April 2019 Issue 6
hood STYLE AND LIVING SCOTLAND
WILD WOMEN
Discovering the divine secrets of the self-care sisterhood
MIRROR, MIRROR
Could body positivity change your life for the better?
wellness issue THE
FREE
TO PICK UP
April 2019
CONTENTS 58
75
17 THIS MONTH IN THE ‘HOOD
LIVELIHOOD
FOOD IN THE ‘HOOD
7 This month’s must-do 8 The Hood to-do list 10 The style chart 12 Dial up your downtime 15 Sisters of Insta’
31 The beauty of balance Entrepreneur Becky Woodhouse on why she backs flexible working 37 Find your fire Coach Kirsty McWilliam on harnessing your inner superpower
64 To savour in the sky Can the food at The Lookout live up to the view? 66 Easy Italian A simple family supper from Jannettas Gelateria
SISTERHOOD
WOMANHOOD
NEIGHBOURHOOD
17 Divine secrets of the self-care sisterhood Meet the women taking wellness into Scotland’s great outdoors 22 The watercooler Is it time to ditch the contraceptive pill? 25 A positive force Boost your body image with campaigner Danni Gordon 29 Ashley Davies On the embarrassing effects of a failing memory
39 April’s must buy 41 Wear it three ways Style a jumpsuit for work, rest and play 45 Dotty about spots Polka dot prints get a new season upgrade 55 The beauty chart Beauty hall news you need to know now 56 Treatment truths Is microneedling as scary as it sounds? 58 The eyes have it Dial up your eyeshadow game for a fresh spring look
71 Jungle is massive Bring the outdoors in with botanical interiors 74 Off grid in an hour Away-from-it-all spots in easy reach of every Scot 75 48 hours in… Lisbon An itinerary to make the most of Portugal’s capital
MANHOOD 80 Garry Spence Is having a lost phone crisis hood • 3
CONTRIBUTORS
Kate Cleland works her make-up magic in our main fashion story from page 45 My favourite place in Scotland in the spring is… Edinburgh. It looks beautiful in any season but it’s especially pretty in spring. I love walking up Arthur’s Seat and a hint of sunshine is enough to send me off in search of a nice outdoor terrace to dine on. My favourite Easter indulgence is… dependent on if I happen to have Easter Sunday off. If so, I’m going to be a bit naughty and say an Old Fashioned cocktail with friends. I’m currently reading… The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. I’m a big believer in the law of attraction. My desert island track is… difficult to pick, as I’m a huge music fan. At a push though, I’m going to say Live Forever by Oasis.
hood HoodMagazine HoodMagazine_ HoodMagazine_
Model Lauren Tempany gets madeover in this month’s main beauty shoot from page 58
Model Shayne Brodie shows off her style in Wear it three ways from page 41
My favourite place in Scotland in the Spring is… impossible to pick. Can I have three? Linlithgow Loch, Colintraive and Mugdock Park.
My favourite place in Scotland in the spring is… The Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh.
My favourite Easter indulgence is… a Cadbury’s Creme Egg
My favourite Easter indulgence is… A long, lazy and indulgent lunch with all my family gathered around the table together.
I’m currently reading… We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler. It’s about a little girl who was raised alongside a chimp and it’s a really great read.
I’m currently reading… All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.
My desert island track is… tricky to pick. I’m currently mad on Dermot Kennedy and First Aid Kit, both of whom I’m about to see live. But only one song to listen to forever? That would be Placebo’s The Innocence of Sleep.
My desert island track is… Respect by Aretha Franklin.
