AffinityLuxury Lifestyle Magazine March 2023

EDITOR’S

At last, the dark mornings are slowly fading away and spring is starting to bloom right in front of us. Grabbing my coat to go for a walk doesn’t seem half as daunting as it does when the days are dull and dark, it is a wellknown fact that fresh air is good for your mind, body and soul so what are you waiting for?

Talking of being good for your soul, take a look at our feature on ‘Happiness’ and the strategies to put in place to achieve this, page 16 tells you more.

Mother’s Day is once again upon us (19th 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 18) that we know will bring a smile to your mum’s face.

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 in the Capital is tempting you, check out our review on ‘The Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill’, steeped in luxurious charm, the accolade to its namesake is acutely evidentSir Winston Churchill one of the most famous Brits of all time (page 52 tells you more).

We’ve also got a fabulous GIVEAWAY for a ‘Relaxing MURAD Summer Vibes Day day for Two’ at the awardwinning Y Spa, at Wyboston Lakes Resort, turn to page 20 for more details on how to enter – Good Luck!

Until Next Month

1. Sealander Automatic Foxglove Watch, £635, www.christopherward.com

www.laredoute.co.uk

Don’t forget to join us on social media, we love getting to know you!

Editor: Jane Fry jane@affinitymag.co.uk07507 602401

Advertising: jane@affinitymag.co.uk

Graphic Design and Photography: David Zita dave@affinitymag.co.uk

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2. Trench Coat, £42, Peacocks

3. Marc Jacobs Canvas Tote, £200, Selfridges

4. Nike Air Max, £90, Very

5. Eugenie Cotton Ruffle Blouse, £52,

How to Combat the Signs of Ageing

The start of a New season is the perfect opportunity to make new lifestyle choices and implement fresh routines to help you continue to look, and more importantly feel, youthful as you age.

Whilst reducing wrinkles and maintaining a healthy complexion is a great ambition, nothing will make you glow from the inside out more than starting the year with routines that will help you to avoid or reduce some of the most common ageing-related symptoms that many will experience as they age - including joint pain, poor gut and digestive health, as well as wrinkles and thinning hair.

Hazel Walker, E-commerce Development Manager at premium collagen supplement brand, So Body Co, has shared their top tips that women can put in place to combat the signs of ageing so that they can look and feel younger. Stay hydrated.

An easy addition to make to your daily routine, drinking at least one litre of water a day has so many different health benefits to help keep you looking and - crucially - feeling your best.

Drinking water and keeping yourself hydrated can help to stabilise blood pressure, boosts physical and mental health, keep skin looking healthy and radiant and is even proven to boost your mood – all of which can help you to maintain a happier and healthier lifestyle. Not only that but staying hydrated can also help maintain a healthy digestive system, which as you age, can bring new problems so it’s important to make sure you’re drinking enough throughout the day.

Try to avoid drinking liquids with caffeine too often, such as tea and coffee, as these are known to dehydrate and can cause issues to your digestive health. Instead, grab yourself a reusable water bottle which you can carry in your bag and keep topped up throughout the day to ensure you’re drinking enough water.

Maintain a healthy diet and weight

As you age, it’s important to eat foods which are providing you with healthy nutrients and vitamins to keep you feeling your best and avoid diet-related health conditions such as high cholesterol and diabetes. Try to avoid foods with saturated fats, added sugar, and sodium, and make sure you’re incorporating enough fruit and vegetables into your diet.

Additionally, making sure you’re getting enough protein is important as this helps to maintain muscle strength and also eat foods enriched with healthy fats as this will reduce blood pressure and keep your heart healthy. A good, nutritious diet will help to keep you energised, control your weight, and ultimately leave your feeling much healthier in the long run. By controlling your weight and eating well, this will also help to keep your digestive system feeling healthy

and reduce the impact on your joints and limbs.

Be active and exercise regularly

Exercise has so many fantastic benefits, in particular helping with digestion, improving joint mobility, building muscle strength, as well as improving blood circulation. Whether your like to walk, swim or cycle, there are so many exercises available to keep your body moving and beat some of the physical signs of ageing which can occur. Exercise also helps to improve gut and digestion health as it helps you to control your weight and maintain a healthier lifestyle.

To help keep your joints moving, try functional fitness movements such as squatting or lunges as these are all exercises which can be adapted to everyday life. Lifting weights are also great for helping to build strength and can be adjusted to suit your fitness ability.

Introduce a collagen supplement into your routine Collagen is an essential protein in the body which provides muscle, bone and ligament strength, contributes to healthier joints, is the building block for connective tissues, and keeps skin looking youthful and vibrant. However, as we age, the amount of collagen our body naturally produces decreases over time.

Collagen powder is the best-kept secret for combating the effects of the ageing process and can help to ensure your reaping the benefits as you get older. Collagen has so many different health benefits, including maintaining healthy hair, skin, nails, organs and muscles – however, the benefits don’t stop there as it helps to combat the overall ageing process – both internal and external.

So Body Co’s Peptigen+ Multi-Collagen has even more benefits than other products on the market as it is the only supplement to contain FIVE types of essential collagen protein. This helps with bigger issues such as supporting joints, gut lining, eyes, cartilage, bones and can reduce joint pain, inflammation and speed up limb damage recovery. Collagen is a simple, fuss-free addition to make to your daily routine and will help you to live a much healthier lifestyle.

Use SPF

Protecting your skin from UV rays it crucial in reducing the signs of ageing. Wearing sun cream or SPF-containing skin products is one of the best and easiest ways to protect the appearance of your skin and keep it looking healthy.

Not only does it help to prevent sunburn, skin cancer, and reduce the signs of premature ageing, but it also helps to reduce wrinkles, prevent skin discolouration, and dark spots. Make sure your daily facial moisturiser has at least SPF 30 in it to keep your skin protected throughout the day. It’s important not to only wear SPF products when it’s sunny outside and instead be using it daily. This will help to you maintain much smoother and more even skin tone.

Beauty NEWS

The Magic of Retinol

Contour, Define And Line

Huda Beauty’s newest go-to products have been released. Their first ever Kohl (£19) in two gorgeous shades of brown and black! The Creamy Kohl Longwear Eye Pencil has a gel-like texture that glides along the eye without tugging or pulling. In true Huda Beauty style, it is waterproof, sweat proof and transfer proof. The enchantment with eyeshadow continues as Huda Beauty’s Matte Obsessions palettes (£29) are released. With 9 versatile hues and two different shade optionswarm and cool toned. The new palettes have a velvety texture, making application easier than ever. Available to purchase on www.sephora.com via the Klarna App.

Upgrade Your Hair Removal

Say goodbye to razor nicks, waxing pain, expensive laser treatments and upgrade your hair removal game with ANSWR’s Exfoliating Hair Removal Drop (£25.90, www.answr.uk)

Unlike traditional methods such as shaving or waxing, the drop exfoliates as it removes hair, leaving the skin glass-like smooth - like no razor could. The glass surface of the drop gently exfoliates and removes hair from the skin without pulling it out from the root, it’s time to upgrade your hair removal game today!

In as little as 4 weeks Roc’s Retinol products visibly reduce the appearance of deep lines and wrinkles. Between December 2021 – December 2022 Klarna recorded an impressive 34% increase in retinol purchases. The products include RETINOL CORREXION® Wrinkle Correct Daily Moisturiser SPF30 (£39.99), a clinically proven, anti-wrinkle moisturiser that works throughout the day to hydrate and fight signs of aging. RETINOL CORREXION® Wrinkle Correct Serum (£39.99), visibly reduces deep, set-in wrinkles that can be difficult to treat. A light, silky formula that visibly smooths, firms and reduces wrinkles and RETINOL CORREXION® Wrinkle Correct Night Cream (£39.99), works through the night, when skin is believed to be most receptive. All products are available from www.sephora.com via the Klarna app.

Beauty Brushes

Your beauty regime is about to become even better with the ULTIMATE brush sets from Barry M. The sets include; Ultimate Make-Up Brush Set (£16.99), A high-quality set of five essential make-up brushes for eyes, cheeks and complexion. Essentail Nail Art Tools (£8.99), four versatile nail art brushes to create endless, on-trend designs and The Ultimate Lash & Brow Set (£14) all available from www.barrym.com

Endometriosis;

The Symptoms and Management

Endometriosis is a condition where the endometrial tissue (lining of the womb) can be found outside the womb, most often on the ovaries fallopian tubes, lining of the abdomen and on the bladder or bowel. It affects roughly 1.5milion women in the UK mostly in the 24-40 years age group.

We spoke to Dr Haleema, a specialist in integrative women's health and bioidentical hormone balancing for the Marion Gluck Clinic who explains more about the symptoms and how to manage them

The endometrial tissue is hormone sensitive and responds to the cyclic hormones of the female menstrual cycle and so will thicken and breakdown every month. However unlike the uterine cavity the blood cannot be expelled from the body and gets trapped causing internal inflammation, swelling and significant pain which can become chronic.

