Northern Woman November 2018 by Helen Wright

Editor’s Letter

i all, Welcome to our November edition. This month Shane Lynch talks to Northern Woman about his latest business venture, the end of Boyzone, and the emotional experience of recording ‘Thank You and Good Night’ which features vocals from the late Stephen Gately. Also in this issue, plucky Belfast nurse Gabby Gardiner explains how she rescues dogs that are destined for the dinner table in China. Gabby brings the pets back to Northern Ireland to be rehabilitated and rehomed. Two local sisters share quite different, inspiring stories. Evelyn Scott gives a candid account of dealing with illness, while her sister Shirley Thompson shares her plans to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean, despite having only taken up the sport this year. “This is one for the girls – it’s a reminder you can do anything if you put your mind to it,” Shirley says. The lady behind Abandoned NI shares a selection of her photographs with Northern Woman. The mum-of-two from Armagh, who prefers to keep her identity under wraps, has captured stunning images of derelict buildings across the province and beyond – turn to page 64 to see a sample of her work. We visited Whitehead Railway Museum to shoot this month’s fashion editorial. If you have not been there, you should check it

Glenn Norwood takes aim. For team and outfit credits see pages 22 & 24

out. From the Edwardian Tea Room to the collection of locomotives, and various family-friendly train trips, there’s a little something for everyone. The museum provided the perfect backdrop for our edgy photoshoot, and as always, we had an amazingly talented team working behind the scenes to pull it off. In addition to that, we also bring you beauty news, readers’ weddings and homes, local events, interior décor trends, travel reviews and much more besides. And we have a fantastic subscription offer running. Get 11 issues of NW delivered direct to your door for only £15, and the price includes a free SKINICAN Advanced Pro-Radiance Enzyme Peel worth £27.50. To subscribe call: 0800 028 1909 (ROI 0044 800 028 1909) or email: subscriptions@belfasttelegraph.co.uk Enjoy the issue, check in on our Facebook, Twitter or Instagram pages for daily updates. Until next month,

Catriona Doherty Editor Northern Woman

Contact me at: c.doherty@independentmagazinesni.co.uk. Follow NW on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/NorthernWomanMagazine and Instagram at: @northernwomanmagazine, and LinkedIn at: www.linkedin.com/company/northern-woman. Tweet us at: @NorthernWomanNW Northern Woman is a part of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). If you believe you have been unfairly treated, you can contact IPSO in writing via its website for guidance on what to do. The service is free. IPSO can then advise on whether it’s likely you have grounds for a complaint and what to do about it. The normal procedure is for the complainant to then contact the publication’s Editor directly. If no agreement is reached, the complainant can go back to IPSO to look for an adjudication, or for it to take over the complaint. Full details are available at www.ipso.co.uk. Alternatively, email complaints@ipso.co.uk, or inquiries@ipso.co.uk, or telephone 0300 123 2220, or the out-of-hours emergency number: 07659 152 656. Or write to: IPSO, c/o Halton House, 20-23 Holborn, London EC1N 2JD.

CONTENTS NOVEMBER 2018

STYLE 07 HEADS UP Headbands we’re lusting over 10 HEAR ME ROAR Animal print chic 16 TRAVEL OFF THE BEATEN TRACK This month’s fashion editorial FEATURES 26 SHANE LYNCH Says goodbye to Boyzone and embraces new business venture 30 DOGGY 911 32 WHERE’S YER MAN FROM? 16 things your other half learned when he moved to NI BEAUTY 36 THE BEAUTY EDIT Makeup bag and skincare must-haves 38 WINTER-PROOF NAILS Seasonal nail SOS 39 CONTOURING Aimee Connolly’s guide HEALTH AND WELLNESS 42 YOGA CHANGED MY LIFE Sean Loughran’s story 43 YOGI ASSIGNMENT: GRATITUDE By Kino MacGregor 44 HEY PESTO! Sal Hanvey cooks basil pesto linguini 47 SHOP LOCAL Produce to sample this month 48 SISTERS Are doin’ it for themselves 50 TRIED & TESTED NW attends a Pilates and Wellness Retreat 52 COSY SOCKS & CUDDLES Online dating demystified ESCAPE 54 LAPLAND Where the magic happens 56 THE BEST CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN EUROPE

Credit: Tara Jarmon

Cover image from River Island www.riverisland.com

Credit: Steven Neeson Photography

60 REVIEW Breakfast at Miel et Moi 62 THE SOCIAL 10 Local events not to miss 64 REVIEW: La Scala Bistro, Stormont Hotel 65 CREATING WITH ABANDON 68 TARA LYNNE O’NEILL Chats to NW about ‘On the Shelf’ 82 PROFILE: Portaferry Hotel LIVING 72 THE DARK SIDE Moody-hued interiors 78 INSIDE A READERS’ HOME 83 DOUBLE UP Designer doubles

IN EVERY ISSUE 58 LET’S DRINK TO… Port 59 MOVIE ROUNDUP 84 LOCAL WEDDINGS 86 THE ALBUM Social pics 94 HERE & THERE 95 BLOGGER CORNER Happily Ever After by Zoe Scullion 96 NORTHEN MAN Jeff Meredith’s local adventures 98 WIN A stay at Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone

Publisher Independent News & Media Ltd Belfast Telegraph House 33 Clarendon Road Clarendon Dock Belfast BT1 3GB T: 028 9026 4264 Production Manager: Irene Fitzsimmons Editor: Catriona Doherty Design: Robert Armstrong Sales Manager: Ciara Hedgcock Art Editor: Helen Wright Editorial Contributors Aimee Connolly, Bev Martin, Claire Craig, Clare Bowie, Emma Deighan, Evelyn Scott, Jade Beecroft, James Oliver, Jeff Meredith, Kino MacGregor, Paula Gracey, Sal Hanvey, Róisín Carabine and Zoe Scullion Independent News & Media © 2016. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means; electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of Independent News & Media.

STYLE Red animal wrap dress £18, black heeled sandals £16.50 from George at Asda Photography by Collette O’Neill; model Melissa Riddell; stylist Fiona Anderson; location Clandeboye Estate

07 05

04 08

Fringe Braided Headband from Free People £148

Heads-up

Get ahead in the style stakes with a headband 01

From wide front-twist bands, to headband-meets-turban styles, the look exudes laid back chic. This season Tom Ford models walked in black leather head wraps, Alexander Wang’s styles were sparkling and embellished, whereas Prada showcased velvet headbands. Models Bella Hadid and Chriss Tiegen have been pictured sporting headbands recently, but Beyoncé and Jay-Z have taken things to the next level as Queen Bey matched her grey bandana with Jay-Z’s navy one. We will leave the ‘his & hers’ matching trend to the celebs, but we can’t wait to get our hands on one of these beautiful bands...

01 Polka dot bandanna from Pull & Bear £5.99 02 Floral print scarf from Bershka £5.99 03 Headband from Bershka £5.99 04 GP & J Baker headband from H&M £6.99 05 Leather turban-style headband from Uterqüe £49 06 Leather headband with knot details from Uterqüe £49 07 Headband from Marc Cain £45 08 Plait band from Monki £8 09 Black silk headband with crystals from Jimmy Choo £225 10 Snake print headband from New Look £3.99 11 Twist block bright chain print headscarf from ASOS Design £10 12 Plisse Turban Hairband from Oliver Bonas £15

✱ WINTER WEDDINGS They really are a thing of beauty, but can be a nuisance to dress for. Whether you are a blushing bride or a glamourous guest, you want to look your best during this wedding season without falling victim to the elements. ✱ BACK TO BASICS Katherin suggests keeping it simple for the outfit; an elegant jumpsuit, midi length dress with a high lace detail neckline or a fabulous pleated skirt paired with a simple long sleeved top. These are key pieces for any wardrobe and when complimented by simple gold or silver accessories they are made for any winter celebration. You can also minimise the accessorising and opt for a striking leopard print piece that speaks for itself and shows your bold side. Leopard print is everywhere this season and it is fierce!

It’s almost party season again and we have packed up our open toe sandals, pastel coloured pieces and welcomed back long sleeves, scarfs and coats. Victoria Square’s Personal Stylist, Katherin Farries, reveals her top tips and best buys to dress to impress this winter while staying on-trend (and toasty!)

✱ HIGH AND MIGHTY A pair of fabulous on-trend silver or golden closed toe heels are a girls’ best friend this winter, according to Katherin. They go with everything and allow outfits to be completed with a pair of nude or black tights; meaning you don’t have to brave the cold and you can leave the fake tan in the cupboard until next summer. ✱ FLAT OUT FUN Just because the temperatures have dropped doesn’t mean the fun has to. Always think ahead and pack a pair of your best dancing shoes. Katherin suggests wearing a pair of on-trend ballerina pumps to keep the glamour, and the party, going all night long. ✱ GET YOUR COAT Your favourite duffle jacket may be great for the bus journey to work, but not for a wedding… every winter wardrobe needs a classic coat. Statement coloured coats are the thing to have this winter, adding a pop of colour to grey days and working in harmony with your best occasion wear. Plus you’ll be thankful for it when you’re waiting for a taxi in the snow. ✱ LET’S WRAP IT UP Big scarves are still in, actually the bigger the better. Teaming a chunky scarf with your winter wedding look gives your outfit an on-trend vibe and keeps you snug! It’s also the perfect alternative for the girls who always lose their coat (you know who you are)! ✱ LET’S NOT FORGET THE EVENING GUESTS Katherin loves a smart buy that can be used time and time again, which is the perfect option for an evening wedding guest. Jazz up an LBD or jumpsuit with an on-trend leopard print belt, shoes or clutch bag, find a dress that you’ll wear throughout party season or treat yourself to a pair of heels you’d happily wear to your own wedding.

COAST – HARLEM JUMPSUIT - £99

This jumpsuit is effortlessly chic and cut to fit and flatter with a bardot neckline. It will become a wardrobe favourite you can dress up or down for any occasion. Complete the look with a messy up-do, chunky gold necklace or tassel earrings.

Take the stress out of getting your winter wedding outfit, and let Katherin find something that makes you look and feel fabulous. With 3 hour sessions starting from just £45, book in for your bespoke Personal Stylist appointment with Katherin by calling 028 9032 2277 or email ps@victoriasquare.com. MANGO – PRINTED BOW DRESS - £49.99

This classically patterned black and white dress oozes sophistication and style. The below the knee length and midi sleeve means this cut flatters all and is a staple occasion wear piece.

KAREN MILLAN - METALLIC PLEATED SKIRT - £215

The gorgeous green metallic skirt is a great investment, it rises to the occasion for weddings but can be an exciting day-to-day piece too. It is perfect for a wedding paired with an embellished black top and heels but looks just as fabulous with an oversized cardigan and boots.

REISS – FARIS BELTED LONGLINE COAT - £375

This versatile mid length coat is a great buy. It’s at home with your glad rags as well as your jumpers and jeans. It’s tailored look and oversized collar gives it a sophisticated vibe and its light blue colour is a favourite this season.

RIO BRAZIL – 2ND DAY – LEOPARD PRINT BELTED DRESS - £160

MICHAEL KORS – CLAIRE GLITTER MESH PUMP - £135

This uniquely toned leopard print dress is a staple item to have. Its flattering shape and length make it a great wedding outfit for the nontraditional guest. Plus it will add something different to your work and weekend wardrobe too.

These stunning silver heels add some glitz and glamour to any look. They complete a winter wedding outfit with cool tones and a sensibly sized heel, but look just as sensational with a pair of black skinny jeans.

HOBBS – FLO BALLERINA - £110

Who needs heels when flats are this cute? These leopard print ballerina pumps combine an on-trend look with comfort and they look great with any monochrome dress or jumpsuit. This is the perfect shoe to end (or start) the night in style.

1 Victoria Square, Belfast, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland, BT1 4QG

Crocodile Belt Bag from Free People £88

Zebra tote leather bag by Biba from House of Fraser £180

Bafari bag from Dune London £70

Hear Me How to wear animal print without looking like Kat Slater

Double hoop leopard print jeans belt from Accessorize £10

Helaine Chalk Matt Python Booties from Jimmy Choo £1,195

Leather crossbody bag with metal clasp from Massimo Dutti £119

Leopard attitude cone heel boots from Dorothy Perkins £45

Croc black western boot from George at Asda £15

Mock croc bowling bag from Uterqüe £180 O-Ring chain crossbody bag from & Other Stories £69

ACCESSORISE

For a subtle nod to the trend, add a croc or snake print belt bag, double hoop Gucci-style leopard belt, or two-tone cross body bag.

Contrast slingback shoes from Mango £35.99

Leopard earrings from Zara £9.99

Croc-effect bucket bag from Mango £35.99

Snakeskin print belt bag £19.99, dress £39.99 from Zara

Leopard print jacket £18, leopard print skirt £12 from Primark

Burnt orange animal print jumpsuit from Next £35

Dress from Navabi Collection £216

HEAD TO TOE

Snake print dress from Pull & Bear £29.99 Snake print gown from Mango £69.99

Crocodile, zebra, tiger, leopard… go head-to-toe in your favourite animal print this autumn. Opt for a simple midi dress teamed with ankle boots, for a look that’s more Oxford Street than Albert Square.

Zebra print midi shirt dress from New Look £24.99

Animal print midi wrap frill hem dress from Liquorish £70

Teal leopard print midi dress from Warehouse £65

Zebra print jumpsuit from Dorothy Perkins £45 Pink leopard print satin midi shirt dress from New Look £24.99

Top from Zara £17.99

Check jacket £60, print dress £48 from Oasis

Leopard print jumper from Warehouse £46

MIX & MATCH

Take inspiration from the catwalks and opt for clashing prints. Balenciaga layered neon dresses over leopard tops, Christian Dior styled an animal print skirt with a striped back and red top, and Caroline Herrera had animal cut outs emblazoned on her dresses.

Tabitha tiger jumper from Oasis £38

IP: TOP T print as d r r leopa colou Treat a neutral er h e t r o e if it w am it with and e s and t ke stripe s li print checks.

Animal print wide leg trousers from Miss Selfridge £32

Ridley in leopard print velvet by ASOS Design £38

Merci slogan sweatshirt £12.50, animal print wrap skirt £14, silver trainers £12.50 Photography by Collette O’Neill; model Melissa Riddell; stylist Fiona Anderson

Pleated skirt from Stradivarius £29.99

Animal print tie front shirt from Miss Selfridge £25

Hobbs Marianne Jean from Moores of Coleraine £79

NO VE FO R £ M

EV 10 F BER ER OR S P Y £1 YO EC 00 U IA L SP EN T

WITH A HASTINGS HOTELS GIFT CARD

Can you keep a Secret? E

very woman wants to not just look good but to also to feel good. Our fantastic new shapewear collection from Spanish brand Janira helps you do both – all while keeping your secret. Janira’s fabulous seam free fabric in the secrets range won’t show through clothing and keeps your figure looking smooth and streamline. The Greta range offers control briefs that look fantastic with a flat lace. Matching slips are also available in the Greta collection. See in store for more details.

Silueta Forte Plus

663 Lisburn Road, Belfast 028 9038 1313

Shaping Greta

www.orchidlingerie.co.uk

FINANCE

AVAILABLE ENDS 14TH DECEMBER 2018

Christmas 2018

Love

Instant Heat

with Natural Gas

Lunch from £28.50 Dinner from £36.00

0800 032 4567

Festive Cocktails in The Bar Gift Vouchers Festive Overnight Stays

firmusenergy.co.uk/sarah www. fitzwilliamhotelbelfast.com 15

Shot on location at Whitehead Railway Museum

Travel off the beaten track This autumn anything goes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from clashing tones and textures, to streamlined suits and heritage check. Stylist NiĂĄmh Cunningham shares her top picks...

Turtleneck £8 and bag £12 from Primark; blazer £46, trousers £25, and earrings £12.50 from Topshop

Skirt £49, jumper £32 from Warehouse; coat £30 from Primark, Karen Millen glasses from Specsavers, Victoria Square £125; shoes model’s own

Turtleneck £19.99 from New Look; skirt £34.99 from DV8 Fashion; earrings £12.50 from Topshop; turban £96 from Gráinne Maher Millinery

Coat £30 and shirt £10 from Primark; jumper £30 from River Island; trousers £22.99 from New Look; hat £12.99 from H&M

Blouse £28 and skirt £28 from River Island; bag £39.99 from DV8 Fashion; earrings £3 from Primark, leather halo £245 from Gráinne Maher Millinery

Jumper £27.99 from New Look; dress £79.99 from Warehouse; Jade glasses from Specsavers, Victoria Square £99

– PHOTOGRAPHY – Glenn Norwood 07587 658348 www.norwoodphotography.co.uk – STYLING & CREATIVE DIRECTOR – Niámh Cunningham 074 5394 0312 www.facebook.com/niamhxcunn – MAKEUP – Aisling O’Donnell Makeup www.facebook.com/aislingodonnellmakeup and www.ciaradalymakeup.com 079 2279 8890 – HAIR – Nicole Kearns Zuni Hair www.zunihairdressing.com 028 9033 2345 – MODEL– Enya Sullivan CMPR www.cmprireland.com 028 9042 1509 – LOCATION – Whitehead Railway Museum www.steamtrainsireland.com 028 9358 6200 – WITH THANKS TO – The team of volunteers and staff at Whitehead Railway Museum & Sara Caithness at Rumour Mill PR

Blouse £36, jumper £38, and bag £38 from River Island; jeggings £17.99 from New Look; coat £79 from Topshop

Shop & Stay Festive Shopping Package Overnight Bed & Breakfast One complimentary car parking space Glass of prosecco each on arrival £30 Victoria Square voucher each From £99.00 per person Available Sunday – Thursday in November and December 2018. Terms & Conditions apply. Subject to availability.