Editor: Jennifer Crichton-Gibson Designer: Paul Dickson Contributing beauty editor: Sara Hill
Contributing fashion editor: Laura Hudson Digital editor: Gillian McDonald Partnerships manager: Sarah Fraser
Published by Miller Mitchell Media Limited, The Drying House, Eskmills, Station Road, Musselburgh, EH21 7PB Tel: 0131 273 5245. Email: accounts@hoodmagazine.co.uk Website: hoodmagazine.co.uk Printed in Scotland by Allander Print Limited. Distributed by Self Select Distribution
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. All prices are correct at time of going to press but subject to change. Hood Magazine cannot be held responsible for unsolicited material. The views and opinions expressed by contributors to this magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers. Hood Magazine takes no responsibility for claims made by advertisements in this publication. ©Miller Mitchell Media 2019
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EDITOR’S LETTER
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WHEN SOMEONE SAYS ‘WELLNESS’? While it used to be just a word, these days it comes fully loaded with all manner of millennial connotations, doesn’t it? Just saying it conjures up mental images of avo’ toast, green juice and turmeric lattes, while the phrase ‘self-care’ has taken on a pejorative slant and is now more snidely synonymous with snowflakes taking themselves off for a bath than it is with the truly beneficial habit its devotees know it to be. But while the phraseology around our health may be clichéd at best and dismissive at worst, the movement towards taking better care of ourselves is anything but, and the medical establishment is starting to take notice. From green prescriptions to assist with stress and anxiety to new guidelines on the use of hormonal contraception, the NHS is looking afresh at many of the health issues that plague today’s women. And outside of the surgery, when it comes to the aforementioned self-care, sisters really are doing it for themselves, with all manner of female-friendly health-focused networks and clubs springing up across Scotland. And oh, what women are to be found within them. Having set out this month to take a yomp through the country’s wellbeing landscape, I ended up falling well and truly down the rabbit hole and, like Alice, I am forever changed. From the wild swimmers who initially filled me with scepticism (sorry, guys!) to the outdoors enthusiasts, the body positive campaigners and the female researchers uncovering the truth about the way we manage our reproductive health, for every glib Instagram post about juicing cluttering our feeds, there is, it seems, a true lifeforce of a woman using her own personal healthy passion to raise up others. Which brings us to April and, as spring officially kicks into gear and turns our heads ever more towards the great outdoors, this issue is a tribute to those women. The ones who, rather than hibernate through winter, got out there, grabbed life by the horns and are now leading the charge towards a healthier, happier and more mindful way of living for us all. I hope you’ll find them as inspiring as I did.
On a different note, before I leave you to this month’s read, I have distribution news! We’re always listening to your feedback, and what we’ve been hearing, loud and clear, is that too many of you have been missing out on hard copies of the magazine at your local pick-up point. As such, we’ve decided to streamline our distribution efforts to ensure there are more copies to hand at each, and we’re delighted to confirm that, in addition to 54 Marks & Spencer stores nationwide, you’ll now find us in an additional 31 Tesco and Sainsburys stores. For the nearest to you, take a look at the new distribution list on our website and let us know what you think. Wishing you a happy, healthy and inspiring April
Jennifer Crichton-Gibson Editor
THIS MONTH I’LL BE
Introducing my five-year-old to the joys of Tim Minchin, as Matilda the Musical hits the stage in Edinburgh. Eating vegan food and grinning at some musical madness as Pom Poko take over Glasgow’s Hug & Pint. Laughing out loud on the train while reading Kate Davies’ fabulously filthy and hysterically funny In At The Deep End. Instagramming @hood_mag_jen
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Keep little hands and curious minds busy during the Easter holidays!
Edinburgh Science Festival presents the perfect family day out at the City Art Centre, giving children aged three and above the chance to explore our science playground. Meet a giant bee, build a colony on mars and even perform life-saving surgery!