Symptoms include:

• painful menstruation

• heavy/irregular periods and spotting/bleeding between periods

• pain in the lower abdomen, pelvis or lower back

• bloating/constipation

• nausea/fainting

•. lethargy/chronic fatigue

• painful sex

• problems conceiving/ infertility

Other symptoms are related to the location of the endometrial growths such as painful urination or bowel movements, joint pain, and sometimes includes coughing up blood. However, other women may be completely asymptomatic and only discover they have the condition when they experience problems getting pregnant.

We still don’t know exactly what causes the development of endometriosis but there appears to be dysregulation of the immune system coupled with inflammation and unbalanced hormones with oestrogen hormone dominance.

The gold standard for diagnosis of endometriosis is laparoscopy which can also be therapeutic as if endometrial deposits are seen in the abdominal/pelvic cavity they can be surgically removed or destroyed with ablation (diathermy heat).

Currently, there is no absolute ‘cure’ for endometriosis and the conventional approach is centred around pain relief and blocking the hormonal fluctuation of the cycle which leads to monthly shedding of the endometrial tissue. This can be done by putting the ovaries to sleep using the contraceptive pill and GnRH analogue drugs which put the body into a pharmaceutical-induced menopause with low hormones

which reduces the hormonal drive to the endometriosis deposits. However, it is not without side effects and does not look at the other root causes of the condition. The functional medicine approach to endometriosis looks upstream at what is driving the development of endometriosis which is related to high levels of inflammation and oestrogen activity coupled with an unbalanced immune system.

Lifestyle and nutritional interventions can work on these root cause drivers and help manage the condition effectively:

1. Eat an anti-inflammatory diet with the rainbow of different coloured vegetables and add herbs and spices which have an anti-inflammatory effect such as cinnamon/ginger/cloves. Ensure good intake of omega 3 fatty acids from oily fish/flaxseed which improves cell membranes and hormonal health. Prioritising cruciferous vegetables like broccoli/rocket/sprouts ensure healthy oestrogen detoxification.

2. Gentle exercise promotes healthy oestrogen detoxification and has been shown in studies to improve outcomes.

3. Prioritize sleep which is when the body does detoxification work and lack of quality sleep increases pain perception and is also a driver of inflammation.

4. Managing stress leads to a more balanced cortisol pattern (stress response hormone) which if chronically elevated can be a driver of inflammation in the body.

5. .Avoid xenoestrogens which are chemical/synthetic substances in our environment which mimic our natural oestrogens and can bind to receptors causing disrupted oestrogen signalling pathways. This can lead to oestrogen dominance which is one of the drivers of endometriosis. These xenoestrogens can be found in plastic bottles/containers and in many skin care products/makeup which get absorbed through the skin and disrupt oestrogen metabolism and detoxification.

Acupuncture has been shown to be a useful drug-free therapy in managing endometriosis-associated pain and would be worth considering to manage symptoms better.

There are nutritional supplements which can also help with inflammation/ immune dysfunction and hormonal balance and seeing a functional medicine provider would be useful to look at this in more detail and develop a personalised approach.

Although there is no cure for endometriosis women can be supported by their healthcare practitioner to look at personalizing diet and lifestyle habits into their daily routine to balance the drivers of the condition. Each woman is unique and will respond differently to treatment, so improving our lifestyle toolbox and finding what works for each of us is key.

www.mariongluckclinic.com

Midlife Madness

For those that know me they know that I don’t live in a home where everything has a place and everything remains in its place. Oh, how I wish that were the case. I basically want to live in a show home, where every night an army of elves return everything to its rightful place.

I must confess to not being the tidiest of people but trying to maintain any kind of order in our house is like a fullon military battle, which mostly, I lose! When I cook I try to kind of clear up as I go along (with transparency I must confess that ‘im indoors may not agree), but sometimes I return when others have cooked and our relatively small kitchen looks the set of MasterChef when there are at least half a dozen contestants! Almost every cooking utensil is used and the mess is not just confined to the kitchen, another puzzling feature of the chaos.

But it’s not a daily occurrence, whereas our pile of shoes in the hallway increases by the day. We have a very tasteful basket for shoes but only about 1% of the shoes seem to fit in t. Why? Because members of the family seem absolutely unable to put any shoes upstairs in their wardrobes. Now if we had a porch or a dedicated area for hallway clutter I could perhaps learn to live with it but with shoes and coats – also not enough space on the hooks - the hallway constantly looks like a jumble sale. Now here I can say I am relatively innocent I maybe have one pair of boots that I felt were a bit muddy to go back in the wardrobe but the entire footwear hallway wardrobe – flip flops to wellies are all there from the others in the family.

I have long since been ridiculed for ‘tidying’ before our cleaner comes each week and of course, my argument is that she can’t possibly clean if every single surface is

covered with huge piles of unconnected but obviously very useful items. I say obviously very useful because surely, they would have been ditched if not useful, right, but in all honesty what exactly they have planned for the packs of staples bought in error that don’t fit the stapler or the pens that no longer emit enough ink to write!

Then there are things that I can see will be useful like the takeaway menus, we all have them for pizza, Chinese meals, curry or kebabs but I bet like me you are as likely to look them up and order through an app on your phone. Then there is the second very important point that WE HAVE A PLACE FOR THEM. Why is it people seem to find it impossible to ever put anything back in its place? We also have a magazine rack and a place for old newspapers but fighting your way through the ones in the lounge is like a trek through a jungle- without a machete.

And of course NOT putting things back in their place means that no one can ever find them – so there are a thousand cries of ‘where is the …’ well if It had been put back in its place we’d all know where it would be. Now wouldn’t that be a way of making life easier? The worst of all is the car keys now we do have hooks for those but of course, they are often not on the hooks but in someone else’s pocket or a room or anywhere else at all but notably not on the hook. Honestly, it can delay the start of a journey by a very stressful 15 minutes.

I don’t feel I ask for much just that people would put things away I mean what is the point of having a place for everything if no one ever puts things back in said place? I have the perfect solution though, I need to go live in a hotel.

HOT PICKS AFFINITY

This month’s must have gifts and accessories

Bath Fizzers, £15, Next

Mango Wood Vase, £16, Habitat

Freshwater Pearls Earrings, £195, www.bakerbrothersdiamonds.com Linen Bag, £25, Accessorize

The 1810 Candle, £44, www.juggurnauth.com

Emma Bridgewater Bright New Morning, £23, www.emmabridgewater.co.uk

Hotel Chocolat Sleekster, £24.50, Hotel Chocolat

Orange Sandals, £100, Dune London

Gold Hoop Layered Necklace, £20, www.carameljewellerylondon.co.uk

Metal Candle Holders, £175, Nevina

Tweed Jacket, £65, Marks & Spencer

Estee Lauder Lip Balm, £29, John Lewis

Monogram Cross Body Bag, £39, River Island

Stripe Jumper, £20, Tu

Highway to Happiness

In many ways, happiness is probably what most people aim for in life. Happiness is in as many areas of life as possible with different areas possibly taking precedence at different times. Often, financial security would be mentioned as something that can lead to happiness, so would health and relationships, friends, travel, hobbies or interests, job satisfaction and many other things.

Clearly many of these can add to our happiness but if we concentrate all of our efforts on those things strangely we can often find happiness evades us as life becomes a constant struggle to ‘move forward’ in whatever our ambitions are. The destination is important but the journey is important too.

It seems to come back to the theme of living in the present. As we’ve noted before our thoughts in many ways create our reality. If we are always thinking about the future – even if this is in a positive way, and it can be a really effective tool that we use in visualisation, or thinking about the past then we can be robbed of the present. Let’s be honest the only thing we can be really sure about in life is the here and now, the present moment.

I’m not saying it’s easy – we all worry about the future, many of us will have regrets about the past but as we all know we can’t change the past and while we can influence the future there is a lot of life that is beyond our control. Things like redundancy, bereavement, natural disasters, health scares are all beyond our control, but what is never beyond our control is how we choose to react to them.

I’m of the belief that many situations can be changed, maybe not wholesale but a little bit, which can sometimes make a big difference. But I also acknowledge that some situations are not easy to change – things like illness of self or someone we love – living in the aftermath of a disaster or conflict. In these situations, accepting where we are, even if it’s a situation we hate or one that distresses us hugely, will often feel like there is less ‘weight’ to carry if we can find ways to accept it.

Hopefully those kinds of situations are few and far

between and in most we can do things that make them a bit easier to live with. As we’ve highlighted before taking care of ourselves physically, emotionally and mentally helps us generally to be more resilient, coping with anything when we are tired or hungry is harder than when we feel well fed and well rested. So, getting those basics right will help.

Then there are a few other things that can contribute to our happiness. Things like gratitude – being grateful for what we have, showing our appreciation to friends and colleagues, lifts our spirits and has a positive impact on our health.

