NW November 2016

NORTHERN WOMAN

woman

NORTHERN

NEW LOOK NEW YOU

NOVEMBER 2016 £2.50/€3.95

STYLE RULES!

NOVEMBER 2016

Why Miss Northern Ireland is going back to college WHEN LOVE HURTS…

Meet the divorce lawyers who’ll be in your corner

FEMALE POWER

PETRA WOLSEY On Belfast’s new Bullitt hotel and her battle with depression

PARTY READY

Gemma Garrett shares top tips for glamour

Women who keep the peace in our councils

HOLYWOOD LIVING The mum with designs on a grand home

THE NEXT BIG THING

Our guide to fashion’s hottest buys

Crowning

VOLUME 32 NUMBER 7

GLORY

WIN

t up Mix i cktail a co with erclass mast

As well as wearing after dark, this season it’s time to shine all day long! So, you may ask, what are the rules for pulling off full-look sequins in daylight hours?

• Wear sequin dresses with denim or leather jackets and leggings underneath.

• Avoid high heels and team your sparkle with with platform brogues, ankle boots or trainers.

• Layer over polo necks or a crisp white shirt.

• Wear shiny jackets with distressed denim and a casual T-shirt.

Gold shimmer jacket, £219.90 & striped trouser, £149.90, both Bitte Kai Rand

Valentino A/W16 Alexa Chung teams her sparkly skirt with a chunky cable knit.

Silver sequin top, £199.90 & pencil skirt, £109.90, both Bitte Kai Rand

Sequins, sparkle and shimmering metallics were a mainstay across the international catwalks. So, whether you choose full-on, headto-toe sequins or a more subtle shimmer, just make sure you’re shining this autumn/winter.

EB33 NW.indd 2-3

Coat, £219.90, Bitte Kai Rand

20% OFF WITH

EBedit

ONLINE NOW!

EVELIN BRANDT BELFAST VIEW OUR COLLECTIONS ONLINE NOW! This Autumn/Winter log on to our website to view all of our new season collections and read the regular features on our Style Blog.

Keep me Posted! Remember to submit your email to avail of regular in-store promotions and seasonal events.

h t i w le k r a p S o T It’s Time t s a f l e B t d n a r B Evelin Evelin Brandt Cadogen House (opposite M&S) 322 Lisburn Road Belfast BT9 6GH Follow us on Facebook

T: 028 90 20 70 20 www.evelinbrandt.co.uk

10/12/16 10:13 PM

Contents PETRA WOLSEY Survival, love and success P8-13

COCKTAIL COMPETITION Win a masterclass P21

GEMMA GARRETT Party Ready P38-41

FASHION The Next Party P28-33

Inside November Publisher Independent News & Media Ltd Belfast Telegraph House 33 Clarendon Road Clarendon Dock Belfast BT1 3GB www.northernwoman.co.uk T: 028 9026 4264 Editorial Consultants Gail Walker Yvette Shapiro Design Consultant Heather Byrne Designer Robert Armstrong Manager Eileen Doherty Art Editor Helen Wright Production Manager Stuart Gray Editorial Contributors Helen Carson Una Brankin Stephanie Bell Lisa Smyth Alicia Clarke Lee Henry Karen Ireland 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

Your new loolky month rn Northe n Woma

✶ PEOPLE

8 PETRA WOLSEY Merchant Hotel boss talks about her marriage to entrepreneur Bill and reveals her battle with depression 26 EMMA CARSWELL Miss Northern Ireland’s year of beauty, fashion, travel and fun - but she’s got her sights set on the boardroom

Labour of love: Inside Sara’s grand family home P52-56

✶ LIFE

22 DIVORCE DRAMA Leading family lawyers on how they’re helping couples avoid the ‘Brangelina’ bitterness

✶ HEALTH

64 ROSY OUTLOOK The inspirational woman who’s gone on the run to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer

34 POLITICAL POWERBROKERS The four council chiefs keeping order in the chamber and helping women to succeed

✶ FASHION

14 NOVEMBER NIGHTS Your four-page guide to the latest looks for turning up the heat this winter 50 GOLFING GLAMOUR How Alison Clarke helped the WAGS to win the fashion battle at the Ryder Cup

✶ BEAUTY

38 PARTY PREP Gemma Garrett’s 12-step guide to making yourself look gorgeous from head to toe 46 UP STYLING From rock chick to red carpet glamour, give your hair the A-list look to take you through the party season

66 IT’S PERSONAL Three women transforming their lives and bodies with one-to-one expert help

✶ LIVING

52 GENERATION GAME Sara Thompson’s grand design for practical family living and sumptuous style in Co Down

✶ MY WAY

62 JUST DESSERTS How Katie Waddell found her brilliant business idea - and love - in the United States 74 TASTE SENSATION Award-winning tour guide Caroline Wilson shares her food journey and gourmet tips 92 NORTHERN MAN Lee Henry’s Strictly not for turning on this year’s office party invitation

71 RESTAURANT STANDARD Top chef Jonny Phillips shares his favourite Italian recipes for delicious winter dishes 90 BLOCKBUSTER TRIP Venice and Florence are the stars of a movie-inspired literary vacation

✶ SOCIAL

83 HAPPY DAYS Three couples open their wedding albums to share special family memories PLUS We’ve eight pages of party pictures from the hottest VIP events across Northern Ireland

Do you want to tell your story in Northern Woman? Contact us by emailing: info@northernwoman.co.uk #northernwomanmagazine

4 Northern Woman

www.facebook.com/ NorthernWomanmagazine

@NorthernWomanNW

What’s Happening

This month

Helen Carson checks out the top events, cool places and go-sees to have a fun-filled November.

what’s happening Must See FUNNY GIRL

FILM

EVENT

Social media addicts should brace themselves for edge-of-the-seat horror flick Friend Request out later this month (Nov 18). Starring Australia actress Alycia Debnam-Carey of Fear the Walking Dead fame – the companion series to TV cult viewing The Walking Dead – she plays Facebook fan, Laura who gets more than she bargained for when she accepts a friend request from loner Marina.

Former Strictly Come Dancing star Georgia May Foote steps into Holly Golightly’s shoes for an unmissable performance of Breakfast at Tiffanys until November 5 at the Grand Opera House, Belfast. The Truman Capote classic is given a new lease of life as a stage play with music in a sparkling, sophisticated production set in 1940s New York. Tickets from £19.50. For show times visit goh.co.uk/breakfast-at-tiffanys.

BROUGHT TO BOOK… Fancy yourself at the next Seamus Heaney or even Sheila Flanagan? Then come along and hone those creative skills at the John O’Connor Writing School in Armagh, November 3-6. Poet Paul Muldoon, novelist Stuart Neville and singer Bronagh Gallagher are among the artists to headline the literary weekend which will include workshops on screenwriting, travel and cookery at some of the city’s most historic venues. For details visit thejohnoconnorwritingschool.com.

Don’t…

Miss

NOVEL Feelgood festive reading at its best with Dilly Court’s newest offering The Christmas Card, £5.25, Amazon. A Jane Eyre-like tale about Alice, who after her father’s death, is left with only her ailing mother and family debts. Our heroine then takes up the only option left to women of her station after refusing to marry – she becomes a governess to a spoilt miss in a grand house where her only ally is handsome Uncle Rory. But, dear reader, will there be much Christmas spirit left for Alice?

Mustd Rea

Hot on the heels of her 2016 smash-hit season in the West End, comedienne Nina Conti is back on the road with her sell-out show, In Your Face.

Expect the unexpected and lots of laughs as Nina, Monkey and a bag of tricks improvise their way through an adventure of hilarious witchery. No two shows are ever the same. Nina’s won a British Comedy Award, stormed Live at the Apollo, Russell Howard’s Good News, Sunday Night at the Palladium, and made a BAFTA nominated film - all without moving her lips.

Don’t miss her at the Ulster Hall, Belfast, 11 November. www.ulsterhall.co.uk

GIRLS NIGHT OUT… The Lady Boys of Bangkok will be shaking a sequinned hip again when the Sabi Pavillion returns to Custom House Square this month with their newest performance Forever Yours. It’s a brand new production which promises glamour, glitz, music...you’re guaranteed to be on your feet singing and dancing well before the end of the night. For tickets tel: 0871 705 0705 or the Belfast Welcome Centre, tel: 028 9024 6609 or book online at ladyboysofbangkok.co.uk.

BRONTE COUNTRY Set during a single day in 1849, the play begins as Charlotte, the last surviving Brontë sibling, sits down to write a letter to her friend, Nell. Set on stage in the old Bronte Church in Drumballyroney near Rathfriland, where her father preached and taught in the adjoining school, this is almost a homecoming. For fans of the literary sisters, it’s a performance not be missed on 12 November. www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.com

Northern Woman 5

What’s Hot

N NORT HERN WOMA

woman

NORTHERN

NEW LOOK NEW

NOVEMBER 2016

STYLE RULES!

2016 NOVEMBER

ern Why Miss North Ireland’s goinge leg back to col WHEN LOVE HURTS…

FEMALE POWER

HOLYWOOD LIVING

The mum with designs on a grand home

£2.50/€3.95

PETRA OLSEY W on Belfast’s new

✶ DAILY GRIND…

✶ LUSH COLOUR

Looking for some new hair inspo? Awardwinning hairdresser Paul Stafford says don’t be shy with colour: “This season’s all about drama, with unusual combinations of colour, texture and shine. It needs an excellent cut and top-quality products.”

Bullitt hotel andh her battle wit depression

PARTY READY

Gemma Garrett shares top tips for glamour

Meet the divorce be lawyers who’ll in your corner Women who keep the peace in our councils

YOU

Helen Carson knows what you need, what you want and what you should be doing

THE NEXT BIG THING

Our guide to fashion’s hottest buys

Crowning

VOLUME 32

GLORY

WIN

off il ke it Sha cocktas a s with stercla ma

NUMBER 7

Welcome to our new look November issue

W

e’re embracing winter and all it has to offer in this month’s Northern Woman.

From cosy, snuggly knits, to full-on glam and glitter for the party season, it’s not hard to see why fashionistas think this is the best time of the year.

Dreading the annual ritual of scrubbing up for the office do? Our gorgeous girl about town, Gemma Garrett, knows all about beauty and she’s got the ultimate guide to getting yourself ready to dazzle in style.

And the award-winning hairdresser Keris Weir shares tricks of the trade so that you can steal those glossy celebrity looks for your big night.

We’re all about strong women, from the leading Northern Ireland divorce lawyers helping couples to survive the split, to the council bosses opening doors for other women to succeed. And you’ll be inspired, as we are, by Rosy Ryan, a joyful and passionate campaigner for cancer awareness while facing her own battle.

On colder nights, we crave delicious Italian comfort food and no-one does it better than top Belfast chef Jonny Phillips.

Top gourmet tips come from the impressive lawyer-turned-tour guide, Caroline Wilson, a woman who knows good food.

The light and shade of winter makes this a special season. At Northern Woman, we’re ready for it all. And you will be, too.

6 Northern Woman

Belfast’s newest hotel, Bullitt has just opened its doors, so now is a perfect time to sample some of its urban cool. As temperatures start to plummet why not pop into Baltic, Northern Ireland’s first ski-themed bar where you can warm up with a coffee or chill out with a beer?

And if you’re a coffee connoisseur try the espresso bar for another first; it has the only Kees van der Western coffee machine in Ireland.

Edgy cut by Leisa Stafford, colour by Aiden Bradley

✶ CAMERA GENIUS Google’s new Pixel and Pixel XL are competing with the iPhone 7. We love the 12-megapixel camera, 32GB storage memory and curved edges. Plus there’s a fingerprint scanner on the back of the phone which comes in black and silver. From £599, but check out network deals.

✶ HOT BEAUTY

Step out of the shade with the new wave Estee Edit which has a eye-popping rainbow of colourful cosmetics to choose from.

Metallishadow in Cyberella, £17, esteelauder. co.uk, has a rich purple hue, while the Estee Lauder Magic Smoky Powder Shadow Stick collection, £18, Boots, House of Fraser, Debenhams, include dramatic Scorched Gold; a light toned gold with a shimmer finish to Charred Plum, our favourite fruit colour, with a hint of brown and satin finish.

✶ REFORM YOURSELF

Pilates Reformer is fast catching on as a hot new fitness trend, with many studios offering the discipline.

Rather than the usual matbased pilates, Reformer, which was invented by Joseph Pilates, is a machine used to facilitate stretching flexibility.

Brace yourself for a new body.

✶ GET THE GEAR

ADIDAS Originals tights, £35, littlewoods.com

Sports t-shirt, £15, M&S Sport bra, £28, M&S

What’s Hot

this month

what’s hot

We’re all about the animal print this November.

Choose your beast and love the look. With clothing, accessories, stationery and homeware, you can wear it or use it.

Cushion £35, Biba at House of Fraser Leather notebook £15, Paperchase

Necklace £25, East

Mug £10, House of Fraser

Coat £80, Wallis

Shoes £75, M&Co

s Labeulst to Ler… Ov

Fall in love with exclusive brands including Niu, D-Ross, Corinna Cason and Collection Privee at Belfast’s latest pop-up store The Rosh Collection, at the Gasworks, which recently opened at 677 Lisburn Road. Expect designer ranges to leading global fashion labels from all over the world.

Northern Woman 7

Interview Interview by Una Brankin Photographs by Brian Morrison

From her battle with terrifying post natal depression, to building a multi-million pound business empire with her hotelier husband Bill

PETRA

WOLSEY

talks about despair, love, motherhood and style

I

t sounded like a good idea at the time. An escape to the wilderness – no cars, no mobile phone signal, no deadlines.

Just the rugged vista and serenity of The Burren’s vast expanse of limestone bedrock, and the ancient caves and craggy cliffs of the Atlantic coastline.

Petra Wolsey and her new husband Bill had chosen scenic Co Clare for their honeymoon, back in 2008. But their trip turned out to be very a short-lived foray into typical Father Ted territory.

“It was a real comedy of errors – we were looking for splendid isolation but it quickly went pear-shaped,” Petra says. “We found this place to stay in The Burren in an upmarket travel guide. The place was lovely on the outside but inside it was like a nursing home – it even had safety rails!

“Bill and I have so little time to enjoy ourselves together that we upped and left and went back to the beautiful old house we owned at the time in Westmeath, where we got married, and just relaxed there – in comfort.”

The couple have since sold the Westmeath house, featured in the Tom Hanks’ film The Money Pit (1986), and bought another in Provence, where they spend their summers with their five-yearold daughter Caolin, whom they plan to bring on their second honeymoon, “somewhere glamorous like the Caribbean”.

Over Darjeeling tea and perfect, flaky pain-au-chocolat in The Merchant’s opulent Champagne Bar, I’m greenish with envy – but not full-blown emerald. It’s hard to begrudge all these trappings of success to someone who evidently works so hard

8 Northern Woman

Our honeymoon was a real comedy of errors. We were looking for splendid isolation but it all went pear-shaped.

The place was like a nursing home and genuinely cares about what she does, someone who has helped create such a gorgeous, iconic hotel right in the centre of Belfast. (Afternoon tea there was the highlight of my mother’s 80th birthday; she still talks about it.)

Today, Petra is as stylish as ever and fresh-faced, if a little pale. She had two root-canals at the dentist’s the day before and has been working around the clock for the opening of the hip new Bullitt hotel, a stone’s throw from the Merchant.

She appears taller than her 5ft 3ins, with the help of high-heeled Versace bordellomadam boots and a well-cut Lanvin skirt.

An expensive looking sleeveless top from the “dangerously convenient” Please Don’t Tell boutique, close to her home in Holywood, and a pair of electric blue designer gloves, complete the outfit. It’s a slightly gothic look, in contrast with her glossy blonde bob and open girlish face, but – despite the odd wobble in the spindly heels – she carries it off well.

At 42, she’s over 20 years younger than Bill, who has two sons from his first marriage, Conall (32) and Luke (29). Petra is group marketing director in the family’s Beannchor Group and works closely with Conall, and gets on very well with Bill’s first wife Linda, who often babysits Caolin, a cherubic little girl who features in a stunning black and white image on the wall of the Wolseys’ National Grande café in the Cathedral Quarter.

“I adore Linda – she’s fab. She’s a real character; we’re good friends,” Petra affirms. “She’s finally taking a step back from the business and has a house in Spain.

She’s really proud of her two boys and she really enjoys being a granny now to Conall’s baby, Dillon. He’s five months and he’s a wee gem.

“Bill didn’t know how to feel about becoming a grandad initially, but he loves the baby. They’ve called him Dillon William Wolsey and he’s chuffed about that.”

Bill and Petra met when she went to work for him at his former TaTu Bar & Grill on Belfast’s Lisburn Road, in the late 1990s. She had graduated in Fine Art from the University of Ulster and had worked as a waitress at Café Casa and Sullivan’s in Bangor, “the place to be at the time”, during her student years.

Continued on 10 ➤

Northern Woman 9

After taking a year out following graduation, she was keen to start working.

“At 24, I decided I was too sociable to be the artist in a garret and I needed to make money,” she recalls. “I started as a waitress in TaTu and was working as a duty manager when I met Bill. There’s quite an age-gap but he had so much cop-on and savvy, I was in awe. He was on my radar!

“He’d fallen out with the people who were doing his PR at the time so he asked me and another girl, Orla, to take over. I’m creative and a bit of a wordsmith, so I went for it. It was a steep learning curve; it’s all about experience.”

“Anyway, it wasn’t love at first sight,” she continues. “We went out with the staff as part of a group a few times, then the group got smaller and smaller, until it was just us, and it took off from there. We’ve been together for 16 years and married for eight.”

Although they share the same drive and passion for style and quality, Bill and Petra are from contrasting backgrounds.

Well-spoken and cultured (she pronounces all her ‘ings’), Petra was brought up in well-to-do Holywood, the youngest, by nine years, of the three daughters of Irvin Devitt, a former joint director of the International Fund For Ireland, and his wife Rosie, a former yoga teacher.

Bill grew up in working class Ballysillan in north Belfast, the son of a stoic socialist couple, and once worked as a compositor for the Newtownards Chronicle.

Petra says: “Dad had a good vegetable garden and grew everything from peppers to courgettes, which gave me an

10 Northern Woman

I was a lost soul.

I felt like a small child dropped into a terrifying adult world with no tools to cope.

I was totally out of control and very, very vulnerable

appreciation of seasonal foods. We only ever drank Earl Grey tea in our house and mum was a vegetarian yoga teacher, which was considered very exotic back then.

“She was always crazy about dolphins and brought me to see Fungie in Dingle bay when I was nine, which was an unforgettable experience of being in the presence of a highly intelligent being. I suppose we were viewed as eccentric but I wouldn’t have changed a thing. Dad’s job was stressful, as you can imagine, and he took early retirement. He’s 83 and mum’s 77 now.

“Dad had a triple bypass but he and mum are well and full of joie-de-vivre. They walk on the beach at Crawfordsburn and go off in their camper van. And they’re a great help to us, with Caolin.”

There were no indications in Petra’s childhood of her future bouts of depression.

It’s an illness she continues to fight to this day, without medication, and although it’s not apparent in her general dry-witted demeanour, you get the sense she is not 100% relaxed and comfortable in her own skin.

That may have much to do with the stressful rush to get the Bullitt Hotel ready for its grand opening, but there are subtle indications of an underlying anxious personality – a characteristic to which she readily admits.

The dark scourge of depression first reared its head while Petra was a studying at Jordanstown, and came back in full force after the birth of her daughter.

“I had the most profound post-natal

Interview

Petra and Bill on the roof of the Merchant Hotel

Above: Petra and Bill with James Nesbitt and Mark Carruthers

depression; it was an awful feeling of displacement, as if I was watching a movie of my life and feeling divorced from process,” she remembers, looking haunted by the very thought of it.

“I would have needed to stick pins in myself to feel part of the equation. I suffer from depression anyway but this was the most severe I ever experienced.

“When Caolin was born, it was easily the most terrifying experience of my life. I was getting borderline psychotic, in that I was having hallucinations, things were shivery, very unpleasant. Colours were a bit off; it was very strange.

“I was a lost soul; I felt like a small child dropped into a terrifying adult world, with no tools to cope. I was totally out of control and very, very vulnerable. I had no trust in myself at all.”

Unable to communicate what she was feeling, Petra shut down and withdrew into herself. And to add to her misery and the numbness of depression, Petra experienced acute anxiety, physically and mentally.

“I’d be lying in bed, not sleeping, trying to will myself to uncurl body,” she explains. “I had cramp-like pain in belly... it was a nightmare, terrible. I was so scared and I was afraid that if I tried to explain what I was experiencing, mentally and physically, people would think I was loopy and couldn’t look after the baby, and put me away.

“A very, very unpleasant time ensued.

I couldn’t sleep and my mother had to sit me down and almost force-feed me.

People were complimenting me on

losing the weight so quickly but it’s just that I didn’t want to eat.”

Speaking quietly but with no hesitation, Petra is highly articulate about the living nightmare that is severe depression.

She’s discussing it openly for the first time to help break the stigma of the often misunderstood illness, which took its toll on her marriage.

“It was very tough for Bill, too. It took him a while to realise that I was falling apart at the seams and we went our separate ways for a while. At the time, I’d completely lost the capacity to make decisions and trust myself, and that agony of indecision is self-perpetuating and throws you into a downward spiral. It was only time, and my incredible mother, that got me through it.

“When I told my obstetrician that I didn’t want to take medication, he told me I’d be in a psychiatric ward within a week if I didn’t. Very helpful.”

A bad reaction to anti-depressants on two occasions in the past had put Petra off serotonin boosters for life.

“They made me feel even more detached and isolated,” she recalls. “I felt like I was wading through soup. I understand there’s a period of 16 weeks or so for the medication to get into your system, but I couldn’t get past without feeling terrified.

“I’d rather deal with it through healthy nutrition – although I still have my bad habits, believe me – and acupuncture. In the back of my head, I have this mind-set to put one foot in front to the other, to take one day at a time – or more so, one minute at a time, to get through. It’s not a very nice head space to be in but it’s workable.

“The problem for me, is that it can be challenging in the business setting,” she adds. “My emotions sit half a millimetre below the surface, which is not helpful in business.

“I can have a big emotional reaction out of proportion to something that has frustrated me. It (the emotional stuff) is a nice little cherry on top of the depression and anxiety.”

Although she underwent counselling as a student, Petra said no to “talking” therapy when she was going through post-natal depression, preferring the therapeutic effect of her jewellery-making hobby, skiing and cycling.

“Therapy’s not for me. I tried it. I realise, like Roosevelt said: ‘There are two hard things in this life – a rock and knowing yourself’, but I don’t think I do know myself well, other than sort of basics. I know that I’m articulate, that I can write decent copy, that I’m creative and have a bit of a sense of humour – all the platitudes, but not much more.

“And I find ‘talking about it’ therapy hard. It doesn’t benefit me; it digs me deeper into a hole. It’s not cathartic. It’s like picking off a scab that keeps coming back.

Like my mum says, you can hold a two pence piece up to the sun and it blocks it out, but it’s still only a two pence piece.”

Continued on 12 ➤

Northern Woman 11

Interview These days, Petra still can find herself going downhill and feeling very low, but not to the profound depths of the past.

Baby Caolin was 18 months old before her mother began to recover from post-natal depression. The depression lifted almost as suddenly as it had dawned, while she was on a break in Donegal with friends.

