliver Bonas

Denim Culottes, £55, White Stuff

Red Fringe Culottes, £14.99, TK Maxx

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Tote appeal

Bag lovers will love the selection of Tote Bags that are making their way into stores, and if you’re spoilt for choice, remember you can never have too many bags!

Mulberry Mustard Bag, £695, John Lewis

Cream Suedette Tote Bag, £17.99, New Look

Stripe Tote Bag, £19.99, New Look

Black Bag, £70, Dune London

Radley Bag, £209, John Lewis

Metallic Tote Bag, £20, JD Williams

White Bag, £68, Dune London

Black Tote Bag, £35, Roman Originals Tan Tote Bag, £12.99, TK Maxx

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Tote Bag, POA, River Island

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food & drink

Millhouse 31

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The Summer of the Spritz

Produced in London by multi-award winning Sacred Spirits (£24.95), this all-natural gently bitter aperitif is made with English rosehips and rhubarb, sweet Spanish oranges, organic Peruvian ginger and is naturally coloured with red grape skins.

Originally created for a Negroni, it also makes the most delicious English Spritz: 50ml Sacred Rosehip Cup over ice topped up with 75ml sparkling wine and 25ml soda water, garnished with a slice of orange. Available from www.sacredgin.com

Roast Does Burgers

Launching on 19 March, Borough Market institution, Roast, will be answering late-night revellers plea for top quality fast food, served in the gorgeous restaurant overlooking the market. In what is always a lively part of the capital.

Guests will have the choice of four different fillings, three meaty versions served in fluffy brioche buns and one vegan option, sandwiched between a striking charcoal bun. The traditional No.1 is an 8oz quality British beef patty, cheese fondue, lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, onion, and pink sauce. Roast’s version of the classic chicken burger is No.2: Half buttermilk fried chicken, cheddar cheese, grilled pineapple, lettuce and lime pepper mayonnaise.

Coming in at No.3 is a succulent Breaded pork chop, with shredded BBQ pork shoulder, grilled pineapple and pickled red cabbage. Last but by no means least is No.4, the vegan offering on the menu, a Black bean and sweet potato patty, with ‘sheese’, love heart tomato and pickled red cabbage. #Roastdoesburgers is sure to be a go-to for late-night London Bridge roisterers looking for a delicious nofuss dinner.

FOODIE NEWS

Plant Up your Condiments

Rocketing demand for vegan sauces has prompted Tesco to launch the UK's first ever plant-based condiment range.

The new sauces are part of the Wicked Kitchen range which is exclusive to Tesco. They are as follows: Wicked Dreamy Beetroot Dressing - Wicked Mazin' Mango Sauce - Wicked Hella' Horseradish and Mustard Sauce - Wicked Sriracha Sauce - Wicked Sticky Teriyaki Sauce - Wicked Asian Style BBQ Sauce.

Priced at £1.75 each with the exception of Wicked Kitchen Dreamy Beet Root Dressing which costs £1.50.

Anyone for Tea, Mum?

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Set in the elegant Crystal Ballroom with soft live music and a stylish gift for all mothers being treated, this year's Mother's Day Afternoon Tea at St. Ermin's Hotel, Westminster offers delicate savoury bites, as well as seasonal sweet treats with unlimited Champagne – it is the weekend - for £59pp.

The celebratory tea includes Pear & chamomile macaron, Key lime pie, Apple mousse, vanilla biscuit & cinnamon and Cardamon sponge, white chocolate & carrot; kids also receive a special young gardeners' pack from Mud & Bloom including organic seeds to take home. All served with freshly baked scones, clotted cream and homemade jam. sterminshotel.co.uk/eating-drinking/afternoon-tea

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Moroccan Lamb Stew “Lamb stew has that rich heartiness with deep and well-developed flavours that taste as if it has been cooked in an oven all day”

Ingredients

Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1 large yellow onion, chopped 3 carrots, cubed 6 gold potatoes (or any small potatoes), peeled, cubed Kosher salt and pepper 2.5 lb boneless leg of lamb, fat trimmed, cut into cubes (Or lamb shoulder, bones removed, fattrimmed) 3 large garlic cloves, roughly chopped ½ cup dried apricots 1 cinnamon stick 1 bay leaf 1 ½ tsp ground allspice 1 1/2 tsp ras el hanout Moroccan spice blend ½ tsp ground ginger 6 plum tomatoes from a can, cut in halves 2 ½ cups low-sodium beef stock 1 x 15-oz can chickpeas

Method

In a large heavy oven pan, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat until shimmering but not smoking.

In the heated oil, sauté the onions, carrots, and potatoes for approx. 4 minutes. Add the garlic and season with salt and pepper. Remove from the pot and set aside briefly.

In the same pot, add more oil if needed, and deeply brown the lamb on all sides. Season with salt and pepper.

Turn heat to medium-high and return the sautéed vegetables to the pot. Add the dried apricots, cinnamon stick, bay leaf and spices and stir to coat.

Add the plum tomatoes and stock and bring everything to a boil for 5 minutes or so.

Cover the pot and place in the 350F heated-oven for 1 ½ hours (check partway through to add water or stock if needed). Now stir in the chickpeas, cover and return to the oven for another 30 minutes.