Use your day pass to book up to three bookable workshops per child and explore five floors of drop-in activities.
edinburghscience.co.uk
This month in the
‘hood
A DRAM FINE DAY OUT Haven’t quite acquired the taste for whisky yet? Maybe you just haven’t discovered the right one – and we know just the people to help. The Inverness Whisky and Gin Festival returns this month, offering the perfect opportunity to discover the true spirit of Scotland in the heart of the Highlands. Top distillers from across the country will be on hand to guide you through a host of tastings and masterclasses, in a bid to prove that there really is a whisky (and gin) to suit everyone. Held in the beautiful surroundings of Bogbain Farm, a historic venue with views across the Moray Firth, the event will even have its own pop-up restaurant from Fired Up Scotland, and live music to keep you entertained throughout the day. Slàinte! April 13 Bogbain Farm, Inverness, 1pm to 5pm, £30. invernesswhiskygin.com
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The hood to do list
Our pick of the concerts, festivals, events and happenings you won’t want to miss this April
HOP INTO EASTER If you’re the parent of a small child, you’ll be well aware of the effects a sugar high can have on your home – so why not take the madness out of your living room and let someone else lay the chocolate trail for you this month? Head to your local Dobbies for a Bunny Breakfast this Easter weekend and you’ll find a host of activities, from colourful crafting to fancy dress contests, as well as the traditional egg hunt. April 19 to 22, Dobbies branches nationwide, 9am to 10.30, £6.99 children, £8.99 adults. dobbies.com
CLIMB BY TORCHLIGHT FOR CHARITY It’s not one for armchair addicts, but if you’re well acquainted with a pair of hiking boots, the Goat Fell Torchlight Charity Challenge 2019 might be right up your trail. Raising money for Goat Fell Conservation and the Arran Mountain Rescue Team, sponsored participants will join the rescuers for a sunset ascension, before making their way back down the mountain by torchlight. April 27, Brodick Castle Garden and Country Park, Arran, 5.15pm, £15 registration plus a minimum £50 sponsorship target. nts.org.uk
EMBRACE SOME NORWEGIAN MUSICAL MADNESS They’ve only just released their debut album, Birthday, but the indescribable Norwegian outfit Pom Poko – is it art rock? Post punk? Jazz? – is already making some serious waves thanks to an utterly bonkers mix of musical stylings. We’ll be first in line to see the quartet take to the stage at Glasgow’s Hug & Pint this month, bringing noise, joy and, we imagine, utter bewilderment to the uninitiated. April 8, Hug & Pint, Great Western Road, Glasgow, 7.30pm, £9.50. thehugandpint.com
GET COOL BENEATH THE CASTLE In search of the best view of Edinburgh Castle in existence? Newly arrived hotspot Cold Town House could certainly stake a fair claim for the title, thanks to its spectacular rooftop terrace in the shadow of the magnificent monument. Housed in the Grassmarket’s former Robertson Memorial Church, the brewery and bar also prides itself on the presence of an authentic pizza oven from Naples. Crispy bases and castle views? We’ll drink to that… coldtownhouse.co.uk 8 • hood
THIS MONTH IN THE ‘HOOD
RELIVE SOME CHILDHOOD MEMORIES THROUGH MUSIC Sure, you might not usually be a musical theatre fan. But having brought together the story of Roald Dahl, the music of comic genius Tim Minchin and the talent of the Royal Shakespeare Company, it’s safe to say Matilda The Musical is something a little different. The seven-time Olivier Award winning show hits the Edinburgh Playhouse this month, but with few tickets left, you’ll have to move fast. April 2 to 27, Greenside Lane, Edinburgh, Mon to Sat 7.30pm, Wed and Sat 2.30pm, from £15. atgtickets.com
EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY AT THE MARKET Returning for a new season, Balgrove Larder’s Night Markets promise something for foodies and live music fans alike. The acclaimed St Andrews-based farm shop will be opening the doors to its famous steak barn on the first Tuesday of every month until September, with a wood fired BBQ, rotating roster of street food stalls and live musicians on hand to keep things interesting. balgrove.com
LEARN ABOUT DISRUPTIVE DIGITAL DESIGN Dundee is globally renowned for pushing the boundaries of gaming, so it seems fitting that the latest exhibition to hit the city’s V&A will be exploring the creative process behind some of the industry’s most inventive platforms. With large-scale installations and engaging interactive attractions, plus a series of special talks and workshops, it’s a diary date no console addict will want to miss. From April 20, 1 Riverside Esplanade, Dundee, £6 to £12. vam.ac.uk