New experiences are also something that can help us to feel happy – they may also have the added benefits of meeting new people but the experiences themselves even if not all positive can be great for helping us feel ‘stretched’.

We must also remember that as humans we are wired for connection – we are social beings. Some of us may need more in the way of socialisation than others but we all need other people. If you want to experience greater happiness then ensure you are regularly in contact with people you like to be with, people who make you feel good.

Then there is also what we feed our mind with –in simple terms happiness will be harder to find if we fill our lives with negativity. If you watch or read things that make you feel sad or worried that won’t really help how you feel. If you spend all your days surrounded by negativity that won’t help either – so be careful what you feed your mind with, its hard to be positive if all you feed your mind with is negativity.

And that brings us neatly back to the fact that happiness remains a choice. A choice even in situations that are difficult or challenging.

Take the steps you can to be happy and it will be easier if you first determine to live in the present as much as you can.

For more about limiting beliefs and manifesting check out my book Make it Magnificent available on Amazon.

MUM’S THE WORD

Mother's Day (19th March) is the perfect time to show those special women in your life just how much they mean to you - whether you're looking to treat your own mum, step-mum, mother-in-law, grandma, partner, aunt or a friend we’ve got extra-special gifts they’ll love

Abbott Lyon Crystal Heart Bangle, £65, www.abbottlyon.com

Baylis & Harding Fuzzy Duck Luxury Candlelit Bath Time Set, £20, Amazon

Bloom Green & White Parrot Tulips, £70, www.bybloom.co.uk

Chase and Wonder The Butterfly Lady Ceramic Candle, £58, www.chaseandwonder.com

Domaine du Météore Le Cratère Sparkling Rose, From £28, www.domainedumeteore.com

Georg Jensen Picture Frame, £75, www.bakerbrothersdiamonds.com

Jo Malone Nashi Blossom Cologne, From £82, www.jomalone.co.uk

Kipling Gleam Toiletry Bag, £29, www.kipling.com

Abbott Lyon Luxe Twisted Hoops, £65, www.abbottlyon.com

ESPA Detox & Firm Body Kit, £80, www.espaskincare.com

Fortnum's X Secret Garden Piccadilly Honey & Violet Gin, £40, www.fortnumandmason.com

Grey Linen Short Pyjamas, £85, www.pigletinbed.com

Katie Loxton Amalfi Canvas Tote, £64.99, www.katieloxton.com

Pro-Collagen Rose Radiance Discovery Collection, £39, www.elemis.com

White Gold Blue Topaz & Diamond Pendant, £429, www.bakerbrothersdiamonds.com

win!

A Relaxing MURAD Summer Vibes Day for Two at Y Spa, Wyboston Lakes Resort

The award-winning Y Spa, located at Wyboston Lakes Resort, is set in 380 acres of beautiful scenery, midway between Cambridge and Milton Keynes. With a warm and bubbly outside Hydrotherapy pool, 2 toasty saunas, 2 steam rooms, an ice wall, mist showers, egg chairs, waterbeds, and a big sleep area, you’ll be spoilt for choice. There are also 11 treatment rooms, a café bistro with drinks and snacks, plus the spa retail area including ELEMIS, Murad, and NEOM products. During your time here, the spa team will spoil you with attention and warmth, ensuring you feel special from the moment you arrive to the moment you say goodbye. You will leave feeling relaxed, refreshed, and rejuvenated, from the body to the mind.

Y Spa guests can also be a member of the loyalty scheme called THE CLUB. Every £1.00 spent at Y Spa turns into 1 CLUB point which can be spent on thousands of items in the online catalogue. CLUB members also receive exclusive discounts, competitions, and upgrades to their stay at The Waterfront Hotel.

You can fully relax at Y Spa, knowing Wyboston Lakes Resort is also helping to look after the planet. Reducing single-use plastic across the resort, installing spa self-check-ins that help save around 90,000 pieces of paper a year, installing LED lighting, removing single-use slippers, and reducing laundry and energy consumption; plus, so much more.

THE PRIZE

To launch the brand new Murad day, one lucky reader will win 2 x limited-time-only Murad Summer Vibes day at Y Spa, Wyboston Lakes Resort.

This includes 7 hours of spa use, a 45minute Y Spa Summer Vibes facial using Murad products, a sharing mezze lunch platter, and a free Murad full sized AHABHA Cleanser worth £40.00

HOW TO ENTER

For the chance to win 2x Murad Summer Vibes Day at Y Spa, please answer this question:

What is Y Spa’s loyalty scheme called?

Closing date: 5th April 2023

Good Luck!

Please email your answer along with your name to jane@affinitymag.co.uk

T&C’s

• One prize winner to receive 2X ELEMIS Super Glow days at Y Spa, Wyboston Lakes Resort.

• Prize days must be booked in advance through the Y Spa team.

• This spa day can be taken on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; subject to availability

• Prize must be taken by 31st May 2023.

• Prize is non-transferrable. No prize or cash alternative.

• Travel or spending money is not included.

• Over 18’s only.

Earthy Nail Polish in Flamingo Pink, £7.99, www.earthynailpolish.com

Nail It

with soft fresh pastel shades

Earthy Nail Polish in Icelandic Blue, £7.99, www.earthynailpolish.com

Nailberry L'Oxygene Nail Polish in Bubblegum, £16, www.nailberry.co.uk

Sally Hansen Good Kind Pure Lasting Colour in Mint Refresh, £8.99, www.superdrug.com

Earthy Nail Polish in Cherry Blossom, £7.99, www.earthynailpolish.com

Ashe London Nail Polish in Mae, £15, www.ashelondon.com

Ashe London Nail Polish in Sadie, £15, www.ashelondon.com

OPI Me, Myself And OPI Infinite Shine Incognito, £16.90, John Lewis

Nailberry L'Oxygene Nail Polish in Lilac Fairy , £16, www.nailberry.co.uk

FASHION

John Lewis

Easy on the Eye

Inject a little personality into your wardrobe with a feminine blouse, whether it’s a frill or tie neckline it’ll compliment just about anything

Floral Blouse, £20, Peacocks

Frill Collar Blouse, £69, John Lewis

Green Blouse, £50, French Connection

REISS

Ruffle Blouse, £125, Ted Baker

Satin Blouse, £290, Malina

Silk Blouse, £315, Max Mara

Tie Neck Blouse, £36, Lipsy

Tie Neck Blouse, £148, Reiss

Woven Blouse, £149, Allsaints

Going Soft

It’s time to shift from dark heavy denim and make room for a more feminine lighter chambray style

Button Dress, £119, Whistles

French Connection

High Neck Blouse, £89, Whistles

Paperbag Trousers, £65, Oliver Bonas

Ruffle Dress, £109, Whistles Shirt, £16, F&F

Shoes, £249, L K Bennett Side Tie Top, £22.99, Mango

Strappy Jumpsuit, £45, Very

Tiered Dress, £269, Ralph Lauren

The Cargo Trend

Cargo trousers are having a fashion comeback in all guises, whether it’s a paper bag waist, utility pockets or cropped satin there’s a pair for day and night

£28, Very

£30, Quiz

£33.99, New Look

£36, Pretty Little Thing

£38, Next

£39, River Island

£80, Kaffe £120, Calvin Klein

£150, Reiss

HUSH

Deep Florals

Time to transition into the new season with deep rich florals, a must-have for any wardrobe staple

Embroidered Dress, £350, Ted Bake

High Neck Dress, £29.99, New Look

High Neck Dress, £50, Joe Browns

Pleated Midi Dress, £65, Lipsy

ROMAN

Satin Shirt, £22, Very

Scrunchie, £55, Ganni

Shirt Dress, £25, Peacocks

Tiered Dress, £80, Monsoon

Trousers, £159, Allsaints

food & drink

FOODIE NEWS

RAILS Restaurant’s Nyetimber Afternoon Tea

Luxury Grade II listed Great Northern Hotel in King’s Cross is proud to introduce its brand-new Nyetimber Sparkling Wine Afternoon Tea, served Saturday to Monday from 1pm-5pm at the recently opened RAILS Restaurant. Take a seat in the chic and stylish brasserie with a glass of Nyetimber English sparkling wine before choosing a loose leaf tea blend from East India Tea Company, from English Breakfast and Early Grey to Camomile and Lemongrass & Ginger. Tuck into savoury delicacies including classic finger sandwiches, a cranberry and sausage roll or vegetarian wild mushroom tartlet featuring freshly baked flaky pastry, homemade fruit and plain scones served alongside a selection of fruit preserves and lashings of Cornish clotted cream. Other delicious, sweet treats on offer include a zesty mango and passionfruit cheesecake; a banana deluxe; a light yet decadent chocolate mousse and a fluffy Victoria Sponge.

Bonjour to Häagen-Dazs

Häagen-Dazs, have teamed up with Pierre Hermé, one of the world's greatest pastry chefs, to create an extraordinary macaron ice cream range!