“The lads had gone to the pub and the girls stayed at home, for the babysitting. I still felt funny in crowds and found nighttime claustrophobic; I could feel the dark pressing down on me, if you know what I mean.

“So, I remember having a glass of wine – I’d drunk no more than a thimbleful up until then. I was half way down in and I thought,’oooh!’ I suddenly felt like a version of me that recognised for the first time in ages, “I didn’t say anything to the girls – they’d been aware of the depression, and I didn’t want to jinx it. Some of my friends have depression too, and it’s a pill to sleep at night and a pill to get them going in the morning.

“I got through it without that, thankfully, and I was able to get back to work.”

And, even more importantly, back to Bill.

“It was a crisis but we found our way back to each other. I adore him and I’m confident he feels the same way about me,” she says with a half laugh. “We are good friends and he’s a wonderful father; we both juggle parenthood and work. Caolin is our joy and our priority – I leave her to school in the morning and he’s there to collect her in the afternoons.

“There’s nothing I like better than getting out with him on our motorbikes – I’ve a Harley Davidson. We’re fair-weather bikers.

We just cruise along – no, we don’t race each other! – and go for an ice-cream on the odd halcyon summer’s day.”

Bill has his own fair share of health problems. Although he’s as fit as a flea, he suffers from severe myasthenia gravis, an auto-immune disorder which killed Aristotle Onassis. Myasthenia prevents the antibodies that fight infection from functioning, and attacks the communication system between the brain and muscle movement.

Bill has the added complication of ocular myasthenia, which causes double vision in his bright blue eyes. The occasional blurriness hasn’t given him the typically droopy peepers of fellow sufferers like Onassis, but it does make patterned carpets and kerbs hazardous for him to negotiate.

On occasion, onlookers have through him drunk or on drugs.

“The myasthenia gets worse when he’s under a lot of stress, like he is now,” says Petra, “and he wants to punch people more than usual! His double vision gets very bad, too. I feel desperately bad for him; it’s very frustrating for him.

“He had a big operation for it but it works much better in people under 50. He doesn’t do hospitals or bed rest at all, so he didn’t take any morphine so that he could check out, and the doctor let him.

“I remember him having enough life in

12 Northern Woman

It was a crisis but we found our way back to each other. I adore him and I’m confident he feels the same way about me. We are good friends

the battery either to eat breakfast or go to a meeting and of course he chose the meeting, and he’s like a whippet, anyway.

The only time he ever put on weight was with steroids. He really ballooned, which was really strange.

“He’s on less medication now but without it, he wouldn’t be able to operate.”

People with myasthenia, like Addison’s disease, tend to have a tanned or orangey pallor, whereas Petra is very fair-skinned and only “goes beige” after weeks in the sun. As a result, she has no sun damage on her skin, which is smooth despite the limited number of facials she has time for.

She admits to having had only a handful of treatments in the Merchant’s spa since the hotel opened in 2006.

“I did go for a facial in Cannes during the summer but the salon was just one room off the gym in this five-star hotel and, for me, that sort of thing is always a busman’s holiday,” she says. “But the house in Provence is a joy. The bread and cheese there are to-die-for and as I’m vegetarian, I have some wonderful truffle treats when I’m there, although they’re expensive.

“I was five when I just decided that I didn’t want to eat meat but I couldn’t go vegan – that’s a step too far for me; I couldn’t cope without cheese. But I’m quite a strict veggie – there are no secret steaks.

I believe we all should be omnivores rather than carnivores, for our health, and we only deal with the very best beef suppliers in the Merchant.”

Before I take my leave, reluctantly, from the sumptuous hotel, the co-proprietor takes me on a walk-though. The Victorian splendour of the original Ulster Bank HQ building, with a £30,000 antique fireplace in pride of place, gives way seamlessly to

Interview

PETRA’S STYLE

Loves & Loathes P etra’s style icon is the bespectacled American interior designer and fashion leader Iris Apfel (93). “I think she is quite wonderful! To be honest, I think anyone unique, with their own style and having lots of fun with it all is to be completely commended and encouraged.” And the trendy marketing expert has her own definite sense of style. Here’s a list of what Petra loves – and what she loathes:

the cold and am too wimpy to give it a lash coming into winter. I like to keep it simple style-wise. I have been pretty much every colour under the sun (except my own). I intend to keep it that way for the foreseeable (currently blonde, but who knows for how long). I’m trying to grow my hair out at the minute which is never as fast a process as I would like. ✶ LOATHE: I only loathe this for me – anything I perceive as “mumsie”. In my book that generally equates to anything that is “bouffed and done” in a Marble ring, £15, Hyacinth Bucket kind of way. Once Cosstores.com you hit the 40-mark you are in grave ✶ LOVE: Over-the-knee boots. I’m danger of twentysomething hairstylists so teeny that they are probably a terrible doing this to your barnet! fashion faux pas for someone my height, but I don’t care! I love them. My favourite (and certainly spendiest) are my black leather ✶ LOVE: I love a smoky-eyed evening Rick Owens wedge over-the-knee look. I have my mum and granny’s boots. I have worn them to death! I plan colour of greeny-hazel eyes which I to wear them as long as I possibly can. wish were greener, so I am all about Long may I avoid the “sensible shoe” the purples or coppers to enhance trap! the green. I have embraced this in ✶ LOATHE: I have a list as long as my every way I can – right down to purple arm of things I really dislike (flatforms, mascara. Fabulous at night – possibly jeggings, Aztec-inspired patterning on slightly bonkers looking on a bright leggings and T-shirts, the list goes on). sunny day but that’s all the more I adore fashion but I’m not a “dedicated reason to do it! follower” of seasonal trends.

DIOR ADDICT It-Lash ✶ LOATHE: A style cliché now Mascara, It-Purple or I suppose, but there have been Violet, £22, Boots too many wince-worthy crimes ✶ LOVE: See previous answer, but against eyebrows to mention.

I am rather partial to a new pair of creepers and also my Vivienne Westwood bondage boots which feature a foot shaped toe. ✶ LOVE: Molecule 01. A friend was wearing ✶ LOATHE: Back to the flatform! it and I loved it on him so tracked it down for myself. However, I most especially love Harmattan by White Noise, ✶ LOVE: Hats! I used to wear both by Roads. Hands down them all the time and have the best perfume company decided it’s time to get back ever. I think all their scents in the habit! I have bought a are so clever and unusual. couple of little beauties from Brown Thomas used to stock Grainne Maher over the years. them and have stopped. I am ✶ LOATHE: I never met a rather sad about that. I think fascinator that I liked.

Selfridges stock them now, but Bobbi Brown LongWear Liquid Liner, I am always desperately trying to ✶ LOVE: I don’t do bling. But I love £23.50, House of ram as many toiletries into those wrecked zip lock plastic bags at the unusual jewellery both silver, gold Fraser best of times (and stealing most of and costume. I was very sad when Bill’s allowance too). Therefore I don’t know All Saints stopped stocking jewellery in what I’m going to do when I run out. Online their Belfast store. I loved their rocky, punky, perfume shopping doesn’t work for me. chunky pieces. I have to go to London for my You’ve got to try before you buy. fix now. I think Cos make great cheap but ✶ LOATHE: Anything too ubiquitous – like really well designed pieces (and clothes too). when I was a teenager and we all smelt of ✶ LOATHE: I don’t do bling!

Lou Lou or Opium, or worst of all, a terrible Body Shop scent. It was so bad I’ve erased the name of it from my memory. ✶ LOVE: I love the undercut look but I feel

FASHION TRENDS

MAKE-UP

the newer art-deco styled wing, which brought the number of bedrooms up to 68 in 2010, and added a bright function room for weddings and events.

Petra is discreet about the VIPs, celebrities and countless pop stars that have stayed here, but mentions in passing the “fabulous” Shirley MacLaine, “lovely” Bill Murray, Tim Robbins and Gabriel Byrne, who said The Merchant is his favourite hotel in the world.

The five red-star establishment announced profits of £1.27m in April and its rooms are frequently full. Hoping that the four-star Bullitt, with its Mad Men inspired décor, can follow in the Merchant’s successful footsteps, the Wolseys are planning to expand the brand, as well as rolling out their Little Wing and Yard Bird franchises.

Yet, for all her love of designer labels and the finer things in life, Petra remains a soulful creature who believes in a higher power and the possibility of life after death.

“I’m not religious at all but I am spiritual,” she concludes. “I’ve plenty of atheist friends who think it’s all airy fairy waffle but I think it’s counter-intuitive to think otherwise, and it would be a very dull world if we all thought the same.

“To think what a small dot we are on a tiny rock, spinning around a not very big star in the universe, is very helpful to me when I’m having one of my bad days. But as mum says, when you’re in a tunnel, you don’t know you’re moving until you see the tiny spark of light at the end.

“So I keep on moving, and keep on innovating, especially at the Merchant, to keep its standards as high as we possibly can. After 10 years, it’s only getting better with age – which I hope is true of me, too.”

SHOES

PERFUME

ACCESSORIES

JEWELLERY

HAIRSTYLES

Northern Woman 13

Style

Four page fashion special on the new season’s hottest looks

Top, £22, River Island

Blazer, £65, Topshop

Top trends Ralph Lauren Winter 2016/17

Dress, £13, Primark

Tibi Winter 2016/17

Heavy metal Shine bright in shades of gold, copper, silver and bold pastels

Skirt, £22, Next

Dress, £69.50, Oliver Bonas

Shoe, £32, Next

Top, £12.99, New Look

Dress, £38 House of Fraser

Skirt, £32, Dorothy Perkins

Shoe, £70, Dune

14 Northern Woman

Skirt, £235, House of Fraser

Skirt, £35, Very

Style

Four page fashion special on the new season’s hottest looks

Snug cover-up Get cosy in bold and chunky knits, your new statement pieces

Jumper, £16, F&F at Tesco Dress, £35, Lipsy

Top trends

Jumper, £30, Topshop Tibl Winter 2016/17

Jason Wu Winter 2016/17

Jumper, £25, Miss Selfridge

Knitted dress, £32, M&Co

Jumper, £30, Miss Selfridge

Jumper, Oliver Bonas, £39.50

Jumper, £25, Wallis

Jumper, £59, La Redoute

Jumper, £65, House of Fraser Jumper, £40, Very

Coatigan, £259, Jigsaw

Jumper, £59, La Redoute Continued on 16 ➤

Northern Woman 15

Style

Four page fashion special on the new season’s hottest looks Top trends

Dress, £68, Very Dress, £45, Very

Rochas Winter 2016/17

Tommy Hilfiger Winter 2016/17

Glam glitter Get set to dazzle from head-to-toe in sequin embellished partywear

Sweater, £46, Next Dress, £35, F&F at Tesco

Jacket, £289, Marc Cain, Peel, Belfast

Dress, £119, Monsoon

Jacket, £69, Marks & Spencer

Skirt, £35, River Island

Dress, £65, Topshop Shoe, £39, Miss Selfridge Essentiel Antwerp Bag, £121, Peel

16 Northern Woman

Essentiel Antwerp Bag, £121, Peel

Style

Four page fashion special on the new season’s hottest looks

Boho Victoriana Tap into the dark romance of the era with demure blouses, lace, velvet and chiffon

Dress, £140, Phase Eight Dress, £65, Dorothy Perkins

Top trends Mary Katrantzou Winter 2016/17

Sonia Rykiel Winter 2016/17 Blouse, £24.99, New Look

Jacket, £65, Topshop

Blouse, £35, Marks & Spencer Blouse, £39, Miss Selfridge

Dress, £45, Wallis

Shoe, £32, Dorothy Perkins

Blouse, £35, Debenhams

Blouse, £28, Evans

Dress, £60, Next

Northern Woman 17

Prét-à-party

Bill and Petra Wolsey with Bill’s sons Luke (left) and Conall outside the new Bullitt Hotel

Claire Bennett and Jeff Tosh

Jane and Colin Graham

Guests bite the Bullitt at Belfast hotel launch Belfast’s newest and coolest hotel opened with a hip launch party, hosted by owners Bill and Petra Wolsey. The £7m Bullitt, themed on the famous movie starring Steve McQueen, has 43 bedrooms and three bars.

Jane Larmour and Aine McEnoy

Ciara and Julia Flanagan

Greg and Aideen Hughes

Joris and Jill Minne

Dan Laird, Adam McCullough and Emma Kenny

18 Northern Woman

Sharon Duke and Chloe Dougan

Prét-à-party

Claire Craig and Emer Dooris

Tina Calder and Louise Vance

Rebecca Maguire

Elanna Pecherle

Aimee Boyle modelling the Lidl AW16 collection

Aimee Boyle

Cathy Martin

Julianne Galvin and stylist Corina Gaffey

Breakfast in style with Lidl’s latest looks

Following the success of its previous collections, Lidl launched its Autumn Winter 2016 fashion at Saphyre, Lisburn Road, Belfast. Guests enjoyed breakfast and a presentation of key looks put together by leading stylist, Corina Gaffey.

Northern Woman 19

PrĂŠt-Ă -party

Edita Mikutenaite and Aukse Allen

Style Academy models showcase stunning new autumn/winter designs from Harper

Emma Day, Mary Kelly, Sarah Savagh, Chloe McDowell and Laura McKibbin

Olga Nagy and Eve McGibbon

Laura Cunningham

Laura McDonald, Ciara Phillips, Michelle Rock and Sarah Doran

Afternoon tea and fabulous fashion at The Merchant A series of autumn/winter fashion shows saw guests enjoy new season style from top designers and independent boutiques across Northern Ireland, including Harper at The Merchant Hotel, The Walk in Wardrobe, Grainne Maher, Shauna Fay and Blush Belfast. Style Academy Models showcased the seasons hottest looks with a round table show. Hair was styled by Andrew Mulvenna, with make-up from Lancome. Funds raised from ballots will be donated to Action Cancer.

Bronagh Dowds Moffatt and Lisa McAleese

Maria McCann, Julie McCann and Amy McCann

20 Northern Woman

Orla Mallon and Deborah Fearon

Cocktails

COMPETITION

Shake it Off

Shake it Whisky Mac up and win with our special party cocktails

35ml Chivas Regal whisky 25ml Ginger wine or ginger cordial Stair into a rocks glass with ice.

Garnish with lemon twist.

A

ward winners James Street South have the recipe for success when it comes to creating cocktails.

The Belfast restaurant, owned by leading chef Niall McKenna, scooped Best Front of House Team at the Yes Chef! ceremony, and to celebrate we have a Northern Woman exclusive, with instructions on how to make some of their famous drinks including classic like the Cosmo, through to a dessert inspired duo that can be served up in place of pudding.

Bar Manager Will King says we’re hurtling towards celebration season, and nothing adds glitz to a party like a beautifully constructed cocktail.

“It’s all about the flavour with these drinks, as well as looking good. We use the finest brands available, and very much tailor our drinks offering to the time of year.

Cranberry Sparklers and Whisky Macs have a real seasonal feel about them, and the Lemon Meringue Martini packs a really sweet punch.

“The only effort in producing these mouth-watering drinks is shaking the mixture, and when you’ve made them once they’re a perfect party fallback that will impress guests at any time of the year.”

Win

And if you’d like to master in the art of drinks mixing, we have four places at the Cocktails and Canapés class*, held at the James Street South Cookery School.

Just answer this question: What is a Whisky Mac garnished with?

Cosmopolitan 35ml vodka 15ml triple sec 50ml cranberry juice 15ml lime juice 10ml sugar syrup Shaken with ice fine strained into a coupe glass.

Garnish with an orange peel.

Strawberry Margarita 35ml strawberry puree 35ml tequila 35ml lime juice And a dash of sugar syrup Serve straight up or frozen

DESSERT COCKTAIL

Lemon Meringue Martini 35ml vodka 20ml Drambuie 20ml limoncello 15ml lemon juice 10ml sugar syrup 1x scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Shake with ice.

Fine strain into a martini glass Garnish with crumbled meringue.

Cranberry Sparkler 25ml of Cointreau 35ml cranberry juice 20ml of fresh lime juice Dash of sugar syrup Shake and strain into a chilled flute, then top up with prosecco.

Email your answer to: competitions@northernwoman.co.uk *Class takes place in January, date to be confirmed.

Northern Woman 21

D.I.V.O.R.C.E.

DEGREES OF SEPARATION...

When love hurts meet the divorce lawyers who help women here get the best deal

I

The shock split of ‘Brangelina’ sparked a media frenzy and a raft of bitter allegations. Lawyers Claire Edgar, from Belfast, and Doreen Kelly, from Bangor, tell Stephanie Bell about their work in Northern Ireland

n La La Land, where the lives of A listers are played out in the bright glare of the media spotlight, breaking up can be hard to do.

Divorcing stars not only have the headlines to contend with, but since their fortunes are often vast, carving up assets can be a long, drawn out and costly affair.

The recent split of golden couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt has put the rumour mill into overdrive with frenzied speculation on just how much they’ll have to spend on divorce fees.

The couple, who are estimated to have assets worth £308m, could be looking at handing out legal fees running into several million pounds if their split becomes acrimonious.

But settling their finances is only part of the challenge as the custody of the couple’s six children will be central to any agreement.

Closer to home, former England striker and sports presenter Gary Lineker refused to pay legal fees when he announced in January that he was splitting with his second wife, model and actress Danielle Bux. Lineker, who is worth an estimated £20m, used an online government divorce site which costs around £400, saving tens of thousands of pounds in legal fees. The couple are understood to have agreed a financial settlement and remain on good terms.

Other stars were not so fortunate. Among the most expensive celebrity divorces ever are Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone’s from his wife of 23 years, Slavica, in 2009 which cost him an eye-watering $1-1.2 billion to settle.

Mel Gibson’s divorce from Robyn Moore Gibson after 26 years in 2006 cost an equally stunning $425 million.

One of the most bitter celebrity divorces in recent years was that of Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills. After a fraught High Court battle lasting six days, the former model was awarded £24.5m in her settlement in 2008.

22 Northern Woman

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were Hollywood’s golden couple until a bitter split that will cost millions

Gary Lineker and ex-wife Danielle Bux took the DIY approach to divorce and avoided legal fees

She had been seeking over £100m: she sacked her lawyer and represented herself in court. But her reputation was in tatters following the much publicised hearing when the presiding judge said she was a “less than impressive witness”, accusing her of “make-believe”, inconsistency and inaccuracy.

Regardless of wealth or A list status, divorce is not an easy step for anyone.

However, as two leading Northern Ireland divorce lawyers reveal, modern couples are generally keen to avoid a messy courtroom battle. And one local divorcee puts into perspective just how much it costs in human terms, as well as the financial loss when couples can’t agree.

The divorce rate is decreasing in Northern Ireland despite growing substantially between 2000 and 2007, when it reached a peak of 2,913.

Since then rates have fallen and last year there were 2,360 divorces before the local courts.

Most couples are in their mid 40s when they divorce and will have been married for an average of 17 years. according to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).

While the Brangelina divorce will cost many millions, here in Northern Ireland couples can expect to pay between £2,000 and £2,500 for a straightforward divorce.

That doesn’t include solicitors’ fees for working out financial settlements outside of the courtroom.

According to local solicitors who specialise in matrimonial matters, most people splitting up will try and work with their legal teams to reach an agreement before going into court.

Claire Edgar, who is head of the family department at Francis Hanna Solicitors in Belfast, cut her teeth in law working on celebrity divorces in England.

As a trainee she was involved in negotiating a prenuptial agreement for Ivana Trump when the socialite was marrying again after her much publicised split with US Presidential candidate Donald Trump.

D.I.V.O.R.C.E.

Belfast lawyer Claire Edgar was part of the team that worked on behalf of Ivana Trump (below)

Solicitor Doreen Kelly says most couples divorce because their marriages have run out of steam.

Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Having experienced the drama of high profile divorce Claire says she much prefers to be working on behalf of ordinary couples who, in most cases, try to salvage a fair deal for each other.

She says: “When it comes to celebrity divorces, it can be a minefield as you are usually talking about huge amounts of money and multiple homes around the world. I do really enjoy helping people like me. I think I get more satisfaction from it, although it was a good training ground working on celebrity divorces and a great experience.

“The bottom line is that it doesn’t matter who it is, our job is to help them to go through the process with as much dignity as possible and ensure their rights are protected.”

Claire (45) is a divorcee herself with two children, Katie (14) and Niamh (13).

While how a divorce plays out is very

much down to individual circumstances, she says that most couples will chose to separate for two years so that they can opt for a “no fault” divorce, which allows time for wounds to heal and the parties to come to terms with the relationship breakdown.

Deciding who gets what is not a straightforward case of splitting everything 50/50, especially if children are involved.

Says Claire: “It is about deciding the needs of each party and that includes the housing needs, especially if there are children. Sometimes the home will be sold off and the proceeds split, but if there are children couples might decide to hold onto the family home until the children have finished their education, so it is not always straightforward and each case is different.”

Doreen Kelly, a partner with Bangor firm Murray Kelly Moore, agrees that most local couples will work with their legal teams to try and settle their affairs without too much anguish.

Doreen who has been a divorce lawyer since 1986 says: “Most people settle their finances and move to binding agreements which are subsequently made an order of court after divorce, and most of this is done on a consensual basis.

“Unfortunately from time to time difficulties arise over the division of assets and if it cannot be resolved by agreement the matter will end up in court. More recently, mediation has been very useful and many clients use this when they have problems regarding the division of finances and children.

“Even when the more difficult cases end up in litigation, attempts are always made to try to settle matters. A ‘twin track’ approach is adopted by our firm and this is then afterwards approved by the court. “ Custody is one of the major issues but times have changed, according to the local solicitors. The days when mums automatically got custody of the kids are long gone due to the change in women’s role in society and the fact that more modern mums pursue careers.

Continued on 24 ➤

Northern Woman 23

D.I.V.O.R.C.E.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin’s “conscious uncoupling” ended in divorce this year

IT DOESN’T MATTER WHO IT IS, OUR JOB IS TO HELP THEM TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH AS MUCH DIGNITY AS POSSIBLE AND ENSURE THEIR RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED

Singers Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale split after 13 years of marriage and three children

Belfast matrimonial lawyer Claire Edgar says divorcing couples nearly always put their children first Doreen says: “I am finding that joint parenting is accepted more and more by modern parents. When parties split up both parents work and it is not always possible for the mother to have sole care of the children. It’s also because, in these modern times, men do have more involvement with the children.

“Therefore there is quite commonly shared care. Unfortunately. from time to time, there are disagreements in relation to where the children should spend their time and sometimes these matters have to be brought before the Children’s Court.

“Throughout this process mediation is encouraged, and in any proceedings which involve children the court considers the interests of the children are paramount.”

Claire Edgar finds that in most cases parents will put the needs of their children first.

She says: “A lot of parents are able to

24 Northern Woman

agree how time is divided between the two households and often this can depend on the age of the children. It can be a trial and error process and again one size doesn’t fit all. Most people will find the best way to coparent in the interests of their children.”

Doreen believes that the drop in the divorce rate could be down to the fact that fewer people are choosing to marry and instead are opting to live together.

However if these couples split and children are involved they will still have to go down the legal route to agree assets and custody.

She says: “The most common reason, I find, for people separating is that the marriage just ran out of steam. Most people think of divorce in dramatic terms, it is rarely like this. It is usually consensual, swift and if amicable and doesn’t involve much cost, however unfortunately there are exceptions.”

One exception was Fiona, a Belfast mum of two in her 50s, who divorced last year after the breakdown of her marriage after 25 years. Emotionally it was a tough time for Fiona.