GET YOUR

BRAND NOTICED ADVERTISE WITH US...

contact Ciara on: 07769951595 or c.hedgcock@independentmagazinesni.co.uk

SHANE î&#x192;° LYNCH says goodbye to Boyzone and embraces new business venture

Photo credit: Steven Neeson Photography

Travis & Julie Ann Skelton with Shane Lynch at Amen Footwear, Abbey Centre. Photo by Matty Killen

BY EMMA DEIGHAN

hane Lynch is pretty chilled out for someone who runs more than three businesses, is half way through a world tour, and is about to launch a farewell to the industry album. I think we could all be a bit more Shane Lynch. Sitting in Belfast’s new AC Marriott hotel before launching his third Northern Irish shoe shop, Amen, he’s relaxed and looking different. The shaved hair has been replaced by a wispy effortlessly outgrown do. He did it, he says, to shed the boyband image before embarking on a trawler boat challenge as part of an upcoming reality programme (Call Yourself a Fisherman) with chef Anthony Worrall Thompson and rugby star Ben Cohen. “I made a conscious decision not to turn up like a pop star, all groomed and stuff especially in what is a real man’s world,” he says of his entrance onto that deep-sea trawler off the North West Scottish coast. “I didn’t want to be neat. Yes that’s the word, neat.”

µµI’m different and it doesn’t always sit well with people∑∑ But Shane was never one for the “neat” popstar image. One fifth of Irish band Boyzone, he was the one who stood out. The misfit with the tatts and rough edge, or as he would describe it, he was the lone ranger. “With anything I do, I’m a lone ranger, even in Boyzone. I don’t dress like them, I don’t look like them. I’m different and it doesn’t always sit well with people and that sometimes is hard.” His new footwear line, available at his three stores in Ballymena, Randalstown,

Photo credit: Steven Neeson Photography

and now Abbey Centre, is not sitting well with his competitors, he divulges. He tells me he’s selling an industry standard £150 Italian shoe for £39.99 just because he can and he wants to “give back”. “Anything I create, I always try to be the best for the least. So many will squeeze people for the last dime they have and I hate that. “The big companies are letting me know that there is an unwritten rule that a shoe that is made of Italian leather is worth £150. I know what it costs to make and I believe we can give it to people for a price they want.

“And people get pissed off about that. I’m not making a big profit but it’s more about people needing a little bit of something in their lives,” he explains. It’s a bit like his former Vodka firm. He says his brand of the spirit, before he sold it, was premium but with a Smirnoff price tag. During our interview Shane was sporting a navy Chelsea brogue style boot from Amen. It looks every inch a £300 product but our guessing was over £250 out. Amen shoes can be bought online or in one of his three stores, all based in Northern Ireland.

Continued on 28 ➤

I ask him what the lure is about NI, and the more remote locations, and he tells me it’s about giving back to communities and not choosing obvious shopping towns. “Belfast is Belfast. It is the pinnacle but I like communities and building opportunities for people. I’m not saying I’m being some sort of saviour but it’s an obvious thing to open a flagship in Belfast and if that comes in five years then so be it,” he says. It’s funny though, that a Dublin boy would choose Northern Ireland as the home of his fashion venture – and it’s also the home of his barber chain – because Shane, since joining Boyzone 25 years ago, has spent most of his life in the south of England; London first and then Surrey. “I find myself attracted to Northern Ireland,” he admits. “I like being here, spending time here. I’ve got great business partners here who see things like I do and it’s hard to find people like that.” Shane’s biggest NI date will be January 23rd when he will perform at the SSE Arena with his three bandmates as part of their last ever tour: Thank You and Good Night. It’s surreal to think that Boyzone, which has been so embedded in popular culture for the past quarter of a century, is finite. But it is he assures me. “This is the last gig, the last album and it’s important for us, mentally, to stick to that,” he says. But it’s yet to set in, such has been the

Photo credit: Steven Neeson Photography

hectic schedule imposed upon him, Mikey, Keith and Ronan. “Jaysuz, we’re busy. We’re just off our first leg of our world tour and then we’ll start a UK arena tour and then back across the world. “We don’t know the last date yet but there will be one last show but we know there’s a defining end when we will pull that handbrake up. “Talking about it now, I feel okay. It was

µµit’s been 25 years, let’s just say, ‘thank you and goodnight∑∑ a year ago when we decided to make this album and it took us two years to have our time as individuals to make Boyzone and that’s when it becomes obvious Boyzone is not our main thing. It’s easier for us to say it’s been 25 years, let’s just say, ‘thank you

and goodnight’. When we get to the end of that though it’ll be absolutely horrible.” The final album of the same name is on sale on November 16. And it’s poignant in many senses. It features unheard vocals from the late Stephen Gately who died in 2009. They date back to around 2001 and were sent to the group by a Dutch producer. “When we were sent those recordings of Steo it was really nice. For us it was a great sign that we began as a five-piece and we’re ending as a five-piece, with Steo too.” Shane says Mikey (Graham) worked his magic on Gately’s vocals to “bring them up to date” and the concluding track, I Can Dream, is an “emotional” one. “It’s always emotional hearing his voice, especially when it’s a recording you’ve never heard before but when we play any gig or concert, we pay our respects to him. It’s always nice to hear him. Steo is always there. He’s part of Boyzone’s DNA.” A father of two daughters – 10-year-old Billie Rae and six-year-old Marley Mae – to singer and wife Sheena White, Shane says he’ll always be remembered as “that dude

from Boyzone” and it’s a tag he’s happy to carry around. Being one fifth of one of the best-known boybands in the world has its high points. “For a long time I’ve never given fame a thought until today when I was travelling from the UK to Ireland. It was really nice. I got to customs and excise and I always get pulled over, it’s standard. Before they see my face, they see a rugged individual but I got pulled in and soon as I got out, he goes ‘oh how are ya, Shane? Is this your car?’ and I said ‘no actually it’s not’ and I was sent on my way. “And at Dublin Port I got stopped and the Guard goes ‘ah Jaysus Shane, I was looking at the schedule and I saw you were playing at the 3Arena in January and I thought, there’s never any trouble at those gigs’ so those were moments recently when I thought shit, it’s actually ok to be me. But I do know there is bad around every corner,” he says. So what is around the corner for Shane Lynch once he hangs up that mic? Will it be business as usual? Shoes, barber shops and

Photo credit: Steven Neeson Photography

his MMA clothing line mixed with a few reality shows? “I’ll continue to do as I always do. There’s a little whirlwind of everything going on at the minute,” he says. But what we can expect is that laid-back consistent attitude no matter what the show or business; whether it’s sitting back and watching “very extreme humans” in Celeb Big Brother or taking a chance at the exhausting trawler style fishing, it will be done with a chill that any multi-tasking Northern Woman would pay good money to

zone into. “I don’t think you can be any other way. Some days I don’t know my arse from my elbow; I could be talking about Boyzone or car parts and I think that’s the thing, if I thought it was getting to a point where it was too much, I’d stop. “I’m in a lot of different businesses and a lot have failed, don’t get me wrong. I’ve learned a lot but I’ve learned more from the failed businesses than the successful ones,” he concludes. n

Doggy 911 A plucky Belfast nurse has just returned from China – bringing home 18 dogs that were once destined for the dinner table. Jade Beecroft reports

s with so many things these days, it was an appeal on social media that changed Gabby Gardiner’s life forever. The keen animal lover was scrolling through Facebook when she spotted a call for help a disabled toy poodle called Ollie. “He was in such a state, his muscles were so wasted that he could barely walk,” the 27-year-old explains. “He was only four years old but he’d been so badly abused.” The A&E nurse and her doctor fiancé Chris Sheehan, of Lisburn Road, Belfast, already had two dogs; boarder collie Charlie and Sam the German shepherd. With their medical background they felt they could give Ollie the care he so desperately needed. But there was one big problem; Ollie was in China, in the care of a small animal charity called Harbin Slaughter House Survivors (SHS). Dog meat is a Chinese delicacy and he’d been destined for the dinner table. “Ollie’s story was heartbreaking,” explains Gabby. “He’d been used for animal testing, spent his life in a laboratory, and then when he was no longer useful he’d been sold into the meat trade. “Thankfully Harbin SHS volunteers rescued him, but he had severe disabilities, including front limb deformities, a curved spine and muscle atrophy. We knew we could help him, but we’d have to bring him over to Northern Ireland from China first.”

Gabby, who works locum shifts in A&E departments across Northern Ireland, began researching the Chinese meat trade. The Lychee and Dog Meat Festival, often known as the Yulin Dog Meat Festival, is an annual summer event, during which it’s thought 10,000 to 15,000 dogs are eaten. Dog meat also features on many restaurant menus year-round. “What I discovered sickened me,” she says. “In China, a lot of people believe that the more an animal is tortured and suffers prior to and during slaughter, the better its meat will taste. “Some of these dogs are bred for meat, but others are stolen family pets or laboratory cast-offs like Ollie. “The Harbin SHS volunteers explained to me that dogs destined for consumption need the right paperwork, but many don’t have that because they’ve not come through the right channels. “It means that animal rights activists are able to stop the meat trucks and call police, who then oversee the surrender of any unregistered dogs.” Gabby and Chris decided that if they were going to fly Ollie out of China, they might as well bring a handful of other dogs back for rehoming too. “It costs around £600 to fly a dog over from Beijing, and then there’s the cost of the vaccinations, paperwork and vets’ bills,” says Gabby. “But when you see the horrific conditions

Ollie happy and safe in Northern Ireland

out there, every dog we can save is worth it.” They formed a fundraising group called Doggy911 Rescue and spent three months raising the £600 per dog needed to transport the animals from Beijing to Paris. The dogs also needed “flight buddies” – kind strangers who were willing to book them onto their flight tickets as domestic pets. Thanks to the powers of Facebook, they also found five other families in Northern Ireland willing to adopt a dog. They included Rebecca Boyce, who works in the Boucher Road branch of Pets at Home. She was one of the first volunteers to get involved with Doggy911 after Gabby took some fliers into the store. Gabby says: “On January 26th Rebecca and I drove a van over to Paris to meet Ollie and the other five dogs selected by the Harbin SHS volunteers as the most suitable for us to rehome. “It was pretty surreal as they were signed

Gabby in China

Gabby Gardiner and Ollie

Isobel Hyde and Casey

Northern Woman’s graphic designer’s adopted poodle San (which means three in Chinese)

over at the airport. We stayed in a dogfriendly hotel in Paris before making the journey home via Dublin.” Back in Belfast, Gabby and Chris took Ollie to the vet for an orthopedic review and he began physiotherapy. Meanwhile the other five rescued dogs – Casey, Jake, Roxy, Freddie and DeeDee – settled into their new homes. But not content with this first rescue, the

Gabby pictured in the airport in China

couple decided they wanted to help even more dogs, so began fundraising to rescue a second batch. And this time, Gabby wanted to go out to China herself to see firsthand what the animals were facing. She and two other volunteers self-funded their trip, and on August 19th the trio flew out to Harbin to spend two weeks at the rescue centre before bringing 18 dogs home. “It was certainly an eye-opener,” she says. “So many restaurants had signs outside advertising dog meat, with pictures of labradors. It was horrific. One day we passed a restaurant and we could actually see a live dog inside, so we asked our driver to stop. “We’d always said we wouldn’t buy dogs directly from the meat trade because that will only fuel it. But once we’d seen the two dogs in the restaurant, a golden lab and a black retriever, we just couldn’t walk away. “We ended up paying about £300 to rescue them. It was such a tough moral decision to have to make.” Again the dogs were brought back to Northern Ireland via France, with Chris heading up the Paris Run Team to collect them from the airport in a van. They returned on September 2nd and 16 of the dogs have already been rehomed; with two others being fostered by volunteers because they need ongoing veterinary treatment. Despite their busy lives, working long shifts and with Chris, 35, in the final year of his training at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital, the couple are now in the process of applying for charitable status for Doggy911 Rescue. They hold regular fundraisers and are hoping to bring another batch of dogs back

to Northern Ireland from China in October. “I’m hoping to go back to China myself early next year,” says Gabby. If someone had told me a year ago that I’d be running a dog rescue, from the other side of the world, I wouldn’t have believed them! “But now the dream is to one day be able to open our own small centre over here to rehabilitate the dogs before rehoming them.” Isobel Hyde, 59, from Crossgar, was one of the first people to rehome a Chinese rescue dog from Gabby. She adopted Casey in January and says it’s one of the best things she’s every done. “Casey settled into her new life straight away – she’s such a gentle and loving wee dog, you’d never know she had such a tragic past,” she says. “She’s nervous of strange men and she hates big lorries, she really panics whenever she sees one. But my husband Martin and I dote on her. The first time she set foot on the beach near our home the joy in her eyes was plain to see. “When I think of how close she came to being slaughtered for meat, my heart breaks. “Gabby and the team at Doggy911 are doing such an incredible job. The Yulin Dog Meat Festival needs to be stopped.” n

YOU CAN HELP

Gabby and the team at Doggy911 Rescue are looking for fundraisers, volunteers and adoptive families for their rescue dogs. For more information visit: www.doggy911rescue.com or find them on Facebook.

Where’s ‘yer man’ from?

16 things your other half learned when he moved to Northern Ireland BY CLARE BOWIE

o, you’ve travelled the world and lived in far flung places like, erm, Glasgow and Birmingham, and now you’ve dragged your poor, unsuspecting, significant other back home with you to Northern Ireland. He knew there would be some cultural differences and but he never expected so many bread products in a fry, and a few other ‘surprises’…

that many companies refuse to deliver things to this country, and why a lot of maps simply don’t bother with Northern Ireland at all. Welcome to our world.

The slaggings, oh the slaggings. He had no idea he would be so mercilessly ridiculed and laughed at; and that’s just by your family. He still recalls the day he bought herbs in Asda and was called Jamie Oliver, twice.

The bread. So. Much. Confusion. He’s never even heard of a bap. He calls a burger bap a bun, a bun a cake, and he’s deeply suspicious of the sheer volume of bread products within an Ulster fry. He still can’t remember which one is soda and which is potato, and you can be sure he’s never scooped out the inside of a bap to stuff it with crisps.

He hates shopping but still insists on complaining about the shops not being open on Sunday mornings, pretty much every Sunday morning in life. Secretly you totally agree with him and would happily mooch round B&M Bargains buying random stuff like Epsom salts given half the chance.

Only in Northern Ireland. There is a lot of head scratching about the “designated area” for wine in the supermarket, the fact

His childhood memories do not have any references to bomb scares or searches. His memories were more picnics in the park than: “Do you remember the time we got evacuated when a rocket was launched at the judge’s house?” The dark, dark humour. He’s still learning what’s acceptable and when it’s OK to laugh. At a recent kids’ party he was told by another dad that, “he’d rather take a punishment beating” than endure another of these events. Translation: this is a joke and does not (necessarily) mean that this man is involved in terrorist activities.

Sports. GAA sports are a total mystery to him. Hurling? What is that? Is it football with hockey sticks? And why is cricket only played in some schools when everyone plays it where he’s from? It’s all so different here! Sigh.

Its a man thing. For some reason the number plates are different over here, which means he can’t tell how old a car is from glancing at the number plate. Not sure why this matters but it just does.

The language barrier. Even when he’s feeling deeply misunderstood and bloated from all the bread, he still sniggers every time you say the word “merr” (mirror) or talk about going for a “sharr” (shower).

Ownership issues. He gets it; he knows people can be a tad sensitive about names and labels, Northern Ireland or the North of Ireland, Londonderry or just plain Derry, is important for some but he’s not sure why everyone has to be so possessive about their own family members. It’s never Catherine, it’s always: “our Catherine”, or “Our Anne”, even though it’s perfectly obvious when someone is referring to their own child or sister.

How many kids? Where he comes from, a “big family” means three children, those people have broken the mould and number three was probably an accident anyway. In this country, people drop off their kids to school in an A-Team style van and they just keep spilling out. He can’t believe family tickets often include two adults and three children like its actually normal or something.

Life in Northern Ireland all a bit too friendly. Random people smile or say hello on a regular basis when you’re out walking the dog or taking out the bins. Shop assistants really want to know what you’re

Harland & Wolff mural everything else is “wee”, in all scenarios: In the shops: “Put your wee PIN in there and take your wee receipt.” At the dentist: “Open your wee mouth so I can give you a wee filling.” At the doctors: “Let me see your wee arm there.” Barista: “Do you want cream on top of your wee hot chocolate (which is large btw)?”

Chip on shoulder anyone? He’s dealt with the weird political situation and understands that all good tourism includes jails, intimidating murals and sinking ships, but there are some things that he just can’t get his head around, like people calling a bag of chips, a chip. “It’s not a single chip, what’s wrong with you people!” *He might say.

Sometimes it’s all a bit too vague for him, people’s stock answer to almost any crisis is: “sure, it’ll be grand.” It seems the people of Northern Ireland have weathered more than their fair share of trouble and know when to make a fuss. “Awk, sure you know yerself,” they say during a hurricane. “It’s just a wee drop of rain and a gust of wind, sure it’ll be grand.” *A trampoline flies past the window.

16 doing today or if you’re off work. And if you don’t know the taxi man’s life story by the time you get home, well, there is probably something wrong with you.

No grey areas. Clearly, everything in life is not big or small but it actually is in Northern Ireland. Everyone is either “big lad” or “big eejit” and pretty much

He’s even got used to the universally accepted fact that everyone can do a Julian Simmons impression. He also now knows what geg, spide, millbag, boke, scundered, flegs, spoof, flipsake, wise the bap, culchie, aye yer ma, baltic, dander, and dead on, all mean but he still can’t understand the constant desire people have to unnecessarily re-affirm things, so he can’t. Wind your neck in big lad! n

Ulster fry

“WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE OUR CERTIFIED BRAZILIAN BLOWOUT STATUS”

NOW AVAILABLE IN SALON

DISCOUNT CODE: BBO 10% DISCOUNT WITH CODE CUT, BLOW DRY + COLOUR

45 BRADBURY PLACE, BELFAST T: 028 9024 6162 34

BEAUTY 35

SHOW STOPPER

Inglot’s High Gloss Lip Oils from its Call Me Ballerina collection feature apricot kernel oil, argan oil, jojoba oil, shea butter, and vitamin E to keep lips moisturised, soft and smooth. The non-sticky formula ensures comfort, while handy packaging enables easy and precise application. High Gloss Lip Oil from Inglot £16

THE BEAUTY EDIT BY CLAIRE CRAIG

The latest hair, skincare and makeup bag musthaves to help you look and feel great OH GLOW ON

Diorskin Nude Luminizer delivers a perfect glow with a single sweep of the brush. Infused with pearlescent Diorskin Nude pigments the Luminizer from powder lights up Dior £34 the complexion with an iridescent sheen and highlights the face with a multidimensional glow. The perfect tool for strobing it can also be used to give a little beauty boost during the day when makeup starts to fade, or for a touch of glow on the lips to create the illusion of fullness.