CELEBRATE SCOTTISH BALLET’S BIRTHDAY Kicking off its 50th birthday year, Scottish Ballet will take to the road with Spring!, an effervescent double bill that sets its sights on charming classical ballet newcomers and superfans alike. Combining resident choreographer Sophie Laplane’s Dextera and Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s acclaimed ragtime favourite Elite Syncopations the show has already debuted in Inverness and now heads to Glasgow and Aberdeen this month, before wrapping up in Edinburgh in May. scottishballet.co.uk
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THE
STYLE 1 CHART
Miller Harris Rose Silence EDP We’ve never smelled a rose perfume like this before! Miller Harris’s offering feels romantic, soft, subtle and modern rather than overpoweringly floral. Expect notes of blushing ivory petals and rose that’s clear and pure, blended with tangy blackcurrant and mandarin, set against a warm backdrop of sandalwood and musk. We love the exquisite etched bottle too for extra pretty points. £105, millerharris.com
Your must-have fashion and beauty buys, in store and online now
NARS Mosaic Glow blush The block pattern of this compact isn’t just pretty to look at – simply swirl your brush into all four shades to create a healthy wash of colour that will add instant radiance to your complexion, or apply them separately for a gentle flush. £31, narscosmetics.co.uk
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Zara drop-waist dress While stripes are a staple for most of us, it’s rarely of the vertical variety. Take a tip from us though – add them to your wardrobe, then step back and bask in their leglengthening powers. The 1920s vibe of this colour-clashing dress, with its super-flattering dropped waist, makes for the perfect easy, breezy spring look. Try it with crisp white trainers and a denim jacket. £25.99, Zara
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RIXO Roisin wrap blouse We love the effortless glamour of this gorgeous silk chiffon blouse, and the splash of colour it brings to a spring wardrobe. Pair with blue jeans and nude heels for a super-chic springtime look that’s ideal for weekend drinks or brunch with the girls. £185, Harvey Nichols
Ocelot raspberry and vanilla chocolate Handmade in Leith, Ocelot chocolate is a homegrown favourite, and Team Hood especially loves this flavour, with sweet vanilla and tart raspberry swirled into rich dark chocolate for an indulgent treat. The pretty printed packaging is irresistible too. £6, ocelotchocolate.com
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6 Boden Breton jumper Does anything scream ‘spring’ more than a Breton stripe? A jumper is still a must-have at this time of year, and the boxy, cropped fit of this one, with the pop of scarlet, looks fresh and modern. £79, Boden
Next midi skirt Add this floaty, floral midi to your wardrobe for an instant springtime upgrade. The statement floral looks great with a simple white t-shirt for a chic weekend look, or you could pair it with a polka-dot blouse for a masterclass in pattern-clashing. £28, Next
8 New Look ribbon scrunchie Statement hair accessories are so on trend for SS19, but if you’re not into oversized headbands or glitzy hair slides, try this pretty scrunchie (no really, they’re back) for a relaxed twist on the trend. £4.99, New Look
THIS MONTH IN THE ‘HOOD
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Marks & Spencer transparent handbag Pretty and practical is our favourite combination, and this chic mini handbag ticks all the boxes for us. The mix of stripes and the pop of red gives a nautical feel that we adore, plus you can remove the inner pouch for total ease, making switching handbags a breeze. £29.50, Marks & Spencer
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Topshop cropped shirt Spring is a great time to try something new, so why not opt for this quirky cropped shirt? The safari print is just the right amount of kitsch, and we think the shape would look great tucked into high waisted jeans. You could even pop a jumper over the top on chillier days, and let the collar peep out for a hint of print. £19, Topshop
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Paperchase tote bag You, our fabulous readers, know that we’re all about the sisterhood – so when we saw this aptly-stamped print tote, we knew we had to share it with you. Created to celebrate girl power across the country, we love both the design and the message behind it (and who couldn’t use another tote bag in their life?). £10, Paperchase