She says: “It was just a breakdown and while we both realised it wasn’t working any more, it was still an awful shock. It is very difficult and a very painful experience for everyone. It affects your family and your friends, not just the two people who are getting divorced.

“It is amazing how many people there are of my age who are divorced for no particular reason other than it just didn’t work. When you are together all those years you would think you would try and work it out, but it doesn’t happen that way and it is a shock when it ends. It’s never easy and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.”

Although she and her husband agreed the relationship was over, the division of their assets was not straightforward and a lengthy and acrimonious battle ensued.

The couple fought over access to their two teenage children and their assets, which were worth around £600,000. The legal battle, which Fiona says ended after three years in a “horrific” High Court hearing, cost over £30,000 in legal fees – money which she says would have been better spent on their children’s education or future.

She says: “It was a terrible waste of money and a great pity that we couldn’t agree. I don’t blame the solicitors, as they do make a great effort to sort it out, but

D.I.V.O.R.C.E.

Cheryl’s second marriage to Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini (below) ended bitterly. She’s dating One Direction’s Liam Payne (bottom)

Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph when one party won’t agree it drags things out and for us it was almost three years.

“I really believe there should be some limit on it in law and people should be given a deadline, maybe two years to sort it out. It wasn’t even as if we were fighting over a fortune.”

The couple’s three teenage children were still at school and Fiona says it was traumatic for them to come to terms with the break-up of their family.

“It certainly had a huge impact on the children and I think if they had been little it might have been easier,” she says. “But with older children who have grown up with a family which all of a sudden ends, it can be very confusing for them.

“That was the hardest part and it did hold me back from splitting for some time, but in the end I realised we couldn’t stay together for the sake of the children.”

As a full time mum, Fiona’s ex husband felt that as he was the breadwinner he

deserved to walk away with the bulk of their assets.

She says: “He looked at it that he had earned all the money and there was an element of ‘why should I give her that?’

I was the homemaker looking after our children, but that didn’t count in his eyes and it was over money that the divorce became so bitter.”

After some arguing her husband did agree, however, that it was best for the children to remain with their mother, with weekend access for him.

Now getting used to life as a single woman again, Fiona says that she believes men seem to survive better after divorce than women: “Sadly, it is a fact when marriages break up that men tend to leave it behind easier than women.

“Women have always got that nurturing thing going on and are focused on making sure the children are looked after, which doesn’t seem to affect men so much.”

Having been through a bitter divorce Fiona has advice for other women facing a break up.

“I would say don’t do anything without a solicitor unless you are on very good terms with your partner and feel you could sort things out yourselves. It would be much easier and a lot less costly if you can sit down and try and thrash things out across a table.”

Good advice for warring couples, famous or not.

But with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie allegedly lobbing claim and counter claim via their high powered, high earning legal teams, it’s unlikely that their once-glittering marriage will end in anything but acrimony, heartbreak and tarnished reputations.

Northern Woman 25

Interview

IN MY OWN WORDS Emma Carswell (21), from the village of Gilford in Co Armagh, was crowned Miss Northern Ireland in May this year. We find out more about the girl who wears the diamond tiara INTERVIEW: KAREN IRELAND PICTURES BY: KEVIN SCOTT I had wanted to work with the Alison Campbell Agency for some time. I had been following them on Facebook and always kept an eye on what they were up to. I saw details about the Miss Northern Ireland contest and my parents and boyfriend encouraged me to go for it. I missed our local heat in Portadown so ended up going to one in Enniskillen. I won that one and got through to the final. I was completely shocked to be crowned overall winner – but over the moon too!

Before I took up the title I was studying psychology at the University of Ulster in Coleraine. I was in my third year, which was a placement year, and I was working with the charity Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention. I loved the work because it was so varied and I got to see a real insight into the work of the charity. I am still a strong supporter of the organisation and support them as much as I can.

When my year as Miss NI ends I would like to go back to university to finish my degree, then study for my Master’s, and eventually become a chartered occupational psychologist. This job involves working with global firms to look at ways of reducing stress in the workplace. My role with Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention showed me the real need for this type of work. The kind of work I’d eventually like to be doing would interviewing CEOs of large companies to access that they were in the right state of mind to take up a post.

Currently I live at home with my mum Linda and dad Trevor. My sister Amy (19) has just left to go to university to study children’s nursing. We are very close and I am delighted that she has settled into university life and is enjoying it. My family have all been very supportive of my role as Miss Northern Ireland.

They were there on the night of the competition along with my boyfriend Jonny McCarthy.

26 Northern Woman

Meeting the other girls who were taking part in Miss NI and making a lot of new friends has been one of the best aspects of the experience so far.

I also love the charity work which I get to do – I’ve done a lot of work with the Children’s Hospice, Mencap and, of course, the Yellow Ribbon. I am delighted that I get to raise awareness of the work of these charities.

Jonny and I were introduced through mutual friends three years ago and we have been together ever since. He encouraged me to enter Miss NI and has supported me every step of the way. He is even coming with my family to the Miss World Competition, which is on December 6. I’ll be flying out to Washington at the end of November. I am really looking forward to representing NI. I love meeting new people so will enjoy meeting the girls from all over the world. It is a once in a lifetime experience and I know it is going to be a real highlight of my year.

I love clothes and it is great this year that I get to wear some fabulous pieces as part of my job. I am not really into expensive designer labels. I like high street stores such as H&M and Next. I also love Coast and Ted Baker. It is even better when my sister Amy is at home as we get to share our wardrobes and all our make-up.

My hero is the Duchess of Cambridge. I think Kate Middleton is beautiful and I also like the fact that she is doing so much work with mental health charities, especially those working with young people. She always looks really elegant and manages to wear high street fashions as well as designer labels. She is fantastic role model and a great mum.

Interview Style

Of course I would love to have children down the line but I’d like to be established in my career before I have a family.

So far, winning the Miss NI title has been the best thing that has happened to me. I have met so many wonderful people and had some great opportunities. It is hard work but it is also a lot of fun. I’d rather not discuss the worst thing that has ever happened to me.

Many of my best friends are friends that I have had since school-days. We are still very close and get together as often as possible. I have also made a lot of friends working for ACA. I go out in Belfast when I can or meet up with friends at home and go for coffee or to the cinema.

I love travelling and have been to the New York and Boston in the US. I have also been to Spain, France, Switzerland, Turkey and Italy so I am very fortunate. One place on my wish-list to visit is Australia.

What I’ll miss most when my reign as Miss NI ends is my car – it is a Fiat 500 sponsored by Donnelly’s and I love it. I will also miss the perks of getting my hair and make-up done professionally all the time. I do want to finish my degree and build a successful career, but I also hope to keep modelling for ACA too.

LINGERIE visit our website for great gift ideas

www.orchidlingerie.co.uk

NIGHTWEAR SWIMWEAR Northern Woman 27

Style Black lace and velvet top £28, black PU leather biker jacket £58, black fringe skirt, black studs £5 and mink court shoes £38

Rich colours with a dark, sultry edge. Northern Woman discovers the hottest trends for glamorous winter nights

Next Onto the

Party

28 Northern Woman

Style

Metallic halter top £28, velvet biker jacket £78, black PU leather trousers £28 and silver drop earrings £8

Northern Woman 29

Style

Floral velvet dress (under skirt) £48, floral full skirt £55, jewelled hair comb £8, silver drop earrings £6 and fuchsia lace up heels £35

30 Northern Woman

Style Jacquard jacket £55, tie neck blouse £18, jacquard trousers £38, pearl stud earrings £2, black chain bag £22 and monochrome mules £34

Northern Woman 31

Style

Frill front shirt £42, coated silver jeans £24, jewelled earrings £4 and black suede clutch bag £15

32 Northern Woman

Style Berry bomber jacket £38, printed dress £38, silver tone choker £8 and black velvet bag £25

Photographer: Khara Pringle www.kharapringlephotographic.com Styling: Eve Brannon info@evebrannonfashionstyling.com Make-up : Paddy McGurgan, Make-up Pro Store, Belfast Model: Teo, 1st Options Dublin Location: The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast All available from

Northern Woman 33

NW Meets

✶ SUZANNE

S

WYLIE

uzanne Wylie is the cool, calm and highly effective head of Northern Ireland’s biggest and most powerful council.

At Belfast City Hall, she’s highly regarded by staff and elected members alike. She controls a budget of £180m, drives a massive investment and regeneration programme and is responsible for 2,400 employees who deliver services to 330,000 people.

Her management style is admired: she gets things done and has all the diplomatic skills needed to keep the peace at a sometimes fractious seat of local government.

This is the woman who had to bring together rival factions and heal the divisions caused by the flag dispute four years ago.

“Women are better peacemakers, probably,” she says. “The councillors want to

keep the ship steady, but there are occasions when I do have to play that role. I’m right at the interface between politicians and the organisation.”

Suzanne has an understated air of authority and is effortlessly elegant, stylish and groomed. But it wasn’t always so.

“I joined the council in 1988, working in environmental health,” she recalls. “There were very few women in that role back then.

“I had to go to the meat plant in Duncrue and out to the North Foreshore where we were extracting methane gas. I went down boreholes to take samples and came out with worms crawling through my hair.

“The men wanted to test me to see if I had what it took. Nothing was too great a challenge. It was certainly character building, but I’m a very determined person.”

Determined and supremely organised, Suzanne built her career while having three children with husband John, a civil engineer.

The men wanted to test me to see if I had what it took. Nothing was too great a challenge

e l a m e f

THE POWER BROKERS The four women making a difference in our councils talk to Yvette Shapiro about career, family and keeping the peace

Suzanne guided The Queen around St George’s Market in June 2014

34 Northern Woman

Rebecca (23) is a law student, Natalie (20), is studying chemical engineering, and 17 year old Stewart is still at school.

“I always had good support from my parents and I used childcare,” recalls Suzanne.

“I can’t say it was easy. As a female, you always question that, but I’m incredibly proud of my children. They’ve taken gap years and gone volunteering.

The role model of me being so driven has helped.”

Suzanne says she experienced no overt sexism in her career, but: “I personally felt that I always had to demonstrate my ability.”

And there’s no doubt that her early determination, coupled with skills, talent and a large measure of resilience, has propelled her through the ranks to take one of the top jobs in local government.

But she’s quick to pay tribute to an important mentor, her former boss in environmental health, Brian Hanna.

“He had a big influence on me,” she says. “He encouraged me to try new projects. I would probably not have grown my career without his support. He had a much wider perspective and he urged me to look at how we could do more to help

NW Meets

I’ve encountered sexism, but I’m not the sort of person to be affected by it

Theresa and Dame Mary Peters

✶ DR THERESA DONALDSON

D

Suzanne often cycles to work at Belfast City Hall improve public health and communities here.”

Suzanne is paying forward now, holding the ladder steady for other women who want to follow her example.

“We have a women’s network in the council, with a lot of support, and a shadowing scheme where women can get a chance to experience other roles.

“Women in senior roles here are doing well, but in local government generally, there’s a lot more that can be done. Councils should be more reflective of the communities they serve.”

r Theresa Donaldson was destined for leadership.

The high profile chief executive of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council has built an outstanding career in the public sector, but wishes that more women would follow in her footsteps.

“I think many women back away too much from leadership,” she says. “There’s a lot of self-selection, ruling themselves out. We need to encourage women to hang on in there.”

Theresa started her career as a social worker, going on to complete a Masters and PhD on the subject of children in care.

She worked for the NSPCC and the Guardian Ad Litem agency, which acts for vulnerable children going through court and adoption proceedings.

But it was leadership that really appealed to her and she moved into senior management and policy at the Legal Services Commission, before becoming chief executive at the former Craigavon Council, which was deeply divided and often volatile.

“There’s a need for preciseness and diplomacy when you have a key role in a political environment like that,” says Theresa. “And, as chief executive, you need a simple rule: you just don’t do politics.

Leave that to the councillors.”

Theresa is a great believer in the power of role models for women, particularly in politics and local government.

“Where you have women in senior roles you’re likely to see more women coming through.

Having Arlene Foster, Theresa May and Hillary Clinton leading the way sends a strong message to women.

“I’m an example of someone who has shattered glass ceilings, it can be done. I’m sure I’ve encountered sexism along the way, but I’m not the sort of person to be affected by it. For women to succeed it’s about having the qualities that

can’t be argued with, tooling up so that you are ready for the opportunities when they come.”

Like many women who’ve forged a career in management, Theresa has struggled with the impact on family life. Married to civil engineer Barry, she has three grown up children: trainee accountant David (26), medical student Alice (24), and

Thomas (20), who’s studying chemistry.

“We all have the guilt,” she admits. “But we’re working for our children and it’s a labour of love. My kids are fantastic, very independent. They grew up in a loving house and they’re the centre of our world.”

Theresa, who has turned down job offers from the private sector, says local government is becoming more diverse.

“Attitudes have improved greatly but it’s not perfect.

Technology gives you flexibility but you still have to do the work. The worst thing that can happen for women is that some people abuse the flexibility they’re given.”

Continued on 36 ➤

Northern Woman 35

NW Meets

✶ ANNE

DONAGHY

A

nne Donaghy is a force to be reckoned with.

She’s driven, dynamic, warm and charismatic. Even in a brief encounter, it’s clear that the chief executive of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is a very determined woman.

She needs to be. As well as running one of Northern Ireland’s 11 “super-councils”, Anne’s a mother of two very young children: eight year old John and four year old Andrea, who has Down’s Syndrome.

“The biggest impact on my life was having a child with a disability,” she says. “It came from left field during the time when I was preparing to compete for the chief executive role. It was an absolute shock and I found it hard and challenging to accept. But my two sisters, Kathleen and Geraldine, were amazing, and they carried me through.”

There was no question that Anne, who was heading up the former Ballymena Council at the time, would scale back her work.

“When Andrea was born, on Good Friday, a consultant paediatrician asked me what I did and when I told him my job he said my life would have to change. I walked out of that

room and I said ‘I’ll do both’.

Why could I not be a mother to a disabled child and also a chief executive?

“I took three weeks off work after the birth and when I went back into the council chamber the councillors were brilliant.

My job is part of my DNA.” Anne is highly ambitious, super organised and has devised a work-life balance that allows her to keep on top of a very demanding job, while still putting family first.

“I love what I do and I don’t count up my hours,” she says.

“And it doesn’t really feel like work to me. I honestly have one of the best jobs in the country.

“I work within boundaries,” she says. “I work three late nights until about 11pm and the other two evenings I leave work at 4.45pm to pick up the children. At the weekends I’m a mummy, but I do take the kids to council events if I can. They really enjoy it.”

Having a child with a learning disability has given Anne a special insight into the lives of the people her council serves.

“I’ve learned a lot about what people in the community have to deal with. I understand what they need from their council to make their lives better.

“This is a generally harmonious council and I try to create opportunities to resolve issues before they become problems. It’s all about relationships. I always say that

Why could I not be a mother to a disabled child and also a chief executive?

Picture by Peter Morrison magic happens when you get people around a table.”

Anne has built a strong senior management team who happen to be 80% female.

“I’ve never really focused on gender,” she says. “It’s always been about ability and ambition. I’ve never encountered any sexism, local government is very fair. I like to give opportunities to both men and women, but I always mentor a woman every year, and we both get so much out of it.”

Anne, who started out as a food technologist with Moy Park before moving into local government, is firmly rooted in her local community: she still lives in the village of Clonmore, near Moy, where she grew up.

And with the support of her sisters, she’s been battling to ensure that her daughter gets every opportunity to succeed.

“Andrea has a brilliant

36 Northern Woman

personality, she’s a fabulous wee girl,” says Anne. “I’m very ambitious for both of my children. Sometimes, people’s ambitions for a disabled child are lower, but not mine. It’s taken four years to get her to

Theresa’s children Andrea (4) and John (8) often accompany her to council events

NW Meets

You will never be in a role or career where you are more accountable.

It’s 24/7 ✶ JACQUI DIXON

“S

where she is now, and she’s started P1, which is wonderful.

“Despite all the challenges, I’m a very happy person and I love life. It’s all about loving what you do and believing you can do it, and getting it right.”

he’s a very scary woman but they all love her. She has met all the members of the Royal family.”

That’s how Belfast-born TV producer Paul Marquess jokingly described his highpowered sister Jacqui Dixon in an interview for the Belfast Telegraph.

Paul, who’s worked on Coronation Street, Hollyoaks and The Bill, is in awe of the woman he grew up with in North Belfast and who now controls a £60m budget and leads 700 staff as chief executive of Antrim and Newtownabbey District Council.

If you want to see the changing face of local government in Northern Ireland, this is where you look.

The entire senior management team is female: the only council in Northern Ireland where this is the case.

Jacqui Dixon has a serious, quietly spoken, and unflappable air of authority. Councillors praise her management style as very effective, but she’s typically modest.

“I’m very fortunate that we have really good civic leadership here and that makes my job a lot easier,” she says.

It was the former chief executive of the old Newtownabbey Council, Norman Dunn, who spearheaded the Women in Local Government initiative which, Jacqui says, made a real difference to women’s careers in this area.

“Once you get a few role models, then people who are ambitious can see that they can reach the top. We have a lot of mentoring here and that’s vital.”

Jacqui started her career in business and holds an MBA. She moved into local government in 1999, and takes her role extremely seriously.

She says women who want to succeed must be able to manage their own lives, too.

“You will never be in a role or career where you are more accountable,” she says. “It’s 24/7, but if you are going to perform, then you have to give that level of commitment, you don’t have a choice. You have to manage your work/life balance, too.”

Jacqui is married to Rev

Councillors praise Jacqui’s effective style Campbell Dixon and they have one grown-up daughter, Amy. (25), a medical student.

How did she cope with the pressures of motherhood while building her career “It’s just down to a good family and reliable childcare,” she says, a typically nononsense response.

Rev Dixon, a former police commander in Newtownabbey, has recently moved from a post at St Anne’s Cathedral to become minister at St Mark’s Parish Church in Ballysillan, North Belfast.

Jacqui’s amused by the idea that she’ll have to take on the traditional responsibilities of the minister’s wife.

“Anyone who knows me, knows that’s not really a role I play” she jokes.

Northern Woman 37

Party Ready

My (simple) 12-step party prep Former Miss Great Britain turned make-up artist and U105 breakfast show presenter Gemma Garrett is one of the most glamorous faces on NI’s social scene. She shares her secrets on how to look your best on a night out

PICTURES BY KEVIN SCOTT 38 Northern Woman

T

he party season is upon us – which can fill you with excitement at the thought of the fun ahead...as well as dread at the prospect of pulling together the perfect look for going out. Fear not! A few simple steps requiring minimum effort can transform your look in no time at all. So follow my ultimate party prep – and get ready to sparkle this Christmas

1. BE A GLOW-GETTER

Okay, when I said minimal effort I actually meant an average amount of effort. Having a tan hides a multiple of sins. It makes you look slimmer not to mention healthier, plus a natural glow can take years off especially during these gloomy months when skin can be grey and drab. Notice how I said ‘natural’ tan – because a bad tan can have the opposite effect.

I find a spray tan is best. Unless you are a beauty therapist get the professionals to take care of this one. My favourite is a new tan called Lusso by Secret Day Spa. Believe me I’ve tried them all and I swear by this! ✶ Get your spray tan two days before the party. ✶ Moisturise every day to keep it as long as possible. ✶ Get booked in! This is a busy time for salons.

2. CINCH ME

I am the face of Cinch Corsets and I swear by them. The party months as we know promote over indulgence and we tend to put on a few pounds. I always keep my Cinch in my bag or car so I can slip it on and go. Spanx have the same effect. They can be the difference between “you look good” and “you look incredible” For further information go to www.cinchcorsets.co.uk/ about-us/our-stockists/

Party Ready

5 GET LIPPY!

I’m a professional make-up artist and the most common quote I hear is “I don’t suit red lipstick”. I don’t believe this. I believe everyone suits a certain shade of red.

From brunettes and blondes to red heads.

It’s all about finding the correct colour. I always keep a red lipstick in my bag. You never know when you will need to glam up yourself in seconds. Red lipstick is a staple piece for the party season and if you can’t wear it in December when can you wear it? ✶ My favourite is Vixin by Youngblood, £16

6 BACK TO BLACK

As we all know wearing black instantly helps you to look slimmer – nor does black have to be boring. I have purchased some key pieces for the party season. Must-haves include: ✶ A black sequined jacket ✶ A black jumpsuit, but my favourite is the LBBD! Yes that’s the Little Black Backless dress.

There is nothing more sexy and glamorous as a backless dress. I’ve had one for five years and it’s always my go-to piece when I’m having a wardrobe crisis.

3. NAIL IT

Having manicured nails are a must. When I haven’t had a manicure I lose confidence.

Standing holding a drink in a bar with chipped nails can be unsightly. After I got my two dogs I found that a good portion of my time was spent with untidy nails – but then I found the solution! Gel overlays are extremely hard to chip. They may cost an extra £10 on top of your manicure but this treatment is worth it. Get your nails done and forget about them.

4. EYES HAVE IT

We have all been there. You’ve had a very hard day in the office and your colleagues have all decided to go for a drink at the pub after work. Keeping a brown shadow handy can be a life saver. Smoking up the corner of you eyes can give you a dramatic look in seconds. Using a blender brush gently blend some brown shadow into your socket and then also along the bottom lash line. It can also come in handy for defining brows using an angle brush. ✶ Make it a cool brown if using for brows.

7. LASHINGS OF FUN

Adding lashes will completely change a look. I love using strip lashes but I’m not a big fan of the semi-permanent ones as I feel they damage your natural lashes. Only do this if you know how to apply them. The best tip I can give is wait for the glue to become tacky. That’s around 60-90 seconds.

The biggest mistake people make is they panic and try to apply them too early. Demiwispies are my favourite and suit most eye shapes.

Continued on 40 ➤

Northern Woman 39

Party Ready

8. HEIGHT OF SUCCESS

Heels add sophiscation, glamour, instant sexiness and make us look slimmer which makes them my No1 must. Keep a pair in work or in your bag so you can slip them on at anytime. My other tip is make sure they are somewhat comfortable. They may look the part but if you can’t walk in them or you have to take them off mid-party it’s not the classiest look. I speak from personal experience on this one. You’ve been warned.

If you want to wear glitter apply it sparingly in the inside corner of the eye... you could end up looking like an 80s tribute act by the end of the night

9. ALL THAT GLITTERS

We are inundated with professional makeup pics all over instagram and social media of perfectly made-up eyes with beautiful pigments and glitters. The reality is not as pretty. Unless it’s applied professionally you will look like an Eighties tribute act by the end of the night. If you want to wear glitter apply it sparingly in the inside corner of the eye, using a setting spray to hold in place.

If my clients are over 30 I do steer them in the direction of a shimmer rather than a glitter as sometimes glitter can be ageing on the eyelid.

10. WATER – ON THE RUN

Water is your best friend. I tend to up my water intake around the party season. It helps eliminate bloat, flushes out all the toxins from over-indulgence, keeps skin bright and, most of all, is good for us! So drink up! Also remember that alcohol is a depressant. And hangovers are hateful.

I always combat my party nights out with a workout or if I can’t manage that a brisk walk the next morning. I promise you will feel much better and you are less likely to waste the whole day under the covers with the fear.