BIRTHDAY SEX

Too Faced’s best-selling mascara has been given a glittery make-over to celebrate the brand’s 20th birthday. This formula thickens, lengthens, and curls after just one coat for dramatic, luscious lashes.

Better Than Sex mascara from Too Faced £23

WHAT THE FOFO?

Experience a deep cleansing routine that is tailored specifically for your skin with the Fofo facial brush. Advanced skin sensors analyse the skin and prepare a personalised routine for customised cleansing. The sensors pair with a mobile app to read hydration levels, reveal true skin age and optimise the routine for you. The ultrasoft silicone is more hygienic than bristle brushes and is suitable for every skin type, leaving you with a more Luna Fofo from radiant complexion. FOREO £79

Platinum+ Styler from ghd £175

PLATINUM TOUCH

Featuring groundbreaking new style innovation – ultra-zone with predictive technology that recognises the thickness of your hair, the section size and the speed at which you are styling – the new ghd Platinum+ responds to your hair and the way that you style, controlling heat more effectively and predicting your personal hair needs, to give ultimate results and stronger, healthier hair.

SLEEPING BEAUTY

Filorga’s NCEF-Night Mask is a highly regenerating gel formula that is said to provide tired, stressed skin with the equivalent of eight hours sleep. More than just a night cream, this sleeping mask combats lack of sleep through its action on melatonin. It utilizes the same active ingredients as NCEF-Night Mask those used in mesotherapy from Filorga £60 injections, penetrating the skin for super-activated regeneration overnight.

OOOH LA LA

With an ultra-creamy and long-lasting formula, this liquid shadow from Bourjois sweeps over lids to create a ready-to-go radiance that lasts all day. The six shades are infused with iridescent pigments and are silky smooth and shimmering. Say ‘non’ to creasing, fading, flaking or touchups and ‘oui’ to effortless Satin Edition 24 Hour chic, from Eyeshadow from morning to Bourjois £6.99 night.

NORTHE MA RN WO

n a m o w

ERN NORTH

ber Novem

t out prin • Wild abadbands • 90s he n heritage • Moder

NOV EMB

8 ER 201

ues s s i 1 1 t Ge toSOS d e r e v i del r for o o d r u yo Y

THIS MONTH WITH A

50/€2.50

2018 £2.

ACT SISTER

Nail care

cks Cosy soles: & cudd

ting online da HANGED YOGA C FE MY LI

VOLUME

£15! 34

ONL

zone’s for Boy ginnings New be

ynch Shane L

NUMBER

L YOUR AND AL CORNER OGGER PLUS! BL

ITES FAVOUR

SUBSCRIPTION

FREE

SKINICIAN Advanced Pro-Radiance Enzyme Peel 50ml

This advanced mask-style exfoliator is an intense treatment created to gently but effectively support the exfoliation of dull and dry skin cells promoting smoother and more luminous looking skin. Made with a tailored blend of powerful fruit acids and enzymes that remove dull, dry cells and brighten the skin. Nepal Oligosaccharides will help to stimulate the skin’s natural renewal process, reducing the appearance of fine lines whilst promoting skin luminosity for a more youthful complexion. Vitamin E protects the skin from environmental stress and reduces the level of harmful free radicals while Allantoin will soothe and calm the skin making this treatment suitable for use on all skin types.

WO £27 RTH €34.50/ .75

Mask £60

CALL TODAY

Get 11 issues for only £15 and save £12.50

0800 028 1909 Republic of Ireland: 0044 800 028 1909

To sign up call NI (Freephone):

or email and request a call back: subscriptions@belfasttelegraph.co.uk *subject to availability

WINTER-PROOF NAILS

ADVICE

How to keep your nails in tip-top shape this season THE ALL-ROUNDER

Leighton Denny Crystal Nail File £12.50

The butter London Sheer Wisdom Nail Tinted Moisturizer is an all-in-one treatment and butter varnish. The ‘Micro Smart Active LONDON Technology’ locks in moisture and Sheer Wisdom helps nail repair. Nail Tinted We like this because: It comes Moisturiser £15 in a range of six sheer natural shades which compliment a variety of skin tones.

TOP TREATMENTS

SINGLE FILE

The £12.50 price tag may seem a little steep for a nail file, but the Leighton Denny Crystal Nail File comes with a 25-year guarantee; if the quality of the surface diminishes, it will be replaced free of charge – pretty good value we think! Tried and tested: The multi-award winning crystal file is said to ‘glide smoothly and evenly along the nail edge, turning the excess nail to dust while leaving the edge smooth and sealed’. The file did exactly that. NW highly recommends this tool.

Sally Hansen’s Nailgrowth Miracle promised ‘30% longer nails in five days’. Advanced Peptide Technology Sally reinforces nails to resist splitting, Hansen’s cracking and breaking. Collagen Nailgrowth and the multi-vitamin Miracle formula promoted £6.50 healthy nail growth. Our first impressions: The applicator brush is quite thin so it would be a great option if you have small hands/fingernails. It left a hard, shiney finish, so our nails felt protected – similar to the Sally Hansen’s ultra-glossy finish of the Color Therapy Top Sally Hansen Color Therapy Coat £8.99 Top Coat with argan oil.

Cold weather, drying heaters and overall moisture loss can make nails dry and weak in winter. Georgie Smedley, founder of All That Jazz nails, shares her top tips for keeping your nails protected: Keep your hands and nails moisturised on a regular basis. Regularly apply a cuticle balm which will help to protect from harsh weather and also works to regenerate skin, reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Washing up, having a bath, or even a traditional manicure offering a soak in a bowl are all great big no nos. Exposing your nails to water makes All that Jazz them swell, with… cuticle Balm you guessed it… water. £8.99 Although the water in the nail plate will evaporate in around 30-60 minutes, the harmful part is that it will take with it all the good oils that are meant to stay in the nail. This strips the nail plate of its flexibility, adding to the problem of brittleness. You’re obviously not going to avoid having a bath, washing your hair, or showering, but be sure to smother your nails in cuticle oils to rehydrate and protect from those breaks. Keep nails at a reasonable length, and slightly shorter than normal, as they are at a greater risk of breaking during winter months. A good quality file will seal the edges and prevent peeling – try to use a glass All that Jazz file, such as the All That Jazz cuticle oil Glass file, which has a super £7.99 fine surface and will seal the free edge leaving it smooth and snag free.

BEST FOR…

For trimming cuticles and hangnails with precision this Teezerman tool comes highly recommended. Sharp, precise blades won’t pull or tear the skin, so dead skin can be removed easily. n Tweezerman gear mini hangnail squeeze and snip nipper £12.95

CHOOSE THE RIGHT BRUSH

I think this is one of the most important things when you’re trying to get to grips with contouring. Using a brush that fits into the cheekbones rather than a large fluffy one, will help with your shape and precision. I created the Sculpted Double Ended Brush to do just this and feedback has been amazing. This basically means that you’re sculpting your cheekbone and not your entire cheek. Sculpted by Aimee Connolly Double Ended Brush £10.95

COLOUR IS KEY

Another common area which often confuses people is their bronzer or contour colour choice. You need to be mindful of your base colour - are you quite fair or tanned? This dictates how dark your contouring shade should be. The bronzer in our Rose Gold palette was developed to suit all skin types and is good if you want a deeper colour. Sculpted by Aimee Connolly bronzer £22

CON TOUR ING

STARTING POINT

When we do our blush we always start shading with the brush from the nose/cheek area and back, whereas contouring is different in that you want to start where your cheekbone meets the ear and then blend in towards your lips. This will ensure that it doesn’t look mucky and that no one can see any harsh lines.

Celebrity makeup artist Aimee Connolly shares her guide to contouring

FOLLOW YOUR CHEEKBONE

This may sound self-explanatory but this is actually the biggest thing that I find people struggle with, and you may not even realise that you’re not doing it right. You want to make sure that you follow your cheekbones the whole way and that you’re not dipping when you come to the end. And yes, dipping is a thing - it basically means you’re falling off the bandwagon and your cheekbone is going down at the end, not up.

ontouring, the famous C word in the makeup world, can terrify some people. The good news is that it really doesn’t have to be that complicated and that is exactly what inspired me to set up Sculpted. From years of teaching I have seen the common mistakes people make, but I have also witnessed how amazing even the lightest amount of contouring can be, so I wanted to create a palette that simplified it. Here are my tips for a more flawless contoured finish. n

For more from Aimee visit: www.instagram.com/aimeeconnolly_com or www.facebook.com/AimeeConnollyMU

CLEAN UP

We are bound to have days where our sculpted bones may not look as precise and defined as we would like, especially when applying makeup in a hurry. If you find that you have gone too low and that you need a quick fix to get it back into shape, going in with your foundation brush underneath can help to clean it up and conceal any mistakes.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

YOGA changed my life From styling fashion shoots for Northern Woman, to working for Vogue, before having a life-altering epiphany in India – 25-year-old Belfast local Sean Loughran’s story certainly is is an interesting one, writes Catriona Doherty

his month Sean Loughran contacted Northern Woman from Vancouver as he manages the PR for Kino MacGregor; international yoga teacher, author and speaker. Sean connects Kino with brands and publications, and it just so happens he used to style for our magazine. “I worked with Northern Woman over the course of a couple of years when I was in the fashion industry in Northern Ireland,” Sean begins. “I styled themed editorials for the magazine with Khara Pringle and Paddy McGurgan from time to time. “I started my career in Belfast working in PR and talent management, and I worked for Belfast Fashion Week. I also travelled to New York twice a year to work backstage at fashion week. After a few years of this, I relocated to Paris and secured a role as First Assistant to Azza Yousif at Vogue. I grew up with a dream to work at Vogue and I remember the first time seeing my name in print in the magazine – I was ecstatic.” Such a high-profile career was demanding and Sean admits he ‘pushed himself to the limit’, doing overtime and travelling for work. Before long this started to impact on his health, despite his young age. “When I was 21 I watched Eat, Pray, Love for the first time, and as corny as it sounds, that movie was the start of the biggest internal change to happen to me,” Sean recalls. “The character Liz Gilbert resonated with me. I felt like I was at a crossroads in life and ultimately made the decision that would change everything for me. “After a year at Vogue, I made a decision

Photo credit: Daniel Hearn

to travel to a yoga school in Rishikesh, India. Having taken only one or two yoga classes in my life, I had no idea what to expect at a 500-Hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training Course. “It was in India that I discovered the power of Ashtanga yoga. Following that I moved to Vancouver and found Fiona Stang, the teacher who inspired me to dive deeper into the practice than I ever had before. It’s because of Fiona and my community at Ashtanga Yoga Vancouver that I continue to practice.” Sean is convinced yoga can be used to improve all aspects of life. He explains: “I’m a firm believer that yoga has the power to heal beyond the physical. I’ve seen this practice change so many people inside and out, it’s incredibly powerful. “Ashtanga yoga has this way of manifesting itself in other parts of your life. It’s something I talk about regularly with my fellow practitioners. “The term Ashtanga means eight limbs. Practitioners typically start with the asana (physical) practice, which is the third limb of Ashtanga yoga. Before you know it, with daily practice, the other limbs of the Ashtanga system start to work their way into your life. The first limb refers to the Yamas which are the self-regulating

behaviours involving our interactions with other people and the world at large.” Sean is committed to practising yoga, so much so that he gets up at 4am daily to do yoga before work. NW asks: ‘You rise at 4am; for most people this would be difficult. How do you mange that?’ “I’ve always been extremely disciplined and devoted,” Sean says. “I grew up dancing competitively which I believe set the stage for my Ashtanga practice. I typically wake at 4am and practice between 5-7am before work. I’ve restructured my life to accommodate this practice, part of which involves winding down and sleeping at 8 or 8:30pm each night.” This young yogi has just founded his own wellness brand Fifth Limb. The line currently includes a curated selection of organic tea blends with each blend targeting a specific concern, and more products will be added in the coming months. For more details visit: www.fifthlimb.ca. Products are shipped globally. Sean concludes: “I’m grateful to the late Sri K Pattabhi Jois for popularizing this yoga in the West, and to his grandson Sarath Jois, who continues his legacy today. Most of all, I am grateful to my own teacher, Fiona Stang.” n

AN EXTRACT FROM MY GRATITUDE LIST:

Yogi Assignment:

GRATITUDE

BY KINO MACGREGOR

ratitude is the silver lining in every tragedy. It’s one thing to say that when the sun is shining and you stand on top of a mountain of achievement. It’s another when you stand in a pile of debris at the pit of emotional distress. While I’m not down in the darkness now, I know what it means to dig myself out of an emotional black hole. The weight of sadness sometimes crushes me and, when it does, it is with consistent effort and the application of all I’ve learned from the spiritual path that I find the strength to surface again. So, if you’re suffering now, let me be a meditative and prayerful voice that feels your pain and truly understands how difficult it can be to look around at the pain you see and attempt to be grateful. I get it. Yet, it is exactly at the time when you feel most unable to practice gratitude that it is necessary to push through. This week begins the holiday season in Miami, which is often a bag of mixed feelings. It is often family time and for me that’s meant being with my parents. This year everything is different because my father passed away recently. I’ll be honest, I’m struggling with the grief of it all. It hits me in waves. My father was battling a host

of illnesses that left him immobile and in pain for nearly three years. His passing was certainly a relief. Yet that doesn’t make my sense of missing him any less. This article focuses on gratitude. There is an exercise called the ‘Rampage of Appreciation’ where you list ten things that you are grateful for in your life; this is the exercise that I’m asking you to do right now. Getting in the attitude of gratitude helps you rejoice in all the goodness that surrounds you. If you meditate on the mess then it gets bigger. But if you place your mind on all the greatness and beauty that surrounds you, awesome things happen. Firstly, it changes the atmosphere of your

µµHappiness is as much a choice as it is an automatic response∑∑ mind. Instead of ruminating in fear, you resonate with your blessings. That mindset then opens you up to even more blessings. Secondly, when you’re practicing gratitude you are training your mind to be happy. Happiness is as much a choice as it is an automatic response. Some people seem

• I’m grateful for my husband Tim who brought the laughter back to my life. • I’m grateful for my Mom who is unflappable, courageous, stunningly beautiful and doesn’t know how to quit. • I love my home in Miami Beach. Thank you, Miami for being this beautiful sunny, sandy place that seems to live in its own bubble and yet is still attached to the continental USA. • I’m grateful to my body for giving me the gift of life, the gift of yoga, handstands, backbends and more all these years! You’re strong and flexible and I love you my body. • And finally, Dad, thank you, I’m so grateful to you for loving me all the days of your life. You were the best Dad! There was nothing you wouldn’t do for me, you would have moved heaven and earth if you needed to.

to be happy no matter what is happening, while others are perpetually miserable no matter how much success they have. If you can learn how to be happy right here, right now in the middle of whatever mess you find yourself deep in, then you’ll carry that happiness to the highest peaks of your life. But if you can’t find gratitude and happiness in your heart now, it’s unlikely that soaring achievements will bring it to you. The external world is only an amplifier for the inner world. You can’t control the outer world, but you can learn to mould your thoughts. The best time for training your mind is when things are easy because it’s when things are difficult that you’re tested. So, start today. If you’re caught in an emotional storm, be gentle with yourself. Ask yourself to find only one thing that you’re grateful for today. Then, if you find one see how many more you can find, but don’t push yourself. If it’s just one thing, hold on to that and rejoice in it. If you’re riding high, list at least ten things you’re grateful for. n

For more from Kino visit: www.kinoyoga.com

bout four years ago I visited Tuscany, Italy, for the first time. I had been to Rome and Venice a few years prior on quick city breaks, but my true calling was to the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany with its dramatic hills and green luscious fields that rolled on forever. It was a bit like here, Northern Ireland, but with a hotter climate and a more relaxed, laidback way of life. I felt like I had been there before. I felt like I was home.