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Dial up your downtime Don’t waste your precious free hours. These are the TV shows, movies and books worth dropping everything for this April…
THE OA One of Netflix’s most unusual original programmes returns for a highly-anticipated second series. The OA is a complicated, mind-bending mystery which centres around Brit Marling’s Prairie Johnson, an adopted young woman who reappears after being missing for seven years. But she hasn’t just disappeared – she has been travelling through a host of alternate realities. In the second series, she navigates yet another new dimension while her friends back home attempt to uncover the truth behind her incredible story. Streaming on Netflix now
OSMOSIS Set in a world that seems scarily close to fact rather than fiction, Osmosis looks at the darker side of finding love in the digital age. Taking place in Paris in the near future, those looking for love are delighted when a new app, Osmosis, is able to dig deep into users’ brain data to match soulmates with 100 per cent accuracy. But, of course, letting an algorithm decide who you love isn’t as simple as it first seems and soon, it becomes apparent that giving the technology access to everyone’s deepest thoughts and secrets is a recipe for dystopian disaster… Streaming on Netflix now 12 • hood
WILD ROSE Starring Jessie Buckley as Rose-Lynn Harlan, Wild Rose follows the story of a young musician from Glasgow who dreams of making it big as a country star in Nashville. Grappling with the difficulties of being a single mother recently released from prison, at the same time as trying to kickstart her music career, Wild Rose is a bittersweet drama which has just the right amount of gritty reality mixed with a satisfyingly feelgood ending. As you’d expect, the soundtrack is pretty great too. In cinemas from April 12
THIS MONTH IN THE ‘HOOD
hoodreads
Selected by Rare Birds Book Club founder Rachel Wood, these stories raise the age old question: is the book always better than the screen adaptation? You decide…
OUR PLANET If escapism is what you’re after, look no further than Our Planet. Narrated by David Attenborough and created by the team behind the award-winning Planet Earth series, this eight-part documentary has been filmed across four years in 50 different countries, combining stunning photography and film with new technology. The result is a series that gives an unprecedented look at the world’s last remaining areas of true wilderness and their animal inhabitants – from Arctic wastelands and mysterious deep oceans to the vast landscapes of Africa and diverse jungles of South America. Streaming on Netflix from April 5
PET SEMATARY A modern remake of Stephen King’s classic tale, Pet Sematary stars Jason Clarke and Amy Seimetz as a couple who relocate to rural Maine with their children. After discovering a mysterious burial ground hidden behind their home, things – in true Stephen King fashion – take a terrifying turn. Seeking help from their unusual neighbour, expertly played by John Lithgow, the family unwittingly unleashes an evil force with horrific consequences. This one will definitely give you the creeps… In cinemas from April 5
Where’d You Go, Bernadette Maria Semple Bernadette Fox is misunderstood. To the other mothers, she’s a menace at the school gates. To her husband, she’s an eccentric genius. And to her beloved daughter Bee, she’s simply mum. But when she disappears from her seemingly perfect life, those who know her best must set off on a mystery to find where she’s gone. When first published in 2013 it was one of those rare books that’s both a critical and commercial success thanks to its lighthearted tone and smart handling of challenging themes. It’s also very soon to be a film starring Cate Blanchett, so if you haven’t met Bernadette yet, now is the perfect time to discover this bright, funny and uplifting novel about getting lost and finding yourself. Alias Grace Margaret Atwood If you loved The Handmaid’s Tale and are keen to discover more of Margaret Atwood’s backlist, add Alias Grace to your reading list. This deeply compelling mystery is based on the true story of Grace Marks, the notorious murderess convicted of killing her employer and his housekeeper in the 1840s, though the story revolves around Grace and her interactions with psychiatrist Dr. Simon Jordan. He’s been called in to assess Grace and determine whether she should be pardoned due to insanity. But the more time he spends with her, the further he seems to understand the enigmatic woman he’s meant to be studying. It’s a brilliant book, and when you’re done, you can see it brought to life on Netflix; the TV series was released late 2017.