40 Northern Woman

11. BAD HAIR WEEK!

I’ve have been told my my hairdresser to try to cut down on how many times I wash my hair. So I have been getting weekly blowdrys and using a dry shampoo in between. If you need to to look groomed quickly I suggest spraying some dry shampoo on the roots and straightening your hair. A slick middle parting pulled back in a high or low pony can look very chic and the Kardashians are always sporting this look (make sure you take a small section of hair and secure it around the pony tail to conceal the bobble or hair tie. Alternatively a middle parting with messy waves is still bang on style!

12. BE NUTS ABOUT COCONUTS

Coconut oil has been the bestselling oil in 2015. It’s so popular because you can do so much with it. This is a miracle oil. I use it for cooking, as a conditioner, a moisturiser, a lip balm, a coffee sweetener. I even use it on my dogs.

A little bit smeared on the legs before a night out can help your skin look hydrated and healthy. (Just a little though).

Party Ready

Northern Woman 41

Style

The Formal Dinner

The Charity Ball

B

expe Year One Mag that

Bangles £10, Wallis

Dress £55, Miss Selfridge Faux fur coat £80, Wallis

Shrug £59, Pretty Eccentric

Dress £250, Phase Eight

Holywood model Tiffany Brien always gets the party look right

The Office Party

Bag £20, Miss Selfridge

One shoulder dress, £55, V by Very

Courts £39, Faith at Debenhams

Jacket £65, Miss Selfridge

Cuff £10, Debenhams

Sandals £25, prettylittlething.com Courts £80, Dune Clutch £150, Folli Follie

Clutch £35, Miss Selfridge

Look right on the night P

From a glittering charity ball to the office outing or a formal dinner, Helen Carson finds the right looks this party season

arty season prepping is no holiday.

As well as finding the perfect dress your outfit must tick all the relevant style boxes too – from age appropriate to its suitability for each event.

A flirty dress and strappy heels for the work do

42 Northern Woman

are all very well – but you don’t want to turn up a black tie affair looking anything less than Victoria Beckham-style sophisticated where understated elegance is the order of the day.

Someone who always gets it right is former Miss Northern Ireland and sailor Tiffany Brien.

While she has model-girl looks and a honed physique to stand her in good stead, she always takes time to choose an elegant dress which befits both herself and the occasion.

Here are three looks on the best attire for special occasions up to Christmas.

Why actu a con our c I’d co Now to de I hav pers

Why Aiden is the king of colour

B

elfast’s coolest salon has been a magnet for celebrities and the city’s best-groomed residents for more than 20 years – and not just because of the twin talents of its owners, Paul and Leisa Stafford. Every member of the team is smoking hot.

‘No salon can survive without attracting other amazing hairdressers with talent, experience and enthusiasm,’ says Paul, three times winner of Northern Irish Hairdresser of the Year. ‘I’m certain that at the moment we’ve got the best team we’ve ever had.’

One key individual on the team is the salon’s creative colourist Aidan Bradley, originally from Maghera. He has been with Stafford Hair for three years, and is the guy behind the incredible colour that has the celebrities booking weeks in advance. We went along to hear what makes him tick.

Why have you made Stafford Hair your base? It’s the most exciting salon in Belfast by miles. I’d actually given up hairdressing because of my experiences working in a London salon. It was like a conveyor belt. You couldn’t get to know your clients and there were no opportunities to stretch our creative muscles. I walked away from it, for good I thought, and headed home. But Paul heard I’d come back to Belfast. He tracked me down and persuaded me to give the craft one more chance.

Now, my passion for colouring is even greater than it was before. We have fantastic challenges to deal with, whether it’s a catwalk show in the States or looking after celebrities on set. Plus, I have a totally different relationship with each and every one of my clients; I get to know them personally, and I love that.

What was you most recent gig out of the salon? We’ve been planning for our headline show at the Irish Fantastic Hairdressing Awards this November. It has taken weeks. And it means a radical colour change for most of the dancers. It’s not often dancers or models accept colour changes; after all, their hair is an wimportant part of their appeal, but they seemed to be cool allowing me to work my magic. Before that I did musician Alana Henderson’s colour. She’s been touring with Hosier for the past couple of years but while he’s taking a breather she’s releasing some of her own work, so I got involved for her latest video. There have also been numerous photographic shoots and I’ve been travelling all over Ireland doing a series of amazing catwalk shows with Paul and the rest of the team from Stafford Hair.

Have you ever had an ‘I can’t believe this is happening’ moment? Probably washing Sienna Miller’s hair over her kitchen sink and then sitting watching the Great British Bake Off with her. I took Sienna from her signature blonde to red for The Lost City of Z last year and it actually ended up with me being stalked by the press. Then there’s the time I had a discussion with Paul Giametti about which pubs he could go to in Belfast without being recognised – I suggested the Pavilion.

He didn’t invite me along.

But film work isn’t all glamour; it’s hard graft. When I did the colour for Anya Taylor-Joy, who plays the lead in the recently released Ridley Scott production Morgan, I had to do Anya, her stunt double and her body double. It was unrelenting, but way too fabulous to be missed. It meant a 4.30am start to ready everyone for filming then off to the salon to look after my lovely clients. I’m very glad I listened to Paul and returned to hairdressing.

Can you give us some tips for colour for autumn/winter? Don’t go dark for winter.

It can be so drab when the days are endlessly grey. Why match the weather? I’m taking my clients lighter to make sure their hair is full of light and sunshine as a daily contrast to the drab weather.

Beauty

The big cover up Some bright ideas for hiding flaws and imperfections Autograph All in One foundation and concealer, £16, M&S

I

Benefit ‘fake up’ concealer, £26.50, Debenhams

Benefit Firm It Up Eye Serum, £28.50, Boots, Debenhams, House of Fraser

DHC Velvet Skin Coat, £17, dhcuk.co.uk

The Japanese Skincare and Make-up Experts, DHC UK dhcuk.co.uk DHC is the no. 1 direct skincare brand from Japan. Rooted in olive-oil based skincare and makeup. Discover the Japanese secret. 4 free samples with every order!

The multi-tasking make-up primer by cult Japanese beauty brand is just the ticket to flawless-looking skin. And it’s packed with skin-friendly olive oil so expect a moisturising cream which also reduces shine for day-long glamour.

Urban Decay Naked Skin Colour Correcting Fluid, £17.50, Boots, Debenhams and House of Fraser Say bye bye to dark circles, dull skin or redness thanks to these clever colour correcting tubes of joy. The lightweight formulations come in pink for banishing bags, green for ridding ruddiness, lavender for neutralising yellow, while the peach and yellow brighten up tired skin.

Game of Thrones star channels barely there beauty Benefit They’re Real! Push-Up Liner, Black, £18.50, Boots, Debenhams and No7 Pop and House of Fraser Glow Cream Blush, Classic Rose, £9.95, Boots

a Emili e Clark 44 Northern Woman

Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream, SPF30, £28, Boots, Debenhams, House of Fraser

Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Colour, Coral, £21, House of Fraser

ESSENTIAL WHITE Intensive spot treatment Brightening effect

Innovation: Time-defying vitamin C

C-WHITE complex, Yon-Ka exclusive:

Available from your local Yon-Ka stockist Visit www.renaissance-skincare.com for stockist details or Telephone +35318321412 Efficacy Science Nature High tough Expertise Wellness

The

uintessence of the phyto-aromatic care

www.yonka.com

Hair Jennifer Lawrence

Keris Weir of MG Hair Boutique Picture by Stephen Hamilton

Up, up and away… to a party!

Multi award-winning hairdresser Keris Weir, who has worked with stars including Nicole Scherzinger, Kate Moss and Jennifer Lawrence, on how to get your hair ready for that big night out

T

Anne Hathaway master hairdresser to DIY. Remember, an updo is best done on hair that isn’t squeaky clean so don’t wash it immediately beforehand. A little bit of, um, dirt helps when it comes to both texture and staying power. So, grab a handful of hair grips, a few wellchosen products and a little imagination and give your tresses a swift makeover. These styles are so simple you can even do them in the loo at work before heading out for drinks – promise!

he only way is up when it THE QUICK QUIFF comes to styling hair for Stars like Anne Hathaway and the party season. Sweeping Jennifer Lawrence have rocked the locks up on top of the head red carpet with this super simple style – and you is a favourite can work this hot trend , too, with very little celebrity effort. look and it’s not First, brush your hair back off hard to see why – your face so that it looks sleek this look is both and smooth. Next work some sophisticated Schwarzkopf OSIS+ Dust It is a Northern Ireland Hairdresser of the and sexy. powder (RRP £13.25) into Year and All Ireland Hairdresser of the Year Whether the roots. Be careful not three times. She is also a British Hairdressing your want to use too much – less is Champion, British Bridal Champion, British Ladies to channel more here.

Cut & Blow-dry Champion and Goldwell Master elegance Tip your head Colourist. She also helps women coping with hair loss or va-vaforward to create as a result of treatment for cancer, via the Macmillan voom is up volume and add some Centre at Craigavon Hospital. You can call her at to you – the texture to your style.

MG Hair Boutique, tel 028 3832 5543 to get an good news Then, do the opposite – appointment at the salon which is located at is that either throw your head back and, 153e Union Street, Lurgan. You can see way you don’t using your fingers as if they examples of Keris’s work on her need to be a are a comb, tease your hair into Facebook page, Keris Weir

46 Northern Woman

The k Quicff Qui a quiff, working it into the shape and direction you want.

For more definition, add a small amount of gel to hair at the sides and comb back. Finish the look with a firm hold hairspray – my favourite is Elnett, (£4), which gives added shine and always brushes out brilliantly. Ta-dah!

You’re good to go.

HALF UP/HALF DOWN

✶

This style will give you instant movie star glamour.

Admittedly Rosie Huntington-

✶

Keris

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

Hair again securing with bobby pins. Use these side pieces to cover the pins you already have in place.

Obviously you don’t want any pins to be showing so when you’ve finished fixing your hair into place, gently loop some hair over any pins that may be exposed. Smooth down the sides and again finish with hairspray to hold in place.

THE ROCK CHICK

✶

Half Up/ Half Down Whitely (above) probably had a hairdresser on hand before she was paparazzi ready, but you can copy this look in minutes.

First, split your hair in a half horseshoe shape from ear to ear. Then, using a tail comb, start to gently back comb the top section of your hair to create volume and also add some staying power.

ock The Rick Ch Khloe Kardashian Once complete, use a soft bristle brush to gently smooth the hair back off your face – you want to tame any stray flyaways but he careful not to lose any volume. Your style is almost complete!

Use bobby pins to secure to the centre off your head above the nape off your neck. Take the side pieces and bring them around to the back too,

I love this look – though like Khloe Kardashian pictured here you will need longer hair to carry it off. Start by getting the right texture which is key for this style. You need hair to be tousled and the best way to achieve this is to lean forward and work through some dry shampoo (I like Batiste, £2.99) or sea salt spray (I use Schwarzkopf Got2be Beach Matte Spray, £2.99).

Keeping your head forward use a smoothing brush on the sides, front and back as you guide the hair into a ponytail at the crown of your head.

Once you have all sections pulled together, secure the ponytail – instead of using a covered hairband, use a hook tie. Insert one of the hooks into the hair, wrap the band around until tight and then secure with the other hook end. This will give you a really tight ponytail that won’t let you down.

Hook ties are really essential kit for those with longer hair – they’re inexpensive but work much better than covered bands. Wrap a small section of hair from the underside of the ponytail around the elastic to conceal it and secure with a bobby pin Make sure the sides of the hair are super sleek by spritzing with shine spray and add extra spritz of sea salt spray to your textured mane to finish the look.

L

A CI

E T SP OU PEN R Y S

BE OR 100 M E 0F £

V £1 RY E NO EV R FO

WITH A HASTINGS HOTELS GIFT VOUCHER CULLODEN • STORMONT E U R O PA • B A L LYG A L LY •

• EVERGLADES SLIEVE DONARD

Call 028 9047 1066 or visit hastingshotels.com Northern Woman 47

Hair Products 1. Hershesons Professional Tourmaline Waving Tong: £98, Hershesons

✶

Hershesons has earned the reputation as the go-to brand for cool girl hair with salons and blow dry bars at Harvey Nichols, Selfridges and Topshop. It helps that its styling tools are top of the range too. The waving tong heats up in a matter of seconds with temperature adjustment up to 230 degrees, while the crushed tourmaline embedded in the barrel kept hair healthy and the waves in place all day long.

It creates the most beautiful, nonchalant waves and the all-over white and gunmetal silver design is super sleek-looking. This tool is lightweight, easy to handle and also comes with a heat resistant mat and handy travel bag.

2. Nicky Clarke Supershine Tong: £34.99, Argos

✶

This 25mm barrel from Nicky Clarke promises to reduce frizz, enhance shine and create smooth glossy hair. Thanks to the tong’s nifty steam release button it certainly delivers. You just fill up the water reservoir and press to release steam – the longer the burst the more defined and longer lasting the curl. The tool itself comes in a sleek black design with rose gold edging and an LCD display which adjusts the temperature between 130-210 degrees so you can pick a temperature to suit your hair type. While the barrel sits on the smaller side, you can still get looser, free-flowing curls by selecting thick sections of hair and using a shorter burst of steam. While the curls didn’t last quite as long compared to other, more expensive tools this is a great mid-range buy.

3. GHD Curve Soft Curl Tong: £120, John Lewis

✶

This brand revolutionised the way we style our hair back in 2001 with the straightener and thankfully GHD has since moved into the world of curling tongs. The soft curl tong uses GHD Tri-Zone technology to ensure an optimum temperature is consistently maintained across the entire plate which is said to increase shine and an impressive 50 per cent less 1. Hershesons Professional Tourmaline waving Tong: £98, Hershesons

BEST BUY

48 Northern Woman

The magic styling wands that will help you to create all the looks you love this party season

By SARAH YOUNG

C

reating loose, tousled curls is a look that’s notoriously difficult to master but thanks to a new crop of at-home hair stylers it has never been easier.

The latest wands are jampacked with technology that takes all the guilt out of heat styling as well as being supereasy to use. As a rule, the larger the barrel size, the looser the curl so if it’s soft waves you’re after, a 1-1.5 inch tong is your best bet. It’s also important to consider the temperature settings of your tool as

breakage. The result? Without doubt this tool made our hair super-sleek with very little noticeable fallout.

The 32mm barrel is ideal for creating soft tumbling waves and is supereasy to handle. The ceramic coating makes for smoother curling while the built in stand and automatic sleep mode after 30 minutes avoid any hot-headed mishaps.

4. Babyliss Diamond Waves: £24.99, John Lewis

✶

If you’re looking for beach-ready waves then this is the tool for you. The barrel is specifically designed with a spiral feature making natural-looking, tousled waves easy.

What’s more, the tong features Babyliss’ Diamond Radiance Shine System with a diamond infused ceramic barrel; while we’re not sure how much the results were affected by this it definitely left out hair feeling smooth, shiny and more importantly, kink-free. There are five heat settings with a maximum temperature of 210 degrees, meaning it’s great for a range of hair types. The more accident prone of you will also be glad to hear that it comes with a handy heat glove. While this is much cheaper than other tongs it still does a great

2. Nicky Clarke Supershine Tong: £34.99, Argos

3. GHD Curve Soft Curl Tong: £120, John Lewis

overheating can rid your hair of moisture, resulting in dullness and even breakage.

Fine to medium hair should keep between 180-190 degrees while thicker, more coarse hair will require a higher temperature but should never exceed 210 degrees.

All of the tongs we’ve selected are great for creating multiple styles so to get the most out of your purchase be sure to take note of our handy styling tips.

For voluminous curls hold the tong horizontally but for

classic waves hold the wand vertically.

Similarly, if you’re looking for a defined curl, twist-wrap the hair around the barrel while wrapping it flat with create a softer look.

We tested each tong from the crack of dawn and with minimal styling products to really test their staying power.

Here’s our pick of the best.

Verdict

Our pick of the bunch has to be Hershesons super-sleek waving tong. job; it seems the only downside This one takes all the stress out of achieving to low-cost alternatives is the cool waves. What’s more, we love the fact staying power (but that’s where that it comes with a handy travel bag making hairspray comes in). it the perfect getaway companion. We can’t finish without mentioning GHD, as its tong 5. Cloud Nine The Waving definitely comes a close second. For a Wand: £99.95, John Lewis more purse-friendly option, we’d For natural-looking, bouncy, suggest Babyliss’ Diamond Waves boho waves this should be your for an instant beach babe go-to tool. The large 38mm barrel look. is straight and smooth with three temperature settings for added tong has a tourmaline and ceramic flexibility when styling. You can coated barrel which leaves you with a easily achieve different results by style and feeling similar to that postplaying with the heat setting and salon buzz. It feels pretty weighty holding the section for longer or opt to hold but the quality of the finish for a lower temperature and release compensates. A rubber-coated, soft the hair after a few seconds. It’s handle, LCD indicator, ready light and also great for shorter or fine hair express heat up technology mean this by providing fantastic root lift. The is a tong that is easy to use and will tool is encased in a handy carry case, withstand years of curling. making this one ideal for creating glam looks on the go.

✶

6. Label M The Advanced Pro Curling Tong: £44.95, Toni & Guy

✶

Super sleek in its design and with great results, it’s no wonder this tool has been approved by the team at Toni & Guy. Available in 28mm and 38mm, depending on how loose you would like your curls, the

4. Babyliss Diamond Waves: £24.99, John Lewis

5. Cloud Nine The Waving Wand: £99.95, John Lewis

7. Tresemme Perfectly Undone Curling Tong: £19.99, Argos

✶

This one is a great budget buy and the results far outshine its cost. The barrel is ceramic coated just like many of its competitors, with three different heat settings and a maximum temperature of 200 degrees. Sleek in design and simple to use this is great if you’re a beginner 6. Label M The Advanced Pro Curling Tong: £44.95, Toni & Guy

A Deeper Understanding of Skin Care with Beyond Skin Injectables Special with Elaine Doran

E

looking for a subtle wave, but if your hair is long or fairly thick, don’t expect the results to last all day.

8. Remington Curl Revolution: £89.99, Boots

✶

The idea of feeding your hair into an automated curling tong might seem a little outlandish but it’s actually pretty ingenious. Simply place your hair through the barrel, turn it on and see the styler rotate.

It’s the lazy girls’ choice as it takes all the hard work out of creating long-lasting waves. The barrel is coated in ceramic and tourmaline for extra shine, with an adjustable temperature setting between 150230 degrees. Comes with a five-year guarantee.

hard to tell if the condition of our hair improved it certainly looked and felt healthy with a level of shine that far out did some of the more costly alternatives. The tong tapers in size narrowing towards the end to create a drop-curl effect with an impressive amount of lift at the root.

10. T3 Whirl Trio: £199, Beauty Bay

✶

We all know that using heat stylers on our hair can cause damage, but this wand from Lee Stafford promises to protect while it styles. The argan oil-infused barrel actually helps to improve the hair’s condition creating healthy, smooth and shiny results; a claim that we are totally on board with. While it’s

If you like to switch up your look, then the T3 Whirl Trio is the tong for you. With three interchangeable barrels, this one tool provides endless styling possibilities from defined curls to loose waves. The straight barrel comes in 1 and 1.5 inches to create bouncy waves and defined curls, while the tapered barrel offers a more natural, tousled style. The tong comes in a pleasing white and rose gold design with a 60-minute auto shut-off and five separate heat settings. We also love that the barrels are super-easy to change with a simple push and twistlock connection. This is the most expensive option on our list and it’s definitely worth purchasing if your budget allows but there are a couple of cheaper tools which give this one a run for its money.

7. Tresemme Perfectly Undone Curling Tong: £19.99, Argos

9. Lee Stafford Argan Oil Lazy Curl and Nourish: £29.99, Amazon

8. Remington Curl Revolution: £89.99, Boots

10. T3 Whirl Trio: £199, Beauty Bay

9. Lee Stafford Argan Oil Lazy Curl and Nourish: £29.99, Amazon

✶

laine Doran has almost 20 years nursing experience and specialises in cosmetic injectable treatments. She runs regular clinics at Beyond Skin.

Here she answers some of the most commonly asked questions: In the past several years, minor cosmetic procedures using Botox and facial fillers have surged in popularity. Botox is aimed at smoothing out wrinkles and dermal fillers are used to plump up features that have been deflated by age or sun exposure. The low rate of side effects may make these treatments an attractive alternative to a facelift, which requires cutting the skin and going under anesthesia.

In this month’s column we talk to Injectables Specialist Elaine Doran to demystify these treatments and answer some of the most frequently asked questions in our clinic.

What Is Botox?

BOTOX® is a brand name drug manufactured by Allergan available on prescription that is used to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. BOTOX® contains tiny amounts of a highly purified botulinum toxin protein refined from the bacterium, Clostridium botulinum, which is largely inactive and non-toxic.

How long do the results of Botox treatment last?

After one treatment you will start to notice an effect within 7-10 days and typically this will last between 3-6 months. The length of results depends on a number of factors including your age, general skin health and activity levels.

Are dermal fillers safe?

The filler products used in Beyond Skin are manufactured

by Juvéderm® and consist of hyaluronic acid. This is a naturally occurring substance in the body, and when treatment is administered by trained, experienced medical professionals the risks are extremely low.

Do these treatments hurt?

The smooth consistency of the products in the Juvéderm® range allows treatment to be administered easily and smoothly. Many also contain anasthetic which numbs the area for a more comfortable experience.

If you’d like to know more or discuss treatment options for yourself you can get in touch with our injectable specialists at Beyond Skin Clinic on 028 9033 3858

14 College Street, Belfast. T: 028 9033 3858 • www.beyondskinclinic.com

Northern Woman 49

Style

The European wives and girlfriends at the Ryder Cup

Alison’s suited to style and glamour

Rory McIlroy with his fiancee Erica Stoll during the opening ceremony for the 41st Ryder Cup. David Davies/PA Wire

Europe’s golfers – led by Darren Clarke – lost out to the Americans in the Ryder Cup. But it was the European WAGs who won the style contest, says Bairbre Power

I

don’t know how she did it, but Alison Clarke did a fine job facilitating all the other WAGs when she went shopping for their Ryder Cup wardrobe.

The outfits came from Loro Piana.

For those not familiar with the name, it’s a luxury Italian brand, hugely respected for its layering, which I discovered in Milan this year. Winter weekends away are just the thing for adding a few names to your fashion horizons.

Watching the European WAGs at Hazeltine, I was full of respect for Alison who had to find apparel that would appeal to women across all ages and sizes. Alison herself is a 51-year-old mother of two grown-up sons, from her first marriage, and stepmother to Darren Clarke’s two teenage sons.

The same tailored stone coat and cream belted shift dress she chose for the opening ceremony also had to work for other mums and for Erica Stoll, the 29-year-old American engaged to Holywood’s Rory McIlroy.

If there was anything to be learnt from the Ryder Cup (apart from the fact that the

Get the

Coat, £135, Phase Eight

Look 50 Northern Woman

US crowds can be vicious-tongued), it was that the WAGs experienced the value of classic tailoring, and how expensive-looking neutral colours work a treat.

Just ask Kate Middleton. The Duchess of Cambridge marked her departure from Canada with a stunning tailored cream coat

by Catherine Walker. The flat-fronted cream coat dress was trimmed in a slightly darker tone.

Kate knows the power of a cream coat, having worn two fab ones to the christening of her children, and, like the golf WAGs, she accessorised with a leg-lengthening nude shoe.

After watching the Europeans’ loss at Hazeltine, I raised a glass to their brave efforts and reflected on Alison’s modus operandi to her team shopping spree. Alison’s WAG mission got me thinking about whether I could dress our gang of eight gals who weekend away a few times a year. How hard might it be to

Alison Clarke and Darren Clarke of Europe attend the 2016 Ryder Cup Opening Ceremony.

Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images get them on the same page, let alone into the same shop and the same outfit? Should you even go shopping with friends and family or is there too much potential for arguments?

I’m a firm believer in going it alone. I like to shop at my own pace and I’ve my own way of navigating the rails. If I want a second opinion, I’ll ask the store’s personal shopper.

My friendships are too precious to risk a row over who gets to buy ‘that coat’ first.

Sandals, £80, Dune

Blouse, £32, Dorothy Perkins

Dress, £150, Phase Eight

Reveal the fResh skin of youth at River Medical AUTUMN RADIANCE PACKAGE A one hour treatment combining the Vit-illume and pelleve treatments and delivers smoother, plumper, radiant, younger looking skin. The antiageing benefits are actually on-going as the treatment continues to work on the deeper layers of your skin, well after you’ve left the clinic.

No downtime, immediate results.

Prices from £120.

FRAXEL DUAL – As loved by A-list celebrities Jennifer Anniston and Chelsea Handler.

You can expect a dramatic improvement in skin tone and texture and enjoy smoother, clearer, younger looking skin. Lines and wrinkles are visibly reduced as is pigmentation, sun damage and/or acne scarring. The treatment causes a surge in collagen and elastin production so it’s an incredible anti-ager for all skin types.

Post treatment you can expect some redness with mild swelling followed by mild flaking of skin but the results are more than worth it!

Prices from £150 (hands) / £300 (full face).

30 MINUTE EYE LIFT (pelleve) The 30 minute eye lift instantly improves the quality of the skin, smooths lines & wrinkles and encourages the production of collagen and elastin, which are key in the fight against ageing.

No downtime, immediate results.

Prices from £100.

CONSIDERING COSMETIC SURGERY?

River Medical is the industry leader in cosmetic surgery in Northern Ireland. If you are considering any type of cosmetic surgery procedure be sure to speak with the experts.

88 Lisburn Road Belfast BT9 6AF

The besT advice?

Book a free consultation at RIVER MEDICAL. 028 9560 7585 info@rivermedical.co.uk 88 Lisburn Road, Belfast.

THE RIVER MEDICAL PROMISE • Team of Consultant Plastic Surgeons • Free, lifelong, unlimited, 24/7 aftercare • All procedures carried out in a state-of-the-art, fully regulated Private Hospital • Free consultation with your Surgeon who will deliver sound, trusted, honest and ethical medical advice

028 9560 7585 info@rivermedical.co.uk www.rivermedical.co.uk

Living

SARA’S

Labour of love FOR THE Family

A leading interior designer has created a stunning home designed for three generations.

Stephanie Bell takes a tour of a Holywood house that’s a mix of grandeur, style and fun 52 Northern Woman

Living

A

s a renowned local interior designer whose job it is to create stunning homes for others, Sara Thompson was really able to indulge her passion when it came to building and styling her own home.

The co-founder of Belfast design consultancy Thompson Clarke Interiors, Sara has helped the rich and famous throughout Ireland create the home of their dreams and now she has been able to do just that for her own family.

The impressive Georgian style property in Holywood was designed from scratch by Sara (38) and husband Scott (40), a sales director, to meet the needs of their family – son Harry, eight, and daughters Oliver, seven, and five year old Charlotte.

While creating a home that worked for them, they also had to consider Scott’s parents who lived in the old family farmhouse which they were demolishing to rebuild.

The result is that Sara and Scott got a magnificent period-style country home with Scott’s parents living independently in an annex which enjoys its own entrance, while keeping all of the family close together.

Working closely with Belfast architects Hall Black and Douglas and their builders MG Construction, the couple had a clear vision of what they wanted and Sara found the three year build a valuable learning curve for her business.

She says: “We loved the symmetry and

Sara Thompson and her business partner Lindy Clarke of Thompson Clarke Interiors

PICTURES BY PETER MORRISON

style of classic Georgian design and we wanted three formal spaces – a dining room, a sitting room and a large hallway – which would flow into each other so that we could use every inch of the space, rather than have areas which you can’t see and which aren’t used.

Continued on 54 ➤

Northern Woman 53

Living

“Everything flows and we have double doors linking all of the rooms.

“It is where my husband grew up and my parents-in-law still lived in the old farmhouse, but they needed less space while we needed more space because of our family.

“We created a granny annex and because of the size of the site we have two different driveways and my parents-in-law are able to live independently next door to us.

“It is a trend which we as a company are seeing more and more of in Northern Ireland and it works perfectly for us.

“They are there for us now as we need

Bright, light family living is the key to Sara’s style throughout this grand Holywood home

FOR ME THE DESIGN ALSO HAS TO BE PRACTICAL. EVERYTHING HAS TO WORK. THERE IS NO POINT IN PUTTING SOMETHING IN THAT DOESN’T WORK. them with the children, and we know that we can be there for them as they get older and maybe need our support.”

Every room in the house serves a purpose. As well as the bright living rooms, the couple added a boot room and large utility space to accommodate all of their messy outdoor wear, and a large L-shaped kitchen which comfortably holds a sizeable French style country dining table.

The hallway was also designed to allow

54 Northern Woman

a large dining table as the couple wanted a flexible space which could be used for entertaining. Large windows and glass doors were also a major consideration in the design to maximise the 360 degree country views which the location enjoys.

When it came to the all-important styling of the interior Sara was in her element and has created a beautiful home which while stylish is also comfortable and welcoming.

She says: “It is still a work in progress.

Living

The interior design work will never fully be done. In the world we work in there are always new fabrics and designs coming in that you want to incorporate, so it is never ending.

“For me the design also has to be practical. Everything has to work. There is no point in putting something in that doesn’t work. We have a very busy household and the house had to be liveable and so far everything stays in place.

“When I am designing for clients, I look at how they live and what works for them and that’s how I approached my own home.

To me, a room is never finished until you get a few kids and pets in it and see how it works.”

Sara describes her taste as eclectic and her home is filled with a mixture of carefully chosen old and new pieces. She loves bold fabrics and is a collector of local art and fine furnishings.

She says: “I think colour is very important and mixing different fabrics and colours together. It doesn’t have to be perfect but should look effortless as if you have thrown it all together. If you have a lovely piece it should sit wherever you place it and my advice would be to buy well and buy once.

“If you fall in love with a bold pattern you can balance it with more subdued pieces.

For example, fun cushions can look well on a plain sofa. My sofa is very bold in a blue inky floral fabric and I teamed it with plain curtains to get the balance.

“If you are going for something bold or patterned I think you have to be really sure you like it before you buy it and have confidence and work everything around it and try not to overdo it.

“My look is eclectic but it has been very carefully put together.”

Continued on 56 ➤

Northern Woman 55

Living

Restful elegance in a master bedroom (top) contrasts with the fun and boldness of the children’s room

Of the many beautifully styled rooms in the house, Sara’s surprise favourite is a pantry room, just off her kitchen, which her girls have dubbed ‘the sweet shop’.

She says: “It is just a really sweet room with tongue and groove panelling and was designed to accommodate the overflow from the kitchen, but asthetically I just love it and to look at it gives me happiness.”

She is also happy with the children’s den where it is obvious she had some fun with her choice of bold colour, fabrics and unusual accessories.

“I got really brilliant Argentinian fabric,

56 Northern Woman

which I made into cushions, some fun art and a lovely daffodil lamp which was my mother-in-law’s: she was going to throw out.”

One of her favourite items is her blue floral sofa in the lounge and two elegant chairs she has placed in the bay window of the dining room.

She says: “I think they look really cool.

I sourced them from a Belgian company and they are so ornate, with lovely handles carved like swan necks. I love them.”

She designed the kitchen units herself in classic grey and is delighted with her

breakfast bar which is finished with a natural wood top made by Terry Furniture.

She says: “The top was made from a section of a tree and has a very tactile and organic feel to it.

“We choose mirrored tiles for behind the Aga which give a lovely soft reflection which is really effective.”

Overall her home is a wonderful reflection of her talent and eye as an interior designer.

She adds: “It was a labour of love. The design and build took three years, which was a huge amount of time and I never thought I would labour over details so much, but it has really reinforced our knowledge of building and has left me in a good position to advise clients as I know where the pitfalls are and how stressful it can be.

“We have a beautiful home and I am really proud of it.”

THE ALBA COLLECTION

shop online at bedeck.com

Living 1 2

3

5

4 8

6 7

Dressers TO Impress A well-chosen dressing table can really make a bedroom, as well as giving you somewhere elegant to keep all your accessories in order, says Riya Patel

D

ressing tables should involve a bit more fun than your average bedroom furniture – whether exuding vintage glamour with luxury materials, or featuring hidden drawers and compartments for keeping your beauty regime top secret.

The best ones are made for pampering but offer a bit of practicality too. Are you happy to accessorise something basic with your choice of mirror and trinket boxes? Or do you prefer a design that has storage and mirror built in? Our selection gives some points to consider.

1. La Redoute Interiors Clairoy: £101.25, La Redoute This fun piece looks straight out of the 1950s, but a closer look reveals its contemporary style. A fixed mirror, one drawer for hiding all the necessities, and sharply tapering solid oak legs. Just 59cm wide by 43cm deep, this table is small enough to fit awkward corners of the bedroom.

2. Porada Afrodite Dressing Table: from £3,350, Beaufort Interiors, Belfast Designed by Carlo Ballabio for the Italian luxury brand, Porada, this table is made from solid walnut which can be left natural,

58 Northern Woman

9

dressing table was inspired by a dancer.

This attention-grabber has a rounded two-drawer top in high-gloss lacquer – particularly striking in coral – and two pairs of splayed oak legs in a matte finish.

Fixed to the top is a circular mirror. It isn’t the most functional; the mirror can’t be adjusted and the drawers are slim.

Northern Woman choice

7. Eastern Panels: £510, Furnish.co.uk

This MDF table gives the classic gold and mirror Best on a budget is the Clairoy table from La finish an eastern Redoute. It’s well-priced, compact, modern and, spin, including two above all, fun. If you’re pushing the boat out, Arabic motifs. It the Eastern Panels table from furnish.co.uk looks like a vintage offers glamour and practicality with its find from a Moroccan clever hidden drawer. holiday, but the clever front panels conceal a very modern segmented 3. Evelyn: £379, Marks & drawer for hiding your hair and Spencer beauty essentials in an organised fashion.

Nothing shouts Hollywood glamour more than gold- and mirror-finishing, which is just what this table has to offer. The 8. Brimnes: £65, Ikea, Belfast antique-look gold trim, which extends all Clean, Scandi-style budget table with a the way down its legs, adds an Art Deco built-in mirror and hidden storage space appeal without going overboard. The glass that helps you organise your jewellery and handles to the two drawers are also a touch make-up. A light. bright addition to the of luxury. bedroom from the masters of self-assembly. stained or matt laquered in a range of colours. It can also work as a writing desk and has the option of a swivelling round mirror with a frame in brushed bronze brass.

4. Made Aldo: £279, Made

9. Lautner: £90, B&Q

Designed to make a statement, this table’s main feature is a large circular mirror that intersects the rectangular top. Powdercoated metal legs contrast with a walnut finish on the surface. It’s a shame there isn’t a drawer for added functionality, but the table does include a matching trinket box.

It comes in an ash and teal version too.

A simple, well-priced table that references the style of classic dressing tables in a minimal way. It has vintage-style curved legs, a matte white finish, and a drawer with a smooth action, thanks to metal roller runners inside. And there’s a set of matching bedroom furniture.

5. J by Jasper Conran Farringdon: £455, Debenhams Jasper Conran’s design brings back memories of our mothers’ dressing tables – with an elegant oval mirror, three drawers, soft edges and oak surfaces. It has a contemporary twist, paring down the fuss of antique tables and taking inspiration from traditional Shaker designs. A larger piece, it measures 126cm wide by 45cm deep.

6. Made Fonteyn: £399, Made You can guess from the name that this

10. Napoli: £299, John Lewis For those who can’t stand clutter, this Italian-made dressing table conceals a mirror and secret compartments – all within a slick rectangular cabin finished with white gloss. There are also two small soft-close drawers for extra storage.

Self-assembly is required, which may prove tricky; a bit of precision is needed to get all the panels aligned 10 and looking smart.

Prét-à-party

Colour and design as Beaufort launches new range Anne Crilly and Eithne McMorrow

Top fashion designer Matthew Williamson’s new furniture range was unveiled at a party at Beaufort Interiors in Moira. The company has been chosen to showcase the colourful and distinctive designs in Northern Ireland.

Linda Boyd, Ruth Wilson and Paddi Herron

Ali McGeown and Whitney Rutherford

Robert and Ruth Wilson

Aly Harte and Elaine Kirk

Northern Woman 59

Matthew Williamson

Matthew Williamson

Matthew’s eye for bold colour Top designer unveils his new interiors collection

O

ne of Britain’s top fashion designers has moved into the world of interiors with his first furniture and fabrics collection.

Matthew Williamson’s capsule range is being stocked exclusively in Northern Ireland by Moira-based Beaufort Interiors.

The designer – renowned internationally for his bold signature prints and riotous colours – has collaborated with the furniture company Duresta. The collection comprises five upholstery ranges and an eclectic selection of occasional pieces.

Beaufort Interiors will be housing the entire collection in its Georgian showroom – Beaufort Hall – in Moira.

Northern Woman caught up with Matthew Williamson to hear about his new venture.

comfort have to be key aspects of anything that I design. I always ask: ‘Is it comfortable, is it stylish and is it made to the best possible standards?’ It’s good to have these three aspects in mind when working as it ensures enduring products - which you especially want when buying furniture.

Who was your inspiration?

My mum has always been a huge inspiration for me and my work. She loved fashion and was always so supportive. Growing up she was a ray of light among the mundane, suburban, although not at all bad, environment I grew up in in Manchester.

She brought an optimism to my life: the way she dressed and the way she used clothes as a tool to better herself had a huge influence on me.

What interiors do you like in your home?

Have you a favourite piece?

Colour, prints and textiles can bring your home to life. I look to combine florals and graphics with both modern and antique furniture pieces – they’re all good in my book and when grouped together, create an eclectic end result. If that sounds a little chaotic, I often find keeping the colour palette tight helps to unify the look.

I would call my look ‘organised bohemia’. It might look like it’s all been thrown together, but actually, everything is in its place. Most of my rooms are quite neutral in colour and the furniture and items I’ve collected over the years add colour, character and tell a more personal story. From my collection, if I had to choose, it would be the flamingo and peacock tables which I really envisaged being key, practical-yet-whimsical pieces in the range. I’ve already planned to have a pair of these either side of my sofas!

What was your inspiration for the furnishings collection?

What sort of home are your furnishings aimed at?

I travel extensively for my work and always like to pick things up which catch my eye; those objects are usually locally crafted pieces, unique to the place and which may inspire an idea down the line for my own work. As with my clothes, style and

As with my clothes, you can’t be a shrinking violet to buy a furniture piece from my collection. For the less adventurous there are plain velvets and tweeds, and although you could have a matching three-piece-suite in jade green marbled fabric, I

Why is colour important in the home?

60 Northern Woman

From fashion to interiors: Matthew’s signature look is strong on colour and character envisage people using the furniture as I would; as a bold statement mixed with existing furnishings.

Tell us about the design process of your collection?

I didn’t want to go: ‘here’s my name, bring something out’ – I really got my teeth into it. A lot of the collection was inspired by looking at pieces that I own myself. I’ve bought a lot of furniture from antique markets or dealers over the years, which I’ve then adapted or updated to give it my own edge. I also collect tear sheets of anything that catches my eye, so it was a fun process to build a collection which came from my personal favourite pieces.

Why was Beaufort interiors chosen?

Duresta has a long history of working with Beaufort Interiors, and for over 30 years, Beaufort has been at the forefront of interior design in Ireland. I’m thrilled that Ruth and Trevor Wilson of Beaufort have chosen to showcase the entire Matthew Williamson collection at their showroom in Moira.

The full collection can be viewed via www.beaufortinteriors.co.uk. Call 028 9261 9508 or email info@beaufortinteriors.co.uk

The entire MW collection now on display exclusively at BEAUFORT For more information on furniture by Duresta for Matthew Williamson, plus fabrics and wallpapers by Matthew Williamson for Osborne & Little contact: mw@beaufortinteriors.co.uk BEAUFORT INTERIORS 102-106 Main Street, Moira, BT67 0LH. T. 9261 9508

www.beaufortinteriors.co.uk

A Woman’s Work

I really believe that the level of success you achieve is down to how hard you work Katie Waddell found love and frozen yoghurt in America, and now she’s converting Northern Ireland to the dessert craze, one shop at a time WHAT’S YOUR JOB? I am co-founder and owner of Spoon Street, Northern Ireland’s original and largest self-serve frozen yoghurt company. Our first store opened in October 2014. My roles and responsibilities include marketing, staff management and business development, and everything in between!

building our third store on the Lisburn Road, Belfast. We are very excited about this one, a lot of thought and planning has gone in to the fit out. So the hard hats will come out again soon as myself and my partner oversee the project to make sure things are going smoothly.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD DAY AT WORK? YOUR TYPICAL DAY? No two days are ever the same, or even similar. Every day presents a new goal, task or challenge. A typical morning could consist of replying to emails, managing social media platforms, liaising with designers. The day could end with a shift in one of the stores, as I believe I need to keep my finger on the pulse and be aware of any improvements or developments the store needs at a customer level. We are currently

A good day could be something as simple as receiving a positive review online, or in store. Our team members always relay these back to me directly, whether they are positive or negative. Productivity is also key for me to be able to relax at the end of the day. If I haven’t been as productive as I could have been, the guilt begins to kick in.

But tomorrow is always a new day and my obsession with making lists mostly keeps my productivity levels in order!

BIGGEST CHALLENGES?

A good day could be something as simple as receiving a positive review online, or in store.

62 Northern Woman

For a small business in Northern Ireland, there are many challenges along the way. We are an ambitious and energised team and sometimes we want to move a lot quicker than some of the official

Katie Waddell runs her business with fiance Harry. The couple (clockwise from top left) in Utah, Paris, Beijing and at Katie’s graduation bodies do, and so planning and getting certain things granted can be slower than we would like, but we always get there in the end.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED? I was working in New Jersey on an internship in 2012 and 2013, when I came across a similar concept. At the same time, I met my now fiancé and business partner Harry, who is from Queens, New York. I pretty much brainwashed him that this concept needed to be brought back to my home town of Belfast, as we had never seen anything like it. Harry has a typical New York attitude and so embraced what I was telling him and very much had a ‘Let’s do it’ mentality. He moved to Belfast in February 2014.

It was pretty crazy at the time, and my parents definitely had

A Woman’s Work

I could not be more grateful for the position I find myself in at present. you achieve is down to how hard you work and how well you can deal with adversity, as you will experience it at some point on your road to success.

So stay positive and keep working hard, simple but very effective.

ALTERNATIVE CAREER?

their reservations, but three years on we are still going strong, and planning our wedding.

WHERE DID YOU STUDY? I did a degree in marketing at Ulster University. I graduated in July 2014 and opened the first store three months later, so it was a whirlwind period of my life.

I graduated with first class honours and came out as top performing student, so my graduation will be a day that I will cherish forever. My degree was a great preparation for the daily roles and tasks I undertake.

I always find myself using bits and pieces of information. The fundamentals seem to have stuck!

BEST PIECE OF CAREER ADVICE? I really believe that the level of success

I could not be more grateful for the position I find myself in at present. I know nothing comes easy, however so I am motivated to keep my head down and achieve more and more. I have a strong interest in fashion so my fantasy job would be a personal handbag shopper for the rich and famous! I’m constantly thinking of different ideas and planning a wedding, dress shopping has made me want to start a bridal boutique….maybe sometime in the future when more free time allows it!

HOW DO YOU DRESS FOR WORK? Sometimes I find myself unloading a 20 foot container, other days I am meeting with solicitors and accountants, so a little more effort is required. Usually I dress comfy, in jeans and Converse. When I have meetings, I find it fun to make a little more effort. I love Zara and Warehouse, as I find both stores are great all-rounders, from loungewear to occasion wear and

everything in between. When I’m looking for something in particular I love using the app ‘ShopStyle’ as it gives you exactly what you’re looking for, in every shade imaginable, at every price bracket.

LIFE OUTSIDE WORK? Working alongside my fiance can have its pros and cons. When we have free time we like to spend it doing something like hiking or some form of exercise. The Mournes are our usual go-to place. We love to eat out.

Sakura on Botanic Avenue or Thai Tanic on Lisburn road are two places I particularly love. Harry and I usually try and get away two or three times a year. Our most recent trip was to New York back in July, we can never stay away from here too long as it is Harry’s home, and where we met, so it is now my home away from home. My next holiday is a mini road trip around Ireland with Harry in a few weeks time. Harry has been living here for three years now and hasn’t made it past Dublin so it’s about time he sees what else this beautiful island has to offer. A lot of time outside of work is now also concentrated on planning our wedding next September. I started the planning process a couple of months ago and already some elements are proving harder than starting a business at times, so wish me luck!

Spoon Street has stores on Upper Newtownards Road, Ballyhackamore, and Ann Street, Belfast.

Northern Woman 63

Health

Pancreatic cancer is hard to diagnose and even harder to cure, as Rosy Ryan knows only too well. But, as she tells Lisa Smyth, having a positive outlook is helping her to help others PICTURE BY PETER MORRISON

T

he first thing you notice about Rosy Ryan is her infectious laugh and her sunny approach to life.

At the age of 42, she is terminally ill with pancreatic cancer – but she jokes about the terrible hand she has been dealt, including her plans for her funeral.

“I love animals but my cancer has made me allergic to them, if I go near dogs or cats or horses I get that terrible itching thing and I just think, I can’t believe cancer has made me allergic to puppies,” she laughs.

“I am totally planning my funeral all the time. It helps everyone around me.

“I tell my friends and family what I want at my funeral, and I told friends that I want Adele’s Hello played from the coffin.

“They know my sense of humour, that I like to make a joke, but they still said I couldn’t say that.

“I told them, ‘well actually, I can pretty much say whatever I want’.”

It may seem morbid but Rosy – a barrister from north Belfast – believes that a positive attitude is essential when facing up to a terminal diagnosis.

“If you have the right attitude, even when something horrible is facing you, it will take you much further,” she says.

“The people you have around you are important too. If you have people saying ‘this is horrendous,’ that is going to get you down.”

Of course, Rosy hasn’t always been so accepting when it comes to her illness and she admits she was filled with anger when a doctor told her she was dying.

Rosy, who was born in Chicago but moved to Northern Ireland when she was nine-years-old, was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer when she was just 34.

She had been back and forward to her GP for months complaining of feeling unwell – but it wasn’t until a holiday in America that she finally found out what was wrong.

“I actually thought I had irritable bowel syndrome, I was running to the toilet and I felt sick a lot,” she says.

“I felt tired all the time and I just knew something was wrong, but it wasn’t picked up.

“I happened to be going to the States to visit my sister and she worked in a doctor’s

64 Northern Woman

Health

If you have the right attitude, even when something horrible is facing you, it will take you much further

Pancreatic cancer often doesn’t cause any signs or symptoms in the early stages.

This can make it hard to diagnose early. But as the cancer grows, it may start to cause symptoms including: ✶ Abdominal and back pain ✶ Unexplained weight loss ✶ Indigestion ✶ Loss of appetite ✶ Change in bowel habits ✶ Jaundice ✶ Nausea and vomiting ✶ Difficulty swallowing ✶ Recently diagnosed diabetes

had experienced before.