Remove from the oven and serve hot with your choice of rice, couscous, pita bread or your favourite rustic bread.

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Roasted Vegetable Yorkshire Pudding Traybake This giant Yorkshire pudding traybake makes an impressive vegetarian dish.

It’s bursting with roasted vegetables and delicious flavours.

Method

Ingredients

1 celeriac, trimmed and cut into 1cm wedges 6 medium shallots, peeled and halved lengthways 250g portobellini mushrooms, halved or quartered if large A few fresh thyme sprigs 4 tbsp olive oil Large handful kale, thickly sliced 2 fresh rosemary sprigs Small handful fresh sage leaves Pinch sea salt flakes Quality veggie gravy to serve

For the Batter

225g plain flour Pinch baking powder 4 large free-range eggs 300ml whole milk 3 tbsp creamed horseradish 2 fresh thyme sprigs, leaves picked

Heat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6. Put the celeriac, shallots, mushrooms and most of the thyme sprigs in a large roasting tin, drizzle with 2 tbsp of the oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast for 25 minutes, turning the vegetables halfway through, until tender and starting to caramelise.

Drizzle the remaining 2 tbsp oil into the 1.5 litre baking dish, then warm in the oven for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, for the batter, sift the flour and baking powder into a large mixing bowl, then make a well in the centre. Crack in the eggs, then pour in the milk. Using a balloon whisk, beat to make a smooth batter (you should see bubbles start to appear on the surface).

Whisk in the horseradish, thyme leaves and some salt and pepper.

Sprinkle the kale into the warm oil in the baking dish/casserole, then pour in the batter and arrange the roasted veg on top. Bake for 25-30 minutes until puffed up, golden and cooked through.

Roughly chop the remaining thyme sprigs, along with the leaves from the rosemary sprigs and the sage leaves. Mix with the salt. Sprinkle over the pud to serve, along with a jug of piping hot gravy, some mustard and horseradish sauce.

Recipe From, www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk

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Banana Custard Tart

Method

Preheat the oven to 180ยบC/160ยบC (fan)/Gas Mark 4. Dust a clean work surface with flour, then roll the pastry out into a large circle which is around half a centimetre thick.

Ingredients Plain flour, for dusting 500g block sweet shortcrust pastry, chilled 1 large free-range egg, beaten 1/2 tbsp caster sugar 2-3 ripe bananas, peeled and cut into 1cm discs 250ml double cream 250ml Shaken Udder Top Banana! milkshake 8 large free-range egg yolks 1-2 tbsp sprinkles

Transfer the rolled pastry into a 25cm deep loose-bottomed tart tin and gently press it into the fluting and the corners of the tart tin. Trim off the excess pastry and prick the base all over with a fork, then place in the freezer for 10 minutes. While the pastry case is chilling, use the excess pastry to cut out different shapes to decorate the tart with, then place them on a baking tray, brush with the beaten egg and sprinkle with sugar.

Set to one side.

Line the pastry case with greaseproof paper and fill to the top with uncooked rice or baking beans. Bake for 25 minutes, then remove the baking paper and rice and return to the oven for another 10-15 minutes, along with the tray of pastry shapes until they are golden. Remove the tart tin and pastry shapes from the oven and reduce the temperature to 140ยบC/120ยบC (fan)/Gas Mark 1.

Arrange the banana discs on the bottom of the pastry case and put to one side. Bring the cream and Shaken Udder Top Banana! milkshake to the boil in a medium saucepan and beat the egg yolks in a separate large bowl. Gradually add the boiling cream mixture to the eggs, whisking all the time, then strain into a jug and skim off any foam.

Pour the custard into the pastry case, then bake for 35-40 minutes until the custard is set, but still has a slight wobble.

Once baked, remove the tart from the tin and place on a serving plate.

Scatter the sprinkles over the top, then decorate with the pastry shapes.

Serve warm.

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Veg Out With Rose ́ “Bubbles, perfect for drinking with a loved one this Valentine’s, make it Rose, put it on ice and enjoy”

March13th - Chinese Night Tastes of lots of authentic dishes only £20 per person

March 21st - Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea Special Full afternoon tea including a glass of prosecco only £17 March 22nd - Mother’s Day Lunch 3 courses including a free gift for all the mums only £25.95 per person

March 27th - Pudding Night Main course and all you can eat desserts only - £17

Every Week

Coteaux d’Aix en Provence A delicious blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault, this delicious Roséwine from Coteaux d’Aix en Provence is fragrant and wellbalanced, offering notes of watermelon, strawberry and flowers that make it the ideal partner to spicy and aromatic dishes. Enjoy AIX with friends alongside a fragrant Indian butternut squash curry or a vegetarian Sichuan dish, for a meal to remember. £19.99, Selfridges

Sunday lunch Only £11.95 for a main course sunday roast Light Bites Lunch Over 30 Dishes between £4 and £10, Served Monday to Saturday 12-5 pm Two for Tuesday Buy one get one Free on all Main Courses served 12-9

Thirsty Thursday Half price drinks every Thursday 4pm-6.30 pm with free nibbles Fish & Chips Every Friday 12 - 9pm Beer Battered Fish & Chips