Rachel Wood is the founder of Rare Birds Book Club, a monthly book subscription service for sociable readers. For more information, visit rarebirdsbookclub.com
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THIS MONTH IN THE ‘HOOD HEDGEROW
Rachael Scott is the florist behind Edinburgh-based Hedgerow, creating lush floral bouquets inspired by fine art and Victorian illustrations, with a naturally finished look. Rachael works with Scottish farmers to use as many homegrown flowers as possible, and often hosts workshops to share her skills too. Follow for: Fine art florals and the myriad inspirations behind them hedgerowflorist.com @hedgerow
MUD URBAN FLOWERS
This is what modern floristry looks like! Mud Urban Flowers took Instagram by storm when it launched back in 2017, and it’s easy to see why – it specialises in Instagram-friendly bouquets, from the little to the (very, very) large. The team currently creates unique designs daily, and delivers to doors across Edinburgh and Glasgow, but we hear plans for a national expansion are afoot… Follow for: Fun, fresh and thoroughly modern florals (and captions to make you LOL) mudurbanflowers.com @mudurbanflowers
BRAMBLE & THYME FLOWERS
We love it when florists make the most of what Scotland has to offer – and Stirlingshire’s Bramble & Thyme does exactly that! Expect quintessentially Scottish flowers such as thistles, moss and heather from owner Fiona’s cutting garden, scattered in amongst other seasonal delights. Fiona hosts plenty of workshops throughout the year, and in April, she’s even hosting a Yoga & Flowers workshop, for the chance to “pose with posies” – sign us up! Follow for: A celebration of Scottish flowers and the opportunity to learn some skills of your own brambleandthymeflowers.com @bramble_thyme_flowers
SISTERS OF INSTA’ Our pick of the Instagrammers showing us how to make the most of Scotland’s floral bounty this spring
ADELAIDE’S SECRET GARDEN
Adelaide’s not only a florist, she’s a flower farmer too. Growing all of her own botanicals in her ‘Secret Garden’ in Perthshire, and taking bookings from her Edinburgh office, Adelaide’s the go-to gal for when you want wild, rustic and freespirited homegrown and utterly beautiful flowers. Follow for: A behind-the-scenes look at flower farming in Scotland – and the gorgeous results! adelaidessecretgarden.com @adelaidesflowers
FLORABORATION
The work of one florist always looks beautiful – but how about the work of thirteen? Floraboration is a not-for-profit creative project, set up to allow a collective of professional florists to showcase just what they can do. In a nutshell, the group takes over a venue and transforms it into a floral, foliage-filled fantasia, with breathtaking installations and truly stunning displays that leave us in awe every time. Keep an eye on the website for the dates of the group’s next display project – it will absolutely be worth the visit! Follow for: A look at what can really be done with flowers, with immense imagination and skill floraboration.co.uk @floraboration
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Saturday night 8 June Holyrood Park Edinburgh
Join the MoonWalk
Charity No SC029572
experience Walk the Walk and together we can put an end to breast cancer!