Despite this, it took a year before she was finally diagnosed.

“I’m not someone who goes to the doctor a lot, so if I come in and say something isn’t right and I don’t feel well in the way I felt before I think maybe I should have been referred quicker,” she says.

“I was sent for tests and I got an appointment letter and the Cancer Centre was copied in, so I knew then.

“I did always try to live in hope, you try to convince yourself that it is something else but I went along to the appointment and was told I had pancreatic cancer.

“They told me I had 11 months, which I thought was weirdly accurate and then you get the hospice talk, but my initial reaction was anger.

“I was so angry they were telling me I had 11 months and they had taken a year to tell me.

“I was crying, I was really mad because I felt like I could have been doing stuff during that time.

“I felt like I had been robbed of something, like something had been taken away from me.”

Surgery was not an option this time so she started chemotherapy immediately.

This in itself was gruelling – as well as suffering sickness, Rosy developed ulcers on her hands, feet and in her mouth.

Despite this, however, she began to take up running and has managed to rack up an impressive 1,000km in the past 12 months even as she endured the side effects of her chemotherapy.

“I find the running community so positive and so supportive,” she says.

“Even if you are at walking pace, they cheer you on.

“I was that person who couldn’t run the length of myself and now I’ve done a half marathon and I’ve run 1,000 km this year.

“I have been raising money from the running for Pancreatic Cancer UK because they are all encompassing, they are involved in research, support, awareness and fundraising.

“I just want people to be aware of the symptoms of pancreatic cancer and if they don’t feel well to go to their doctor and be persistent.

“I had to pay a lot of money to find out what was wrong, and it has been a big financial burden, but it has given me more years of life, so it was definitely worth it for me.”

For more information about pancreatic cancer, log on to www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk

To donate to Rosy’s fundraising effort, log on to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Rosy-Ryan2.

Rosy Ryan says laughter and running are helping her to cope with cancer office and arranged for me to go for a scan.

“The man who did the scan told me everything was all right but then he went next door and told my sister and brother-inlaw that he could see something.

“After that, we paid for a lot of very, very expensive tests.

“They found a secondary tumour in my liver and the primary was in my pancreas.”

When she returned to Northern Ireland, Rosy made an appointment to see a specialist here who confirmed the diagnosis.

He told her she would need radical surgery to remove her spleen and part of her pancreas and liver.

However, she was delighted to hear that she could recover from the disease.

The surgery itself was gruelling and Rosy was suddenly struck with the thought that she may never see her siblings again as she was wheeled to theatre.

“I thought I was maybe going to die during surgery,” she says.

“Afterwards was hard, I was in intensive care for three or four days.

“It was a long recovery and I am selfemployed so I had to go back to work as I had no insurance and I had bills to pay, but I went back too soon.

“My job is quite physically demanding, you’re running all over the place and I ended up having to take a bit more time off.”

Life eventually returned to normal, with Rosy attending check-ups to make sure the cancer had not returned.

However, she began to feel unwell again and it was the same familiar symptoms she

PANCREATIC CANCER What you need to know

Northern Woman 65

Kenda Brown (left) with trainer Sandra Mackay

STRONG IS THE NEW SKINNY

Personal trainers aren’t just for image-obsessed celebrities and they can make a big difference to your fitness. Alicia Clarke meets three women who’ve put their health in the hands of the experts PICTURES BY PETER MORRISON AND KEVIN SCOTT 66 Northern Woman

Personal Trainer

when and how much I ate, I had developed habits which I was totally unaware of. “ After learning what and when to eat, Kenda saw a reduction in body fat. As her muscles built, her energy levels started to climb. She says she’s experienced the benefits of weight loss and increased fitness, and her mood has been boosted, too.

“Maintaining my fitness and weight with new information and techniques is allowing me to live a healthy lifestyle,” she says. “Personal training has dramatically changed my life. Sandra is an expert in her field and a true friend for life.

“Our sessions usually involve lots of gritting of my teeth... but always giggles and lots of smiles.”

✶KENDA BROWN Age – 31 Hometown – Bangor Health and fitness history – Generally good health Personal trainer – Sandra Mackay

A

fter struggling with losing weight after pregnancy and a lack of motivation and poor self-esteem, Kenda started personal training sessions in Aurora Leisure Centre, Bangor, with Sandra Mackay, who’s been involved in the fitness industry for 27 years.

At the age of 40, Sandra competed as a bodybuilder, so Kenda’s in expert hands when it comes to lifting weights and

changing her shape.

Each session consists of an hour of tailormade exercises with a mixture of cardio and weightlifting. Workouts constantly change to suit Kenda and help her achieve the results she wants.

“I love the buzz I get from achieving something I never thought I could,” says Kenda. “I have built an incredible bond with Sandra through lots of tough times which result in amazing breakthroughs, learning new skills and techniques in the gym, and wonderful physical and physiological results.”

Kenda is now much happier and confident in her own body and loves the motivation she gains from each session. As a working mum, she tends to train in the evenings but enjoys sessions in the morning at the weekend as she feels recharged from the day before.

“I’ve also also changed my diet with Sandra’s help,” says Kenda. “Looking at

✶SANDRA MACKAY What’s your approach to training?

My motto is “strong is the new skinny”.

When I started out in fitness 27 years ago, I took part in aerobics which I loved as it was fun, but it never changed my body shape. It was only when I discovered weight training that I saw changes to my shape.

I like to provide something different such as weight training, cardio and calisthenics, which is body weight exercises with an interesting mix of Olympic rings and parallel bars, and other moves such as head and hand stands. It’s a really fun and heallthy way to get fit.

I’m there to guide, support and encourage. There is also accountability on the client, so even when you don’t have a session the trainer will be asking ‘have you completed the planned workout?’ There’s no hiding place…

Continued on 68 ➤

Northern Woman 67

Personal Trainer

“Rather than eating low fat products I opt for good, full fat foods and I enjoy chicken, fish, bacon, nuts, salad, fruit, vegetables and even pizza, homemade of course!

“My tip is to be prepared. We go food shopping every Sunday, allowing us to have food for lunch and dinner. It ensures that we don’t grab something quick, which is usually an unhealthy option.

“My whole reasoning behind doing any form of exercise is to feel healthy and happy and it’s honestly as simple as that.”

✶ALANA TAYLOR Age – 31 Hometown – Lisburn

✶MICHAEL TULLY

Health and fitness history – Fit

Why did you become a personal trainer?

Personal trainer – Michael Tully, MPT Fitness

G

rowing up in an exerciseobsessed family, Alana has always been interested in fitness. And now she’s got the big incentive of a wedding on the horizon.

Alana’s dad used to run marathons, her brother trained six days a week for boxing and her sister attends Brazilian and traditional Ju Jitsu – Alana’s taken it up recently, too. She also enjoys swimming and held a gym membership for over 10 years before signing up for a personal trainer.

Each week Alana does two training sessions which Michael has planned in advance. These always start with a warm up session and stretches. The rest of the time can include squats, kettle bells, dead lifts, planks, burpees, pull ups, back squats and short runs.

“I attend sessions with my partner, Will, and I enjoy getting to spend time with him as we both lead busy lives,” says Alana.

She works full time, attends Ju Jitsu twice a week and bakes cakes as a hobby.

68 Northern Woman

As the couple look forward to their wedding in January time is even more precious.

“The wedding is also a good motivation to work hard at the gym,” says Alana.

“Training with Will means he is there to encourage me, and vice versa.”

A healthy eater, Alana has always tried to stay away from processed foods and limit the amount of caffeine, sugar and salt she eats. This has been encouraged by Michael who believes in a holistic approach without deprivation.

Since attending personal training Alana has changed the way she eats, but she doesn’t regard this as dieting.

It all stems from a burning desire to help people. As a kid, believing I was Superman, I had to save the world. In secondary school when bullies would pick on other kids, I always had to step in and help.

When I hit 25 and pondered on what I wanted to do as a career my passion for physical movement and exercise made it a natural decision to become a personal trainer..

I get to help people reach their physical goals, which allows them become stronger mentally and achieve more confidence and whole being wellness. It is no coincidence that a bigger percentage of people who are not involved in physical movement are also more down in spirit and mental wellbeing.

I am definitely not saying that all my work involves helping people in bad situations, as I have some athletes and sports players on my books who just want to improve mobility and conditioning, or a couple like Alana and Will who want to look and feel good on their wedding day .

Where someone is hugely overweight, they tend to have underlying psychological scars or mental sadness that leads them into living this way. I especially love helping this type of client.

Personal Trainer

✶NIAMH PARKER Age – 22 Hometown – Belfast Health and fitness history – Generally fit Personal trainer – Steven Quigley

N

iamh has been into fitness since the age of 15, running with North Belfast Harriers and attending spin classes.

After moving to Liverpool and gaining a little weight thanks to the student lifestyle, Niamh joined a gym and strived to cook and eat healthily.

Since moving back home, Niamh has the advantage of dating a personal trainer.

This means sessions which usually cost £20 are free! The man in question is Steven Quigley who’s based at Excel 121 Training in

Derriaghy, near Lisburn.

“Having a trainer as a boyfriend keeps me motivated and with Steven a dab hand in the kitchen, preparing all our meals, there is no excuse but to be healthy,” says Niamh.

Her diet has changed completely and the duo love experimenting with different foods and recipes. Although they both still enjoy a pizza and a beer, Steven has taught Niamh that moderation is the secret to a healthier lifestyle.

Steven offers his clients a personal diet plan based around their likes and dislikes and provides tips and advice on nutrition and fitness on his Facebook page, SQFitness.

The couple hit the gym three or four times a week, depending on their schedules, and Niamh loves having Steven there to talk her through each exercise, ensuring no injuries.

“Steve motivates me to work harder which means I get see results faster,” says Niamh. “After only two weeks of personal training, I could already see a difference

in my body and I felt healthier and more energetic. I’m pushing myself to do new things, including pull ups and press ups.”

Like a lot of females, weights seemed a little daunting, but Niamh has come to love the weightlifting part of her training.

Evenings tend to be when the pair train together, but if they are heading to the gym at the weekend Niamh likes to go early in the morning “to get it out of the way”.

“Rather than working on programmes of a set length and with predetermined end goals, I train for overall fitness and health. I leave sessions feeling 100 times better than when I arrived.

“Usually he charges £20 an hour, but I pay a little smug £0. I’ll pay for the next date night I promise!”

✶STEVEN QUIGLEY What is the biggest transformation you have seen in a client?

A client approached me six months ago asking how much weight could they lose in 12 weeks and what it would take.

They appeared shy and intimated within a gym environment. I was worried about the general fitness levels based on my initial screening as they explained their current lifestyle consisted of mainly fast food meals and binge alcohol sessions.

I explained at the very beginning that health and fitness is not for 12 weeks, it’s for life and they would need to change their lifestyle completely to reap the benefits.

I took my client for some basic fitness tests which they struggled with and this appeared to really annoy them.

Six months later into a detailed program, my client has dramatically changed their view on health and exercise, dropping from 15 stone 10lbs to 12 stone 12lbs. They have lost the ‘few pounds’ and more. They also developed confidence and love the difference they have had to their life.

Northern Woman 69

Prét-à-party

Sarah Lynch and Nicky Cahill

Jon and Rebekah Johanson

Amy Fry and Aimee Boyle

LesleyAnn and Michelle Diffin

A tasty night out at Zizzi’s new pizzeria Zizzi, Belfast’s newest Italian restaurant, officially opened its doors to the public in Victoria Square. Ulster Rugby stars were among the guests who joined the pizza party.

Emma Carswell, Melissa Ferris, Leanne McDowell and Zara Bell

Lorraine and Holly Magee

Holly Paine and Nichola Barker

70 Northern Woman

Maureen McCrory and Paula Gracey

Charles Piutau, Andrew Trimble and Chris Henry

Caroline Bell and Orlaith Kearnes

Food

Belfast’s Coppi restaurant

Italian winter dishes

Comfort eating in style, direct from the kitchen of Jonny Phillips, the executive chef at top Belfast restaurants Coppi and Il Pirata. He shares his favourite foods for November

Baked Seafood Gratin Ingredients; (Serves 2 people) For the sauce; 250g mussels 50mls white wine 2tblsp olive oil 1 medium shallot, finely diced 1 small carrot peeled and diced 1 stick of celery, finely diced 3 sprigs of thyme, leaves only 2 cloves of garlic crushed 1tblsp butter 1tblsp plain flour Reserved mussel cooking liquid 50mls double cream 100mls milk

opened and are cooked through. Strain the juice from the mussels and reserve for the sauce. When the mussels are cool enough to hold remove the meat from the shells and reserve for finishing the dish.

Heat a medium pot over medium heat and add the olive oil. When hot add the shallot, carrot, celery, thyme & 1 clove of garlic, cook gently until softened but not coloured. Add the scallop’s corals & stir until they begin to cook. Add the butter & coat the vegetables while stirring, finally add the flour and stir vigorously until a paste is formed. Add the mussel cooking liquid & stir constantly until a sauce begins to form, finally add the cream & milk, season lightly & lower heat to a gentle simmer.

Allow the sauce to cook for 25-30mins while often stirring, once the sauce has become silky strain through a sieve and finally add the tarragon.

For the crust; Jonny Phillips and junior chef Jason Nelson

50g fresh breadcrumbs 1 clove of garlic crushed Zest from half a lemon 1tblsp coarsely chopped flat leaf parsley

For the crust; Place the breadcrumbs, garlic, lemon zest & parsley in a food processor & pulse until the breadcrumbs have combined with the seasonings.

To finish; To serve; 2 large king scallops, cut into quarters (reserve roe for the sauce) 150g raw prawns preferably Portavogie prawns Method; For the sauce; First cook the mussels by placing a pan large enough to hold the mussels over high heat. When the pan is hot add the mussels and the white wine, cover with a tight fitting lid and steam the mussels for 2mins or until all of the mussels have

Preheat the oven to 200c.

Place the sauce back on to a medium heat, drop in the scallops and the prawns & cook gently for 2-3mins. Now add the reserved mussels and place the mix in an oven proof dish, sprinkle over the breadcrumbs before baking for 4-5mins or until golden brown and cooked through.

Serve this dish with toasted focaccia and a little dressed rocket salad.

Continued on 72 ➤

Northern Woman 71

Food

Duck Ragu, porcini mushroom ravioli, truffle & Parmesan Ingredients; (Serves 4) For the duck legs; 4 female duck legs 200g Maldon salt 2 cloves of garlic left whole 3 sprigs of thyme 1ltr duck or goose fat For the Gnocchi; 500g very dry mash potato, still warm 1 large egg 75g fine semolina 50g plain flour Seasoning to taste For the duck stock; 1 stick celery 1 shallot 1 small carrot 1 bay leaf

allow to cool. When the duck legs are cool enough to handle remove from the fat and peel off all of the skin. Reserve the skin, this will be crisped in the oven and used to garnish the finished dish.

Remove the meat from all the legs, keeping in large chunks and place in a bowl.

Spoon 2tblsp of duck fat into the bowl and season to taste. Reserve for making the ragu.

Lay the skin out flat onto a none stick baking tray and cook at 140c until the skin is very crispy but not overly browned.

Break into small chunks and reserve for garnishing the completed dish.

3 sprigs of thyme

For the Gnocchi;

100ml red wine

Place the mash into a large bowl and season well. Add the eggs and mix until all the egg has been absorbed by the potato. Add the two types of flour and mix to incorporate, do not over mix as the potato will continue to absorb the flours making them very heavy and dense.

Lightly flour a work surface and place the gnocchi mix on top, knead very lightly until the dough feels barley sticky and has come together.

Bring a large pot of water to the boil.

Pull sections of the dough and roll into a long sausage shape, cut to desired size and place on a floured tray.

Have a large tub of iced water ready.

Drop the gnocchi into the boiling water and cook for a couple of minutes. When the gnocchi is ready it will have risen to the surface of the pot. Remove from the water and plunge into the iced water.

Allow to cool completely them drain them thoroughly.

Toss the cooked gnocchi in olive oil and store in the fridge ready for service.

300ml duck or beef stock Making the duck ragu; 2 shallots finely diced 3 garlic cloves 1 stick of celery, diced 250ml of red wine 1tblsp of fresh thyme leaves To serve; Truffle oil Shaved Parmesan Chopped Parsley Method; For the duck legs; Pre heat the oven to 140c.

Pat the duck legs dry with paper towels.

Salt your duck legs well. Let them rest at room temperature for at least 20 minutes and up to an hour or in the fridge overnight.

Put the duck legs in a small casserole dish, big enough to hold the legs, skin side up. Add the garlic, thyme and pour over the duck fat, wrap with tin foil and cook for 90mins-2 hours or until the legs are very tender. Remove the duck from the oven and

72 Northern Woman

For the duck stock; Place the duck bones onto a large roasting tray and roast until golden in a hot oven, 220C. Remove from roasting tray and drain

well. Toss the vegetables in a little of the duck fat and roast until golden.

Place the bones into a suitable pot, cover with cold water and bring to the boil.

When the vegetables are golden, drain well and add to the stock.

Pour off any excess fat from the roasting tray and deglaze the pan with the red wine.

When it comes to the boil add to the stock.

Skim any scum and turn down to simmer. Add the bay leaves and thyme and allow to simmer for approximately 2 hours, skimming all the time. Strain the stock, discard the bones and vegetables.

Place the strained stock into a large pan and bring back to the boil, reduce to a simmer and continue to simmer until the stock has reduced by half. Keep skimming of any scum that rises to the surface.

Remove from the heat and reserve.

Making the duck ragu; Place a wide pan over a low heat. Add a little of the reserved duck fat and then sweat the onion, garlic and celery and cook for 2 minutes Add the thyme and wine and turn up the heat. Reduce the sauce by half and then add the duck stock and reduce by half again or until the sauce has started to thicken. Add the duck meat. Turn down the heat and leave to simmer for 2-3mins.

To serve; In separate pan heat a little butter, when hot add the gnocchi and cook until golden brown, add to the pan with the duck ragu and toss everything together until the gnocchi has been completely coated in the sauce. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

Spoon the mixture between 4 large pasta bowls. Garnish with chopped parsley, crispy duck skin, shaved parmesan and drizzle with truffle oil.

Serve immediately.

Food

Baked cod Romagna style, potatoes, spinach, caper & prawn brown butter Ingredients; (Serves 2)

80g baby spinach

For the potatoes;

Maldon salt and black pepper to taste

1tblsp olive oil 1 large baking potato cut into 6 large rings Maldon salt and black pepper to taste 100g butter For the Cod; 60g fresh breadcrumbs Juice & zest of half a lemon 1 clove of garlic crushed 1tblsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped 2 x 175g pieces of cod, skin removed Maldon salt and black pepper to taste 1tblsp olive oil To complete the dish; 50g butter 1tblsp olive oil 120g raw prawn meat preferably Portavogie

1tsp capers roughly chopped Juice of half a lemon Method; For the potatoes; Pre heat the oven to 160c.

Heat a large pan over medium heat and add a tablespoon of olive oil. Season the potato slices all over and place into the pan (this may have to be done in a couple of batches) fry gently on both sides until golden all over. Remove from the pan and place onto an oven tray, add the butter and thyme and place in the pre heated oven and cook for 25-30mins or until tender and cooked through.

For the cod; Place the breadcrumbs, lemon juice & zest, garlic and rosemary into a bowl and mix together until all ingredients are evenly distributed. Place the cod fillets onto a plate and season lightly with Maldon salt and black pepper and olive oil, cover the cod

fillets completely in the breadcrumb mix and cover with cling film. Leave to marinate in the fridge for an hour before cooking.

To finish; Turn the heat of the oven up to 180c Line an oven tray with greaseproof paper.

Remove the cod from the fridge and place onto the oven tray and put into the oven.

Cook the cod for 15mins or until golden all over and cooked through.

Warm the cooked potatoes through the oven for 5mins or until heated through.

Heat a pan over high heat and add the butter and olive oil. As soon as the butter starts to foam add the prawns and cook for 1 minute. Add the spinach and capers and season to taste. Cook until the spinach has just wilted and the butter has turned a lovely golden brown. Remove from the heat and add the lemon juice.

To serve; Place 3 potatoes onto each plate, place the spinach and prawn mixture over and around the potatoes. Place the cod on top and serve at once.

Olive oil, lemon & rosemary cake Ingredients; (Serves 8-10 people) For the cake; 50g plain flour 30g baking powder 125g ground almonds 200g caster sugar 200g light olive oil 5 eggs lightly beaten 1½tblsp finely chopped rosemary Zest of 2 lemons For the cream; 200ml whipping cream 200ml mascarpone 75g caster sugar 75ml limoncello liqueur Method; For the cake; Preheat the oven to 160°c.

Butter and flour a 20cm round spring form cake tin.

Sift the flour, baking powder and almonds into a large mixing bowl, tip in the sugar, and stir everything together until all is mixed well. Add the olive oil, eggs, rosemary and lemon zest to the mix and fold together until you have a smooth batter.

Pour the batter into the prepared baking tin and bake for 45–50mins the cake will have a slight wobble when you remove it from the oven, but will set beautifully firm once it has cooled. If the top of the cake

seems to be browning too quickly, lay a double-folded piece of baking parchment across the top of the tin. After removing from the oven, leave the cake to cool in its tin until firm enough to transfer to a wire rack.

For the cream; Combine whipping cream, mascarpone, 3 tablespoons sugar, and limoncello in large bowl. Beat until soft peaks form.

To serve; Slice the cake into 8 even wedges and serve with limoncello cream.

Northern Woman 73

Living

My Food…

CAROLINE WILSON

Caroline Wilson runs the award-winning Belfast Food Tour, guiding locals and international visitors around the very best of the city’s food hotspots. She shares her love of all things The best food is culinary

a few ingredients cooked with love.

This has led to a slight obsession with Italian food

What is the meal you will always remember?

It isn’t one I particularly remember eating, but more organising and helping to cook. I’m a member of Belfast Cookbook Club and we took over a restaurant and cooked Ottolenghi dishes for over 100 people, raising lots of money for a very worthwhile charity. The food and atmosphere were perfect and the cookbook clubbers pulled it out of the bag. Never felt team spirit like it, with 17 amateur cooks pulling together a tremendous night.

What was your defining food experience?

I was in Rome years ago for the Italy v Ireland rugby match with friends and went to a small, unassuming restaurant. I was recommended a dish, not knowing what it was, and when it arrived it was essentially pasta with cheese, cacio e pepe. It was one of the most delicious dishes I have ever tasted.

This showed me that with the most simple ingredients (pecorino, butter, pasta and pepper), something spectacular could be created. It’s all very well having the most expensive

74 Northern Woman

ingredients, or spending eight hours in the kitchen, but the best food, for me, is a few ingredients cooked with love (and no stress!) This has lead to a slight obsession with Italian food and how their mind works with their produce, definitely a ‘less is more’ attitude.

What was the first dish you ever cooked?

Does custard with my aunt count?!

What is your comfort food?

Bread and butter! No contest. There are few things more delicious than beautiful real bread and real salty butter. I used to think I hated butter, my mum used to eat Gold and Flora and I preferred dry toast. But then I found proper butter, Abernethy Butter made in Dromara, and the rest, as they say, is history. If you add bacon to that, then I’m a happy girl! The smell of bacon cooking is one of the best smells in life, like smelling food being cooked on a barbecue off in the distance.