The range features two innovative and indulgent flavours; Strawberry & Raspberry and Double Chocolate Ganache. The range elevates classic favourites with a French twist to create the pièce de résistance treat for your tastebuds. Prices start from £4.80 and are available nationwide from ASDA.

Everday Elegance

Iconic British brand, Viners®, has made it their mission to blend style, quality, and affordability with thoughtful new additions to its Everyday collection. A comprehensive range of products, from cutlery through to serving spoons, all pieces in the range are designed to reflect the demands of modern homes at a budget that suits today’s environment. The everyday range includes Breeze (from £6.00), Purity (from £4.50), Orbit (from £7.50), and Glisten (£24.00) It’s time to bring timeless style to your table, all available from www.viners.co.uk

Lamb and Bulgur Wheat Meatballs with Carrot Houmous and Feta

“These delicious meatballs are complimented perfectly with homemade carrot houmous, feta and mint for an easy, colourful dinner”

Ingredients

500g carrots, quartered lengthways

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 tbsp smoked paprika

1 tbsp maple syrup or honey

3 tbsp olive oil

4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 x 400g tins plum tomatoes

450ml vegetable stock

200g lamb mince

100g bulgur wheat

1 tsp dried oregano

1 onion, grated or whizzed in a food processor

400g tin chickpeas, drained

100g feta, crumbled

15g mint leaves

Method

Heat the oven to 160°C fan/gas 4. Put the carrots on a roasting tray with the cumin seeds, paprika, maple syrup/honey, 2 tbsp of the oil and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Toss, then roast for 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the tomato sauce. Put a large saucepan over a medium heat and add the remaining 1 tbsp oil. Add the garlic, cook for 1 minute, then tip in the tomatoes and 350ml of the stock. Season, then leave to simmer gently for a few minutes.

Combine the lamb, bulgur wheat, oregano and onion in a bowl and mix together well with your hands. Roll the mixture into roughly 4cm meatballs (you should get about 16 in total). Gently drop them into the simmering sauce and stir in gently, then simmer, loosely covered, for 30 minutes.

Once the carrots are cooked, put in a food processor with the chickpeas and whizz with the remaining stock until smooth and creamy. Spread the houmous over a large serving platter, then spoon the meatballs and sauce into the centre. Top with the feta and mint.

Recipe: Delicious Magazine

Salmon Noodle Parcels

“Barbecue or bake these salmon and noodles parcels, which contain zingy ginger and Thai curry paste for an easy, all-in-one dinner that’s ready in just 15 minutes”

Ingredients

2 rice noodle nests

1 large carrot, cut into thin strips

100g mangetout or sugar snaps (or both),

halved lengthways

1 tsp sunflower oil/sesame oil

Grated zest and juice 1 lime, plus wedges

to serve

2 garlic cloves, chopped

2cm piece fresh ginger, grated

1 1/2 tbsp Thai red curry paste (we used Bart, from Ocado and Waitrose)

Pinch of sugar

2 sustainable salmon or trout fillets

1 1/2 tbsp sesame seeds

4 spring onions, thinly sliced, to serve

Heat/light the barbecue and spread the coals in an even layer. Soak the noodles in boiled water from the kettle until softened but not tender. Drain, then toss in a bowl with the veg and oil. Mix the zest and juice with the garlic, ginger, curry paste and sugar. Add half to the noodles/veg and toss to coat.

Lay one sheet of foil on the worktop, then line with the baking paper. Put half the noodles/veg in the middle, then top with a salmon fillet. Spread the salmon with half the remaining dressing, sprinkle with sesame seeds, then seal the parcel. Repeat with the remaining foil/baking paper, noodles/ veg, salmon and dressing. Put the parcels on the BBQ grill and cook, lid down, for 10-12 minutes – the noodles will become tender and the fish will be lightly steamed. Open the parcels and serve with the sesame seeds, spring onions and extra lime wedges.

Recipe: Delicious Magazine

Method

Lindor White Chocolate and Passion Fruit Cheesecake

“For a truly decadent mother’s day treat, top this delicious white chocolate cheesecake with passion fruit, toasted coconut and white choc Lindor balls”

Ingredients

180g digestive biscuits

30g desiccated coconut

50g butter, melted

100g white chocolate, finely chopped or grated

3 x 180g packs full-fat cream cheese (room temperature)

100g caster sugar

200ml double cream

2 limes, zested

10 white chocolate Lindor balls

3 tbsp coconut flakes, toasted

For the passion fruit layer

5 platinum-grade gelatine leaves

200g passion fruit pulp (from 8-10 passion fruit), sieved, 1 tbsp seeds

reserved

3 tbsp caster sugar

Method

Heat the oven to 160ºC fan/gas 4. In a food processor, whizz the biscuits and coconut to a fine crumb. Add the butter and pulse until combined. Spoon the mixture into the base of the cake tin and smooth with the back of a spoon. Bake for 10 minutes, then set aside to cool completely. Melt the chocolate in a bowl over a pan of barely simmering water (don’t let the bowl touch the water). Leave to cool slightly. In a mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese, melted chocolate and sugar. In a separate bowl, whisk the cream to soft peaks. Gently fold the cream and lime zest into the chocolate mixture, then spoon over the biscuit base and smooth the top. Cover and chill for 3 hours.

For the passion fruit jelly, soak the gelatine leaves in a bowl of cold water for 5 minutes. Put the passion fruit pulp, reserved seeds and sugar in a small pan over a medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Squeeze the soaked gelatine leaves to remove excess water, then stir into the hot fruit mixture off the heat until dissolved. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes, then spoon on top of the chilled cheesecake base. Cover again and chill for at least 6 hours or overnight. When ready to serve, run a sharp knife round the edge of the tin to release the jelly layer, then unclip the tin and transfer the cheesecake to a serving plate. Decorate with the Lindor balls and toasted coconut flakes.

Recipe: Delicious Magazine

Spring Wines What To Drink This Season

There’s something for every taste, budget and occasion at Tesco this spring with their selection of fantastic wines

Caparelli Italian Rosé Blush

Made exclusively for Tesco by leading Italian wine cooperative Caviro, this delicately refreshing rosé has crisp flavours of red berries and citrus fruit. Serve chilled alongside a sushi platter or pasta salad.

£4.30

Gratien & Meyer Crémant de Loire

Made in the same way as Champagne, this sparkling wine offers fine, smooth bubbles. Bursting with toasty and brioche-like notes on the palate, it is delicious chilled on its own or served along seafood.

£12.00

Tesco Finest Argentinian Malbec Rosé

Produced in Argentina’s world-famous Mendoza region, from Malbec grapes blended with a small amount of Torrontes to produce a brilliant bright and fruity rosé. It is full of red fruit aromas and complex juicy flavours of white peach, red berry and lychee. Pair with picnics, barbecued prawns and spring salads.

£8.00

Love by Léoube Organic Rosé

Fresh, elegant and fruity, this organic Provençal rosé is guaranteed to make any meal feel special. With refined flavours of strawberry and white peach, it’s a perfect partner for grilled seabass or goat’s cheese salad and would also make a lovely gift.

£15.00

Tesco Finest English Sparkling Wine

Crisp and elegant, it boasts attractive aromas of apple and bright citrus with a hint of delicate brioche. On the palate, it is dry with a delicate mousse and long finish. Perfect as a Mother’s Day gift, or to toast the King’s Coronation in May.

£21.00

interiors

Sophie Allport has many favourite flowers, but she confesses that she simply loves Roses. This design was inspired by her own fabulous rose garden, which blooms from May to October every year and fills her home with a soft, delicate fragrance. Sophie has painted beautiful crisp white Roses against a duck egg background, allowing you to bring the outside in, all year around. A simple, classic, and quintessentially British design that is timeless. There?s plenty of gift inspiration for flower enthusiasts, garden lovers and those who love adding a vintage touch to their homes alike.

SPRING GREENS

Greens are dominating interior trends and none more so than the soft, easy-to-live-with shade of spring green. It is predicted by experts to be one of the most popular interior design trends and is easy to work into existing schemes thanks to its near-neutral shade, or use as the basis for a whole new look.

Vases will make any room in your home extra special. This glass flower vase from Wayfair stands out thanks to its sleek design with a wide shape and narrow opening. Sustainability is key, as every bottle is made from 100% recycled glass. Finish it off with a beautiful branch or flower and you have a real eye-catcher in your home!

Fabric Table Lamp, £139, Cult

Areca Cushion, £65, OKA

As a muted, more neutral shade of green, this Fallen Foilage wallpaper (Lucie Annabel) means spring green has seen a real boost in bathroom popularity in the past few years. The homely, refined farmhouse trend evokes a feeling of calm and wellbeing, making it a perfect tone for the bathroom.

The perfect addition to any home is wallpaper and Mindthega’s Royal Garden Tree Foliage Lifestyle Portrait is one that’ll add style and sophistication to any home. A soft toned wallpaper design with delicate tree foliage hand drawn illustration creating a botanical light wallpaper.