BY SAL HANVEY For me, a few things are important on a holiday such as this; the company you keep, the food you eat and, of course, the Chianti Classico wine you drink â&#x20AC;&#x201C; if you are indeed that way inclined. When I visited four years ago I was fortunate enough to take a course in traditional Italian cooking. This took place in a small town called Certaldo in the Chianti Classico region. It was a fabulous course. At the Via Del Castello school I learned so much; including how to make bruschetta and pasta among many other

amazing delights. I used 00 flour for the first time and it is something of beauty. It is a wheat flour but is used in a different way. The names 00 and 0 flour refer to specifically Italian-milled flour used for pasta making. The grading system is 2, 1, 0 and 00, indicates how finely ground the flour is, and how much of the bran and germ has been removed. 2, for instance, is a wholemeal flour while 00 is the most refined of the three and has the lowest level of bran. It is similar to unbleached all-purpose/plain flour, which

Tuscany landscape, Chianti Region, Val d’Orcia

Photo credit: Connor Tilson

is a mix of hard and soft wheat, and while finer, it creates a dough that is silkier and maintains a chewiness when the pasta is cooked. You can buy this flour online. 00 has considerably less gluten which appeals to me. I will share a gluten-free fresh pasta recipe in my first cookbook so watch this space. In the meantime, I am very happy to say that I am going back to Tuscany for the second time, in a matter of days. Again, to the Chianti Classico region, as it is just so special. I hope to visit all the historic sites of San Gimignano, Radda, Modena, Siena, Florence and Lucca, and

Sal Hanvey. Photo credit: Connor Tilson

taste all the delicious cuisine that the regions have to offer. I will endeavour to eat gnocchi, linguine and tagliatelli pasta, pizza, salads laden with balsamico modena, (my favourite), risotto, bruschetta, pecorino cheese, parmesan cheese, pesto and passata sauces, and, of course, I can’t leave out, morano gelato (aka-cherry Ice cream). I just adore Italian food. I will hopefully get the chance to do another cookery course, this time in Radda. I feel so inspired by my trips to the beautiful country of Italy that I have decided to share my Basil Pesto Linguine recipe with you this month. I hope it either reminds you of good times and memories of when you once visited Italy, or entices you to visit one day and try out this lifestyle for yourself. Buon Appetito! n

Sal Hanvey specialises in reflexology and acupuncture for fertility and maternity. She is also a nutrition advisor. To contact Sal call: 078 0147 6048, email: sal@naturalhealthni.co.uk, or visit: www.naturalhealthni.co.uk

Basil Pesto Linguine By Sal Hanvey (serves 2)

Ingredients

250g fresh linguine pasta Pine nuts A few handfuls of spinach Rocket Lamb’s lettuce 1 green pepper A few glugs of olive oil Sea salt Black pepper Parmesean 2 shallots

Pesto ingredients

60g pine nuts 40g grated parmesan Finely grated zest of half a lemon A squeeze of lemon juice 150ml extra virgin olive oil A handful of fresh basil 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed Sea salt Black pepper

Method

• To make the pesto, toast the pine nuts for approx 8 minutes until browned. • Whizz half of the pine nuts and all of the other pesto ingredients in the blender. • Bring the pasta to the boil in a large pot and follow cooking instruction guidelines on pack. • Add the olive oil to a heavy-based pan on high heat, along with the chopped shallots and sliced green pepper. • After a few minutes add the washed spinach. • Add two tablespoons of the pesto mix and simmer gently for a few minutes. • Add the drained, rinsed pasta to the pan and stir. • Add more pesto if desired. • Add a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and garnish with rocket, lamb’s lettuce and the rest of the toasted pine nuts.

FOOD SENSITIVITY TESTING CLINIC • Feeling tired & unwell? • Digestive problems? • Suffering with I.B.S., P.M.T., Migraine, Eczema, Arthritis, Catarrh & Sinusitis?

You Could Be Suffering From A Food Sensitivity! For appointments please contact the Framar Health Clinic reception

Framar Health COMPLEMENTARY HEALTH CLINIC

595 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7GS t: 028 9068 1018 e: info@framarhealth.com w: www.framarhealth.com

Shop LOCAL Local produce to sample this month Hickory Smoked Infused Rapeseed Oil, £3.99

Strawberry Chilli and Prosecco relish, £3.75

By Hollah Preserving Friends Trudy Hodkinson and Paula Latuske developed Hollah Preserving four years ago in their home kitchens. Hollah offers a range of relishes and sauces that are available across Northern Ireland in Eurospar, SuperValu, Centra, and many local butchers and delis. THE TASTE TEST: We tried the Strawberry Chilli and Prosecco relish with a cheese toastie, a chicken stir-fry, and with slabs of Kearney Blue Cheese from Farmview Dairies. The relish was the perfect accompaniment to all three meals/snacks. The sweetness was offset with the ‘bite’ of the chilli – absolutely delish!

Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, with mother, £8.25 By Natural Umber The apple cider vinegar is made by Michael Mackle, whose family has been producing apple products for more than 50 years. It was launched earlier this year in January. Apple cider vinegar has been used for thousands of years for its health-giving properties, but can be tart and bitter, whereas Natural Umber seeks to retain the natural sweetness of apples. THE TASTE TEST: The product is sweet, appley and is particularly good mixed with chilled sparkling water. It is said to be delicious in marinades, sauces, salads, and as a tangy addition to cocktails.

By Broighter Gold The Kanes have been farming the land just outside Limavady for well over 100 years. Northern Ireland is home to this best-selling single estate non-blended, golden rapeseed oil. This family-run business is taking the industry by storm with their innovative infused rapeseed oil range. Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil is low in saturates and fats, offers many health benefits, and has ten times more Omega 3 and half the saturated fat of olive oil. THE TASTE TEST: Rapeseed oil has a higher cooking temperature than olive oil which means your steaks are sealed in a hot pan without burning. Thanks to the oil, we made a delicious slightly-smoky steak and crispy roast potatoes that Jamie Oliver himself would have been proud of.

Belfast Brew, £4.40

By Suki Tea Belfast boutique loose tea leaf blender, Suki Tea, was founded in 2005 by business partners Anne Irwin and Oscar Woolley. The company ethically source and blend loose leaf teas, herbal infusions and fruit blends from all over the world. Their signature tea Belfast Brew is an intricate blend of the finest handpicked Assam and East African black teas. THE TASTE TEST: We tried Belfast Brew which is an Irish breakfast tea that comes in pyramid tea bags and loose leaf. We added one measure of loose leaf to the pot, waited the recommended 2-5 minutes for it to brew, a splash of milk later and we were enjoying one hearty, tasty cuppa. Ten out of ten! n

Chocolate Brownie Fruit and Nut, £1

By Forest Feast Forest Feast introduced four new limitededition products to its Pick Me Up range. The 40g single serve packs strike a balance between healthy and indulgent snacking – so you feel a sense of indulgence thanks to the great taste, yet the highprotein mix has a range of added health benefits. THE TASTE TEST: Those with a sweet tooth will love the chocolate brownie fruit and nut mix. Every mouthful was a mouth-watering combination of candied peanuts, toasted pecans and dried sweet cranberries. The Turmeric & Chipotle Nuts and Seeds mix is another firm favourite with the NW team.

Cancer picked the wrong diva BY EVELYN SCOTT

hen diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007, having already had Multiple Sclerosis for years, I thought to myself: ‘well Evei, this is it; you have now been given your illnesses, so off you go out into the big wide world enjoy yourself and live life to the full’. I was still young and a sociable person who liked shopping, socialising, going on nice holidays, enjoying family life with hubby and two boys – one lives at home, and the other is a DJ in Miami – life was good. The diagnosis of breast cancer hit me like a brick but after lots of chats to friends, family and therapists, I started to feel optimistic. The survival rates were going up and it was not a death sentence. Life could go on as per usual. A new healthy regime started. I took copious amounts of turmeric, Vitamin D and ate healthily whenever possible. Because I have Multiple Sclerosis, it was suggested chemo was not an option for me, so I started radiation. I was fine with that as I wouldn’t have hair loss, and 38 days is not a long time. It was a pain having to go for treatment every day, but the time flew in and I enjoyed all the chats with other patients. My sister suggested that I start doing a blog of my journey so I started a Facebook page called Canspiration. I posted snippets of information that I thought people who had been diagnosed with cancer would find interesting – soon I had around 1,800 followers from all over the world. I am in the process of turning the blogs into a book but it’s harder than I thought. Post-treatment, just when life was returning to ‘near normal’ I found another lump. I was hit with the bombshell that I had the rarest of rare cancers: Angiosarcoma. It’s a deadly cancer of the inner lining of the blood vessels and can occur in any area of the body. ‘Shocked’ wasn’t the word. As far as I am to believe, I am the only one at present in Northern Ireland living with it. I have been informed that I got mine from the radiation. The first of 24 weekly chemos started and I decided that each and every Monday I would get up, put on my makeup, a Ted Baker outfit with nice bag to match, and walk in there like I was a lady who lunches. Yes, I did look out of place but hey, why not, my social life was taking a hammering so if it make me feel more human – then I was all for it. Mondays were long days when I had my

SISTERS are doin’ it for themselves Two sisters share very different, but equally inspiring stories

chemo but I had my hubby, iPad, phones, magazines and nurses for company to get me through the long days. It wasn’t long before my long locks started to come out in clumps – over pillows, onto my garlic bread, all over the carpet... I can’t say it wasn’t very traumatic but I had done my research, and I was going to wear wigs and nice ones at that. There are so many different wig companies online and in Belfast, I had complete fetish for wigs and would wear them according to my mood and outfit. They can be warm in the height of the summer but when I was at home I always took it off and left it in my fruit bowl, so if anyone called unexpectedly I threw it on. It is certainly not nice losing your hair but sadly that is one of the side effects of chemo. It does grow back and mine is curly now (without grey bits, yippee) whereas it was straight before. Angiosarcoma decided to reappear twice last year and more chemos followed, copious operations, with leeches and maggots involved too, to clear away any

trace of cancer from my body. I survived all of that and more but there were plenty of times that I was ready to throw the towel in. I was frustrated – my body had changed dramatically. I felt very unfeminine and extremely selfconscious, but I was alive. I have been on a rollercoaster that I thought I would never get off – but I did and I am off it at the moment. For how long I don’t know, but trying to remain as positive as I possibly can is half the battle. I think that so much has happened in my life in such a short space of time that it has given me a mind shift. I try not to dwell on the past. I have been battered and bruised, with great highs and horrendous lows, but yet again I am bouncing back mentally and physically, trying to keep dodging the bullets. For me life has two rules: 1. I never quit 2. I always remember rule number one.

For more information on sarcoma, visit: theboomfoundation.co.uk

his month Shirley Thompson sets off on a mission to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Shirley turned sixty this year and is marking the occasion by attempting an extraordinary feat. “I hope to break the record to be the oldest woman to row solo across an ocean, and to be the first Irish woman to row solo across an ocean,” Shirley explains. This adventurer will set off from the Canary Islands and oracle west towards the end point, St. Barts in the Caribbean; a distance of 3,000 miles. “The row will take me about 90 days. If I have good trade winds behind me I will get good speed; it would be nice to have a bit of wind to help me along. I will be rowing about 14 hours per day – but at least I’m sitting down!” Shirley jokes. “I am not an athlete, I am an ordinary person with a sense of adventure. I was never into sports at school, I was always asking my Mum to write notes to get me out of doing games. “I took up running at the age of 42. I was a heavy smoker and I swapped smoking for running and started to do long races. “Now I’m a sixty-year-old-woman aiming to row solo across the Atlantic – this is one for the girls. It’s a reminder that you can do anything if you put your mind to it.” Although new to rowing, Shirley has taken up extreme challenges in the past, as an endurance runner she has ran through deserts, mountains and jungles. She founded the Jungle Marathon in 2004, with its precarious route through the Amazon Rainforest, it’s billed as ‘The world’s most

Belfast lady Shirley Thompson chats to Northern Woman about her plans to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean terrifying’ race. Shirley travels to Brazil each year to organise that, but this year she decided to “take a year off and treat myself to an adventure”. ‘Does rowing across the Atlantic Ocean frighten you?’ NW asks. “I’m scared,” Shirley says. “But nobody is making me do this, I’m doing it because I want to. Sure there are things that terrify me, things that I put to the back of my mind. I have a strategy – I don’t want to terrify myself before I go so I block things out and think: ‘I will deal with that when it comes’. “I am pretty positive and I am pretty determined. From having done long distance runs, I have pretty good mental tenacity. We are a pretty strong family actually. “I watched Deadliest Catch just to see the

high seas and I watch David Attenborough shows about the ocean. There will be whales, dolphins, sharks, giant sea turtles, container ships, cargo ships and cruise ships out there. But I will deal with each situation as it arises.” Shirley is taking part in a gruelling training regime to prepare for the challenge ahead. “I run daily, and I swim about 75 lengths of the pool every day. A month ago I couldn’t swim the width of a pool! By being a stronger swimmer now, it means if the boat capsizes I won’t panic. There won’t be the fear factor as I try to get back to the boat. “I get up at night and do a couple of hours on the rowing machine. I’m working on gaining upper body strength. “When I am doing the row I will be burning off a huge amount of calories so I have to build myself up before I go and gain weight, but I don’t know how easy that is. The more exercise you do, the more weight you lose, but I have managed to gain six kilos.”

µµyou can do anything if you put your mind to it∑∑ Irish Atlantic rower Niall Bates is helping to train Shirley, and she’s being mentored by Leven Brown, a British ocean rower who has held five Guinness World Records. “Leven has refurbished my boat, he was here for a week and we trained together, and he will be supporting me during the row. Leven will be my point of contact when I’m out there and he will be doing weather reports.” Shirley has also undergone training in sea survival, sea first aid, navigation skills, and radio and communications techniques. She plans to set off on her adventure on November 17th, depending on the weather. She has BGAN portable satellite and will be posting details of her voyage on social media. Follow Shirley’s adventures on: www.facebook.com/shirlsrow n

The Green Holiday Cottages

Tried & Tested Catriona Doherty attends a Pilates and Wellness Retreat at The Green Holiday Cottages, Kilkeel

he drive from Belfast to The Green Holiday Cottages, Kilkeel, was a scenic one that took in stunning views of the Mourne Mountains and the sea at Newcastle and beyond. The Pilates and Wellness Retreat aims to ‘give you the space to relax both body and mind’ and on arrival I instantly felt more at ease. The property, which was an 18th century corn and flax mill, is quiet, peaceful and surrounded by nature. Brothers Timothy and Mark Hanna bought the property in 2008. Sadly Timothy passed away in 2012. Mark and his wife Jenny looked at ways to develop and open up the space. They restored the old farm buildings and opened it to the public, offering accommodation, retreats, campfire cooking experiences, wildlife and conservation breaks, ‘taste and sea’ dining experiences, and more. It is very much a labour of love for the couple. Jenny explains: “I researched the site and I learned it was an ancient woodland. I knew that nature enhances health

and wellbeing because of my nursing background, and because of how it makes me feel. I was keen to combine my knowledge and experience of health and wellbeing with the space we had at The Green. An outdoor education weekend provided the opportunity both to learn about running courses in the outdoors and confirmed that I had the skills and expertise to carry this out.” Mark is a builder by trade and carried out the majority of restoration work himself, while Jenny divised workshops and events that utilize nature to promote physical and mental health, and wellbeing. “It’s about helping people to find that ‘green space’ in your life wherever that means for you,” Jenny explains. “My goal is that our guests will feel a connection with place, and I hope that we give them an experience that lives on with them after they leave.”

Pilates and pizza

Guests arrived for the weekend retreat on the Friday night for a session of Pilates,

before making pizzas that were cooked in the outdoor pizza ovens. I arrived on the Saturday morning, so I missed the craic of the Friday night, but was greeted with a warm, friendly welcome by Mark, Jenny and the other ladies who had checked in for the weekend. I arrived just in time for the second (of four) Pilates sessions. As a newbie to the exercise, I found our tutor, Viky McKee’s instructions easy to follow. I certainly felt the pinch of some moves. However as the saying goes, no pain no gain, and I could feel the benefits of stretching muscles that rarely get exercised. Post-class one of the ladies joked: “Do I look taller now?” I related to that – it certainly felt as if I was standing taller afterwards. Following a cup of freshly brewed coffee, home-made white chocolate and blackberry scones, and a light-hearted chinwag with the gang, it was time for our wellbeing session.

Finding your green space

Jenny started the session by asking us to

Mark and Jenny Hanna

Preparing our Hawthorn berries for cooking

Foraging adventures

think about what makes us happy. Similar things popped up for all of us, e.g. being with family and friends, making something (cooking or art), walking in nature, holidays and me-time. What makes you happy? And do you make time to do that? The session was a reminder of the importance of doing the things that support your wellbeing. As Jenny pointed out, in looking after yourself, you are better equipped to look after your loved ones. During the session Jenny drew on her health improvement background and additional training, to examine the topic of wellbeing. We left with a flyer entitled ‘5 Ways Nature Supports Wellbeing’ – which is now pinned to my fridge at home, and acts as a reminder for me to take time out to go for a walk outside in nature.

Next up it was time for a relaxation walk and foraging. We picked sloes, Hawthorn berries, hazelnuts and blackberries, and the experience reminded me of being a child again. Growing up in Donegal, walks home from school sometimes involved pits stops along the way to pick berries or apples. Back at basecamp we cleaned the berries to make Hawthorn ketchup. The recipe was straightforward and the end restult tasted seriously good. Next up we were given the option of either going for a walk, visiting a beauty salon, mountain biking or horse riding. Despite not having been on a horse for 20 years, I jumped at the opportunity and headed off to Gamekeepers Lodge Equestrian for the afternoon.

A different night out

That night, following a second Pilates session, we headed back to the cottages to chill and freshen up before dinner. Lisa McBride from Mourne Fishbox delivered fresh monkfish and mackerel, which we made into seafood kebabs that were barbequed on the outdoor grill by Mark. Accompanied by homemade beetroot and potato salad, our spectacular (if I do say

so myself) Hawthorn ketchup, and chilled Prosecco – it was quite the feast. As we sat around the wooden table chatting away, log fire burning, it was funny to think I had only met the group of ladies earlier that day. If you are considering attending this retreat but don’t have anyone to go with – just go on your own, that’s what I did, and I recommend you go for it. Needless to say, none of us had any trouble sleeping that night – between the day’s activities, hearty meal, and cosiest bed in the world, it was lights out pretty early for everyone. The next morning we took part in another Pilates session, before going on a reflective walk in the scenic surrounds, then enjoying more food; baked croissants, a hearty tomato, spinach and egg dish, and freshly brewed coffee. After bouncing across the river via the stepping stones, I checked out, revitalised, refreshed and happy. n

For more information visit: www.greenholidaycottages.com or call: 078 6095 1841. The dates for upcoming Pilates and Wellness Retreats are 16-18 November and 18-20 January. The cost is £200 per person sharing, early bird discounts are available. The Pilates and wellness retreat visit was organised by Discover Northern Ireland. For further information on Northern Ireland go to: www.discovernortherireland.com

Fresh fish sizzling on the outdoor barbeque

Cosy socks & CUDDLES

It’s the season for open fires, red wine and cosy socks. If you’re thinking about the long dark nights ahead and are contemplating online dating for the first time, read on… BY BEV MARTIN Getting started

If you’re feeling a bit nervous about online dating – don’t worry, just relax and take a deep breath. It’s not something to feel embarrassed about. Choose the site; you have plenty of choice so pick one and go for it. For many, you will need to fill in an information template, but if you want something fast and easy, then Tinder is the way forward. Yes, it states log in with Facebook, but no, it won’t post anything onto your Facebook page, so relax. Northern Ireland is a small place, this could be a contributing factor to seeing the same faces on different sites. Don’t panic if you see somebody you know on Tinder, they’re clearly on it too, so cringe inside for a second if you need to and swipe on. Don’t let the fear of seeing a familiar face put you off. If you decide to dip your toe into the

Plenty of Fish pond, AKA POF, I warn you: brace yourself. You will receive a crazy amount of messages very quickly. Here’s the thing, anyone and everyone can send you a message, and there’s a lot of people on there. That’s where Tinder is better, you have to match with a person before being able to message one another. A friend of mine who met her husband online recommended match.com. “Try it,” she said. “People have to pay to use it, so they do want to meet somebody.” She lied. Well OK she didn’t lie but I didn’t share her experience. I found it to be no better or worse than its competitors. Oh and here’s a handy tip: match.com will give you a free trial if you ask for one.