01234 781 678

info@millhouse-riverside.co.uk www.millhouse-riverside.co.uk millhouse_hotel

Millhouse Hotel and Riverside Restaurant Mill Road, Sharnbrook, Bedford MK44 1NP

Côtes de Provence, Château des Ferrages, Roumery Elegant, bright and subtle with a very pale rose petal hue, Roumery has a fresh and fruity aromatic character with notes of strawberry, grapefruit, citrus and peach. Fresh, wellbalanced and smooth, this Vins de Provence Rosé is full on the palate and complements the earthy flavours of kale, spinach and broccoli perfectly. £17.67, Blanco & Gomez

Domaine du Grand Cros, L’Esprit de Provence 2018 This bright, crisp wine hails from the beautiful appellation of Côtes de Provence, which spans from hills and limestone ridges in the northwest across to the majestic Massif de Maures mountains in the southeast. Wild £15.50, Berry Bros & Rudd

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interiors

Marks & Spencer 39

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Spring Greens Botanicals are a big trend this year, whether it’s everywhere or small accents, we’ll ‘leaf’ it up to you

Artificial Hanging Plant, £74.99, Dowsing & Reynolds

Cushion, £24.95, Flo & Joe

Palm Leaf Pendant Light, £85, Cult Furniture

Vase, £50, Sweetpea & Willow Tealight Holder, £6.75, Gisela Graham

Accent Chair, £139, Cult Furniture

Rug, £259, Cuckooland

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Pouffe, £39, Ella James

Light Shade, £70.80, Dar Lighting Group

Palm Leaf Cushion, £24.95, Flo & Joe

Embossed Vase, £39, Cult Furniture Botanical Wall Hanging, £42, Flo & Joe

Botanical Prints (set 3), £38, Very

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Stool, £79, Cult Furniture

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Acqua di Parma La Casa Sul Lago Candle. £54, www.acquadiparma.com

Diptyque bCandle, £27, John Lewis

NEOM Organics Tranquility Scented Candle, £46, www.neomorganics.com

Candle Light Whether you want to add ambiance to your living room or indulge in a relaxing candlelit bath. Luxury candles are the ultimate interior accessory that transforms your home in seconds.

Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin Candle, £48, www.jomalone.co.uk

Cath Kidston Scented Candle, £11.99, Very Anatome Rest & Recovery Candle, £45, John Lewis

Tom Dixon EclecticScented Candle, £250, Amara

Scented Fig Candle, £17.50, Oliver Bonas Elemis Soothing Glow Candle, £32, www.elemis.com

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*

WIN

*

An Illuminating Facial at

South Kensington Club Courtesy of South African Stone Fruit

We are offering two lucky Affinity readers the chance to win a luxurious facial at The South Kensington Club courtesy of South African Stone Fruit.

This facial brightens the skin and utilises anti-ageing technology to create a luminous, even glow.

It is a suitable treatment for those wishing to address hyperpigmentation or sun-damaged skin.

To be in with a chance of winning, tell us “What is one of the benefits of this facial?”

1: Anti-ageing technology 2: Fine lines and wrinkles 3: Acne

Send your answers to jane@affinitymag.co.uk

The winners will be drawn at random from all entries received by midnight on 28th March 2020 – Good Luck!

Find out more about South African Fruit at www.beautifulcountrybeautifulfruit.com T&C’s • • • • • •

Only one entry per person.

Entrants must be aged 18 or over.

Two winners will be selected at random.

There is no cash or alternative to the prize stated, which is non-transferable.

We reserve the right to withdraw or amend this offer at any time without prior notice.

The winners are responsible for transport to and from the locations.

mar20.qxp_Jan 2014 Aff 02/03/2020 19:53 Page 48

Fry’s Footie Corner There has been a lot of talk in recent months about the role of the League Cup in the football calendar and all this chat has stemmed from comments made

by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and Liverpool chief Jurgen Klopp.

Klopp bemoaned the fixture calendar (despite a summer tour to America) with high profile league games, sandwiched between the World Club Championships, which his side qualified for following their Champions League success last year against Tottenham Hotspur.

Klopp decided to play the youth team in the League Cup tie at Aston Villa, sent the youth team manager and saw his side well beaten. “Eliminate competitions, take out this competition,” he said when asked how to relieve fixture congestion over the festive period. “So less games, less competitions, less teams, more quality, less quantity. People can live without football for a while. It’s too much.”

As someone who has worked in the game for more decades than I care to remember in a variety of positions at a number of different football clubs, I can assure you that the League Cup means everything to 95% of clubs.

Ask Aston Villa supporters whether they were looking forward to the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City last month. They will say yes. For Premier League clubs it is a chance to secure silverware.

For clubs outside of the elite, it is the chance to draw a top side, attract a large crowd and make money that keeps those clubs afloat.

It doesn’t matter to clubs in League One or Two if Liverpool play Mo Salah at their stadium or not. They are coming to watch because it is Liverpool. They will take as much glory out of knocking a Liverpool B team out as they would a first team squad.