Framed Pictures, £200, John Lewis

Fig & Cedar Candle £22, John Lewis

Dusty Sage Green Throw., £79, Country Mouse

The Ultimate Pillow Hacks to Achieve your Best Night’s Sleep

There are so many fancy gadgets on the market that promise you the dreamiest night’s sleep, however, what if we told you that the key to remaining well-rested may lie in something as simple as your pillow?

James Higgins, founder of Ethical Bedding shares the ultimate pillow hacks you can use to unlock a oneway ticket to sleep heaven…

Only sleep on one pillow

A mountain of pillows may sound luxurious, however, sleeping in this position can prove to be detrimental to your neck and shoulder muscles over time, resulting in long-term negative effects on your overall posture and spinal alignment. Instead, experts recommend using just one comfortable pillow for better sleep and therefore better overall health.

If possible, invest in a memory foam pillow. Designed to mould to your movements and cradle your head and upper body to distribute your weight evenly on the pillow, the orthopaedic properties of memory foam pillows provide high levels of pressure relief and support to your neck and spine.

Try a cooling mist

If you’re finding it hard to drift off, one of the most frustrating things is an overly hot pillow. No matter how many times you flip and turn it, it seems the cooler side just evades you. If this is something you experience regularly, why not try a cooling mist?

Designed to not only provide a soothing, cooling effect on the skin, many pillow mists are also scented

with ingredients such as lavender which help to promote a relaxing, calming atmosphere and act as a much-needed aid to help you drift off to sleep.

Switch to silk pillowcases

Silk pillowcases are not just a fancy alternative to traditional cotton ones – they actually come with a myriad of benefits for both your hair and skin. Research proves that the creasing and indents caused by conventional cotton pillowcases can turn into permanent wrinkles over time, however, sleeping on silk and other similar materials with naturally hypoallergenic properties can help to prevent these deep lines from forming and importantly, remaining.

As it takes in less moisture than cotton, silk is less likely to harbour bacteria, allergens and dust mites, as well as naturally being able to regulate temperature, meaning you don’t have to keep flipping your pillow over to the cold side.

If you’re looking for an indulgent silk pillowcase that has been sustainably sourced, check the luxury bedding and sleep accessories company ‘Ethical Bedding’ for its dreamy range.

Ethical Bedding believe in purpose-driven sleep, not only are their products made with luxury in made, they are also ethically manufactured. Ethical Bedding uses organic eucalyptus that’s grown using 95% less water than cotton production, no farmable land and zero herbicides or pesticides.

www.ethicalbedding.com

Trending textiles

Refresh your room schemes this spring with these fabulous fabrics

Sundance Villa Mediterraneo, £144, Mindthegap

Apple Bobbing, £56, Fable & Cedar

Berry Portrait, £75, Tori Murphy

Boxing Hares, £33, Sophie Allport

Harbour Stripe in Olive, £75, Tori Murphy

Scallop Stripe Mushroom, £75, Tori Murphy

Transylvanian Roots, £129, Mindthegap

Tree Trunk, £65, Fable & Cedar

Wichita Stripes, £129, Mindthegap

Woodstock Jingo, £139, Mindthegap

Acclaimed South African choreographer and dancer Dada Masilo brings together European and African influences in her latest show which comes to Milton Keynes Theatre this March.

The Sacrifice blends contemporary dance with the unique rhythms and moves of Tswana, a traditional African dance inspired by one of the continent’s most iconic small animalsthe meerkat!

Soweto-born Dada was 12 when she started contemporary dance and ballet classes at The Dance Factory in Johannesburg. She was inspired to take her training further when she saw the world-famous Belgian company Rosas perform. She applied to their school in Brussels and was one of 30 dancers selected out of 800 candidates to study there.

It was in Brussels that Dada began choreographing although initially her interests lay mainly in performing. However, on her return to South Africa, she struggled to find productions which brought together the different international elements of dance and music which she had enjoyed so much.

“To begin with I didn’t want to be a choreographer because it’s too difficult,” she says. “But we had to create work as part of our training. Then when I came back to South Africa there were no choreographers making work that I wanted to perform. I wanted to do the narrative, the dance drama, I wanted to tackle that and nobody was creating that kind of work. So I thought ‘well if no-one is doing it, then it has got to be yourself’ and that is how I started to choreograph.”

Dada has since created a series of hugely successful works which take Western classics and fuse them with elements of storytelling, movement and music from her own African heritage. Over the past decade her re-interpretations of Carmen, Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake and Giselle have been

critically acclaimed both in South Africa and internationally.

“I was trained to fuse different traditions, cultures and rituals and that is what I have done in all my work,” she says. “I try to make everything global so that if you are a person that is in Europe or a person who is in Africa you still understand what is happening. The privilege for me is in bringing the whole thing together so it’s not African or European, it’s become something else.”

Dada both creates the work and performs in all of her productions.

“For me it’s easier to be both choreographer and dancer because I’m not sitting out watching what I want people to do, I’m doing it too. I want to feel what everyone else is feeling. Then I know, for example, that when I’m tired then everybody is tired. I need to be there, it is what I love to do.”

For the Sacrifice, blending traditions meant a great deal of study for Dada and her company of dancers. The Tswana dance, traditionally performed at festivals, originated among the people of Botswana and is also popular in South Africa and Namibia. Although Dada and her cast knew of the dance, it took a lot of work for them to master its intricate movements.

“Tswana is a dance from my heritage which is inspired by the meerkat,” says Dada. “The meerkat is a very small, very fast animal and I was drawn to that because I love to move very fast. In the past, I’ve fused contemporary dance with flamenco, with ballet and many other things but not with a specific dance from my own culture so this is an opportunity to do that.”

“I had to learn Tswana from scratch - I spent three months with a teacher, just by myself, and then we brought in the company for about a month. It was incredibly difficult but I always love learning something new.”

Dada also sought the advice of the elders of her community to ensure the piece remained respectful of her people’s traditions. “There is a section where we call out all our surnames, basically calling the ancestors and saying the ancestors have come, and I had to ask the elders whether that was all right to do. I needed to get their permission.”

The Sacrifice is inspired by Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring but Dada and her team have developed a new soundscape which is firmly rooted in African music. “I was really amazed at the complex rhythms in Stravinsky and that was our starting point but there are so many versions of The Rite of Spring set to Stravinsky’s music that I wanted to create a new score. I have four musicians, a percussionist, a violinist, a keyboard player and a singer, and they listened to Stravinsky’s music. Then after that I said ‘OK, what can we do with those references?’ and they created the score which is rooted in South Africa while I created the movement vocabulary. We worked closely together as the live music is such an important part of the show.”

“I’m forever grateful that we can take our work to different people in different countries,” says Dada. “It’s also great to talk to different audiences and find out how they feel and what they think the work is about because a lot of the time they will feel something different.

“We create and perform the work and they will react to it but we cannot dictate how they will respond, that’s for them. But I would love for audiences of The Sacrifice to feel - I would love for them to know its sadness but also to feel the joy and the love.”

The UK tour, is presented by Dance Consortium, a group of 18 large-scale theatres with a mission to bring the best international dance to stages across the UK and Ireland.

Dance Consortium presents Dada Masilo’s The Sacrifice at Milton Keynes Theatre on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 March. Tickets are available from www.atgtickets.com/MiltonKeynes

Hoodies for Him

Hoodies are an off-duty essential, whether you’re hitting the streets or chilling for the day, we’ve rounded up our favourites

BALLY Hoody, £1,100, Farfetch

Barbour Hoody, £94.95, www.barbourinternational.com

BOSS Black Hoody, £189, Selfridges

Carhartt Wip Hoody, £80, Selfridges

G-Star Hoody, £85, G-Star.com

Emporio Armani Hoody, £210, www.armani.com

Lyle & Scott Hoody, £75, John Lewis

Sunspel Hoody, £145, Selfridges

Superdry

Jersey Boys returns to Northampton

Grammy and Olivier Award-winning musical Jersey Boys is heading to Northampton’s Royal & Derngate, this March.

This stage sensation goes behind the music and inside the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. They were just four guys from New Jersey, until they sang their very first note. They had a sound nobody had ever heard… and the radio just couldn’t get enough of. But while their harmonies were perfect onstage, off stage it was a very different story - a story that has made them an international sensation all over again.

From the streets of New Jersey to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this is the musical that’s too good to be true. The show is packed with their hits, including Beggin’, Sherry, Walk Like A Man, December, 1963 (Oh What a Night), Big Girls Don’t Cry, My Eyes Adored You, Let’s Hang On (To What We’ve Got), Bye Bye Baby, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Working My Way Back to You, Fallen Angel, Rag Doll and Who Loves You.

Jersey Boys is written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio and lyrics by Bob Crewe.

In this touring production, Michael Pickering plays Frankie Valli, alongside Christopher Short as Nick Massi, Blair Gibson as Bob Gaudio and Dalton Wood as Tommy

performances.