walkthewalk.org Patron HRH The Prince of Wales 16 • hood
Official newspaper of The MoonWalk Scotland
Official media partner of Walk the Walk
SISTERHOOD
Photos by Anna Deacon
Divine secrets of the self-care sisterhood They yomp through fields and forests, swim the sea and inland lochs, and use Scotland’s soaring landscape to forge friendships with other women. But just what are the mental and physical benefits of all this time spent outdoors, and how can the rest of us tap into them? Jennifer Crichton-Gibson meets the women taking the quest for wellness into Scotland’s wilds… hood • 17
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nna Neubert-Wood is red. Pillar-box red. Tomato red. Cold water will do that. She stands, laughing, on the Portobello seafront, as the rain lashes down on her and her friends, clad variously in bikinis, swimsuits and, comedically, a variety of multi-coloured bobble hats. There is not a swimming cap or wetsuit in sight. It’s 2pm on a stormy Wednesday afternoon in deepest, darkest February and they, and I, have just been for a short swim in the North Sea. I took some convincing. They did not. In fact, these women brave the waves all year round, some daily and some weekly, come rain, hail or shine, and their glowing, happy faces certainly serve to back their claims that there are serious benefits to be had from it. “I know that mindful swimming and its impact on mental health is getting a lot of buzz at the moment,” Anna tells me, as we sit down and hug cups of hot tea afterwards. “And I do look on it as my daily meditation. If I’ve had a stressful day or am feeling at all anxious, I find being outdoors and particularly swimming will always put me back into a good mood. It acts as a sort of reset button, a way to instantly restore happiness.” It might sound baffling, but Anna is far from the only person who believes that cold-water, or wild, swimming could have an impact on mental health. In Scotland, a number of health boards have trialled the idea of ‘green prescriptions’, with doctors advising patients to spend more time outdoors in pursuit of better mental and physical wellbeing, and it’s an approach that sports minister Joe FitzPatrick sees the positives in. “It’s clear that access to the natural environment has a direct impact on physical health and mental wellbeing,” he says, “as well as encouraging and promoting positive behaviour change. “Along with a number of our partners, we are taking a wide-reaching approach to promoting green exercise, and maximising investment in green infrastructure. Scotland’s right of responsible access to land underpins green exercise in both the urban and rural environments.” Elsewhere, meanwhile, in late 2018, the British Medical Journal released a case report examining the use of wild swimming as a treatment for depression, in which it was suggested that a programme of regular dips could assist with everything from anxiety to low mood, helping patients reduce their reliance on medication. Focussed on the case of a 24-year-old woman who had tried various forms of antidepressant medication and wanted to become prescription free, the report summary stated: “A programme of weekly open (cold) water swimming was trialled. This led to an immediate improvement in mood following each swim and a sustained and gradual reduction in symptoms of depression, and consequently a reduction in, and then cessation of, medication. On follow-up a year later, she remains medication-free.” Sounds incredible? Not to open swimming’s Scottish proponents. AN END TO ANXIETY Photographer Anna Deacon took up wild swimming in 2018, and has since become one of its biggest cheerleaders, largely through her Instagram account Wild Swimming Photography, in which she documents the lives of the people she meets in the water. 18 • hood
Anna Deacon, photo by Jo Tennant
Anna Neubert-Wood
SISTERHOOD
She says her conversations with fellow swimmers, and her own experiences, suggest the link to good mental health may be well-founded. “I took on too much work last year and I was totally burnt out, so I decided to take a little break,” Anna explains. “I started going for some more swims, and then I decided that I was meeting all these amazing people in the water and I wanted to try and capture some of their portraits. “I meet a lot of people who are dealing with quite severe mental health problems, severe depression, grief sometimes. And I think a lot of them find real solace in the water. I think it’s not just the water either, but the community around it. It starts off as a need for an immersion – a washing away, or an escape. But then they find that with that comes this amazing, incredibly inclusive community that can offer a real lease of life.” But swimming isn’t just for those trying to tackle mental ill health, Anna insists. Rather, it can be beneficial to anyone who is looking to find better balance, or who finds it hard to meditate or be more mindful about their daily life “I think it’s the sense of fun and adventure that makes it different, that makes it more of a visceral experience. I think it’s also quite primal, it feels quite wild, and it’s different every time. It could be steely grey skies and massive waves, it could be a bright sunny day with calm flat seas, but whatever day you go, it will be different every single time, and that’s what keeps it exciting. “Also, I think when you’re in the sea you have to be very, very aware of your surroundings. You need to make sure you’re not getting too cold, that you’re not stepping on anything sharp, that you’re not stepping into a riptide or going out too far. And if you think about a lot of mindfulness and meditations, they work on that basis of body scanning, checking in on yourself, seeing what you can feel in any given moment. And the colder the temperature, the more extreme that is. So, it really is like a form of meditation in itself.” The physical benefits, it seems, are also manifold, with Clemence Cocquet doctors and researchers alike suggesting that both cold water immersion and other extreme physical challenges could change the ways in which our bodies process stress and pain. For Anna Neubert-Wood, who recently created Wander Women, a business which takes women on day and overnight wilderness adventures, the benefits of challenging ourselves outside of our 21st century comfort zones are clear to see. “The people who come to me are very normal people. Many of them have big responsibilities and demanding jobs, but feel they’re lacking something in life or are searching for some kind of peace, and I hope what they realise when we get outside is that that’s not actually that hard to find. It’s available to us all. “I think we are so under-exposed to nature these days. We have all this hi-tech gear that stops us from being rained on, from getting chilled. We have thick soles on our boots, hoods on our heads to protect us from the rain, and we wake in the morning in our warm houses, get into our heated cars and head to our warm offices. We’re never really cold or hungry anymore, we’re too comfortable. We’re designed to fight extreme heat and cold, but we don’t give our bodies the chance to do that anymore, so I think there’s a reason that extreme sports have never been more popular. People are looking for that challenge to bring balance to our crazily connected, busy lives.”