The League Cup, alongside the FA Cup is part of our game. It should be celebrated not chastised. There is a place in the schedule for it, there always should be. Yes, scrapping replays and sending ties level straight to penalties should be the case in all rounds of the competition and the semi-finals should be played at a neutral venue over one tie, but don’t ever dispose of it.

This countries football pyramid is celebrated around the world. The cup competitions are a focal point of that.

Whilst I get the tiredness angle in the Premier League, don’t think that it doesn’t creep in as a factor in the EFL – after all, we play far more matches than they do anyway.

Barry Fry

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No Sweat

Sweatshirts, the ultimate men’s go to piece of clothing that can be worn day or night and not look out of place.

Black Sweatshirt, POA, River Island

Maison Labiche Sweatshirt, £105, John Lewis

Khaki Sweatshirt, £39.99, TK Maxx

Debenhams Colourblock Sweatshirt, £19.99, M&Co Calvin Klein Sweatshirt, £80, John Lewis

Lyle & Scott Sweatshirt, £60, John Lewis

Jack & Jones Sweatshirt, £30, Debenhams

45

Varsity Sweatshirt, £49, Crew Clothing Co

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TRAVEL

Journey Latin America 49

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Elegance & Charm at

The Phoenicia The lounge is the ideal place to relax with a coffee, afternoon tea or glass of chilled wine.

Malta, a majestic island that is perfect for a romantic getaway, an island that once visited, you’ll find yourself wanting to return to time and time again.

There are 136 luxury rooms and suites, all continuing the Mediterranean theme of white walls with azure blue details and traditional Maltese tiled floors. Our room was a haze of calm and tranquillity, high vaulted ceilings, luxurious furnishings and natural materials created a cool and contemporary space, whilst a balcony with views over the hotel’s lush gardens and amazing city of Valletta made it the perfect place to sit with a glass of wine and watch life outside float by.

The Capital Valletta is steeped in history, with so much to see and do, whether it’s wandering the sand-coloured cobbled streets peppered with vibrant window facades or heading to the harbour to eat locally caught fish and sip Maltese wine under the glorious sunshine. Visit one of the many museums for a little culture and get lost down the quaint streets, enjoying street food as you watch the sunset or if rest and relaxation are more your thing and you don’t want to venture further than a hotel sun lounger then there’s no better place for sightseeing or relaxing than The Phoenicia Hotel, a luxurious architectural beauty situated in front of Valletta’s City Gate, commanding glorious views from its elevated position that overlooks the port, and the historic city that dates back as far as 1566.

Elegance and charm oozes from The Phoenicia the moment you walk up the steps into a lobby that leads into the Palm Court Lounge bar, an area that takes your breath away, think 1930’s glamour with a little English colonial charm thrown in, high ceilings are the perfect backdrop for the impressive pillars and the furniture in a colour palette of china blues and white all exude style and sophistication.

Encompassing of course all the mod-cons including complimentary WIFI, AC, a bath and shower, complimentary non-alcoholic minibar, tea and coffee making facilities and LCD TV.

The hotel’s infinity pool is a real treat, reached by a serene walk through expansive gardens, where flowers bloom, greenery wraps itself around decorative arches and tropical trees sway gently in the summer breeze.

56

The sun loungers strategically placed around the pool offer stunning views of Marsamxett Harbour and beyond, the

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ambience is just perfect for quiet reflection and relaxation, and when the sun gets too hot, take a dip in the heated infinity pool (the only heated outdoor pool on the island), before retreating back to your lounger and enjoying a cool glass of champagne, served poolside by friendly waiters.

It took all my effort to drag myself away from the pool terrace, but needs must and dinner was calling.

Served in The Phoenix fine dining restaurant, a jewel in the hotels crown, large ornate windows, and colonial carved columns take centre stage around the room, with glistening chandeliers and ornate plaster mouldings bringing the room together to create a space of sophisticated charm.

We dined on starters of crab crumpet topped with cured salmon and tomato sauce, and goats cheese with beetroot, green beans and walnuts, both dishes were beautifully presented and were a mouthwatering delight of delicate flavours.

Lamb rump served with an aubergine moussaka was next, the lamb was cooked to perfection and the other dish of beef fillet with a spring garlic pesto was both delicious and filling and showcased contemporary Maltese cuisine effortlessly. Paired with local Maltese wines, the flavours were faultless.

Desserts here are a dream, so make sure you save room, the strawberry and rhubarb tart served with milk ice cream is a must, a sweet sensation to finish off an evening of delicious food.

Before retiring for the evening be sure to take a nightcap in the smaller wood panelled bar just off the main restaurant, think gentleman’s, members club, originally opened in 1952, the warm décor of this bar is inspired by Malta’s colonial past, with Maltese history adorning the walls, you can almost feel the past living in the room with you.

After a restful night’s sleep, and breakfast enjoyed the only decision you’ll have to make for the rest of the day is ‘will it be a day of serene reflection lying around the pool or will you venture further into the city walls to explore the history that oozes out of every part of the cobbled streets of this island?’

The architectural beauty of The Phoenicia is in a class of its own, one of those special hotels that you never want to leave, ideal for a romantic escape, a central location in a historic city that offers you the chance to relax and recharge your batteries in a cocoon of serene elegance.