Online advice

Trust your gut. Even online your woman’s super senses will kick in. Use them wisely.

There’s plenty of chancers out there, so set your own boundaries. The people who are hiding behind a profile with no photograph are hiding for a reason. When it comes to your own photograph make sure it’s recent and ditch the filters. I’ve discussed this with previous dates and male friends, and the conclusion is always the same: don’t ‘false advertise’ yourself, instead be proud of who you are. You are more likely to attract a genuine potential partner that way. If you chat with someone and you feel they are genuine, just bite the bullet and meet for a coffee. Otherwise you could spend weeks engaged in ‘text tennis’ and late night conversations, but without a face-to-face meeting you might be setting yourself up for a fall. The person you’ve created in your mind may not be the same in real life. And sometimes the chemistry just won’t be there. It can be disappointing. Avoid this by not investing too much time or any emotion before meeting the person. As a reality check, watch some episodes of MTV’s Catfish!

And remember…

You might need to grow a thick skin. Recently a pal of mine had a disastrous date that knocked her confidence. I told her very clearly to always remember: “You will definitely not fancy every guy you meet, and not every guy you meet will fancy you. This is just life.” Don’t take online dating too seriously. Not every date will be like a romantic movie scene. But even if mid-date you feel like watching paint dry would be more fun, then at least it will probably give you and your girlfriends a giggle later on. Most importantly have fun. I have met some amazing people through online dating that I will remain friends with. I’ve also met some crazy characters and I’ve had enormous amounts of fun along the way. Have fun. Be safe. Good luck! n

ESCAPE

Aurora Borealis, Finland

reparing to take small children on an intensive 36-hour journey to make magical Christmas memories, frankly, has disaster written all over it. Children are notoriously oppositional, even regarding events that are conceived and engineered for the express purpose of giving them joy, such as a trip to meet the actual Santa at Santa’s headquarters in the actual North Pole. That’s kids though! The trip to see the Santa has fittingly taken on mythic proportions since the first chartered groups began making the trek. Everyone I told about our impending departure had wonderfully vivid reactions. A younger friend’s eyes widened as she retold her magical encounter with Santa in the 1990s. A mum, who’d braved the threehour flight with four kids under 10 advised bringing Valium, while another pal had me convinced that it would be 40 degrees below zero at least. Based on this information, in the days leading up to the departure, I galvanised, stocking up on frankly insane quantities of hand warmers, thermal layers and sedatives (joke), and awaited the trip with a cocktail of equal parts dread and delight. I’ve been a parent long enough to know that attempting any kind of travel with children will always be a fraught affair attended by catastrophe at some point; this much is a given. In the case of the Lapland trip, calamity befell us before we’d even started for the airport – we lost one of the cuddly toys who had so wanted to join us on the trip. My son, being four and a maniac, lost his s**t. I, being 32 and riddled with nearconstant guilt at not being a good mother to this adorable little maniac, also lost my s**t. The loss of a crucial teddy is akin to the loss of a limb, as all parents know. This is how I came to be doing an ambitious pretravel shopping trip attempting to source a lookalike. I hadn’t packed yet and still had work to do. It was tense, but I prevailed. If you had told me that post Teddy-gate, the remainder of the trip would be plain sailing, I would’ve scoffed in your face. The plane trip alone spelled misadventure, a flight full of wild children off their heads on sugar and excitement. Mercifully I couldn’t have been more wrong. The plane ride was a joy thanks in no

LAPLAND Where the magic happens BY SOPHIE WHITE small part to our elf chaperones who kept up a steady stream of songs and games to entertain the kids, and the limitless well of patience of the flight attendants who seemed genuinely delighted by the festive atmosphere. We decorated the plane with garlands and balloons, we gorged on sweets and by the time we landed in Finland, even the most scrooged and humbuggy among us were bursting with anticipation. It helps that everyone is in on the game, the monitor at the departure lounge declared our destination to be the North Pole while the Finnish airport announces in

TAKE TWO: Top attractions SLEIGH BELLS RING

The sight of a child gazing upon a reindeer in the moonlight is something special, as is ‘driving’ a sleigh. I was just loosely holding a rope, the reindeer was in charge, but my son thought I was a magical snow fairy.

FUN IN THE SNOW

It’s tricky knowing if kids will take to the snow, after all, it’s cold and not quite what they may be expecting but this trip is a great intro as the kit is top class, and there’s always toys for them to play with.

official signage that you have arrived at the official airport of Santa. We made our way with remarkable ease from plane to passport control to luggage before being escorted by our personal Elf guide to awaiting buses. Though only 3pm, it was dusk in Lapland as our buses sped through snow-covered fields and forests and houses, the kids were mesmerised by the magic of a familiar storybook winter scene now unravelling for real before them. The buses docked at a changing depot, where we were all kitted out in everything we would need to brave the elements. Snow boots, snow suits, socks, mittens and hats were all provided. I reflected on the 20kg suitcase of utter bonkersness that I’d packed in a panic. Every detail is taken care of, even the most fastidious among us could probably get away with a single change of clothes should you wish. From the changing depot we journeyed to Joulukka Forest Of Dreams and the real magic began. A candlelit path led us deep into snow-covered woods, to a clearing where the windows of a gingerbread log cabin glowed, beckoning us in to warming plates of stew and rice, biscuits and hot chocolate. After supper, the group gathered in a wooden teepee to hear tales of Finnish legends, the origins of the Northern Lights and the secrets of the animals in the forest, a roaring open fire cast dancing shadows

Reindeer sledge caravan safari in Rovaniemi, Lapland across the face of every child as the smoke wound up and out through a round ceiling light above and into the navy sky beyond. Soon after the children were communing with the animals themselves, reindeer and huskies obliged us with sleigh rides through tracks in the trees, as the stars twinkled above, while everywhere there were snowy diversions to enjoy. Wander one direction and there was warming berry juice on offer by an open fire surrounded by benches strewn with fur throws, opposite this snowy lounge were sledges and skis and a mini snowmobile for the little ones to have a go on. For those seeking more high-octane thrills, there was a snowmobile ride through the forest – the children were cosied up in a large sleigh to be dragged at speed through the trees while grown ups could tear through the snow on their own snowmobiles. There was also a snowy shoot that my four-year-old adored hurling himself down over and over. Despite the day’s travelling, in Santa’s hometown the kids’ energy seemed to magically replenish and they were still in good spirits for the buffet dinner after we’d settled ourselves into our nearby hotel for the night. Later the kids went to sleep in anticipation of the magic that lay in store the following day. An early breakfast left lots of time for playing in the snow before our elf guide, Cookie, arrived to bring us for our private meeting with one Mr Santa Claus. A short drive from the hotel, Santa’s Christmas Command centre is another dreamscape of picturesque log cabins and open fires, with elves and magic behind every corner. A trip across the cracking ice of the Arctic Circle led us to Santa’s workshop where huge cogs turned overhead and giant toys abounded. Our group formed a small queue but thankfully the wait was short as the kids, were beside themselves with excitement.

Santa Claus Village

Once beyond the great door to Santa’s inner sanctum a spell was cast over them and they appeared to be struck dumb by the sight of the picture-perfect Santa, resplendent in red and white fur trimmed robes, colossal black boots presiding on an impressive throne over his empire of elves and toys. We led the children over for some allimportant chat about presents and posed for photographs. Like every aspect of the trip, the encounter was efficient but nicely unhurried and my son left safe in the knowledge that Santa wouldn’t miss our house on Christmas Eve. “Look out for the green piping,” we advised. Santa took the opportunity to specify what the reindeers’ preferred snack was, he gave us some gifts to tide us over

and then it was back out into the equally enchanted outside world. We brought our sojourn to a fitting close with a delicious lunch tucked away by the fire in a log teepee looking out at the wild wonderland where reindeer roam and a collective dream of a jolly old presentdispensing elf is a very beautiful and fun reality. n

Sophie travelled to Lapland with Sunway on the one night Santa’s Sleepover trip from Dublin. Prices start from €899 per adult and €799 per child. A number of tour operators run daybreaks and longer stays from Belfast, including Dream of Lapland, Purple Travel and Transun.

Christmas Market Nuremberg

The Best Christmas Markets in Europe From mulled wine in Munich to glögg in Gothenburg, nothing says winter like a Christmas market. Here’s our pick of the bunch! BY PÓL Ó CONGHAILE Salzburg, Austria

Salzburg may be the city of Mozart, but it’s also the city of Josef Mohr. Who? Mohr (1792-1848) was the local composer who wrote Silent Night, one of the world’s most famous Christmas carols. When you’re competing with Mozart however, not even Silent Night will win you name recognition. There are no direct flights scheduled from Ireland to Salzburg so you will need to fly to Munich (the Austrian city is an hour and 45 minutes by road from Munich). It’s worth the extra effort, however, with a spread of stalls, cathedrals, set-pieces and cosy crannies that seems tailor-made for frosty-breathed festivities. Salzburg’s Christkindlmarkt takes place around the cathedral, with huts gathered at the foot of Hohensalzburg Fortress.

Budapest, Hungary

Year after year, Irish visitors pay the majority of their continental Christmas visits to Budapest, Prague, Munich, Vienna and Berlin. They do so for a reason – these big hitters consistently churn out some of the best

shots of festive atmosphere in Europe. Budapest isn’t content to scatter stalls around Vörösmarty Square, for example – it goes the extra mile by transforming the 18th century Gerbeaud House into a giant Advent Calendar, with a new window opening to reveal a painting daily at 5pm. Budapest is one of those cities on the Danube that lays the seasonal atmospherics so thick, you’d half-expect St Nicholas himself to emerge from the local spa. Stalls offer everything from mulled wine to warmyour-heart waffles, and crafts are overseen by the Association of Hungarian Folk Artists, which is conscious that the markets introduce visitors to Hungarian culture.

Prague, Czech Republic

Prague is the perfect setting for the festive season, with its stunning castle, Old Town and Charles Bridge lit up like Christmas trees. The city’s central tree is practically worth a trip in itself too, shipped as it is from the Krkonose Mountains and erected right at the heart of the main markets in the Old Town Square (there’s another market at Wenceslas Square).

Prague (like Munich and Budapest) is a good place to go if you want to get some decent department store shopping in along with the cutesy stuff at the markets – which includes Bohemian Crystal, wooden toys, scented candles, hand-made jewellery, ceramic mugs and decorative ornaments as Czech specialities.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen is almost impossible to do on the cheap, but it’s easy to argue that you get what you pay for – a classy Christmas city with a smorgasbord of New Nordic cuisine thrown in to fill your stomach… if not your stocking. First stop? The Tivoli Gardens, of course. Traditional Danish markets here set dozens of food and gift stalls against the backdrop fairy lights, reindeer rides and old-school rollercoasters – with the magical ambiance culminating in several nights of fireworks displays (usually held between Christmas and New Year). Copenhagen is a good ‘2-for-1’ spot – with Malmö just 35 minutes away over the Öresund Bridge. Sweden celebrates its St Lucia festival on December 13, with the Queen of Light borne aloft on a horsedrawn carriage.

Gingerbread hearts, Krakow Christmas market

Prague, Czech Republic

Krakow, Poland

A visit to Poland’s prettiest city is a perfect fit (or gift?) for Christmas. Festivities centre in and around a market square unchanged in layout since 1257, with St Mary’s Church and the surrounding buildings dotted with stalls selling baked potatoes, roast chestnuts and stocking fillers ranging from handmade ornaments to szopki – Krakow’s famous nativity cribs. The prettiness extends to prices, too. Krakow is one of the cheaper Christmas market cities to visit, with food and drink doing a lot less damage to the visitor’s wallet than, say, in Vienna or Salzburg. Add the magic of Wawel Castle, the clip-clopping horses-and-carts and the energy of the city’s 21st century bars and cafes, and you could have a Christmas to cherish.

Vienna, Austria

Vienna oozes elegance at any time of year. At Christmas, however, the city ups a gear.

Mulled wine at Christmas Market, Munich

Seasonal markets here have been running since 1296, when Emperor Albrecht I granted Viennese traders the privilege of holding a December market for their customers. Tradition seeps from the stalls like the warmth from a barrel of hot chestnuts. The main event is the Christkindlmarkt by Vienna’s Town Hall. Christmas sees its Gothic facade lit up with fairy lights, and some 140 stalls shopping out the roasted almonds and gingerbread to three million visitors a year. Austrians love their gemütlichkeit (cosiness), a sensation you’ll be able to tap into in the city’s classy cafes as much as its markets – more of which you’ll find at Schönbrunn Palace, Am Hof and Karlskirche.

Munich, Germany

Berlin has threatened to steal Munich’s market thunder ever since the wall

came down, but the Bavarian city is still Germany’s best in our festive list. Munich’s town records mention a ‘Nicholas Market’ near the Frauenkirche as far back as 1642, with gingerbread, nativity figurines and chimney sweeps made of plums and almonds amongst the fancies on display… many of which you’ll still find in the same place almost four centuries later. Today’s main markets are organised around a 100-foot Christmas tree in Marienplatz, where getting stuck into the Germanic fare is one of the most satisfying things a seasonal visitor can do. How do bad-ass bratwursts, hot-to-hold pretzels and tankards of frothy beer sound for starters? Marienplatz is just the beginning, too. The Rindermarkt specialises in handmade cribs, and the gay Christmas Market on Stephansplatz is great fun with its pink trees and cross-dressing carol singers.

Gothenburg, Sweden

Gothenburg is another Christmas city where you may spend generously to have a good time, but there is good value if you know where to look. Christmas markets at Liseberg Amusement Park cost SEK95/£8 to visit, locals assemble into the shape of a Christmas tree to sing carols in the Drottningtorget, and there’s a cosy indoor alternative at the Nordstan Shopping Centre, where stalls sell crafts ranging from knitwear to graphics. If you like your design, check out the market at Röda Sten Art Centre, and you’ll find all manner of gifts and glögg (mulled wine) at the traditional markets in Haga. Finally, wrap up and take a walk along the Lane of Light, a 3km trail of lights connecting the port to Avenyn, the city’s main shopping drag.

Nuremberg, Germany

Ok, so the ‘little town of wood and cloth’ isn’t the sexiest tagline. What Nuremberg can bring to the Christmas party, however, is atmosphere – and heaps of it. Onehundred-and-eighty stalls are decorated throughout the Old Town, creating a veritable Christmas City stocked with ornaments, gifts, toys, games and holiday treats ranging from rum punch to sweetscented chestnuts. The Christkindlesmarkt begins the first Sunday in Advent, when the famous Nuremberg Christkind appears on the balcony of the Church of Our Lady, and another local angel – the Rauschgoldengel, glistens from every corner. There’s a neat story to this one – the original Rauschgoldengel is said to have been fashioned by a local doll-maker whose daughter lay dying of fever during the Thirty Year War (1618-48). Before she passed, he heard the flutter of angel’s wings and was inspired to create an angel in her memory. Nuremberg is a 90-minute drive from Munich Airport. n

LET’S DRINK TO…

Port

BY PAULA GRACEY

o here we are again approaching the festive season – my favourite time of year. Now that the clocks have gone back and it’s getting colder, I always think it’s the perfect time for a glass of port. One of the best known names in the world of port is Grahams, who have been making port since 1820 from their own vineyards in the Douro Valley, Portugal. There is a wide range of Port styles from Extra Dry and Fine White through to Ruby, Tawny, LBV, Crusted and more. Now, have you ever tried white port? It’s absolutely fab! Grahams Fine White Port (£12.99) is made mostly from Malvasia Fina grape and is slightly sweeter than the Extra Dry White Port. The Fine White is a light amber colour and has lovely fruity flavours and hints of honey. You should serve this port chilled as an excellent aperitif but the new and trendy way is ‘Port and Tonic’; served as a long drink with tonic water, ice and a slice of lemon – delish. Ruby Ports are young and fresh with lots of fruit aromas and flavours and more of an everyday port, also best slightly chilled, between 12 and 16 ° C. LBV, Late Bottled Vintage, is a port selected from the finest production of a particularly good year. It is matured in seasoned oak and then bottled between four and six years, whereas Vintage Port spends two years in casks and then matures in the bottle. Grahams LBV 2012 (£14.99) is the flagship of the range. It has an enticing and powerful bouquet and is rich and delicious, with layers of red fruit flavours and nicely balanced peppery tannins. It’s superb with cheese and all kinds of chocolate. Tawny ports are probably more recognisable with their fabulous aromas of rich, Christmassy fruits like figs and prunes. Graham’s 10 Year Old Tawny (£21.99) is a deep amber/brown colour and, as it says on the label, has had a decade of care and slow oak-maturation which gives it those wonderful aromas of nuts and honey, and all those rich fruity flavours. It’s the perfect match to sweet desserts, apple pie and almond cake. So there’s your Christmas night tipple sorted right there. Cheers! n

Wine Recommendation from Rebecca Robb: Dolcetto D’Alba How wonderful is it to be welcoming November again to the year. Autumn is in full swing. Crimson sunsets, glowing bonfires, orange hollowed out pumpkins flickering in the moonlight as they dangle from the hands of our excited little ones on their annual trick or treat candy mission. If you have ever had to deal with the sugar fuelled craziness which results from having,” just one more tiny treat”, or the yearly, “lets rob the neighbours of their year’s supply of sweets in one night” , tradition ,you will fully understand why a glass of wine is essential thereafter! Our wine of choice is the monovarietal, Dolcetto D’Alba. Grown in Piemonte in North West Italy, dolcetto, meaning “sweet little one”, grows well on the north facing slopes of the Monterrato hills. The best of these wines come from the Alba region. Often sadly overlooked as the poor cousin of the Nebbiolo and Barbera grapes, this variety produces well balanced, affordable, every day drinking wines. The dark purple blueish grapes yield a wine whose most outstanding characteristic is its low acidity, which means these wines are best drunk within a few years of release. Dolcetto growers tend to duplicate the Beaujolais region’s ethos of releasing their “nouveau” easy drinking, soft wines to tantalise the market for the arrival of the bigger “Cru” vintages. In the glass, you expect to see intense and bright ruby red hues. The nose fills the senses with heady aromas of black cherry, plums, and violet with a subtle yet warming hint of spice. That unmistakeable blend of bitter and sweet that works so well in Italian wines flourishes with prunes, and aftertaste of almonds, apparent on the palate. Dolcetto is a wine you will see frequently on Italian dinner tables- their “go to”. Get the family together and enjoy a gorgeous homely pasta dish together. If it’s good enough for the Italians!......With this in mind I have chosen chef’s Macaroni Al Forno to enjoy with your loved ones.