This is making me hungry!

What do you drink?

Coffee, wine and gin (our local gins, Shortcross and Jawbox are my go-to gins). Never felt more like my mother right now!

What is your hangover cure?

I can’t eat with a hangover! Club Orange with bits, all the way.

If you could only eat three things for the rest of your life, what would they be?

My last meal on earth would be steak with béarnaise and fries.

That’s three! Other than that, bread encompasses so many varieties, so I will go with that, and butter (for reasons already mentioned) and.. oh this is tough. I should say fish or something sensible but I reckon cheese. I love cheese! Young Buck is my favourite blue cheese, it’s made in Newtownards.

How important is food to you?

I had fallen into being a solicitor and 15 years later, was still there. Then one day, I realised that I was obsessed with all things food. Not just the taste, smell or colour, but the story behind the dish or the producer. I set up the Belfast Food Tour, showing people I didn’t know the best local produce I could find in Belfast city centre. The tours have been full since September 2014 and so a year ago I left my job and took the leap into all things food full time! Food, and drink, are now my life. In April, my fellow cookbook clubber, Phil, and I sent up Taste and Tour NI. We have a number of tours including the now multi award-winning Belfast Food Tour, Belfast Whiskey Walk, Meet the Brewer Brewery Tour and more. I am so lucky to have the job I do.

What are some of your favourite restaurants?

Oh that’s a toughie, like asking a parent which is their favourite child! I love Il Pirata in Ballyhackamore, always have. Ox is sublime, Muddlers Club really is delicious, Barking Dog for

Living

WILD GAME NIGHT

Your er Novembd NI foo diary

The Cuan, Strangford 5 November To mark the opening of the game season, The Cuan is showcasing full flavoured organic meats from protected sources. The inn has played host to the cast of Game of Thrones who film at nearby Castle Ward. Dinner £32.95 http://www.thecuan.com/ Caroline at Sawers in Belfast with actor Richard E Grant and Tourism Ireland’s Julie Wakely let’s just say, I don’t think I can ever go back to London without visiting there. Tapas and cichetti really suit me, L’avant Comptoir in Paris is one of my favourites, or any food market to just wander around and eat the local food.

What is your guilty pleasure?

My whole diet is what many would think is a guilty pleasure. I have never thought about weight or calories so I just don’t feel guilty about food. Life is too short! everything including brunch and Meat Locker for steak and béarnaise and glass of red. General Merchants is also doing wonders with the brunch offering in Belfast, as is Established. Square Bistro in Lisburn is very good, as is Wine and Brine in Moira. Street Food is finally really starting to get going here and I adore Broughgammon Farm from Ballycastle and Pyke and Pomme in Londonderry. I recently got to try dim sum at A Wong’s in London and well

If you decide to eat healthily, what’s your regime?

I don’t really do ‘healthy’ but I don’t really do ‘unhealthy’ either. I probably don’t eat enough fruit or vegetables, but Lemon Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil from Limavady helps me crave salads, I adore it! Ready meals with lots of preservatives are my pet hate. With four ingredients, a little time and minimal washing up, a delicious meal can be created. It’s so important that we teach kids what’s fresh and tasty rather than calories or the latest health fads. Sure, even butter is healthy now and chocolate grows on trees, so it’s almost one of your five a day!!

TWILIGHT MARKET

St George’s Market, Belfast 8-9 November The award-winning Twilight Market will help to bring the Year of Food and Drink 2016 to a close with over 130 local food, drink and arts and crafts traders selling their wares.

It starts at 5.00pm on the Tuesday, and from noon on the Wednesday. Over 18s only after 9.00pm. www.belfastcity.gov.uk

THE HANGFIRE GIRLS

Larchfield Estate, Lisburn 13 November Barbeque specialists Samantha Evans and Shauna Guinn are cooking up a banquet to launch their new cookbook, Hangfire Smokehouse. Celebrity chef Paul McIntyre will also be on hand for a night of mouthwatering US-style barbeque using local produce.

Tickets: email events@larchfieldestate.co.uk

BELFAST CONTINENTAL CHRISTMAS MARKET

City Hall, Belfast 19 November The annual festive market with a huge choice of international and local food stalls. Eat your way around the flavours of Europe and Northern Ireland and pick up a few Christmas presents along the way. It runs until 22 December. www.belfastcity.gov.uk

GEORGIAN DAY

Caroline leading a Belfast Food Tour in Cathedral Quarter

Archbishop’s Palace, Armagh 26 November A fun-filled day of history, craft and cuisine featuring the best of locally produced food and drink. Don’t miss the food village and chef demonstrations and the dramatic light show when darkness falls. www.nigoodfood.com

Northern Woman 75

Favourite Places

Enjoy suburban style and culture in the fashionable east Stephanie Bell visits Belmont Road in East Belfast and finds a wonderful mix of specialist shops, art galleries, services, cafes and restaurants

R

enowned as one of the trendier parts of Belfast, the busy Belmont Road area is also one of the city’s most desirable places to live, shop and socialise.

With its own thriving village-style centre, leafy Belmont offers all the services you could need on your doorstep as well as a buzzing and fashionable cafe society.

It’s within the catchment area of many leading schools, and with beautiful parkland close by it’s no surprise that

76 Northern Woman

property here is sought after by families and young professionals alike.

Culture is a big part of the east of the city and the area comes alive this November when EastSide Arts celebrate one of the area’s most famous sons, CS Lewis.

The CS Lewis Festival remembers the life of the famous author and poet who lived at nearby Little Lea (left).

It runs from November 18-22 and features 34 events including debates, lectures, drama, film, food, literature, markets, music and more in over 20 arts, community and hospitality venues and local schools.

As part of the festival, and to mark Belfast Restaurant Week, the very first Belfast Road Food Tour was held in October, with two more planned for November 19 and December 3.

While there is plenty for all the family to do, it is the many essential local services which are the heart of any community, and in Belmont you get some of the best the city has to offer.

Family-owned Dundela Pharmacy has been a vital part of the area since 1959. Very much a focal point for anyone with healthcare concerns, its friendly, professional staff are known to provide much more than a prescription service and will happily share information, advice and education on a whole range of health matters.

In store, the company supports customers with a full range of services including the treatment of minor ailments,

The Nearly True Tales, a highlight of the CS Lewis Festival in November management of medicines and a free repeat prescription collection service.

The service continues on the company’s popular website where you will find more expert advice and information on many conditions in fully illustrated, easy to understand tutorials.

With Christmas approaching the shop has its usual large range of special gift products on display, with top brand perfumes and skin care products including Chanel and Clarins at competitive prices.

The company has also just introduced the popular natural skincare range Holos, luxurious plant-based aromatherapy skincare products designed to give you healthy, vibrant skin as well as helping you to feel great.

Hand-crafted in Ireland, the range

Favourite Places

covers all skincare needs from body oils to cleansing creams containing vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and essential fatty acids to maintain a youthful glow.

One of the most eye-catching businesses on Belmont Road is the Destiny Gallery (below), a modern, bright and welcoming

venue. Viewing art in this lovely, airy space is an enjoyable and personal experience.

The gallery hosts a selection of original and limited edition artwork from talented local and UK artists, both in original and limited edition prints, that will suit most tastes and budgets. Also available are gift certificates

which can be redeemed against artwork or Destiny’s bespoke framing service provided on-site by a Fine Art Trade Guild Commended framer.

World class expertise in cosmetic and general dentistry has put Dental Excellence on the map for its high standards of clinical care and service.

While essentially an all round family dentist established in the area for 30 years, the company also strives to be at the cutting edge of modern dentistry, embracing new technology and techniques.

A big part of the Belmont community the company is continually modernising and bringing new treatments to the area. It is also keen to work to change the way people view dental healthcare, not only to make it a more enjoyable experience but also to enhance treatments.

Continued on 78 ➤

Make your frame as unique as you are!

Specialtist hand finished & hand coloured frames, made to order. • FATG Trained Framer

81 Belmont Road Belfast BT4 2AA N. Ireland (028) 90 659 879 info@thedestinygallery.com

Northern Woman 77

CU O C C

Favourite Places

Staff are trained to the highest standards of clinical excellence in cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, general dentistry and complementary treatments. Not only do generations of families continue to avail of its services, but the company welcomes new clients, both NHS and private.

As part of its commitment to the local community emergency appointments for treatment on the same day are also open to regular and new clients. Anyone wanting to improve their smile can have a free cosmetic consultation with one of the dentists.

Also working very much with and on behalf of the local community is the professional team at AMPM Estate Agency.

Highly qualified staff, drawn mostly from the local area, bring a wealth of experience in residential property sales, rental property

management and block management.

Service and value for money is at the heart of AMPM and the focus is very much community orientated, as Aaron McKinney explains: “There is a great community spirit on the Belmont area and we like to maintain that through our business as much as possible by working with other local companies and the community.

“We are currently forming links with local schools to give them something back.

“While our reach extends to North Down, we very much focus on the local area which is one of the most popular in Belfast because of the great schools, good transport links and local business and services. There is a real village type feel on the Belmont Road which people love.”

Dundela Pharmacy FOR ALL YOUR HEALTH & BEAUTY NEEDS

DUNDELA PHARMACY 17-19 BELMONT ROAD, BELFAST, BT4 2AA photo lab tel: 028 90472845 e:dundelaphotolab@hotmail.com www.dundela.co.uk

Full digital service and still processing film Order your photos straight from your phone or tablet with the FujiFilm

20% OFF rrp

UP TO

SHOPPING LOCAL DOESN’T HAVE TO COST MORE!

17-19 Belmont Road Belfast BT4 2AA Tel: 028 9065 7853 Mon-Fri 9am-6pm Sat 9am-5pm www.dundela.co.uk

78 Northern Woman

Favourite Places

Dental Excellence

Friendly Family Dental Care

Transform Your Smile COSMETIC DENTISTRY CAN COMPLETELY CHANGE: • Discoloured teeth • Twisted teeth • Chipped or worn teeth • Discoloured crowns

• Gummy smile • Missing teeth • Aged or sunken face • Gaps between teeth

FREE

Consultation

We create beautiful confident smiles for life 115-117 Belmont Road, Belfast, BT4 2AD T: 028 9047 1503 www.yourdentalexcellence.com Northern Woman 79

Caledon Georgian Festival Jennifer Marshall,one of the organisers of the Caledon Festival

Farmer Henry Halligan with organiser Eleanor McGillie

The Earl of Caledon with Greg MacNeice of MacIvors Cider

Back in time for food and fun in Co Tyrone Jennifer Bell in the vintage tearoom

Around 3,000 people gathered in Caledon, Co Tyrone, on the banks of the River Blackwater, for the Caledon Village Georgian Festival.

The event, which was officially opened by the Earl of Caledon, featured many local food and craft producers.

Chocolate seller Trish Murphy-Thom

Florence Moffett, the Earl of Caledon, Anne Glass, Jennifer Bell, Ann Black and Daniel Bell Alex McKenzie and Emma Morrow from The National Trust

Mary O’Connor, Ann Black, Trish Murphy-Thom and Aoife Murphy-Thom

80 Northern Woman

Look Ahead

Rockport School A Learning Adventure Small class sizes Excellent academic results Individual pastoral care Preparation for AQE/GL, Common Entrance and Sixth Form entry

INSIDE

Northern Woman next month Season of fun and fashion

We’ll have the hottest looks and best beauty tips to take you through Christmas and New Year

Recipes for success

Top chef’s tasty twist on festive favourites

Upscale living

SOME PRIMARY PLACES STILL AVAILABLE INDEPENDENT CO-EDUCATIONAL DAY & BOARDING SCHOOL, 3 - 18 Rockport School, Craigavad, Holywood, Co. Down, BT18 0DD

82 Northern Woman

We visit a beautiful home with vintage style

Serving up Christmas

The women who work to make this season special

Don’t miss the next issue of your new look Northern Woman

Wedding

OUR DAYS

The beautiful wedding albums of three Northern Ireland couples Northern Woman 83

Wedding

Fun pair travel in style on special day Alice and Mark Beatty love the personal touch

A

fter meeting on a night out in Enniskillen 10 years ago, Alice and Mark have been inseparable ever since. In 2014 Mark proposed with a personalised cake after Alice completed the Colour Run in Belfast.

They became husband and wife in Kilskeery Parish Church, Co Tyrone and after the ceremony they celebrated in Corick House Hotel.

There were numerous special touches on the day, including personalised blackboard signs from Signs by Rachel and balloons featuring the couple’s names and wedding date from Balloon Candy. A Beetle car and minivan also ensured the wedding party travelled in style.

Instead of signing a book, guests were invited to sign a personalised guest board from Electric Alphabet which featured a large illuminated A&M. Selfie Mirror Hire provided a selfie mirror which entertained guests all night.

The bride decided against a traditional white or ivory dress, instead opting for a stunning floral printed gown from Shauna Fay. Alice wore handmade jewellery made by good friend, Ellie Annon from Couture Bridal. The wedding stationery was from Paperworks in the Linen Green, Dungannon.

After their special day the couple set off on their honeymoon, planned by Thomson travel agents in Omagh. They flew to Jamaica for two weeks to celebrate becoming the new Mr and Mrs Beatty.

84 Northern Woman

Wedding

Finishing Touches

Bridal Gown – Shauna Fay, Belfast Bridesmaids dresses – ASOS Flowergirl’s dress – ASOS Groom and Groomsmen’s suits – SD Kells Engagement ring – Vera Wang, Goldsmiths Wedding rings – Mercer’s Jewellers, Enniskillen, and Wedding Rings Direct Flowers – Bouquet and button holes – Clare Flower, Irvinestown. Church flowers – family Hair – Rachel Mahon, Hair by Rachel Make-up – Brenda Donnelly, Identity Hair Co Photography – Joyce Howard, Erne Photography Videography – Bob Lyons, Lyons Digital Productions Cake – The Cakery NI

Northern Woman 85

Wedding

Girls lead the way to the party Martine and Sean Paul O’Neill make memories

A

fter dating for six years, Martine and Sean Paul were shopping in town when Sean Paul asked their five year old daughter Ròise to “pick a ring for mummy”.

Three years later the couple became Mr and Mrs O’Neill in St Peter’s Cathedral, Belfast, before celebrating in Millbrook Lodg, Ballynahinch, with 200 of their closest friends and family.

The day had a Fifties and Sixties theme, with the bride and bridesmaids donning short dresses. There were nine bridesmaids, two mini bridesmaids and a flowergirl, so the men were in the minority in the wedding party.

The couple’s favourite part of the day was the wedding ceremony. They describe it as calm, relaxed and right in every way.

“All our nerves just disappeared,” said Martine. “With nothing going wrong on the day the only thing we could have asked for was more hours in the day.”

Although the sun didn’t shine and the rain only stopped for 40 minutes, this didn’t dampen the couple’s spirits.

The bridesmaids had keepsakes on their flowers which were in memory of the bride’s aunt, who was the mother of two of the bridesmaids. There were also keepsakes of their grandmother and Sean Paul’s sister had one of her dad.

Ròise’s keepsake was of her dog, and the groom and his brother wore memory cufflinks for their dad and granddad.

The photography on the day focused on the girls and their stunning Shauna Fay dresses and they travelled in a vintage bus.

Large illuminated letters spelled “love” at the reception and with scattered lights on the ground, the dancefloor was never empty all night.

86 Northern Woman

Wedding

Finishing Touches

Bridal gown – LouLou London Bridesmaids’ dresses – Shauna Fay Flowergirl dress – Debenhams Groom and Groomsmen’s suits – Herbie Frog, Bogart, Belfast Rings – Joseph Rea, Belfast Flowers – Mother of the Bride Hair – Carolann, White to Brown Hair Room Make-up – Chic Make-up Photography – 4everphotos Videography – Campbell Visuals Video Cake – Claire’s Press Cake

Northern Woman 87

Wedding

A sweet couple’s summer love story Zara and Ian Reid choose rustic look

Z

ara and Ian marked their 10th anniversary by tying the knot in Dromore Holy Trinity Church, County Tyrone.

The couple met at a summer party in Seskinore Forest Park back in 2006 and Ian proposed on their first Christmas morning together in their new home.

After two years and eight months of saving and planning the happy couple shared their day with 170 guests in Dromore before the reception at Corick House Hotel, Clogher.

The day had a rustic, vintage theme with lace, pearls, ribbon and hessian touches.

Jam jars filled with sweets lined the church windows and featured at the reception.

The church was decorated with hay bales, wooden crates, wicker hearts, lace bows, lanterns and bunting handmade by the bride’s aunt, and a vintage ice cream tricycle greeted guests at the reception.

The DJ surprised Zara and Ian by encouraging their bridal party to dress up as performers such as Tina Turner, Jedward and Dolly Parton. Zara and her bridesmaids made the invitations and order of service and her sister customised hangers for the dresses. The bride’s cousin also played the clarinet while the register was being signed.

As the couple are saving for a house they avoided an overly extravagant honeymoon and opted for a week’s break in Tenerife.

88 Northern Woman

Wedding

Finishing Touches

Bridal Gown – Essence of Australia, Stanfield Bridal, Portadown Bridesmaids dresses – True Bride, Perfect Day, Lurgan Flowergirl’s dress – Perfect Day, Lurgan Groom and Groomsmen’s suits – Debonair Groomswear, Magherafelt Rings – H Samuel Jewellers Bouquet and button holes – Something Borrowed Wedding Needs, Comber.

Hair and Make-up – Del Loughrin, Omagh Photography – Lauren Coulter Photography Videography – John McMullen, J Mac Digital Productions Top Table cake – Truly Scrumptious, Omagh.

Tiered cake – Mother of the Groom Music – The Whistlin’ Donkeys

Northern Woman 89

Travel

A blockbuster trip through Venice and Florence

With the latest Dan Brown movie Inferno in cinemas, Vicky Notaro uses the hit novel as her guidebook to Venice and Florence

A

truly great author knows how to set the scene.

It’s hard to think of Ulysses without thinking of Dublin’s Fair City, for example, or to read Raymond Chandler’s gritty noirs without imagining pre-war Los Angeles. In many ways, the location is as integral a part of a novel as its characters.

Dan Brown may not be Joyce, or Chandler, but the same goes for his books.

Settings are key to plots; his hero Robert Langdon wouldn’t be able to solve the riddles set forth if it wasn’t for the architecture of Paris and London in The Da Vinci Code (2003), for instance, while Rome’s sculptures and fountains are central to Angels and Demons (2000).

When these blockbuster novels were adapted for the big screen, the locations became even more significant - the visual arts contributing wholly to the feel and mood of the screenplays. Remember Tom Hanks as the intrepid symbologist running around Vatican City and Piazza Navona?

Or flitting among European cathedrals hunting for the truth in Ron Howard’s 2006 and 2009 movies?

Well, now Inferno, the latest Brown adaptation, is on the big screen. Most of the action takes place in two of Italy’s most

90 Northern Woman

vibrant and charming cities, Venice and Florence. So, what’s a bibliophile movie buff with wanderlust to do but take advantage of cheap European flights and an efficient Italian rail system, and fit both locations in to a mini-break crammed with history, culture, food and wine?

My father is Italian, but my fiancé Joe had never been to the motherland. As a Brown fan, this seemed like the perfect excuse to visit Italy together.

Inferno begins with Langdon waking up with no memory in Florence, but in possession of a cylinder bearing a biohazard symbol. He soon realises his life is at risk and flees, finding out that he’s not even safe in the American consulate.

With the help of Dr Sienna Brooks (played by Oscar nominee, Felicity

Breathtakingly romantic: Sunset view of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence

Huffman), he opens the container and finds a version of Botticelli’s Map of Hell that sends him on a quest to regain his memory.

He soon discovers that Dante’s poem seems to be a prophecy about a new plague that will devastate humanity, and must visit some of the cities’ ancient buildings and artefacts to put the pieces of the puzzle together.

Still with me? Sure, it’s quite the undertaking for your average academic (not to mention reader), but hey, this is Dan Brown we’re talking about. Plus, it makes for a hell of a tourist trail.

We turned the book’s narrative on its head by arriving in Venice first, simply due to logistics. When you arrive at Marco Polo airport you have several options to get to the centre of Venice, but all involve water.

The water bus is the pocket-friendly option, but we were feeling flash and took a water taxi like Langdon and Brooks do in the book - there’s something very cinematic about entering an old, sinking city that’s achingly beautiful in a slick speed boat. It’ll set you back £100, but the boats fit up to five people and I’d actually recommend it far more than a slow, touristy gondola ride.

Our hotel wasn’t far from the famous Rialto Bridge, sadly now covered for the most part by a large billboard and construction hoarding. It’s the scene of a

Travel Grand Canal and Basilica Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy and sunny day

the history, the intricacies and the theories surrounding the buildings from the novel adds another level to the traditional tourist experience.

Venice is a city for walking, so bring comfy shoes. We combed the twisting, winding streets, eating gelato, oohing and aahing and stopping for coffee every now and then. Strolling from San Marco to the neighbouring island of San Polo over the Rialto Bridge brought us to an altogether less touristy part of the city. There, we sat on a residential square in Santa Croce called Al Prosecco, sampling several different types of the Italian fizzy wine and nibbling olives (alprosecco.com).

After two nights wandering around Venice and soaking up the romantic atmosphere, we caught a water taxi to the city’s main train station, Santa Lucia, and hopped on the high-speed train to Florence, the capital of Tuscany. Less than two hours later, we had the famous Duomo

by Brunelleschi in our sights, another key location in Langdon’s quest.

An homage to Renaissance art and architecture, it’s another place best seen on foot. The Duomo is one of those buildings that’s even more stupendous in real life, with mind-blowing detail that’s been lovingly Tom Hanks and Felicity maintained. Giotto’s Huffman star in the latest Campanile beside it is a Dan Brown blockbuster, similar treat.

Get there Inferno Only a few minutes’ walk Aer Lingus (aerlingus.com) away, you’ll find the Palazzo flies direct from Dublin to Venice, Vecchio, Florence’s city hall. It’s an while Ryanair (ryanair.com) flights to Pisa integral part of Inferno, where Langdon resume in Spring. Trenitalia.com is the place begins to fully piece the mystery of the to book train tickets. novel together. Judging by the trailer, there’s lots of digital trickery at work Stay: Venice in the film, especially in the Salone dei Go for a hotel on the Grand Canal. Prices Cinquecento, an incredibly grand room vary massively in Venice, but the Carlton filled with works of art by Giorgio Vasari, is particularly special as it has a rooftop which if Langdon is to be believed, hold terrace with fabulous views. Look out for some secrets of their own. deals - we found midweek rates from just This building is where all the action under £100 a night. carltongrandcanal.com takes place – it’s here that Langdon and Brooks piece together Medici’s clues to Stay: Florence secret walkways and passages to escape Located not far from the Ponte Vecchio and their pursuers. They visit the famous Hall across from the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, of Maps and find the secret door behind the Hotel Degli Orafi (above; hoteldegliorafi.

Armenia, and they even get to run through it) has frescos on the walls and a roof terrace, Vasari’s corridor, a bridge above the heads too. Prices start from around £243 per night. of the Florentines that runs from the Palazzo Vecchio to the Palazzo Pitti nearby, For more on Italy see italia.it. something that tourists sadly can’t recreate.