BOOK IT

Rates at The Phoenicia start from €250 (Approx. £205) per room per night including breakfast.

For more information or to book, visit www.phoeniciamalta.com

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Riverside Opulence at

The Bedford Swan Hotel Nestled on the banks of The Great River Ouse in Bedford, is the 18th Century Bedford Swan Hotel, steeped in history and just a stone’s throw from the scenic Embankment, picturesque Russell Park and the main town centre, means this hotel is perfectly placed for a relaxing getaway.

Having recently undergone a major refurbishment to give its interiors a more modern, stylish and contemporary feel, the hotel has managed to create elegant luxurious spaces that still compliment the traditional part of the hotel effortlessly.

There are 113 rooms in total, and include classic, deluxe and suites, all individually decorated whilst keeping the same opulent furnishings and colours throughout. Our room, a Junior suite was a blend of contemporary comfort and style, with jewel tones of mustard, teal and green. The botanical wallpaper made a bold statement and the dark wood furniture with gold accessories added elegant touches throughout.

I loved the bath tub in the Edwardian style bathroom and enjoyed a deep, hot relaxing bubble bath accompanied with complimentary bubbles of the other variety, a perfect way to spend the afternoon in an ambience of calm and tranquillity, a space to truly unwind and enjoy.

There are many places around the hotel in which to enjoy a drink, dine or hire out for a private gathering. The most eye-catching though has to be The Pen and Cob brasserie with its decor combining. glamorous deep tones, plush velvet seating, a marble tiled floor, botanicals in abundance, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river, the ideal place to enjoy a cocktail or two before dinner.

Popular with guests and non-guests alike, it’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Coffee and drinks are served all day at the bar and afternoons are made for afternoon tea., whether it’s in here or the more traditional lounge area.

An exclusive menu inspired by traditional British dishes such as black pudding and sage courgettes and Ale battered haddock means there’s plenty of dishes ready to tempt your palette with delicious delights.

Glass of wine in hand (there’s an impressive wine list that won’t break the bank), we enjoyed some fresh artisan bread and olives before enjoying our starters of fresh prawn and crayfish cocktail and a fisherman’s sharing board (hubby was hungry, he had no intention of sharing!) Both dishes showcased the fresh flavours of the fish exquisitely.

Next, we opted for the rump steak served with mushrooms, rocket and fries, this certainly didn’t disappoint; cooked exactly as requested and well rested it literally melted in the mouth. Caesar salad with chargrilled chicken breast was the other dish, definitely a good choice, full of flavours and textures, a real treat.

We dined on a Friday night, which meant there was live music in the brasserie (every Friday there’s live music) which only added to the warm, vibrant atmosphere of this little gem.

Dessert was an indulgence too far for me, I was full, but hubby had no such problem and delved into the traditional apple and cinnamon crumble, which was a delight on the tastebuds and the perfect way to end an even more perfect evening.

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After a restful night’s sleep, we returned to The Pen and Cob for breakfast, indulge in a full English Breakfast, or opt for fresh croissants and fruit the choice is yours.

The Bedford Swan certainly doesn’t disappoint, with its sophisticated interiors, luxurious bedrooms, extensive food and drink menu and calming atmosphere it is a wonderful addition to share with your family and friends, a place you most definitely need to visit.

We’re offering a lucky Affinity reader the chance to win their own stay at this decadent hotel, turn to page 7 for details on how to enter – Good Luck!

BOOK IT

*Prices start from £89 per night based on two people sharing in a Standard Double including breakfast.

*Prices start from £157 per night based on two people sharing in a Junior Suite including breakfast. *Prices may vary from those shown

For more information or to book, visit www.bedfordswanhotel.co.uk

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What Does Luxury Travel Mean to You? egent Seven Seas Cruises promise ‘luxury perfected’ with the launch of their newest ship, Seven Seas Splendor. The largest suite onboard – the Regent Suite – at 4,443 square feet, boasts its own Italian marble and stoneadorned in-suite spa retreat, unobstructed 270-degree views over the ship’s bow from a wraparound veranda covering 1,300 square feet, and a custom-made bed which costs $200,000. The whole ship boasts exemplary craftsmanship, over 500 chandeliers, 46,000 square feet of marble, and priceless artwork.

Throughout, the ship boasts an abundance of spaciousness, its lighter tones and sleek lines are pleasing to the eye, and lift the soul in their beauty. The ambience onboard is so refined, so elegant. To me, I felt there were echoes of traditional cruise ship design but these were uplifted with a lighter, more contemporary palate. There is such a carefree atmosphere onboard; everything is taken care of so thoroughly, as you are never far from a member of crew who will be happy to help, with a crew-to-guest ratio of 1:1.3, and Regent famously boast one of the most allinclusive experiences on the seas. From flights, transfers, numerous different excursions in every port of call, all the specialty restaurants onboard, beverages, and gratuities all included, cruises with Regent are all-inclusive and incredible value; ‘more than that,’ Paul explains, ‘it’s to make the cruise experience flawless, easy, so that people don’t have to think, and that I think is us thinking for the guests, and that’s probably the luxury that we guys deliver, and to surprise and delight at every possible opportunity.’