Jersey Boys originally opened in New York in November 2005 and, by the time it closed in January 2017, it was the 12th longest running show in Broadway history. Jersey Boys first ran in London’s West End from 2008 to 2017 –nine amazing years – and, at the time, was the sixth longest musical running in the West End. In 2021, the musical returned to the West End, opening the new multimillion pound reinstated Trafalgar Theatre on 10 August 2021, where it continues to play, alongside the current tour. Jersey Boys previously played two record-breaking UK and Ireland Tours.

The Jersey Boys UK and Ireland Tour is staged by the entire original Broadway creative team, led by the Tony Award-winning team of director Des McAnuff and choreographer Sergio Trujillo.

Recipient of Broadway’s Tony, London’s Olivier and Australia’s Helpmann Awards for Best New Musical, Jersey Boys is the winner of 65 major awards and has been seen by over 30 million people worldwide.

This sensational musical takes to the Derngate stage from Tuesday 21 March to Saturday 1 April. Tickets are available from www.royalandderngate.co.uk

TRAVEL

Tembo Plains, Zimbabwe

Find Fun for All the Family in Zimbabwe with Great Plains’ Young Explorers Programme

Great Plains, the tourism conservation organisation founded by National Geographic filmmakers and explorersin-residence Dereck and Beverly Joubert, is delighted to present its most fabulous family safari offering, the Young Explorers Programme at Tembo Plains Camp, Zimbabwe. From child-friendly treatments at the Bush Spa to guided expeditions in search of wildlife big and small, the explorers of tomorrow will be treated to a family holiday of a lifetime with Great Plains.

"The Young Explorers Programme at Great Plains is very dear to my heart”, said Great Plains CEO and co-founder Dereck Joubert. “We can all remember the liberating freedom, as kids, when we could run about outside all day long, making stuff from sticks, catching tadpoles, and climbing trees. And where better to recreate (and elevate!) that magic than at our majestic Tembo Plains Camp, against a backdrop of the Zambezi, joined by elephants, hippos, giraffes and more? As children, we explore, we discover, we get lost in our adventures, but we always return wiser and more enlightened. Safaris with kids are much the same, and we hope to ignite what will become a lifelong passion for wildlife, conservation and – above all - adventure!"

Family Fun at Tembo Plains

Suitable for families with children aged six and up, Tembo Plains Camp is tucked away into a thick riverine forest on the edge of the Zambezi River, in the private 128,000hectare Sapi Private Reserve, east of Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National Park.

An exquisite two-bedroom family unit has been designed and decorated by Dereck Joubert and Beverly Joubert. “I really wanted to build something that was partly tented but paid architectural reference to the Zimbabwean ruins in stone. It is a playful design which is ideal for families,” commented Joubert. Sleeping two adults and two children in two tented bedrooms with a shared lounge, dining area and pool, provides luxurious accommodation for little adventurers to recharge their batteries after a day spent exploring the bush.

Activities on offer as part of Great Plains’ Young Explorer Programme include guided bush walks to find the smaller local creatures and learn all about plants, bugs and more while seeking out tracks and decoding the daily behaviour and routines of wild animals. Active adventurers will adore the opportunity to canoe down the Zambezi – spotting wildlife as they go – or indulge in a spot of bush cricket on the sandbanks of the river.

Back at camp, a world of entertainment awaits, from Young Explorers massages, manis and pedis at the Bush Spa, and traditional bracelet making to movie nights and cookingin-the-bush lessons. When it comes to dining, even the

tiniest of palates will be tantalised with an array of specially tailored menus featuring little ones’ favourites, and of course plenty of snacks, mocktails and other refreshments throughout the day!

The Great Plains Young Explorers Programme

The Great Plains Young Explorers Programme aims to educate and inspire the next generation of Conservation Ambassadors. The programme encourages children to become their most adventurous selves by stepping away from traditional everyday life, so they return home with an entirely new perspective as Great Plains Conservation Ambassador graduates. Upon arrival at camp, children will receive a Great Plains Young Explorers pack, including a safari cap, a neck buff, wild stickers, an activity book bursting with games, diary entries and more. The specially created activity book is filled with exciting information and games, animal tracks, a safari journal, and facts on flora, fauna and the night sky constellations of the southern hemisphere. Young guests are paired with an exceptionally trained guide who will host, teach and care for them with their families throughout their stay.

Mpala Jena Camp

For wildlife-loving families wishing to extend their Zimbabwe adventure, Great Plains’ Mpala Jena Camp offers the perfect pitstop for soaking up the iconic Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. An intimate safari camp positioned along the beautiful tree-lined banks of the mighty Zambezi River, Mpala Jena is set within the 138,000-acre Zambezi National Park, which has a healthy and ever-increasing number of wildlife species, with higher concentrations of buffalo and elephants from June through to October. The Zambezi National Park, within easy driving access from Victoria Falls, has become an absolute gem of a reserve with some of the highest lions per density of any other Zimbabwean park. A magnet for wildlife, there are guaranteed sightings of massive crocodiles and hippos which make their presence seen and heard throughout the day and night.

BOOK IT

Nightly rates in the new family unit at Tembo Plains start from $2,685.

A guest tent at the new Tembo Plains begins from $1,030 per person per night.

Nightly rates at Mpala Jena Camp start from $842 per person per night.

For more information on any of the Great Plains camps and experiences, please visit www.greatplainsconservation.com.

First Class Luxury at The Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill

hotel. Located in Marylebone, just moments away from some of London's most famed landmarks and attractions, the hotel is the perfect location to explore the English capital.

From the minute you walk through the doors at The Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill the accolade to its namesake is acutely evident - Sir Winston Churchill one of the most famous Brits of all time.

The interior is sleek and spacious with marble pillars and glistening chandeliers enhancing the already sophisticated spaces. The art-filled lobby features a bust of the former PM, a large piano, along with artefacts from the Prime Minister's former home Chartwell House that have been kindly provided by the Churchill family.

All rooms have luxurious beds with white crisp sheets, a 42" flat-screen HDTV, Tea & Coffee Station, and luxury modern bathrooms that include Molton Brown toiletries, heated toilet seats, and soft white fluffy monogrammed towels.

Within minutes we'd changed into the cosy robes and were curled up on the chair, sipping a glass of wine (kindly left by the hotel) looking out of the large floor-to-ceiling window onto the leafy gardens of Portman Square and indulging in a little people watching. It is the thoughtful touches that make a hotel stand out and The Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill is very good at this, from the fresh flowers and chocolates to a copy of The Churchill cocktail book, nothing is overlooked.

Time to enjoy pre-dinner cocktails in the atmospheric Churchill Bar & Terrace. This art deco lounge-style bar with velvet booth seating and original photographs of Churchill and his wife is reminiscent of a private members club from the 1920s, a

shed light on issues that the expert mixologists feel passionate about, including forest protection, renewable energy, air quality, and wildlife conservation. 'Up in The Air' for example is a mix of Ketel One infused with electric daisy, electric liquor, balsamic pickled beetroot, and Italics, and The Bee Hive, is a mix of hibiscus, amber gin, and local honey served in a beeswax cup.

Connected to the bar is a leafy alfresco terrace, where you can enjoy drinks, light bites, and premium cigars including Churchill's favourite Cuban cigars.

Dinner is served in The Montagu Kitchen, offering modern British cuisine, with traditional dishes given exciting twists. After perusing the menu we decided to begin with smoked duck breast with shallots, figs, and bitter leaves and chicken liver parfait with sourdough crisp, frisee salad, and saffron pear, they say you eat with your eyes and both these dishes certainly had the aesthetic, what about the taste? The flavour combination from both dishes was an absolute delight.

We followed this with wild Cornish sea bass served with sautéed girolles, shallot puree, and chicken, a dish full of sumptuous flavours and textures that definitely elevated the palette. Dedham Vale 21-days Aged Beef Rib-eye was the other choice, cooked medium rare exactly as requested with the truffle jus, complimenting the meat effortlessly.

I most definitely didn't have room for dessert, but hubby had spotted The Montagu's Signature dessert, Sticky Toffee Pudding which is his absolute favourite, served with vanilla ice cream and custard (his request) in his words, it was "the icing on the cake' after a heavenly dining experience.

But the evening didn't end here, it would have been sacrilege not to indulge in another cocktail in The Churchill Bar, soaking up the atmosphere whilst surrounded by the soft lighting, sumptuous armchairs (Sherlock Holmes wouldn't look out of place here), and cosy fire whilst looking around at all the curios including the reproductions of Churchill's love letters to his wife Clementine.

After a peaceful and restful night's sleep breakfast, the next morning was a laid back relaxed affair, which set us up perfectly for a full day of shopping and exploring in London.

The Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill is a treasure trove of everything Churchill, full of character, hidden away in a tranquil setting overlooking London's refined Portman Square, yet just a stone's throw away from the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street, where despite its centrality sophistication and serenity shine around every corner.

In the words of the man himself "We shape our dwellings, and afterward our dwellings shape us" The Hyatt Regency London - The Churchill has most definitely done that!