Ciao until December! MACARONI AL FORNO Ingredients for 2 persons: • 250g x macaroni pasta • 100g ham hock (pre-cook and shredded) • 100g chestnut mushrooms • 100g grated mozzarella • Salt & pepper to taste • 1x small onion • 1x clove of garlic • Olive Oil • Salt & pepper to taste Sauce: • 100ml double cream • 50ml white wine • 1x clove of garlic • ½ small onion (diced) • Sprig of tarragon (chopped)

Method • Preheat oven to 200c • In a pot bring salted water to the boil and cook pasta according to the packet instructions, leave to one side. • For sauce, in a pan add the ½ onion, garlic and wine and reduce. Add in the double cream, bring up to the boil then reduce heat and simmer for a few minutes. • In a large pan, add the olive oil and fry remaining 1/2 onion and mushrooms to colour. Add in the shredded ham to warm through. Add in the cooked pasta and white wine cream sauce and chopped tarragon. Stir mixture thoroughly adding salt & pepper to taste. • Put in a baking dish and sprinkle over the grated mozzarella • Cook in oven for 10-15 minute or until top is golden brown . Enjoy with garlic bread and mixed tomato salad.

The Girl In The Spider’s Web

Movie roundup James Oliver’s roundup of new films coming to a cinema near you this month

Juliet, Naked

Based on the novel by Nick Hornby, this light-hearted comedy/drama tells the story of Annie, whose partner Duncan is obsessed with singer-songwriter Tucker Crowe. Initially Annie finds it bizarre and then she strikes up a romance with Tucker. Release Date: 2nd November Starring: Rose Byrne and Ethan Hawke

The Girl in the Spider’s Web

The Crown star Claire Foy takes up the mantle of computer hacker Lisbeth Salander, who finds her past coming back to haunt her. Lisbeth and journalist Mikael Blomkvist get caught up in a web of corruption, spies and cybercriminals. Release Date: 9th November Starring: Claire Foy and Stephen Merchant

Widows

Boasting an all-star cast which includes Michelle Rodriguez and Liam Neeson, Widows tells the story of four women whose husbands were part of a criminal gang. Now all of the men are dead, leaving behind a lump sum that the government want back. The women decided to take fate into their own hands and forge a future on their terms. Release Date: 6th November Starring: Viola Davis, Daniel Kaluuya and Colin Farrell

Suspiria

This remake of the 1977 classic tells the story of sinister goings-on at the heart of a world-renowned dance company. A dark presence engulfs the artistic director, an ambitious amateur, and a mourning psychotherapist. Post Hereditary – will this film be the next big scare we’re looking for? Release Date: 16th November Starring: Dakota Johnson and Tilda Swinton

Robin Hood

Eight years on since Russell Crowe’s portrayal of the Prince of Thieves, this adaption sees Kingsman-star Taron Egerton step up to the role. Robin Hood attempts to lead a revolt against those that are corrupt in the world, including the English Crown itself. Expect gritty battlefield exploits, fight choreography and romance. Release Date: 21st November Starring: Jamie Foxx and Ben Mendelson

Serenity

Suspira

When his estranged ex-wife tracks him down claiming her new husband is abusing her, lone fishing boat captain Baker Dill’s quiet life is shattered. Baker begins to realise that all is not as it seems and before long he finds himself in deep water. Release Date: 23rd November Starring: Anne Hathaway and Matthew McConaughey n

REVIEW:

Miel et Moi Ciara Hedgcock enjoys the best Miel of the day

iel et Moi, 705 Lisburn Road, Belfast, has created a new breakfast menu which is available Monday – Sunday between 8am and 12 noon. It offers light options from toasted sourdough with homemade jam and marmalade to banana pancakes with candied pecans, caramelised banana, French maple syrup and crème fraîche, and lots more.

I couldn’t resist the French Baked Breakfast with Toulouse sausage, maple bacon, chestnut mushroom, spinach, free-range egg, red onion, slow-roasted plum tomato, homemade baked beans and toasted brioche. A breakfast consisting of so much definitely spells weekend, so I was ready to embrace Saturday morning in these relaxing, stylish, vintage chic surroundings with pistachio walls, comfy aubergine velvet banquettes, enjoying the soft background

music along with my fellow diners. All the staff were cheery and welcoming and when my breakfast partner ordered the Eggs Benedict she asked if she could swap the tomato bread for the toasted olive bread, and it was readily agreed. Our table was regularly checked without interruption. As the cafe filled, I noticed groups of girls, families with children, and a bunch of guys who were enjoying easing into their day with great food, coffee and company. It would be comfortable on a solo visit to people watch or read a magazine, while treating yourself to a beautiful French pastry after your breakfast without having to share. It was a brilliant sunny morning so the tables in Miel et Moi’s suntrap were snapped up. I left with a kick in my step; my morning had got off to fantastic start. I’d had that long overdue catch-up with my friend and was deliciously fuelled for a busy afternoon. No excuses now not to tick everything off my ‘to do’ list! Miel et Moi’s breakfast menu is perfect for weekday or weekend business or social meetings. Check out their menu in advance or enjoy an extremely tasty surprise. n

The breakfast menu is priced from £3 to £10. To book a table call: 028 9068 2641.

LINEN HOUSE Christmas at Linen House

THE SOCIAL 10

Northern Woman’s round up of November’s most happening events Photo credit: Glenn Norwood Calling the province’s most fashionable ladies – the Down Royal JNWines.com Ladies Day takes place on Saturday 3rd November. From incredible prizes for best-dressed, to action-packed racing, this is a day not to be missed. For more information visit: www.downroyal.com

On Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th November the Terry Bradley Gallery, Bangor, will host a number of highly acclaimed tattoo artists who will recreate a selection of small one-off Terry Bradley images in this unique setting. Guests will be invited to watch the artists at work and customers can pre-book a session with a tattoo artist and choose one of four unique tattoo designs. This celebration has been organised to mark the first anniversary of the gallery.

Touring cabaret show, The Lady Boys of Bangkok is back with its Wonder Woman tour. Wonder Women celebrates in style with iconic appearances including Cher, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Diana Ross, Pink, Shirley Bassey, Wonder Woman herself, and the ‘practically perfect in every way’ Mary Poppins. The Belfast show takes place at Custom House Square, from November 3-17. For tickets visit: www.ladyboysofbangkok.co.uk/tour

Belfast-based beauty and skin care expert and entrepreneur Lynsey Bennett, owner of The Secret Day Spa and co-founder of Lusso Tan, will be hosting The Secret to Success on Monday 5th November from 9.30-4pm at the Crowne Plaza at Shaws Bridge. She will be joined by former Miss World and Eat Yourself Fit author Rosanna Davidson, and Apprentice finalist and influencer Grainne McCoy, to discuss all things beauty, business and social media. Tickets cost £65, and that price includes goodies from Dermalogica, Shellac and Lusso Tan, refreshments and lunch. To book visit: eventbrite.com and see The Secret to Success.

Whether you are a wine connoisseur or a vino-loving novice, you’re sure to learn something new and have a great time doing it at the new Belfast Wine School. The school has a range of engaging, interactive tastings for those who are keen to have fun and learn more about wine. Offering a range of classes at all levels from introductory evenings to eight-week courses, and Saturday wine experiences including Champagne and lunch, the courses will broaden your knowledge of the world of wine and boost confidence in selection. For November dates visit: www.belfastwineschool.com

Who can resist an afternoon tea? The Ladies Charity Sparkling Afternoon tea takes place on Friday 9th November at the Carrickdale Hotel, Dundalk. All proceeds will go to the Intensive Care Unit in Craigavon Area Hospital, PIPs Hope & Support, and Ellen’s Journey. Best-selling Irish author Bernadette Bohan will be speaking at the event, there will be prizes for best dressed, and harpist Sharon Carroll will be playing on the day. For tickets visit: www.eventbrite.com

Make tracks to Whitehead Railway Museum and The Edwardian Tea Room for an unforgettable day out at the Steam ‘n’ Tea on Saturday 24th November. During your afternoon, you will be transported back in time, relaxing in the atmospheric steam train carriage, enjoying a deliciously vintage inspired afternoon tea on the move. To book, visit: www.steamtrainsireland.com/ museum-tickets

Travel back in time at the Armagh Georgian Festival on November 22-25. Festival events include guided ghost walking tours, mock trials and court house tours, Georgian afternoon tea, Georgian gin school, a silhouette cutter workshop, wax sealing and calligraphy workshop, and a lot more.

The F.E. McWilliam Gallery & Studio, Banbridge, celebrates its 10th anniversary with two new exhibitions, both of which run until 10th November 2018. Lucienne Day: Living Design celebrates the life and work of one of most influential designers of the post-war generation, Lucienne Day, and tells the story of her thrilling design career. Open 18 Sculpture showcases 30 outdoor sculptural works by acclaimed contemporary artists including Sandra Bell, Orla de Bri, Paddy Campbell, Drydan Wilson, Helen Hanse and Anthony Scott.

Pete Tong Presents Ibiza Classics will take place at the SSE Arena on 25th November. The concept of Ibiza Classics and the album companion ‘Classic House’ released via Universal Music came into fruition in 2015 with BBC Radio 1’s Ibiza Prom at the Royal Albert Hall. With its infectious, energetic brand of club music reworked by artistic director Chris Wheeler, the 65-piece Heritage Orchestra and the acclaimed conductor Jules Buckley has captured the hearts of millions and created an unforgettable dance-party. For tickets visit: www.ssearenabelfast.com

REVIEW:

La Scala Bistro Catriona Doherty visits La Scala Bistro at the Stormont Hotel, Belfast

his was my first visit to Hastings’ Stormont Hotel, it was easy to find because of the famous building of the same name located just across the road. On arrival at La Scala Bistro reception I spotted five consecutive Taste of Ulster awards on the wall; surely a good sign. I was served immediately by a friendly, attentive waiter and seated next to the window overlooking the greenery outside. It was 5:30pm on a Tuesday, which is a good time to visit as you can avail of the Dine with Wine Menu; enjoy two courses and a glass of wine for only £20 per person. This offer runs every Sunday to Thursday from 5-7pm. The Hasting team pride themselves on providing quality food using the freshest seasonal and local produce, and the menu makes reference to that. Hannan’s Northern Irish Himalayan Salt Aged Sirloin Steak

(£28) caught my eye, my dining partner opted for Hannan’s Glenarm Shorthorn Beef Burger (£14), and we ordered Salt and Chilli Squid (£7) to share. The Salt and Chilli Squid was exceptionally good. The lightly-battered squid was presented on a bed of watercress salad inside a suspended cone, with lime and coriander aioli on the side. I got to pass on my compliments to the chef personally as Head Chef Jay Eisenstadt popped in to the restaurant to say hi to diners. I got chatting to Jay and learned that he studied at the California Culinary Academy and did his internship at the Grill in Beverly Hills cooking for the celebs – very impressive! Next up the mains were served and the portions were extremely generous. I thought I’d never finish the meal, but it was so delicious I ate it all. Served with crispy onion rings, a flat mushroom, tomato, hand cut chunky chips and peppercorn sauce – it

was a hearty, delicious dinner. I also tried the garlic and parmesan chips which were divine. I didn’t have room for dessert, however I have earmarked the White Chocolate and Raspberry Jam Jar Sponge for my next visit. The kids’ menu is really impressive with six main meals, five dessert choices, and four starters – so you are sure to find something to suit even the fussiest eater. n

For reservations call: 028 9065 1066. For further information go to: www.hastingshotels.com

CREATING WITH ABANDON These incredible images of derelict buildings have been captured by a local mum – but she likes to keep her identity under wraps. Jade Beecroft meets the secretive lady behind Abandoned NI

itting in a roadside café in Moira, the busy mum behind photography site Abandoned NI smiles wryly as her three-yearold daughter dips a red crayon into her scrambled eggs. She’s agreed to meet Northern Woman to explain how she captures the stunning images that have made her website so popular – with over 21,000 followers on Facebook. But there’s one condition; this mum-oftwo from County Armagh is surprisingly camera shy herself, and likes to keep her identity a secret. “I don’t really want people to know who I am; I want the buildings themselves to take centre stage,” she explains. “I’m a bit like Banksy, I prefer to let my work do the talking.” Over the past few years the 38-year-old, who also has a full-time job, has visited over 200 disused and derelict buildings across Northern Ireland and into the Republic. And her passion for these unloved old places has created some beautiful and moving photographs.

Take a seat – Co. Tyrone

Her pictures show living rooms and kitchens as their owners once left them – albeit with an additional cloak of dust over ancient stoves and coats still hanging on pegs. There are also fascinating snaps of buildings with plants growing through windows and roofs as they are slowly reclaimed by nature. “These places deserve to be documented,” she explains. “I’ve found all sorts of things; newspapers articles, old photos and ration books. It’s part of our social history. It ought not to be lost.” She says she’s always had a love of photography, and “grew up with a camera in hand”. She joined a paranormal investigation group as their team photographer, but soon realised it was the buildings’ histories that interested her more than rumours of any hauntings. After visiting Cairndhu House, a disused mansion in Larne, with the group, the owner of the property gave her a set of keys and told her to come and go as she wished to take pictures. “I was fascinated by its history,” she explains. “It was built for Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon in 1875 as a summer residence, and the couple held grand parties. But after the outbreak of the Second World War it was handed over for use as a War Hospital. It then became a convalescent hospital in the 1950s and wasn’t closed until the 1980s.” Since then various plans have been

mooted to redevelop Cairndhu House, most recently as a retirement home, but work has yet to begin. “It’s so huge, so sprawling, it just captivated me,” says the photographer. “I just couldn’t understand why something so beautiful had just been abandoned.” This curiosity was how Abandoned NI was born. She created a website and Facebook page in 2013, and began uploading her revealing photographs of derelict sites. “It started as a sort of archive,” she explains. “A place to catalogue what I was finding. But the response was phenomenal; people loved it. “There’s a process that buildings go through when they’re abandoned. Windows get broken, they become insecure and are looted. People steal the lead from the roofs and then water starts to leak in. That’s the beginning of the end really, that’s when it disintegrates and nature takes over. “I think it’s so important to get in and get photos before that happens, because this is our heritage.” The photographer makes a point of never breaking into properties. She has built up such a name for herself that many of the buildings she photographs are by invitation from owners or neighbours. And she always takes a companion with her on her trips, for safety.

Continued on 66 ➤

The long coversation – Co. Down “A few years ago I was invited to photograph an old farmhouse near Cookstown by its owner,” she says. “At the time he told me of a cottage up the road, occupied by an 85-year-old man called Dessie. “In time Dessie passed away and left the farmer the cottage in his will. He decided to bulldoze it and build on the land, but invited me in first to document what was there. “There were piles and piles of rubbish, but what I found beneath it all was

incredible. There were newspaper cuttings of the Titanic sinking from 1912, Victorian clothing, war diaries and ration books. “I found a chest full of letters from Dessie’s late brother to the woman who jilted him at the alter. They spanned from 1958 to 1964 and were full of beautiful historic details, such as when the Queen visited Carrick. “I was also able to track down and return black and white photos of a policeman to his family.” The woman behind Abandoned NI is a

busy working mum with a three-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son. She spends her evenings researching old buildings when the kids are asleep, and often heads out to photograph them early on a Sunday morning “while the family are still in bed”. And she reckons she’s had a few spooky experiences along the way. “You get a feeling when you walk into a property,” she explains. “Sometimes it’s welcoming and homely, but other times it can be quite cold and hostile. “My sister and I once visited an abandoned adventure park down south. It was one of those places that would have held summer camps and school trips; it still had all the bunkbeds in the dorm rooms. “Before that though it had been a convent, so it had a long history. We were walking along this long corridor, checking each of the rooms, and my sister was recording a video as I took photographs. Suddenly we heard a man’s voice, as though he was standing right beside us. “When we got back to the car we played

Family memories – Co. Tyrone

Cairndhu House – Co. Antrim

That old Singer – Co. Armagh the tape back, and sure enough we could hear this man saying ‘you’re crazy’. It was clear as day. We were the only ones in the building. Things like that are very hard to explain.” The Abandoned NI photographs are taken with a Nikon D600 camera and tripod, without a flash. And the photographer is always keen to hear from owners who would like her to photograph

their building. For would-be photographers interested in old sites, she has this advice: “For a start, never break and enter. We always try to speak to the owners or neighbours. “One time we were at this beautiful old house down in Wexford, but it was all boarded up and secured. We knocked on the neighbour’s door, and not only did she have a key, but she gave us a tour around it and

told us loads of detail about it’s history. “Also never go alone; always take a friend or fellow photographer. Be respectful of the building, leave it as you found it. And never take risks; if the upstairs floors look unsafe, don’t go up.” She’s travelled the length and breadth of the country, but Cairndhu House still has a special place in this mum’s heart. “If I won the Lottery I’d buy it,” she laughs. “It’s got the most beautiful grounds, perfect for a luxury hotel and golf course. I’d try to persuade Rory McIlroy to go into business with me!” An exhibition of work by Abandoned NI, including photos from Dessie’s cottage in Cookstown, will be on show at Portadown Heritage Centre throughout December. n

For more information visit: www.abandonedni. com or facebook.com/abandonedni The old boarding school – Co. Antrim

Everything but ensuite – Co. Tyrone

Tara Lynne O’Neill and Chris Robinson

Tara Lynne O’Neill

Ahead of her performance in On the Shelf at the Grand Opera House, Belfast, NW chats to actress Tara Lynne O’Neill What can audiences expect from ‘On the Shelf?’

good career, a nice flat, and ticks all the other boxes, but society still judges her because she doesn’t have the other two things. It’s Christmas Eve and a 6ft 4inch elf appears to her.