It’s also here that you can see Dante’s death mask, another key item in Brown’s work turning point for Langdon’s novel and while that’s quite incredible to behold in reality – I won’t ruin it for you, it involves the history mainly because of how small his face was. of the famous Plague masks you’ll notice In fact, there are few Florentine tourist dotted around the city (and on sale in every attractions that aren’t present in Inferno – gift shop). the Boboli Garden, the Ponte Vecchio and We headed straight for the famous Piazza the Baptistery beside the Duomo all feature. to see some of the buildings Langdon talks Don’t think the city is a living museum, of – the Basilica with its four horses, the however – it also has some very hip Doge Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. The elements. For starters, there’s the famous architecture alone would blow your socks Mercato Centrale (mercatocentrale.it/en), a off on sight, but having an awareness of

GETAWAY WITH THE GIRLS

Here Come the Girls

Our round-up of spa specials in Northern Ireland

Clayton Hotel, Belfast One night’s accommodation, breakfast, glass of Prosecco, nibbles, make-up application, blow dry and complimentary use of Club Vitae Health and Fitness Club.

From £95 pps To book call 028 9032 8511

Urban Escape

Bishop’s Gate Hotel, Londonderry Two nights’ accommodation, breakfast each morning, dinner one evening, traditional afternoon tea on one afternoon and a choice of treatments at Natural Touch Treatment Spa. From £165 pps 028 7114 0300

Spa Retreat

La Mon Hotel, Castlereagh, Belfast One night’s bed, breakfast and evening meal in the Co Down countryside near Belfast.

A bottle of Ame and chocolate covered strawberries on arrival. Country club facilities include a 15m pool.

From £130 pps 028 9044 8631

Dine and Unwind

Canal Court Hotel & Spa, Newry Two nights in a deluxe double room, with sparkling wine on arrival and one dinner in the Old Mill Restaurant. 40 minute treatment in the CC Spa and use of the roof-top hot tub. £130 (midweek) or £144 (weekend) 028 3025 1234 See www.discovernorthernireland.com for more offers

must-visit for foodies.

We also popped over to the vicinity of Santo Spirito, a short walk across the Ponte Vecchio from the tourist hotspots.

Off the beaten track, full of locals walking their dogs or out for an evening bite, it’s got a small strip of authentic bars and restaurants – I’d recommend stopping off at each one of them for an Aperol Spritz or a Chianti, although perhaps not all in one night.

Our trip came to an end with a bus ride from Florence to Pisa Airport (the city doesn’t have its own international terminal). Next trip? We’ll be visiting Rome armed with Angels and Demons.

Northern Woman 91

Male Order

A NORTHERN MAN

Fifty shades of a bespoke grey suit

Patrick Cooper is a man Journalist, husband and dad Lee Henry is Strictly who knows his floating not a fan of the dreaded office Christmas party chest piece from his sham cuff and button t this time of year, my Saturday nights are sacred. I don’t care who knows – in shank. Trained by Saville fact, I’ve screamed it from the rafters on many occasions – I’m a Strictly fan, Row’s best, the Belfastand proud of it, thoroughly converted and devoted. based tailor shares When Jay and Aliona performed that jive, my popcorn went AWOL. Tess Daly’s wooden links? his know-how on the I’ve endured them all. Georgia and Giovanni’s break up – don’t talk to me! Thankfully, my wife shares ultimate grey suit my obsession, though her brothers keep their

A

distance.

If a prior commitment means that I’ve to replace Blackpool Week, forcing me to marathon the sequins on a Sunday, it better be good. Or compulsory. An occasion that’s simply inescapable. Been in the diary for months.

No backing out. Absolutely no sickies.

You know where I’m going with this. Chances are, you’re going there too.

Yes, the festive season office party, that perennial thorn in the side.

It’s not that I’m a curmudgeon. I enjoy a night out as much as the next man. We look forward to family weddings, for example, like slobbering dogs their dinner – when you’ve got a boy in the grip of the Terrible Twos at home, any excuse is a good excuse.

Staff dos are different. Though my wife can’t get enough (opposites really do attract), I prepare for them with Sartre running constantly, clawingly through my head. Hell is other people. Hell is other people. Hell is other people…

It seemed like such a good idea back in August.

Gave everyone something to look forward to. We had a vote on the venue and bonds were forged among the victors. (Finally, something in common!)

A menu was agreed, transport booked, deposits paid. Wee buns – it’s definitely going to be better than last year.

Giddy with faux excitement, no one ever

92 Northern Woman

The judges, Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli. © BBC Below: Laura Whitmore and Giovanni Pernice thinks of a seating plan, and therein lies my problem. It’s a lottery, a game of roulette, and the outcome of the evening depends entirely on where your little white ball ends up.

Get there at just the right time and you’re in luck – Darcy Bussell on one side, Anton Du Beke on the other, hours of fun, frolics and foxtrots ahead, shots galore and the certainty of waking up to dance floor selfies that everyone will be talking about for months.

Result!

Arrive too late, however, and you get what you deserve: stuck at the end of the table with your equivalent of Craig Revel Horwood complaining about the food and bitching about the boss. Fine, everyone has to ensure it. But. It. Gets.

Old. Quick.

I’d much rather sit in and waltz out. And this year, mercifully, I will – being freelance has its perks. Staff dos and don’t’s don’t apply, and the office party is a hell reserved for other people.

If you’re in the same boat, you’re welcome at mine. My wife and I are great company. There’ll be prosecco on tap, score cards at hand, competitive celebrities in glorious HD. But be aware: if your Paso Doble’s not down, you’re not coming in.

T

he pulses of women around the globe are set to get racing as the next steamy instalment of the Fifty Shades of Grey looms ever closer.

But how does the enigmatic Christian Grey cut so handsome a dash? Of course it can’t be denied that the Holywood actor playing the lead role, Jamie Dornan, is a very attractive man, but there’s more to it – and that’s the cut of his suit.

It’s argued that clothes make a man but it’s also how you wear them that counts.

And just as the cool grey suits crystalise the fictious character’s steely but sensuous

Luxury tweed suit, £995, Patrick Cooper

Soft mohair suit, £795 ,Patrick Cooper

Male Order

MUST READ

Male Order er Novemsbt mu haves

The muchanticipated Lee Child thriller Night School, £7.99, Amazon, out this month (Nov 7), sees Jack Reacher back to his army days – but this time he’s not in uniform. With trusted sergeant Frances Neagley at his side, he must carry the fate of the world on his shoulders, in a wired, fiendishly clever new adventure that will make the cold sweat trickle down your spine.

MUST SEE Patrick Cooper

presence on screen, no man should be without a grey suit.

But be careful which shade of grey you go for. It can be a very awkward colour for a lot of people.

Remember, the paler your complexion, the darker the grey you should go. If you have a good colouring a lighter grey would however, be very acceptable, but never in a business setting – it’s too casual.

Every complexion can pull off a dark grey suit so every man should have one in their armoury, for business and for after office hours.

A sharp, dark charcoal grey is perfect with a plain, crisp, white shirt. However, shirts with details like coloured stitching on

the button shank and cuffs will carry you seamlessly to casual Friday when you want to go tieless.

Or if business requires you to notch it up a level in the boardroom, team it with a red or wine power tie.

Grey suits are great for any setting and often a check will create just the look you’re aiming for, and if you’re inclined toward a paler grey look, a subtle and classic Prince of Wales check will cater for business or pleasure, while a houndstooth, herringbone or birdseye pattern will lend itself better to a more casual look.

Patrick Cooper owns The Tailor Company www.thetailorcompany.com

Boot, £65, Next

Pure wool suit jacket, £115, M&S

Jacket, £100, Burton Menswear

HOT TICKET

Now Sir Rod Stewart, the legendary rocker will play two nights at Belfast’s SSE Arena on Monday, November 14 and Tuesday, November 15, at 7.30pm.

The ‘From Gasoline Alley to Another Country Hits 2016’tour will feature his biggest hits from 1970 to 2016 including Maggie May to Sailing and everything in between. Tickets cost from £55-£85 from ssearenabelfast.com/rod-stewart

HOT EVENT

Tie, £18, Remus Uomo

Slim fit wool threepiece suit, £279, Remus Uomo Watch, Hammond & Co, £150, Debenhams

Collar trim shirt, £19.99, TK Maxx

Buckle up for some serious super-hero action when Dr Strange takes to the big screen early this month (Nov 4). Benedict Cumberbatch dons the Marvel character’s persona alongside Rachel McAdams and Tilda Swinton for what is sure to be a thrilling blockbuster.

Strange, a former self-centred New York surgeon is robbed of his touch after a car accident, only to discover how to tap into psychic powers to battle wrongdoers.

Slim-fit shirt, £45, Remus Uomo

Belt, £15, M&S

Aficionados of the green baize won’t want to miss snooker’s new Irish Open at Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast from Monday, November 14 until Sunday, November 20, when 128 international players will be chalking their cue in the first professional event for the sport here since 2008.

The world ranking event is part of the new Home Nations quartet of tournaments with a £1m bonus up for grabs. Tickets cost £10 from worldsnooker. com. For information on event times visit titanicexhibitioncentre.com/event/worldsnooker-home-nations-series-irish-open/

GO-TO GADGET

Don’t miss out on your favourite reviving cup of freshly brewed coffee with this Minipresso Portable Espresso Machine, £43.95, cuckooland.com. With its durable construction and user-friendly appeal you will have coffee-togo wherever you are.

Northern Woman 93

Prét-à-party

Cate & Damien Conway

Michael Reid with Lauren and Conor Hogan

American flavours and Bubbabrew at new look eatery The popular city centre restaurant celebrated its new look and menu with a mouthwatering party. Bubbacue, in Callendar Street, is the UK’s & Ireland’s first fast-casual barbecue restaurant. Bubbacue sells its own Bubbabrew and it proved popular with guests on the night.

Eve Brannon and Kerri Cullen

94 Northern Woman

Alex McAleer, Nuala Meenehan and David Meade

Nicky Marcus and Alison Magee

Prét-à-party

Shaun Friel and Paddy Doody

Donna and Liam McMahon

Stephen and Helen Gibson, Sarah Halliday and Charlie Hamilton

Anita Sharkey with Stephen and Donna Mullan

Diamonds and style at the Spar Ball

Martin and Anita Culbertson

Spar retailers celebrated 10 years of fundraising in Northern Ireland with the glittering Diamond and Pearl Ball at the Culloden Hotel, along with the NSPCC. The charity was marking 30 years of its work in the UK. The ball raised £33,000, adding to the total of over £3m raised by SPAR retailers over the last decade.

Sean and Natasha Murphy

Grainne McCreesh and Aodhan Conoulty

Dean Gartland, Jessica Currie with Pamela and Derek Currie

Andrew and Gillian Willis

Martin and Judith Agnew

Northern Woman 95

Books

All life is here in 25 stories to treasure

Belfast writer Jan Carson

Lucy Caldwell's tale is part of a dazzling anthology of great writing by female authors

I

n Evelyn Conlon’s short story, Disturbing Words, the central character remembers his grandmother observing the creation of the Border from her kitchen window, saying of her friends and neighbours: “That’s making them from a different country. How could that be?” The notion that a line that runs along the top of a ditch, a stretch of stones across a river, can divide a whole country seems suddenly bizarre, but divide it has, creating a sense that Northern Ireland is a place both familiar and separate – a place apart.

This theme runs through The Glass Shore, ably curated by Sinead Gleeson, as 25 Northern Irish women writers take us on a journey through the familiar – marriage, infidelity, pregnancy, the menopause, work, family, and all the stuff of women’s lives – and the different, too. We might expect nuns, priests, rain, soil, the Big House, the returned emigrant, the large family, but we get none of that, at least, very little. Only Frances Molloy’s The Devil’s Gift, a riveting tale of a postulant drummed out of her convent by a vengeful Mother Superior moves in that territory – notable perhaps because women of that religion and class were not heard in the first half of the 20th century.

Instead, we encounter a sprightly bit of early-20th-century feminism from Sarah Grand in Eugenia, as heiress Eugenia refuses to accept the advances of the calculating Brinkhampton in favour of a man who is not her social equal. For Ethna Carbery and Margaret Barrington, the superstitions and magic of old Ireland receive a fresh and invigorating twist: in Carbery’s The Coming of Maire Ban, Maire’s ghost returns to her husband – and her lover – on All Souls’ Night; in Barrington’s A World Without Men, a second "Viking"

96 Northern Woman

Alison Walsh settles down with new anthology The Glass Shore, a collection of short stories which showcases some of Northern Ireland’s finest female writers, including Polly Devlin, Lucy Caldwell and Janet McNeill invasion is welcomed by a group of deserted Donegal women.

There’s a surprising directness and modernity to the feminism on display here, a lack of self-conscious shame that might have been present under the beady eye of the Church. Indeed, in Polly Devlin’s witty The Countess and Icarus, Dora gleefully recalls her affair with serial womaniser Victor, who has "three women, if you are counting my wife".

Money and class were clearly the social passports of the time, but for less fortunate women the moral strictures were keenly felt. In Janet McNeill’s The Girls, a married, childless couple face the horrors of a school reunion and the questions that follow about their status; for Caroline Blackwood’s respectable Mrs Ripstone in Taft’s Wife, the double standards of the time are cruelly exposed over lunch in Claridge’s.

The scar of the Troubles inevitably marks

Author Polly Devlin with her daughters Bay (left) and Daisy (right) some of the stories in The Glass Shore, engaged with head on – as in Mary Beckett’s Flags and Emblems, which makes personal those most contentious of Northern Irish symbols and Rosemary Jenkinson’s The Mural Painter, in which an eager young artist is beaten savagely for putting love before politics – or obliquely, as, in Linda Anderson’s The Turn, when a stay in hospital compels Anna to look back at her policeman father and at the trauma that was his everyday, or Anne Devlin’s subtle Cornucopia, in which two plaster goddesses remind us that while we can leave home, we can never truly escape.

But for many modern writers in this collection, lives are lived in Northern Ireland just as in the Republic: in Mary O’Donnell’s The Path to Heaven Lauren plays fairy godmother to her Polish cleaning lady, only to have her largesse rebuffed; Lucy Caldwell’s young student in Mayday orders abortion pills from Holland on the internet, telling herself that she is "one of the lucky ones". And yet, we are reminded once more of our difference by Helen in Annemarie Neary’s The Negotiators: "Before each trip, she had developed the habit of laying out both her passports – the back-to-front harp and the party-hatted lion and unicorn. Whichever one she chose,

W

10

ant to get an early start on that Christmas pressie list? Give that Great British Bake Off fan among your family and friends a gift that will inspire them. From Paul Hollywood to the Hummingbird Bakery, we’ve got the best cookbooks all wrapped up.

Whether you’re shopping for a timid baker who wants to master the basics or an advanced pastry maker looking for some adventurous recipes, here are our favourite baking books for every skill level.

ing best baks book

1. Tanya Bakes by Tanya Burr Not only is Tanya Burr a beauty expert with her own cosmetics line and millions of YouTube subscribers, but she also knows a thing or two about baking. From her nanny’s apple pie to the ultimate celebration cake, the makeup artist’s debut cookbook is packed with the perfect fixes for sweet cravings. ✶ £12.10, Wordery

2. Paul Hollywood The Weekend Baker Cultural cakes, anyone? The latest offering from celebrity chef and dead-pan style Bake Off judge, Paul Hollywood, features sweet and savoury recipes – which range from easy to tricky – discovered during his trips to 10 different cities including New York, Paris and Copenhagen. Think Polish cheesecake and cherry and cheese scones. ✶ £9.99, Lakeland

3. Clean Cakes Book by Henrietta Inman she was left feeling incomplete", and again in Jan Carson’s Settling, as the narrator misses, the "iced fingers for a Friday treat... drizzle in the summer and shops that don’t open till lunchtime on the Sabbath" of her native Belfast. The familiar and the strange appear once again. Towards the end of Evelyn Conlon’s story, the hero uncovers his late grandmother’s sketched map of a basement that would cross the Border, that would unite North and South in her mind.

Fanciful, perhaps, but The Glass Shore serves as a rich and vivid metaphorical tunnel under that Border, bringing us closer to a world that we think we know and yet that is full of surprises.

The earlier anthology The Long Gaze Back, also edited by Sinead Gleeson, told us the first part of the story of Irish women writers – in The Glass Shore, that story has been given its complex, rich, joyful ending.

SHORT STORIES

The Glass Shore: Short Stories by Women Writers From The North Of Ireland Edited by Sinead Gleeson New Island Books – £15.99

Cutting out the sugary stuff just got easier with this colourful cookbook from skilled pastry chef Henrietta Inman. Ideal for creative cooks, it features an impressive variety of indulgent treats that exclude dairy, gluten and refined sugar. Discover natural, nourishing flavours for whipping up raw desserts and boosting bars. ✶ £13.05, Wordery

4. Hummingbird Bakery Life is Sweet

When it comes to baking, Americans are at the top of their game. Britain’s Hummingbird Bakery has packed its fourth recipe collection with old-time classics and modern favourites from across the pond, such as Buttermilk Pancakes and Peanut Butter and Marshmallow Cookies. With over 100 treats to try and pages of mouth-watering imagery, this one’s for the spontaneous If you’re a beginner looking for baking something to kick-start your baking, sessions. then you can’t go wrong with the easy✶ £5, to-follow recipes in Tanya Burr’s Tanya Amazon Bakes. But skilled bakers looking to switch up their game can delve into the different baking cultures featured in Paul Hollywood’s The Weekend Baker.

Verdict

Books

The

5. Meringue Girls: Everything Sweet by Alex Hoffler and Stacey O’Gorman This inspiring book features nothing but natural flavours and in-your-face bakes that will make you excited to cook. There’s detailed guidance with each recipe and enough pretty treats to help you nail a winning party spread.

We’re in love with the edible flower lollipops and fairy floss cake. ✶ £15.23, Amazon

6. Primrose Bakery Everyday

by Martha Swift If you’re all about cake, then you’ll be all over this cookbook from Primrose Bakery’s owner, Martha Swift. The foolproof recipes include bakes for various occasions like Crème Egg cupcakes for Easter, an ombre layer cake for birthdays and Banoffee loaf for teatime guests. ✶ £25, Amazon

7. The Cardamom Trail: Chetna Bakes with Flavours of the East by Chetna Makan Want to spice up your baking? The first cookbook from Chetna Makan, semi-finalist of Great British Bake Off 2014 and presenter of Chetna Bakes, shows you how to put an Indian twist on traditional recipes, with treats like strawberry pudding flavoured with cinnamon and mango and praline éclairs. Ideal for experienced bakers. ✶ £5.99, Amazon

8. Honey & Co: The Baking Book by Itamar Srulovich and Sarit Packer The owners of central London restaurant Honey & Co have put together a cookbook full of creative dishes for all skill levels.

Each recipe is infused with fragrant Middle Eastern flavours and is easy to follow. Our favourites include the peach, vanilla and fennelseed mini loaves, lamb and spinach pastries and yogurt cheesecake with quince topping. ✶ £12, Amazon

9. Bread, Cake, Doughnut, Pudding by Justin Gellatly For those choosing their very first baking book, this one is a safe bet.

In his wonderfully designed cookbook, Justin Gellatly, owner of Bread Ahead bakery, puts a tasty twist on traditional sweet and savoury snacks and also includes his famous cream-filled doughnuts. ✶ £19.99, Amazon

10. Twist: Creative Ideas to Reinvent Your Baking by Martha Collison If you’ve mastered the basics and are ready to be adventurous with your baking, then look no further than Martha Collinson’s Twist. The youngest ever Bake Off contender from the show’s 2014 series brings a helpful guide to transforming simple bakes into wild and wonderful treats. The Pink Grapefruit Drizzle Cake is just the ticket for impressing guests. ✶ £8.49, Amazon

Northern Woman 97

PICTURE BY DARREN KIDD / PRESS EYE

If it’s Tuesday, it must be Dublin! Businesswoman and mum of three Norah Anne Barron is on the go and on the train every week

A Day in the Life of

Norah Anne Barron

What’s your typical day?

I set the clock for 6.30am but unfortunately hit the snooze button for a bit. Conor, my husband, is usually down before me and when I hear the coffee pot I make it downstairs. Mornings are fairly busy: we are getting Donal (13) out for 7.40am for the train to Inst and the two girls, Isabella (11) and Florence (8), are out for 8.00am to head to Victoria. Conor takes the girls to school and I take a half hour walk around the block, get ready quickly and head out to work. I spend two or three days a week on client sites and a few days in my own office, which means I can be Dublin a few days a week and I’m often not home until well after 8.00pm. I try to finish early on a Wednesday and after dinner and homework, Conor and I sit down around 9.30pm with a boxset, then it’s up to bed with some reading for work. Weekends are typically Derry or Donegal, but back to Belfast on a Sunday for lots of casserole cooking for the week and, of course, the dreaded laundry.

If there’s been a tiff at breakfast, we don’t bring it into the office.

Tell us about your business?

Pi was set up in 2001 in the spare bedroom of our house with just Conor and I at the helm. We now employ 50 people in Belfast and Dublin and supply broadcast services to the Irish Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly, as well as providing filming and production services to Invest NI and a number of other clients. We have recently invested £250,000 in equipment to service the growing conference sector here with a remoteoperated camera facility and live streaming service. It’s an exciting time for the business. We have also bought a new premises, an old bank, and are getting plans in place to renovate it and move the business there next year.

What’s it like to work every day with your partner?

We look after different clients, so for a fair amount of the week we may not be in the same office. We have formalised meetings so that when

Hillsborough Castle Hillsborough Castle

Last Thing

Norah Anne and husband Conor (below with children Donal, Florence and Isabella) share the load at home and work we go home we don’t end up making most of the important decisions around the kitchen table.

That said, our desks are opposite each other in an open plan office – we are quite good at separating home and work life so if there has been a tiff at breakfast we typically don’t bring it into the office, and by the time we get home it’s forgotten.

How do you manage work and family commitments?

We have a childminder who picks the kids up three days a week and Conor and I still try to do a day each: that can be tricky but we try to stick to it.

Conor’s parents live two doors away so we call upon them very often, specially in the evenings if

it’s a particularly busy week. It’s a little bit easier now that we have two at post primary school – they can get buses or trains and that has certainly helped. We have a super team at work who we are confident to delegate to and this makes the worklife balance easier.

How do you find time for yourself?

I normally do a few yoga classes a week, and of course my morning walk when I listen to an audio book. We love the cinema and are members of the QFT, so we try to go there as a family at least twice a month. Conor and I also take a cookery class once a month, which is a great way to relax too.

My sisters laugh at me as my relaxing time can be scheduled in advance but I find if it’s not all booked, planned and paid for in advance I just don’t do it.

What makes a really great day?

I like a busy day with loads on. It’s a great day if we all manage to have dinner around the table at our leisure with no on one running off to be somewhere. It’s also a great day if the fire is on and we are all in our pyjamas with a takeaway and a movie.

If you could have a different career?

I’d be a pilot – travelling the world and getting paid to do it.

Northern Woman 98

HRP-HC

Hillsborough Castle Hillsborough Castle Event venues fit for a king and queen.

Celebrate your special day at Hillsborough Castle and be treated like royalty. With magnificent State Rooms, other elegant spaces and spectacular gardens, you and your guests will enjoy an unforgettable day.

0844 482 1905

hrp.org.uk/hireavenue

Calls cost 5p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge

HRP-HC Wedding - Northern Woman Nov/Dec 2016 A4.indd 1

06/09/2016 10:48

Pop Up Store on 677 Lisburn Road Belfast from 1st November

www.theroshcollection.com Unit 18 Ormeau Business Park, The Gasworks, Belfast BT7 2JA