R

Not quite four years ago, Splendor’s sister ship Seven Seas Explorer took to the seas, heralded at the time as the ‘World’s most luxurious ship.’ As Paul Beale, the UK Director of Sales for Regent said to me in an exclusive interview onboard Splendor, ‘Explorer was a game-changer in its own right, it set the bar in luxury; not only luxury cruise, but luxury hotels as well.’ With Splendor, Regent promised to deliver ‘Luxury Perfected’. To say I was excited to see whether or how they had managed this, is an understatement.

As soon as I stepped onboard and my eyes took in the stunning Atrium and the impressive chandelier, it was immediately apparent that Splendor is a very special ship, quite possibly the most beautiful ship I have yet seen (and I have seen a fair few). The fact that the ship was just a few days’ old from her delivery in Ancona, and I was amongst one of the very first people onboard was extraordinary, and an incredible honour.

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To the outside world, she might look like a MacBrayne ferry, but step onboard Hebridean Princess (twice chartered by Her Majesty, the Queen, for private family holidays), and you’ll enter a genteel world more akin to a country house hotel. For the 50 guests onboard, Hebridean Princess offers a relaxed, ‘country house party’ ambience, and with the occasional ringing of the telegram for the Captain down to the engine room, it transports you back to a golden era of travel. Hebridean Princess may not have all the bells and whistles that other cruise ships may have; there’s not even

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a pool, nor a smorgasbord of restaurants and bars, and certainly no Broadway productions onboard. Instead, you’ll discover an abundance of old-world charm from an exceptionally warm and welcoming Tiree Lounge – complete with an inviting fireplace – to a charming conservatory where you can enjoy teas and coffees, and fragrant flowers. She makes for an interesting comparison to more glamorous or opulent modern ships, particularly externally, but for me, Hebridean Princess goes back to the basics of a truly exceptional and enjoyable cruising experience; attentive and friendly staff providing excellent service, exquisite food, and wonderful destinations, which she is purpose-built to explore.

As far as I’m concerned, these are the cornerstones of a great cruise experience, and Hebridean Princess has them in spades! It’s no wonder that she has such a high repeat rate, with many guests coming back again and again.

Both Hebridean Princess and Seven Seas Splendor exemplify luxury cruising, but they showcase how different luxury travel can be. What they both share, however, is a commitment to personalised, attentive service. For many luxury travel operators, whether ocean or river cruises, touring, or hotels, no request is too small. Within luxury cruising, ‘spaciousness’ is also just as important as the ‘crew to guest ratio’ and personalised service. On land, names such as ‘The Ritz’, ‘the Savoy’, ‘Fairmont’, ‘Shangri-La’ and ‘Four Seasons’ (to name just a few) are synonymous with luxury hotels.

‘Tiffany's! Cartier! Black Starr, Frost-Gorham! Talk to me, Harry Winston, tell me all about it!’ Marilyn Monroe namechecked various well-known jewellers and cooed ‘I prefer a man who lives and gives expensive jewels’ in the most famous version of Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend. In the ‘80s, Madonna recreated much of that scene for her music video for Material Girl. But our definition of luxury is moving away from a materialistic perspective, as people are beginning to redefine luxury in terms of experiences, memories created and shared.

A recent survey Global Luxury Traveller Insights Study from Fairmont found that ‘the luxury traveller wants more grit, to go out and have street food, to explore more, but also to enjoy safety and comfort.’ Keeping up with the Joneses no longer means who has the most up-to-date mod cons, but who has the best story to tell over a dinner party.

For some people, the experiences they crave isn’t necessarily how they travel, but where they travel. That feeling of being a pioneer, or seeing sights rarely seen by other tourists, that precious exclusivity that they can claim, has a strong appeal – particularly for those already well-travelled – and as a result, expedition cruising and off-the-beaten track destinations are becoming increasingly popular. But you don’t need to travel to Antarctica or traverse the Northwest Passage for a unique experience; an exclusive safari experience, a tour rich with immersive and cultural activities, including a homestay in a remote village with a local family, a barging holiday through the French winelands with just your family and a personal chef and crew onboard, are just some of the incredible opportunities travel gives us nowadays. Today, travel affords us amazing opportunities and experiences, and what could be a greater luxury than that?

For more information on luxury cruises, visit www.selecttravelholidays.co.uk

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Beautiful The Carole King Musical

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daughter, Sherry, said to me ‘Mom you’ve just gotta go see it’ so I did, and I was blown away.”

So why has Beautiful: The Carole King Musical proven so popular and resonated with audiences of all ages some 60 years since many of these songs were originally released, and nearly 50 years after ‘Tapesty’? “Well, I suppose it’s because to many people the music you hear in the show was the soundtrack of their generation” explains Carole, “but then those people have since played these tracks to their children and grandchildren and so new generations are enjoying a sense of ownership over these songs. The show contains songs like “You’ve Got A Friend” that I wrote many years ago but are still sung today, and hopefully still connect with people. The show really is a testament to the music, but the book is so good, as well as how it all comes together with the lighting, set and sound.”