The show blurb states: ‘Want to find out what would happen if Bridget Jones lived in Belfast and fed a Gremlin after midnight?’ Tell us more about that. Elves are lovely and cute, but in folklore elves were mischievous and had a darker side. In Gremlins the gremlin was really cute until someone fed it.

You will laugh! At Christmas time parents are used to taking kids to pantomime, but the adults want to go and have a good laugh too. Chris Robinson is the co-writer of On the Shelf, we have always done shows together and we decided to do our own. We are hoping people will come along, laugh, be merry, and let their hair down – it is Christmas after all. It is an hour-long show. We are only doing 16 performances and seven have sold out already - we are shocked and delighted as we didn’t expect it to sell out so early. So if you want to go please book your tickets.

You are well known for your role as Ma Mary from Derry Girls. What was the highlight of the experience?

I think meeting the Derry girls themselves, and the Derry boy too – Dylan. Their energy is fantastic. To be in a female-led TV show is unique in itself. We got to work together all the time and I’m really proud to have got to know them all. They are all from here and that is really special – to have Channel 4 come over and see the talent and say: ‘let’s do this’. It was great working with Dylan Llewellyn, Tommy Tiernan, and Ian McElhinney who played my father. Ian has directed me several times and I was delighted to work with him. We start filming the next series in two weeks’ time which is exciting.

What have you got planned after On the Shelf? Fly me to the Moon at the Grand Opera House in January. It is about two care workers in Belfast. It’s so funny that a member of the audience said it should be prescribed on the NHS. n

Tell us about your character Paula. Paula is a typical forty-something. ‘On the shelf’ is a very old-fashioned term, but people still expect you to be married and have children. Paula has a

We don’t even know if the elf Paula sees is real or if it is in her imagination after a few too many gins. We will leave it to the audience to decide. On the Shelf is about being on your own at Christmas, society looks down on you for that. People say ‘nobody should be on their own at Christmas’. It’s a dark comedy but it will be fun.

Tara Lynne O’Neill

On the Shelf runs at the Brand Opera House Belfast from 10-22 December. Tickets cost £15, to book visit: www.goh.co.uk.

LIVING

Credit: Fiesta Feather Cushion £18, Paradise Cushion £25, Chiswick Cushion £35, Tree of Life Cushion £30, Meridian Raspberry Cushion£25, from Harvey Norman

Omnibus HOME | STYLE | ART

Luxury retailer of designer home accessories, furniture, gifts and art

613 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7GT, T: 028 9068 7012 omnibushome.co.uk

@OmnibusHomeBelfast

@OmnibusHome

omnibushome

Maison Valentina ‘Newton’ single-slipper style bath (80cmH x90cmD x 180cmL) made from gold-plated cast iron and encrusted in oversized gloss black and gold lacquered spheres from MaisonValentina.net, from £21,630

IN THE BATHROOM…

Just as white walls can expand a space, dark hues can work their own type of magic in small rooms – and with often better results. In pokey, characterless bathrooms black can look high end and elegant, especially when paired with the right accessories. Dive right in with floor to ceiling black walls or dip your toe into the trend with one feature wall in black. Juxtapose with reflective materials – gold, copper, brass – or keep it sparse with a show-stopping black tub for maximum opulence.

The dark side

Think black is dreary? Think again. Be inspired by these stunning moodyhued rooms to make ebony, charcoal, graphite and onyx your new favourite shades. We show you how... BY RÓISÍN CARABINE

SHO the P LOO K Clarice black and gold round convex porthole mirror (medium) from Outthereinteriors.com £150 Paternity + John Lewis Ritual Reflect bathmat from JohnLewis.com £20

The Starck 1 Barrel Vanity unit in high gloss black from Duravit. Visit Duravit.co.uk for stockist details. From £1,838

Amph black metal wall storage with hooks from Made.com £89

Aquaflow Italia Nero black thermostatic shower column from FrontlineBathrooms.co.uk (visit site for local stockist) £575

Dado black metal soap dispenser from Made.com £12

IN THE BEDROOM…

Don’t be afraid of the dark when it comes to bedrooms. Moody, inky shades are ideal for creating a cosy cocoon to retreat to in the winter. The trick to perfecting the look is to partner various black shades of similar intensity – then throw in a punch of colour. Patterned black damask wallpaper is a lively alternative to flat black paint and looks glamourous teamed with ebony wide plank flooring. Create extra visual interest (and comfort) with multiple layers of bedding in contrasting textures.

Sophie Conran for Arthouse Palais black velvet damask wallcovering, available in two colours from Arthouse.com, from £80 per roll

SHO the P LOO K Niamh 100% cotton digital print duvet cover set from HomeEssentials.co.uk from £25

Sophia 7-drawer chest (8523170) from Argos £249.99

Pax pendant light from Debenhams £27

Macrame wall hanging from Sainsbury’s Home £14

Sheepskin rug in Australian merino wood from FrenchBedroomCompany.co.uk £60

Zanotta 250 Servonotte bedroom clothes stand from Nest.co.uk £283

Kungsbacka black kitchen drawer fronts from £22; Hackas handles £11/2 pack; Barkaboda walnut worktop (186x3.8cm) £120; Vattudalen inset sink £130; black induction hob £266; Kungsfors rail with shelf £88; Idolf chair £45; Lisabo table £120; Nymåne pendant lamp £35, all from Ikea, Belfast

SHO the P LOO K

IN THE KITCHEN…

Black kitchens are totally on trend this season. In big, open plan kitchen-diners match black cabinetry to black appliances and black walls to create a less sparse and more cocooning, seriously sleek entertaining space. If you’re not keen on floor to ceiling darkness, lighten the mood with walnut worktops and wood flooring and opt for a mix of different light sources – pendants, undercounter leds, wall sconces – to add another dimension. And if privacy isn’t an issue, leave windows undressed.

Miele CM5500 countertop coffee machine with rose gold pearl finish. Visit Miele.co.uk for local stockists, from £799

Colander from Debenhams £18

Stelton Emma cordless electric kettle with beech wood handle from Black-by-design.co.uk £139

Manford oak table from Habitat.co.uk £595

Franke Active Plus pull-out spray kitchen tap in matt black. Visit Franke.com/gb for local stockists, from £225

Blanco Cube pendant extraction hood (BW2500WH) featuring 4 levels of extraction, aluminium filters and soft touch controls. Visit Blanco-germany.com/UK for local stockists, from £580 (ex VAT)

IN THE LIVING ROOM... Black is full of depth and warmth and is capable of creating lots of drama in a living room, especially when teamed with white. Avoid a stark monochromatic look by layering black hues with off-whites and traditional patterns. Painting door frames, skirting and even radiators the same colour as the walls and built-in furniture creates a cohesive look and also makes the room feel bigger. Opting for black and white carpeting underfoot will allow you to throw shade on the ceiling for added visual impact.

Kenilworth Wilton carpet from Carpetright.co.uk, from £39.99 per square metre

Lori tall narrow bookcase by Vox in graphite from Cuckooland.com £155

SHO the P LOO K Tokki black side table from Habitat.co.uk £250 Bronte 2-seater wingback sofa in black velvet from CultFurniture.com £399

Emmett Floor lamp from Marks & Spencer £89

Reflect black sideboard (small) by Søren Rose Studio for Muuto available from Maven, Belfast, from £1,795

Bamboo storage basket from Dunelm £10

Bringing Something

DIFFERENT

mnibus Home was started by Denise Burns in late 2017, trading online at first, and then she opened her first store in the heart of the Lisburn Road in March of this year. Denise’s background is governance and risk, having worked in the public and third sectors for the last 13 years; but a holiday to Barcelona in 2014 was to change this. Stumbling upon the quirky brand Tom’s Drag off Las Ramblas was to ignite in Denise a desire to change career, and bring those furniture pieces and brands that are a little bit different to Northern Ireland. Sourcing brand partners and suppliers from around the world, Denise aims to ensure that Omnibus Home offers customers that something different, as well as supporting local artists and business with a unique offering. Omnibus Home is now the exclusive stockist of Tom’s Drag in the UK and Ireland, as well as holding exclusive accounts with many other brands and artists. So whether it’s a Parisian diffuser, original painting or a statement piece of furniture, Omnibus Home is the perfect place to get finishing touches for your home; as well as stocking a carefully curated range of fabulous gift ideas.

Give the gift of Lough Erne Resort this Christmas Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year and there is no better gift to bestow on loved ones than an experience at the five-star Lough Erne Resort.

he resort’s Christmas choice vouchers are the perfect stocking filler and have been tailored to offer just that – choice. Recipients can choose from a carefully selected menu of three experiences, all designed to surprise and delight. Whether it’s a lesson in the golf academy for Dad, a spa treatment for your best friend, or a Sunday lunch in the Catalina Restaurant for the in-laws, the ladies and gentlemen’s Christmas vouchers are sure to be well received. The resort choice voucher allows the recipient to choose from a delectable menu of options for two; including a five-course tasting menu, overnight stay or spa treatment.

For the first year ever at Lough Erne Resort, from 1st December to 24th December 2018 will be a luxury Christmas gift shop open daily. It’s the perfect shop to fill festive stockings with a range of golf, spa and foodie gifts and accessories. No home is complete without Noel McMeel’s famous preserves and dressings or best-selling Irish Pantry cookbook which is also available to purchase. For those looking to truly put their feet up in style instead of spending hours in the kitchen, the Lough Erne Resort’s luxury Christmas Escape is not to be missed and is the perfect gift a family can give themselves. Arrive Christmas Eve to the magic of roaring open fires, indulge in festive favourites such as mince pies, mulled wine, eggnog and

hot chocolate, before enjoying a good night’s rest. Awake the next morning to a Buck’s Fizz breakfast and the chance for the little ones to open their presents with Santa Claus. A five-course Christmas lunch featuring the best local ingredients awaits in the awardwinning Catalina Restaurant followed by a relaxed day of board games and Christmas movies on the big screen. The package is available for a two-night stay from £595/three night stay £695 per person sharing. Children between the ages of 3-13 years can stay from only £279 for two nights/£329 for three nights. For further inspiration for luxurious Christmas gift options visit: www.lougherneresort.com

Sarah Travers Revealed as face of Natural Gas Campaign

ocal natural gas Company, firmus energy has unveiled former BBC News Presenter, Sarah Travers as the face of its new winter marketing campaign, ‘Love Natural Gas’. North Coast lady born and bred, Sarah Travers welcomed firmus energy with open arms when they extended their natural gas network outside her home in Portstewart earlier this year. Speaking of her involvement in the campaign and upgrading to natural gas, Sarah explains: “I was thrilled when I received a letter to say that my house was finally connectable to natural gas as I have always been keen to make the switch away from oil. I now have hot water when I need it and instant heat, which I can control from my phone thanks to my newly-fitted smart controls – they’re a real game changer!” explains Sarah. As a mum, business owner, journalist and avid runner, Sarah leads a busy life but since upgrading to natural gas her home is now up to speed with her lifestyle – quick and instant!

firmus energy’s Marketing Manager, Angeline Murphy is optimistic about the new campaign: “We are delighted to welcome Sarah to the firmus family as our new Brand Ambassador for the ‘Love Natural Gas’ campaign. Sarah is a locally loved lady who epitomises firmus energy’s values – she is a perfect fit.’’ firmus energy has over 86,000 natural gas customers across Northern Ireland, and connected its first customer in Portstewart back in 2010. With over 1,000 customers in the area including well-known businesses such as Harry’s Shack and Morelli’s, Sarah is in safe hands with natural gas.’’ To celebrate the new ‘Love Natural Gas’ campaign firmus energy are offering customers £150 cashback when upgrading to natural gas, or a 0% finance option. If you would like to upgrade to natural gas register your interest online: www.firmusenergy. co.uk/sarah or call: 0800 032 4567 for more information. n

 ADVERTORIAL

µµI was thrilled when I received a letter to say that my house was finally connectable to natural gas as I have always been keen to make the switch away from oil∑∑

Photography by Michael Bradley

A practical, stylish home with oodles of character

ichola and Colm, their kids, and miniature schnauzer Mac moved into their East Belfast home five years ago. “Myself and my husband love a challenge, we like to make our mark and this was the perfect project,” Nichola explains. “The two previous properties we lived in required a complete overhaul and this one was no different. We could see the potential and it had fantastic accommodation that catered well for our family. The rooms were a brilliant size and the garden was amazing – nearly big enough for a footy match! The kids fell in love with the outside, and my hubby and I loved the original features inside.” The couple spent a year renovating the house, while retaining as many of the original features as possible. “We recruited specialists to restore the fireplace which involved taking it apart and restoring it piece-by-piece,” Nichola explains. “And the same with the entrance hall floor, where we sourced the same wood from a salvage yard to repair the battered and broken pieces. We extended and totally re-modernised the kitchen, bathrooms and beyond. “When we first bought the house there was a ladder up to, what you could term as the upstairs, which in reality was a glorified roof space. We worked with our architect to create enough space for two bedrooms and a bathroom for the kids allowing them complete privacy upstairs and away from us – the added bonus is we can’t see the mess either!” Nichola and Colm had a vision for the look they wished to achieve and interior designer Lee Austin helped them to bring this to life.

Continued on 80 ➤

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The kitchen is the heart of the home; it is not only about gathering to eat but also used for homework, coffees, chats, and many a long night with family, friends and neighbours have taken place here.â&#x20AC;?

“We love a tipple!” “Lee understood what we wanted to achieve and rather than having to trawl through hundreds of wallpaper and fabric books, we discussed what we wanted in terms of overall look, colours, textures etc. and he came up with a shortlist of options. We wanted to create a practical yet stylist home with our unique twist.” The couple revamped the veranda to create an additional outdoor living space. “We use this throughout the summer and even on dry winter nights when we light the firepit and crack open a bottle of wine,” Nichola says. “After a very long year of renovations we were delighted with everything we had achieved; we had created a fantastic space for all of the family which could be adapted to suit our needs.” When asked about their favourite room, Nichola says: “We all love the lounge where we gather round the open fire on a cold winter night. Our aim was to create a cosy, comfortable room that would give us a fantastic place to entertain, as well as a room for the kids and ourselves to gather round the telly, cosy up and chill. Lee Austin’s brief was a ‘gentleman’s club’ which he 100% delivered on.” n

“A den for when the kids have friends over. We thought the framed picture added an element of fun, not that we’re into gambling.”

“A few pieces we’ve picked up along the way; the decanter was a wedding gift from a special friend.” “We love the outside space, from the veranda to the garden and the astro area for the kids to play in all weathers. It is definitely an extension of the house and provides us with an additional room that we can use to entertain friends while the kids can run riot in the garden!”

“What we believe is one of the ‘wow factors’ of the house; nothing beats an open fire!”

“A cosy space for every occasion.”

“We wanted to retain as many original features as possible.”

“We love the colours and vibrancy of this set.”

“We salvaged the original 1930’s bathroom suite and added a modern twist.”

“Our bedroom is where we retire after a long day, and even with two kids we manage the odd breakfast in bed looking out over the garden.”