BOOK IT

Prices start from £439 per night, per room.

The Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill 30, Portman Square, London, W1H 7BH

www.hyatt.com

Six Reasons to Visit Northeastern Crete in 2023

Cbut specifically the northeastern corner, between Heraklion and Agios Nikolais - an overlooked swathe of gorgeous Mediterranean beaches and landscapes which is undergoing a renaissance of hospitality, food and culture.

With plenty of exciting cultural events and the grand unveiling of Wyndham Grand Crete Mirabello Bay's third and final renovation - there is no better time for a visit to Crete. Whether a culture vulture longing for a vibrant city escape, a foodie dreaming of exploring the fine Cretian culinary scenes, or a sun-seeker hoping to relax and unwind on white-hot beaches - it isn’t too early to book a Greek getaway.

Beyond the year-round temperate weather ranging between 17° to 30° degrees from spring to fall, there are endless reasons to consider the cost-for-value hospitality accommodations, festivals and new experiences one can have in Northeastern Crete in 2023.

We’ve rounded up our six reasons to visit Northeastern Crete this year:

1) New rooms, suites and facilities at Grand Crete Wyndham Mirabello Bay: New for 2023, the five-star resort will reveal the redesign of the final 108 rooms, which are set to feature an earthy colour palette and natural materials, including oak wood flooring and sophisticated black metal finishes. The new rooms will offer bungalow suites and rooms with far reaching sea views and private pools and indoor jacuzzis, providing guests with the utmost comfort and privacy.

The hotel’s main swimming pool will also be extended and finished with an impressive infinity overflow feature, and a floating platform will be constructed in the sea to better serve the water activity centre. The resort olive grove surrounding the yoga platforms will be landscaped, and a new garden will be created growing aromatic native plants and herbs.

event where locals come together to eat and drink, and adorn a magnificent bonfire, jumping over lit flames to free themselves of evil - a sacred, celebratory tradition dating back to medieval times.

3) Private Marina at Mirabello: Designed to be a maritime asylum for venturesome seafarers, Wyndham Grand Mirabello's Marina ensnares you with the gentle zephyr and the azure, almost transparent waters. Whether you are about to arrive on the beautiful shores of Cretan pureness or lease a vessel and seek the Aegean wonders, the on-site Marina will serve as your buoyant sanctuary.

Perfect for private entries, overnight moorings, and yacht catering, this halcyon berth gives the hotel's guests effortless access to amusing water sports such as snorkelling, diving, and sailing, and it saturates their psyche with wonder via unforgettable sightseeing tours and nostalgic fishing trips. Furthermore, the Marina is intensely privileged, with the magnificent Beach Club located just a breath away. Blissful moments formed by delectable meals and inspiring fitness escapades await you here.

4) Bioaroma Natural: Bioaroma Crete, founded in 2007 in Agios Nikolaos, Crete, is a pioneering organic cosmetics and perfumes company, environmentally friendly with sustainable development. Our mission is to utilize the natural wealth of Greek land by creating high-quality organic cosmetics and fragrances, by incorporating vertically integrated action sequences, starting from the field and finishing on the shelf. For travellers looking to create their own scent and bring the florals of Crete, Biorama offers hands-on soap and fragrance workshops that allow you to experience the wonder of creating a bespoke fragrance that is as unique as you or craft your own cosmetic cream or beautiful handmade olive oil soap using traditional techniques. Biorama also offers tours of the surrounding flower fields to learn about the local health properties of the northeastern section of the island.

5) The Extraordinary Dining Scene: Northeastern Crete offers some of the most delectable restaurants, wineries and dining experience that rivals the world's best destinations. Around the contours of northeastern Crete are leading restaurants including Archontiko in Agios Nikolaos, which was named a Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best 2022. The seaside village of Mochlos is also chock-full of quaint seaside restaurants with some of the best fish and local delicacies in the region.

Also in this region, a slew of olive oil presses and farms with local production methods and centuries-old vineyards yield some of the best labels in the region, including those from the tsounati variety, with a walnut yet delicate taste, and the koroneiki variety, more fragrant, fresh, and spicy, ideal for salads. Guests looking to taste the best olive oil in the region can attend the weekly olive oil festival a festival and competition in the nearby village of Sisi. Starting with the old oil press from the 18th century and through the family’s award-winning ecological olive oil mill, visitors will learn all the secrets of the olive and its oil, as well as tastings of local honey, wine, raki and followed by an epic outdoor meal.

6) And for wine-lovers, look no further than Crete to sample some of the award-winning labels from this fertile and rich soil found on the island. Just a short drive from Heraklion are the Manousakis Winery, Karavitakis Winery, Douloufakis Winery where indigenous grapes such as Kotsifali, Liatiko, Mandilaria that have been grown on centuries-old vineyards and yield some of the best wines in the Mediterranean.

For more information or to book, visit: www.wyndhamhotels.com/en-uk

It Mallorca: Calatrava Unveils its Transformation

It Mallorca Unique Spaces is a collection of five luxury boutique hotels in Palma Mallorca. Calatrava, Can Cera, Can Alomar and Sant Jaume are located in the best downtown locations in Palma while Can Aulí is far from the hustle and bustle in the heart of Pollença.

Calatrava Unveils Transformation

Calatrava has just reopened after an extensive renovation to the whole property. The nineteenth century building that houses the hotel is located in the heart of Palma looking out over Palma Bay. The reasoning behind the renovation was to respect the original architectural features whilst renewing the furniture and décor and reinforcing the concept of the Mediterranean house.

The colour of the walls throughout is now a vibrant, specially mixed terracotta – utterly unique to Calatrava. Rustic wooden beams, local fabrics, and earthy tones are offset by large potted plants and contemporary art in the hotel’s lounge, reception, and restaurant. The hotel’s 16 light and airy rooms and suites have all been updated with comfortable armchairs and thick rugs to provide a home from home feel.

Furniture by Carl Hansen, Vincent Van Duysen and Living Divani, lamps are by Lumine, Santa Cole and Oluce coexist with 87 photographs that capture the beauty of the sea, above and below the water. Local artists, José Taltavull and Xim Izguierdo, were commissioned to produce artworks exclusively for the newly refurbished Calatrava hotel. “As Above So Below” is a black and white art collection consisting of 87 photographs captured and curated especially for Calatrava – a true tribute to the island of Mallorca. Each photo is taken either beneath the sea looking up or taken from above – land or boat – looking into the surface of the sea. The horizon is the line that divides the work of both artists, who mix depth and simplicity throughout the collection. “We share a vision of Mallorca that is not reached by the tourist eye”, says José.

Calatrava Rooftop

A highlight of Calatrava is the rooftop terrace which is available exclusively to guests of the hotel. Uninterrupted views of the iconic Cathedral, the Old Town’s terracottacoloured rooftops, and the bay of Palma can all be enjoyed from here – including panoramic sea views morning, noon and night. It is at the hotel’s rooftop where guests will also enjoy breakfast and all-day bar service.

Calatrava Gastronomy

Only the finest regional ingredients are used to create Calatrava’s Mediterranean-inspired menu. A showcase of local delicatessens and small producers create the menu which includes S´Aglà’s artisan cheeses and Albert Adrià’s preserves, traditionally smoked meats and 0km sourdough bread.

Breakfast is a smorgasbord of everything from oven-fresh pastries and creamy yogurt, to local fruit and artisanal jam. What’s more, it’s served with mesmerising sea views on the roof terrace.

Calatrava Spa & Wellness

Located on the first floor, the spa has a sauna and heated whirlpool which can be reserved by guests of the hotel for an hour each day at no extra cost – and is entirely private for the exclusive-use of the guests who book. Seaskin’s Spanishmade vegan products are used for all treatments, from detoxifying face masks to nourishing body creams, all these products are 100% natural derived from Fair Trade ingredients. Calatrava also has a treatment room for massages where guests can truly disconnect.

BOOK IT

Rooms at Calatrava start from €280 (approx. £246) per night during low season, and €400 (approx. £352) in high season.

Rate is based on double occupancy and includes breakfast. For more information, visit www.calatravahotel.com.

Romance in the City of Canals with Hilton Molino Stucky, Venice

TFollow in Casanova’s footsteps, head to the City of Love and check in to the Hilton Molino Stucky Venice.

Guests experiencing the romantic experience will find strawberries and prosecco in the room upon check-in and later will be whisked off for a romantic Grand Canal tour by private taxi to kick back and soak up the iconic sights of Venice including the Doge’s Palace, Rialto Bridge and Bridge of Sighs. On returning to the hotel, relax and unwind with a spoiling pampering session at the hotel’s eForea Spa.

Come evening, love birds can saunter down to the Rialto Bar & Restaurant for a delicious special edition Cupid’s Arrow cocktail, before indulging in an unforgettable culinary experience in the Bacaromi restaurant. From antiques adorning the walls to colourful mosaic tiled flooring, the rustic and characterful décor of Bacaromi evokes the welcoming atmosphere of a typical Venetian bacaro. Here, guests will enjoy special Italian flavours, selecting the special Valentine’s menu or standard à la carte menu with the option to also pick and choose dishes from each.