Carole King is renowned for understating her remarkable success, and despite having written her first number one hit by the time she was seventeen years old, she still didn’t anticipate becoming a performer herself. “We were writing enough songs to pay our mortgage” she famously said in her 2012 autobiography, playing down the massive catalogue of hits she has written over the years. When pushed to acknowledge her immense talent, Carole says, “Looking back on my childhood I guess you could say there was an element of being a prodigy but I like to think I was given a gift with music. But I have studied hard and I like to think that I’m smart and I use my brain. I hope that comes across when people see ‘Beautiful’ on tour in the UK”.

Telling the story of one of the most successful songwriters of all time, the Tony, Olivier and Grammy award-winning musical Beautiful: The Carole King Musical arrives at Milton Keynes Theatre this April as part of a UK Tour following a successful two and a half year run in London’s West End and a sell-out tour in 2017/18.

King’s now iconic 1971 album ‘Tapestry’ was released when she was just 29-years old, and yet by this time she already had a string of over 100 chart hits written with Gerry Goffin, her former husband and song writing partner in the 1960s, including “The Loco-Motion” and “Will You Love Me Tomorrow. ”Beautiful: The Carole King Musical offers audiences the chance to peek inside Carole King’s early life and the writing process of this now legendary duo alongside their fellow songwriters Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann.

Speaking about the show, and how it feels to witness your life story being told on stage, sixtime Grammy Award winner King describes the process saying, “I was actually there for an early reading of the show and it reached a climactic and emotional moment within my life.

At that moment I really began to realise that yes, this show was going to be great, however I knew I couldn’t stay for the second half of the reading!” Despite the show telling the story of Carole’s early years from teenage sensation to solo performer of iconic status, she didn’t actually see the show until several months in, “I wasn’t sure I wanted to see it initially, as it is my own past!”, but having heard from friends and family how much they loved the production she eventually ventured into the theatre. “Gerry and my

The UK holds a special place in Carole King’s heart when it comes to Beautiful: The Carole King Musical as she was able to join the cast on their opening night. “Being at the West End premiere of the show was incredible. I didn’t attend the Broadway opening night performance, so it was particularly special to see the show in London. It’s always a bit surreal to see people you know, and people you knew, embodied so well by performers on stage but really wonderful at the same time. I love watching people come and see them forget about their cares and troubles for two hours and forty minutes,” she said. “It’s a wonderful feeling. ‘Beautiful’ is such a terrific show and I hope audiences will love it as it tours the UK in 2020 as much as they did when I sat in the auditorium in London with them then!”

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Beautiful: The Carole King Musical runs at Milton Keynes Theatre from Tuesday 7th until Saturday 11th April 2020.

Tickets are on sale now at www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes.

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STARS Manish Kumar Arora (K.P. Astrologer, Numerologist, Tarot Card Reader & Vastu Consultant) reveals what’s in store for you this month

Pisces (19 February – 20 March) You can organise truces, make compromises, meet people in the middle, and help everyone to get along. You want to have some peace and harmony in your life so your mind works at its optimum level, and you can try to bring some mental balance in, focusing on all areas of life equally. You can be creative and enjoy spending time on your hobbies.

You can be more positive about life, and can be theatrical and funny too, and people enjoy conversing with you.

Favourable Dates: March 3, 8, 12, 17, 21, 26 Favourable Colours: Yellow & Red 64

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Aries (21 March – 19 April) You would pursue your long-fought ambitions with renewed vigour and strength. You would be revealing your inherent talents to the workforce. Exposure to new ideas open up new worlds to you. The first half of the month would be very much exhausting while the latter half shall see you off sailing smoothly. You may find your closest relationships are challenged, and it will be up to you to practice and model respecting each other's boundaries.

Favourable Dates: March 3, 4, 12, 13, 21, 22 Favourable Colours: Yellow & Black

unconventional, and you go into everything you try with enthusiasm.

Favourable Dates: March 4, 7, 13, 16, 22, 25 Favourable Colours: White & Purple

Libra (23 September – 22 October) You are likely to see benefits, and experience growth in the areas of romance, pleasure, creative expression, hobbies, entertainment, and children. Your fair share of fun, romance, and good times are in store. Your willingness to enjoy yourself and explore your creativity now brings new opportunities. This may also be a very psychic time, and those of you who are given to messages from beyond could find the spirits are very active.

Favourable Dates: March 5, 7, 14, 16, 23, 25 Favourable Colours: Yellow & Grey

Taurus (20 April – 20 May) You are learning to develop the courage to strike out on your own individual and creative path without fear. This period enhances your ability to handle the details required to do a good job, and others become more aware of your skills. Chances are excellent that you will find a lovely confidante–someone to share your daily activities and thoughts with–even if this is an online friend or other casual connection.

Favourable Dates: March 3, 6, 12, 15, 21, 24 Favourable Colours: Yellow & Red

Scorpio (23 October – 21 November) You need to guard against risky financial moves, gambling, and the like. You might find some conflict involving your pursuit of pleasure in this month. Unsettled financial matters could get in the way of your desire to indulge in extra-curricular activities. You no longer view your place in the world, your career, and your reputation with rosecolored glasses. In the second half, you might meet someone with whom you establish a serious friendship.