Photo credit: Bill Smyth

PROFILE:

Portaferry Hotel Alyson Magee reports on a recent visit to the Portaferry Hotel

ahal and Mary Arthurs’ third summer at the helm of the Portaferry Hotel has been their most successful to date. “We feel that this is due to a lot of factors,” says Mary. “Firstly, the weather of course. We are in such a beautiful spot on the shores of Strangford Lough.” Repeat business is already strong “which is very encouraging for our future,” she says. “We also feel that tourists from across the shores have increased; especially Canadian and Australian and RoI. We are more attractive now, with the current exchange rate for staycations. “We have had a busy two years

developing our business, receiving recognition in the McKenna Guide – featuring in the top 10 seaside places to stay in Ireland and the Top 100 places to stay in Ireland. “We were also nominated in 2017 as one of the Top 5 Hotels in Northern Ireland at the UIster Tatler Awards, feature in the Good Food Guide and have received Taste of Ulster Awards in 2016, 2017 and 2018.” Having already completed a refurbishment of the bar, restaurant and rooms before reopening in 2016, Cathal and Mary have plans to further upgrade the rooms and social space over the coming year. Enhancing their food and drink offer

HOTEL OPENED: Re-opened in 2016. OWNERSHIP & HISTORY: Portaferry Hotel has been the heart of Portaferry community since the 1700s. After a downturn in the economy, the hotel closed its doors in 2015. Under new management, local couple Cahal and Mary Arthurs, the hotel reopened in 2016 after a refurb of the bar, restaurant and rooms, adding a more casual modern feel to the hotel, without losing the soul of the building. EMPLOYEES: 23 full-time, 18 part-time ROOM NUMBERS: 14 STAR RATING: 3-star STYLE: Country boutique hotel - family run GUEST PROFILE: It attracts wide range of customers; the location makes the hotel attractive to self-drive European guests, families, leisure breaks, golf groups, walking groups, cyclists and, mid-week, is a popular destination for local retirees from RoI and NI. UNIQUE SELLING POINT: Portaferry Hotel’s location on the shores of Strangford Lough is its finest attribute. FOOD & BEVERAGE: Food served daily 12-8pm (to 9pm at weekends). Breakfast is served from 8am daily and the hotel recently added its Coffee Dock, serving daily. The bar is open daily to the public and hotel guests alike.

has also been a big focus for the couple, with the hotel’s menus highlighting local produce such as Marlfield Farm poultry, Just Live a Little Granola and seafood from the Lough. “We are lucky to have the best produce literally on our doorstep,” says Mary. “We love organising events here in Portaferry, such as Afternoons of Gin, Afternoons of Fine Spirits and Sailaway Saturdays.” Cahal and Mary also own Northern Ireland’s smallest bar, Dumigans, and The Ferry Grill Chip Shop, both in Portaferry. “We are very invested in the local economy, and thrilled that Portaferry is on the up, with many new businesses flourishing,” she says. n For more information on the Portaferry Hotel visit: www.portaferryhotel.com or call: 028 4272 8231

Photo credit: Bill Smyth

DOUBLE UP Shop this month’s designer buys and purse-friendly lookalikes BY RÓISÍN CARABINE

SAVE

SPLURGE

Ritzy Pouffe in quilted ‘Abyss’ velvet from Sweetpeaandwill.com £825 Wilderness Tall Six-arm Genuine Antler Chandelier from Alexanderandpearl.co.uk £410

Resin Antler Five-arm Chandelier from Matalan £110

Hetherington Brass Base Pouffe in blush pink velvet from Made.com £149

Cloud Shelf from George Home @ Asda £5

Palm Tree Candle Holder from Debenhams £26

Bloomingville Wallmounted White Cloud Shelf (iron) from Hurnandhurn.com £43

Klevering Brass Palm Tree Candleholder from Printerandtailor.com £425

Gold 16-piece Cutlery Set from Very.co.uk £29.99

Moda Rocking Chair CD4 in teal from CultFurniture.com £109

Newberg 16-piece Cutlery Set in Matt Gold from Made.com £120 Vitra RAR Eames Rocking Armchair in teal from Nest.co.uk £495

Mr & Mrs Conn Photos by Lynn Stanfield

hildhood sweethearts Ashley McKeown from Belfast, and Ballynahinch groom Jonathan Conn, first met at school. They were in the same class in first year, had the same friends, and went to the formal together, but didn’t start dating until they finished school. “We can’t say it was love at first sight as we first met when we were eleven,” Ashley begins. “However we both knew that we were made for each other when we eventually started dating.” Ashley was “an emotional wreck” when Jonathan popped the question on 25th October 2015, she said “yes” immediately. Ashley recalls: “We were on a spa break and Johnny had arranged rose petals on the bed spelling out: ‘Will You Marry Me?’” “I absolutely love Grease and wanted our wedding to have a fifties theme, hence the swing band, fifties-style bridesmaid dresses, Grease-themed table names, and Americanstyle cars. We wanted our wedding to be fun and unique with plenty of colour.” Lizi Daley from Kaizen Print created the old cinema ticket invitations, Cakes by Berina made the four-tier drip creation, and swing band Dave Martin & The Casino Cats entertained the guests. The bride looked stunning in a Joiles dress from the team at Divinity Bridal who she describes as “a dream to work with”. Ashley says: “I had never seen a dress that had two such distinct looks; I felt like a princess during the day, and was able to take the skirt off the dress in the evening to dance the night away; win-win!” Jonathan’s favourite memory of his wedding day was “seeing Ashley walk down the aisle and thinking how amazing she looked”. Ashley’s was “walking down the aisle with my Dad and seeing all of our family and friends waiting, and then seeing Johnny with a massive smile on his face.” The couple honeymooned in Sorrento, highlights of which included visiting the island of Capri, the breath-taking scenery and Italian food. n

Venue: Millbrook Lodge Hotel, Ballynahinch Dress: Divinity Bridal, Lisburn Groomswear: Focus Menswear, Bangor Bridesmaids’ dresses: Divinity Bridal, Lisburn Makeup: Dawn Rose Makeup from Brow and Beauty Couture, Belfast Hair: Jemma Robinson from Benjamin Close Hairdressing, Newtownards

Zara Duffy and Sarah Cull

Ulster Society Young Professionals Group Day at the Races

Nial Harkin, Lee Roper, Jack Duddy and Mark Downey

The Institute of Chartered Accounts Young Professionals Day at the Races, sponsored by Hays Recruitment, took place at Down Royal Racecourse. Attendees enjoyed exclusive use of the Moscow Flyer private suite, a luxury lunch, and an action-packed racing day. Photo by Stephen Hamilton, Press Eye

Emma Wilkinson, Claire Browne, Laura Morgan and Ashley Kelly

Meghan Kirk, Megan Thompson and Maria Reynolds

Sarah Louise Baird, Fiona Bunting and Danielle McKeefry

Marleta Bailie and Orla Ross

Claire Craig and Suzie Dehann

‘From Down The Road’ launch at The Chelsea

Temperatures were soaring on The Lisburn Road, Belfast, recently when Boyzone and Celebrity Masterchef star Shane Lynch popped into The Chelsea for the launch of their ‘From Down The Road’ menu. The Chelsea’s ethos is ‘Keep it Local at Your Local’ and pride in using local produce and an array of local drink suppliers. Guests enjoyed a three-course meal, and were entertained by singer Michael Kerr. Photography by Bill Smyth

Julieanne and Travis Skelton

Shane Lynch and Karlo Taylor

Joanne Savage and Abby Williams

Karen Douglas and Nigel Stronge

Hans Sloane Chocolate and Fine Food Festival & Ball

Aisling Press, Ciaran Rafferty and Nicola McCleery

Artisan chocolatiers, food producers, chocoholics and local guests descended on the beautiful village of Killyleagh for the Finnebrogue Artisan Hans Sloane Chocolate and Fine Food Festival. With over 6,000 people visiting the picturesque grounds of Killyleagh Castle throughout the weekend, the event honoured the festival’s namesake, Sir Hans Sloane, who was born in Killyleagh and is considered locally to be an ‘unsung hero’ of Northern Ireland. Proceeds raised benefitted the Cancer Fund for Children. Photos by Declan Roughan

Rodney and Maxine Wardlow

Michelle and Anna Ware

Shannon and Justin Clegg

Joris Minne, Paddy Minne and Jude Copeland

Emer Dooris

Lighting Up Generations at Culture Night Power NI celebrated 80 years of powering Northern Ireland during Culture Night 2018, hosting an event at Curated Kitchen with speciality coffees, hot chocolates and small plates, followed by an amazing light show projected onto St. Anne’s Cathedral. The Lighting Up Generations show celebrated the years gone by, from the 1930s to the present day, representing togetherness and community, culminating in a celebration of the 80 years of service from Power NI and Culture Night’s 10th birthday. Melissa Elliott, Maria McFarlane, Clare Treanor and Sophie Duff

Photography by Brendan Gallagher

Cooking Masterclass with Rachel Allen from Ballymaloe Foods

Irish celebrity chef Rachel Allen from Ballymaloe Foods held a masterclass at Forestside Cookery School recently. Attendees made wheaten bread with cheese and Ballymaloe relish, and quesadillas stuffed with cheese, ham and Ballymaloe jalapeño relish. Photo by Joanne Beattie

Maire Campbell and Lynne Crowther

Claire Shields and Katie Best

Rory Best

Jamie Rogers and Holly Bell

Freedom of the Borough Ceremony Some of the biggest names from the world of rugby union gathered at the Archbishopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Palace in Armagh, along with friends and family of Dr Rory Best OBE, to witness the sportsmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conferment with the Freedom of the Borough of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon. The Lord Mayor Alderman and Councillors awarded the honour to the Ulster, Ireland and Lions rugby star to recognise his huge contribution to sport and community. Photo by Kelvin Boyes, Press Eye

Alex and Gemma Bell

Wayne and Julie Flaherty

Elaine and Mark Anderson

Sophie Mitchell

Miss International Northern Ireland School of Modellingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Miss International took place at Clayton Hotel recently to choose models for an international shoot in Malta in 2019. Guests enjoyed a fashion-filled night of glitz and glamour. Olivia Hayes

Photos by Hunter Brothers Photography Shannon Bassett

Brittany Taylor, Ann Connor, Sophie Mitchell and Anna Burns

Olivia Hayes

Stephen Garrett and Stephanie Garrett

Gary McEldowney and Kate McEldowney

Buella Life Launch The Merchant Hotel Beauty queen turned businesswoman, Gemma Garrett, hosted an exclusive party in Belfast to launch her new online venture Buella Life. The former Miss Great Britain welcomed leading figures from the health, wellness and lifestyle world to the event at the Merchant Hotel. Attendees included former Miss World Rosanna Davison, Irish and Ulster rugby player Jordi Murphy, and a host of local TV and media personalities. Photos by Kelvin Boyes, Press Eye

Gemma Garrett and Rosanna Davison

Alex Doherty, Lyn Murtagh and Gillian Jackson

Lisa Stewart and Mark McNamee

Kevin Jordan and Marty Wilson

Isaac Heslip and Maitiu McGibbon

Olivia Nash, Laura Whitmore, Joan Burney Keatings, and Savanna Burney Keatings

Grace and Goliath premiere The world premiere of Cinemagic’s new feature film Grace and Goliath took place recently at Odyssey Cinemas, Belfast. The premiere marked the official launch of this year’s Cinemagic Film Festival in Belfast, the largest film and television festival designed for, and by, young people in the UK and Ireland. Grace and Goliath (Cert PG) is a family feel-good movie that will make you feel proud to come from Northern Ireland. Laura Whitmore and Fiona Cunningham

Joan Burney Keatings, Tony Mitchell and Maire Campbell

Photos by Kelvin Boyes, Press Eye

Cheryl O’Dwyer and Jo Donnelly

Send us your photos! Thanks to all who submitted photos for Here & There. Every month one reader will win a Pic of the Month prize – so well done to Deborah Kinder who has won a goodie bag containing Image’s Ageless Total Resurfacing Masque (RRP £36) and more fab beauty products. To be featured simply take a photo of you with Northern Woman out and about locally or abroad. Email your photo to NW editor Catriona: c.doherty@independentmagazinesni.co.uk

Angela Shivers from Belfast enjoying the sun in Cannes

Roisin and Fianna Toal pictured in Menorca

HERE & THERE F PIC O THE H T MON

Deborah Kinder pictured after a surfing session in Portrush East Strand

Leah Lane and Lisa McMurray pictured with Northern Woman all the way from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Elyse Napier at Disney Magic Kingdom, Florida

Have your brand featured here and reach your target audience. To sponsor Here & There contact Ciara Hedgcock on 077 69951 595 or email c.hedgcock@independentmagazinesni.co.uk

R E G BLOG CORNER BY ZOE SCULLION FROM NEST AND GATHER A piece inspired by The 5 Love Languages book by Gary Chapman.

his book was written after its author Gary Chapman encountered a man who had been through three failed marriages. His question to Chapman was this: “What happens to love after you get married?” We are in an age where love is no longer permanent, it is disposable. But that was never what it was meant to be. I heard it’s patient, it’s kind, it’s slow to anger and it always perseveres, well at least that’s what we say on our wedding day. So why does love not last anymore? Where have we gone wrong? Before you think I’m some kind of love guru who has all the answers, I’m really not. I’m just interested in having a conversation because no one seems to be saying anything. The book focuses on the concept that each of us feel love differently, and if our spouse fails to love us in the way we appreciate, we can feel a void emerging in our relationship. This can happen for many reasons after marriage but I think the main reason is complacency. We can become so familiar with each other’s company that we forget to make the effort to love each other, the way we used to. I know for me, complacency can come out in my words, my dialect towards my husband James slowly begins to deteriorate. You see when you get married nothing is hidden anymore, all the things you love about them suddenly becomes overshadowed by the imperfections you have never seen before. Infatuation can be blinding. I like to think of marriage being like the sea; they’re both beautiful to look at but overwhelming at times to be in. When we got married it was as if we stepped into the water together and before we knew it we were swimming in unknown territory, looking at each other, wondering what we do now. If we’re honest we’ve all had some choppy seas in our relationship and if we hadn’t made the choice to sit down and work things out, we would’ve been miles apart by now. The storms of life come, and we either come out holding on to each other or facing the opposite way. But let’s not be fooled by all the perfect

Happily Ever After? relationships we see on social media. We’re all guilty of posting the perfect couple picture, with an enthralling caption which is turned into complete hypocrisy within 10 minutes, after World War Three is unleashed. I believe the life jacket for any marriage is this: commitment. Commitment always brings you back to that day, that hour, that minute, that second you said: ‘I do’. I do still love you when you leave your boxers lying on the floor, I do still love you when you are going through mental health struggles. I do love you when our financial situation is

Want to know more? rnncommunications.com

in tatters. Commitment isn’t about feelings it is about the promise you made to that person in front of all your friends and family. And for us, most importantly, in front of God. Choose to love, especially in those moments when you don’t feel like it. Surely this is the key to any happily ever after. For more on the ‘Happily Ever After?’ series go to my Instagram @ nest_and_gather or visit: nestandgather. wordpress.com. Zoe n

NORTHERN MAN Jeff Meredith’s local adventures

Landlord show, New York City Fashion Week. Getty Images

i folks, it seems that adventure has become my middle name this year. Since I upped my exercise regime in January by running and walking more, I seemed to start adding new activities on a regular basis. Top of the list was to get to the top of the world again, well to the top of our country anyway, a walk up the majestic Slieve Donard. It’s never easy, it’s always a challenge, but as I get fitter it does get slightly easier and quicker to recover from, that’s always a good sign, your recovery rate. This autumn I’ve tried a few things I’ve never experienced before, first of all and top of my achievements was getting the train from Bangor to Belfast then running back to Bangor station, 13.1 miles, a half marathon. I never in my wildest dreams thought I could achieve that. Hopefully by the time you read this I will have done it again. Two other adventures that stand out this autumn are my first mountain bike trail and a fencing lesson. My mountain bike adventure was in the beautiful Blessingbourne Estate in Fivemiletown (can we ever say Fivemiletown without thinking of that famous trio, Augher, Clogher, Fivemiletown?). The team at MountainBikeNI.com challenged me to try it out, but I don’t think they expected me

to love it so much. It was fast, fun, adventurous. Whizzing around the course I couldn’t resist trying out the red trail, attempt the black sections. Great fun and definitely worth trying. The next adventure was a class with Stormont Fencing Club. In The Pavilion at Stormont the fencing club meet up for their weekly Wednesdaysession. You get kitted out in your gear, put your mask on, warm up, learn and practice your moves, before taking a blade to get fencing. Check them out on Facebook and get in touch to try something new, you might just love it - I did. If only I was free every Wednesday night. One to visit this autumn is Montalto Estate. The estate recently opened its walking trails through the countryside, and built a beautiful restaurant and stunning shop. Over the last three years they have completely transformed the estate by planting thousands of trees, creating trails and even a huge adventure playground with rope bridges, slides and treehouses, which of course I’ve tried out – it is adult-sized after all. I had to, I’m a big kid at heart! Thanks for reading, keep well and have an adventure. n

The Brooks Brothers show, Florence. Getty Images

Denim borg jacket from Primark £25

Navy long peacoat from Burton £110

Red Herring jacket from Debenhams £85

Storm hybrid ziphood from Superdry £74.99

Rookie heavy weather parka from Superdry £129.99

Get on BORG

Todd Snyder show, New York Fashion Show. Getty Images

BY JEFF MEREDITH

As borg jackets (faux sheepskin like material, similar to shearling) explode onto the fashion scene for A/W 18, we look at a few from our favourite high street retailers. But is it ever autumn/winter without a parka jacket, a great check coat, or a puffa to keep you cosy? To complete the look, the hot trouser trend this season is a side stripe, or go for a classic check. And those eagle-eyed fashion folks out there will spot the number one hottest item for guys this season; the leopard print shirt.

Faux wool single breasted grey check coat £79, side stripe check trouser £32, knitted sport zip neck £32, from Burton

Grey side stripe trousers from Burton £30

Red parka from Next £78

Check trousers from Zara £29.99

Shearling jacket from Zara £89.99

Autograph coat £149, Autograph jumper £45, Autograph chinos £45, M&S Collection boots £79 from M&S

Grey borg lined biker jacket from River Island £85

— COMPETITION —

Win

A two-night stay at Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone

e have teamed up with Radisson Blu Hotel to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a two-night break at Radisson Blu Hotel in the heart of the maritime town of Athlone. The prize includes two nights’ accommodation including dinner in Elements Bistro on a night of your choice, a super buffet breakfast each morning, plus complimentary access to Synergy Health & Leisure Club. The health club features an indoor swimming pool, a fully-equipped gym with views over the river, a sauna and steam room, and fitness advisors on hand. Located in the heart of Athlone, which is in turn at the heart of Ireland, guests will have no shortage of sights to see and visit in this maritime town. Take a scenic boat trip on the Shannon or visit the newly reopened Athlone Castle and Luan Art Gallery, which are located just across the river from Radisson Blu Athlone. Fashion-followers will be thrilled with the selection of individual boutiques and high street stores on the doorstep of the hotel. History buffs may be more interested in a visit to Derryglad Folk Museum, or the monastery Clonmacnoise, which is a 20-minute drive from the hotel. After a morning spent sightseeing or shopping, Radisson Blu Athlone is the perfect place to relax and unwind – take a swim, enjoy a drink on the terrace overlooking the river, or sit with a coffee and the paper in the Quayside Bar & Lounge. With a selection of fantastic offers available, visit: www.radissonblu.ie/ hotel-athlone to find out more. n

TO ENTER Simply complete the sentence. The prize includes dinner at... Email your answer and contact details to competitions@northernwoman.co.uk before 5pm on Friday 30th November.

T&Cs: The prize is subject to availability and is non-transferrable. The prize is not valid for Christmas, New Year, Easter or bank holiday weekends. INM T&Cs apply.

663 LISBURN ROAD BELFAST 028 9038 1313

7 THE LINEN GREEN MOYGASHEL 028 8772 3181