After a blissful night’s sleep, breakfast is a decadent experience to remember at the Molino Restaurant which occupies two of the original buildings at the heart of the hotel. Chef Ivan

Fargnoli sources a large selection of local products and ingredients and the buffet breakfast is the perfect, nutritious way to start a day exploring Venice or to put guests in good stead for their journey home.

Hilton Molino Stucky Venice offers an array of stunning rooms and suites to choose from – for a touch of added extravagance opt for the Molino Deluxe Room with a View, Molino Tower Suite with a View, or the Presidential Suite for the ultimate romantic VIP experience. Located on the serene Giudecca Island, the Hilton Molino Stucky Venice is, from the outside, a historic Venetian gem; but inside, a modern masterpiece having been lovingly and exquisitely restored.

With romantic gondola rides, Renaissance-inspired architecture, celebrated public squares, and narrow canals to discover at every turn – it's a city everyone is bound to

fall in love with. Those who can’t whisk themselves away this early in the year can still indulge in a luxurious romantic break with the hotel’s decadent ‘Romantic Escape’ Package.

BOOK IT

Romantic Escape Package – rates start from €300 (available all year-round) and includes:

• Overnight stay at the Hilton Molino Stucky Venice

• Strawberries & Prosecco in room on arrival

• Hilton Breakfast Experience at the Molino Restaurant

•. Romantic Grand Canal tour by private taxi

Nightly rates at Hilton Molino Stucky Venice begin at 200 Euros per night based on double occupancy with breakfast included. Molino Suites start from 500 Euro per night.

STARS

Pisces (19 February – 20 March)

Patience and persistence are showing up in rewards for you this month. Creativity dissolves a limiting belief and ideas flow as easily as opening a book. Navigating social connections can be tricky as you bump into territorial types. Trust your instincts when it comes to balancing career demands and time for yourself. You could find yourself in the midst of money-making opportunities, but you will have to be perceptive as to which ones to take.

Favourable Dates: March 2, 5, 11, 14, 20, 23

Favourable Colours: Green & White

Manish Kumar Arora

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

Aries (21 March – 19 April)

This month gives you an opportunity to turn a new leaf and start something new. The new start requires looking at the past; noticing mistakes made in order to atone for wrong doings and when that is done release them without attachment into the Universe. Some of you may find that your physical wellbeing is tied to your attitudes around money. Changes of circumstance financially may reveal just how strong this link is.

Favourable Dates: March 3, 4, 12, 13, 21, 22

Favourable Colours: Red & Blue

Taurus (20 April – 20 May)

You are especially good at caring for others and so connecting to your compassionate nature is easy and the energy for doing so this month will flow with the milk and honey of love. Some of you will need to give care to your partner or receive it from them. You'll be feeling intense and passionate, and also a little bored with your current situation and ready for change. Make sure that you work to renew your inner resources if you become depleted.

Favourable Dates: March 1, 4, 10, 13, 19, 22

Favourable Colours: White & Yellow

Gemini (21 May – 20 June)

This is a month when you will need to keep moving in order to keep yourself busy and flexible. If you want things to happen, get out there and start them off. Some of you may simply change your mind or your ideas about what you want in your emotional or domestic life and opt for something different. The more conventional ones may go alternative while some on the alternative path may go through a dramatic shift to a more conservative road.

Favourable Dates: March 1, 9, 10, 18, 19, 27

Favourable Colours: Blue & Yellow

Cancer (21 June – 22 July

The period will be the most intense and bring the greatest liability for instability or disruptive events. You may be dealing with difficulty or conflict within the family or household. You may need to re-evaluate your budget and look at your 'long term' spending or the consequences of it. For some, there may be an awakening to spiritual knowledge or concerns because of events around you. You may share new knowledge or beliefs with a partner.

Favourable Dates: March 6, 9, 15, 18, 24, 27

Favourable Colours: Red & Yellow

Leo (23 July – 22 August)

You will be working very hard, feeling overwhelmed and it just seems like things won't let up! You will experience heightened creativity and the energy to want to act on those fun projects and plans. If you move into a deeper level of finance with others or with credit agencies or banks, make sure you examine all the angles with care and patience. There could be strange doings or upsurges of hidden or unexpected forces around matters of love and money.

Favourable Dates: March 2, 5, 11, 14, 20, 23

Favourable Colours: Red & Green

Virgo (23 August – 22 September)

The month is giving you a lot visibility to see ahead and with that you make the right decisions for a successful run both in your career and with your family. It highlights all kinds of openness, success, friendship and fun relationships for you this month. You may find that personal magnetism and dealings with people can help to boost your income or

mark a new path for you to take. In some cases, this may see you travelling a new road spiritually.

Favourable Dates: March 1, 7, 16, 19, 22, 23

Favourable Colours: White & Green

Libra (23 September – 22 October)

You will be able to make advances and fortunate connections with career matters from this time. It will be important to see the wider view or the bigger picture. Make the most of whatever circumstances or people favour your efforts. You may know some measure of retreat from your usual existence. For some there could be troubles with some form of addiction or deceptive behaviour in a close emotional tie.

Favourable Dates: March 3, 8, 12, 17, 21, 26

Favourable Colours: Yellow & White

Scorpio (23 October – 21 November)

You may need to re-evaluate your career direction. There could be communication problems with superiors at work or people in authority. Big shifts with family or emotional matters may drain or test the resources of some, while others may find that a renewal of the emotional patterns brings a new lease of life. Many of you may find that health will fluctuate this month and there will be a few ups and downs.

Favourable Dates: March 5, 9, 14, 18, 23, 27

Favourable Colours: Red & Green

Sagittarius (22 November - 21 December)

You could be reviewing your finances and creating a budget that makes better sense. You’re at a point where partnering with other people can be very beneficial, and short distance trips can move you and your ideas forward. For those living in bliss, there may be changes around home, work or the direction of your lives together that help to redefine your relationship. Some of you will be called upon for significant effort.

Favourable Dates: March 1, 9, 10, 18, 19, 27

Favourable Colours: Red & Blue

Capricorn (22 December – 19 January)

Demands in your career will take up the majority of your time and weeding out nonessentials will help move you closer to your target. You need to quiet the constant swimming of the inner fish with prayer, meditation and walks in this most lovely time to allow secrets to emerge. Working with businesses behind the scenes allows you to contribute to communication needs and help people embrace new ways to grow with optimism.

Favourable Dates: March 2, 4, 11, 13, 20, 22

Favourable Colours: Red & Purple

Aquarius (20 January – 18 February)

This month can become a juggling act at your job. Daily routines are put to the test and streamlined for effectiveness. If single, you need to be wise in your romantic choices, as not everyone you meet will be what they seem. It may be easier than you think to misread another person or the situation that you're in. Your creativity is highlighted after 20th, and staying true to your inner self dissolves old blockages.

Favourable Dates: March 1, 2, 10, 11, 19, 20

Favourable Colours: Red & White manishastroconsultant manish@manishastrologer.com

Weekend Starts Here....

Unnatural History by Jonathan Kellerman

A gripping new crime novel featuring Alex Delaware from the bestselling master of suspense. When a photographer is found inside an LA warehouse slumped in bed, shot to death, it sets in motion a complex and dangerous case for Lieutenant Milo Sturgis and Psychologist Alex Delaware. The victim had just received rave media attention for his latest project - images of homeless people living out their 'dreams'. But there were many who saw the work as crass exploitation. Did anger turn to homicidal rage? Or do the roots of violence reach down to the victim's own family? As new murders arise, Alex and Milo must peel back the layers of the case - and will find themselves coming up against in one of the deadliest threats they've ever faced...

Release Date: 16th February

Allelujah

(Film)

When the geriatric ward in a small Yorkshire hospital is threatened with closure, the hospital decides to fight back by galvanizing the local community. When the geriatric ward in a small Yorkshire hospital is threatened with closure, the hospital decides to fight back by galvanizing the local community: they invite a news crew to film their preparations for a concert in honour of the hospital's most distinguished nurse. 'Allelujah' celebrates the spirit of the elderly patients whilst paying tribute to the deep humanity of the medical staff battling with limited resources and ever-growing demand.

Release Date: 17th March

John

Wick: Chapter 4

John Wick: Chapter 4 picks up where the previous film left off, with John Wick on the run and facing a massive bounty on his head. With the world's top assassins closing in, John must navigate through dangerous territories and rely on old allies to survive As he fights his way through the streets, he uncovers a sinister plot to take down the High Table, a secret organization that governs the world's assassins. With the help of some familiar faces, John sets out to take down the High Table and secure his freedom But with a neverending wave of assassins hunting him down, John must use his exceptional fighting skills and his cunning wit to stay alive.

Release Date: 24th March