Favourable Dates: March 3, 4, 12, 13, 21, 22 Favourable Colours: Yellow & Green

Gemini (21 May – 20 June) This period represents a time in your life in which you build a secure foundation in your professional and public life. You find yourself in the spotlight, and what it is exactly that you have been building may come up for inspection. Those of you in creative fields may find your energy turning inward now. You would be learning how to give more of yourself creatively and romantically when appropriate.

Favourable Dates: March 1, 9, 10, 18, 19, 27 Favourable Colours: Yellow & Blue

Sagittarius (22 November - 21 December) Your creativity is stimulated this month, but so is your excitability and your need for freedom. You are likely to be more outspoken than usual, perhaps even rebellious. You need to make sure your optimism isn’t unrealistic, and your good feelings don’t become arrogance. Love affairs can move on to the next level as they mature and become better founded. Relationships with the children in your life are enriching and inspiring to you now.

Favourable Dates: March 2, 4, 11, 13, 20, 22 Favourable Colours: Blue & Green

Cancer (21 June – 22 July) This can be an excellent time to start a new project, venture, or journey that you can work on. You continue to be more sociable and have a stronger desire to bring balance and harmony to your life. You may prefer hobbies that you can pursue alone, without the help of anyone. In love, you like to take charge. Your closest relationships would grow by leaps and bounds, and the time you spend together benefits you all immensely.

Favourable Dates: March 4, 9, 13, 16, 18, 22 Favourable Colours: White & Blue

Capricorn (22 December – 19 January) You are learning to develop the courage to strike out on your own individual and creative path without fear. You take a hard look at the role you play in others’ lives, and consider exactly what it is that satisfies you and contributes to your happiness, beyond marriage, romance, career, religion, and so forth.. You want to keep things casual in love if single, can make it passionate but don’t want anything beyond that.

Favourable Dates: March 2, 4, 11, 13, 20, 22 Favourable Colours: Blue & Green

Leo (23 July – 22 August) You want to keep your mind busy with lots to do to use up the extra mental energy that you have now. You enjoy being around others because they help challenge your mind and keep you mentally stimulated. Those of you who are single may find love among different cultures, while partnered ones will find this is a great time to forge stronger relationships. You can count on your pals to be there for you.

Favourable Dates: March 4, 8, 13, 17, 22, 31 Favourable Colours: White & Blue

Virgo (23 August – 22 September) You have a positive attitude and people enjoy being around you because of it. You can come up with a new idea that you’re excited about, commit yourself to lots of little projects, are more sociable, and more outspoken. You’re charming and can attract many suitors, though you can keep them at a distance emotionally. Your hobbies may be

Aquarius (20 January – 18 February) Your creativity and social life are stimulated this month, and plenty of opportunities to express yourself uniquely and creatively are likely to present themselves. This is a fabulous period in which to take a vacation you’ve always wanted to take, to try out a new hobby or creative project/approach.

Your ability to renew and refresh could benefit your closest relationships, so think about ways you can inject new passion into your sex life.

Favourable Dates: March 5, 7, 14, 16, 23, 25 Favourable Colours: Blue & White

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manishastroconsultant manish@manishastrologer.com

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Weekend Starts Here....

Hide Away by Jason Pinter On the surface, Rachel Marin is an ordinary single mother; on the inside, she’s a fierce, brilliant vigilante.

After an unspeakable crime shatters her life, she changes her identity and moves to a small town in Illinois, hoping to spare her children from further trauma…or worse.

But crime follows her everywhere.

When the former mayor winds up dead, Rachel can’t help but get involved. Where local detectives see suicide, she sees murder. They resent her for butting in— especially since she’s always one step ahead. But her investigative genius may be her undoing: the deeper she digs, the harder it is to keep her own secrets buried.

Her persistence makes her the target of both the cops and a killer. Meanwhile, the terrifying truth about her past threatens to come to light, and Rachel learns the hard way that she can’t trust anyone. Surrounded by danger, she must keep her steely resolve, protect her family, and stay one step ahead, or else she may become the next victim.

Finding the Way Back Jack Cunningham (Ben Affleck) once had a life filled with promise. In high school, he was a basketball phenom with a full university scholarship, when suddenly, for reasons unknown, he walked away from the game, forfeiting his future. Now years later, Jack is spiraling down, triggered by an unspeakable loss, and drowning in the alcoholism that cost him his marriage and any hope for a better life. When he is asked to coach the basketball team at his alma mater, which has fallen far since his glory days, he reluctantly accepts, surprising no one more than himself. As the boys start to come together as a team and win, Jack may have finally found a reason to confront the demons that have derailed him. But will it be enough to fill the void, heal the deep wounds of his past, and set him on the road to redemption?

Release Date: 13th March

Black and Blue Black and Blue is a fast-paced action thriller about a rookie cop (Academy Award® nominee Naomie Harris: Best Supporting Actress, Moonlight, 2016) who inadvertently captures the murder of a young drug dealer on her body cam. After realizing that the murder was committed by corrupt cops, she teams up with the one person from her community who is willing to help her (Tyrese Gibson) as she tries to escape both the criminals out for revenge and the police who are desperate to destroy the incriminating footage.

Release Date: 2nd March

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