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Sarah Wiseman
THE CHALLENGE TO CONNECT While wild swimming may have been garnering many of the headlines of late, for those at the centre of the wellness movement, there are plenty of ways in which Scotland’s landscape can be used to promote better health, and not all of them involve getting wet. While Highlands-based Sarah Wiseman is a competitive swimmer, she also coaches Pilates through her business, Beyond the Water, and says that moving her practice of both outside has paid huge dividends for her own mental health. “In 2014 I was diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder. I already followed a full exercise programme alongside my work in the leisure industry, but I took the medication I was prescribed and attended the CBT therapy I was advised to go to. It all helped. But after moving to 20 • hood
Aviemore and joining up with the local wild swimming group, Cairngorm Wild Swimmers, I felt a huge shift in how my anxiety affects me and my mood in general. I am able to deal with stressful situations that would trigger my feelings of anxiety a lot better.” In this sense, Sarah believes, Scotland’s environment could well hold the key to helping more people who are struggling with the pressures of modern life. “Exercising outside requires no membership fees, and you can go anytime you like, which means it is accessible to anyone. With Pilates, I’m hoping for a lovely summer, so I can move my classes outdoors, as I think practising outside brings extra challenges for clients. The ground can be unavoidably uneven, challenging balance and stability, and with the potential extra distractions, clients need to work harder in order to stay
focused during the classes. In the past, I have had larger numbers attending classes outside than I have indoors too, so it’s clear people are wanting to get outside.” If the success of Scotland’s Scapa Fest is anything to go by, there’s certainly a thirst for a more adventurous outdoor existence. Launched last year, the yoga and adventure festival returns this May with around 500 people expected to take to the shores of Loch Fyne to participate in a three-day programme of more than 130 workshops, covering everything from yoga and kayaking to foraging and wild swimming, via bonfire building and stargazing. Its founder, Glasgow and Mull-based Frenchwoman Clemence Cocquet, says it has tapped into a growing trend for getting back to nature and nurturing our inherent instincts for what our bodies and minds need to flourish.
SISTERHOOD
“I would say that Scapa attracts people who, like me, have normal jobs and pressures, rules to comply with, parenting to do and mortgages to pay. These aren’t people who are on the fringes of society at all, but they’re looking for more balance in their lives. And Scapa is a celebration of balance,” she explains. Indeed, it was at work that Clem first fully felt the pressing need to offer people a more all-encompassing way to connect the dots of their lives when it came to improving their health. A physiotherapist by trade, she was working in an NHS spinal injuries unit when she became disenchanted with the traditional approach to recovery. “I was looking after patients in rooms with no artificial light. We never went outside, we couldn’t open the windows, and it started to affect me. I’d cycle to work, I run 10km a day, I’m well, but I started to not feel good and that affected my ability to fully look after people. And that made me think, hold on a minute, why are we trying to fix people in isolation?” Her answer, she says, was to build a programme that helps give people a break from their normal lives in which to reconnect with themselves. “When you’re at Scapa Fest, you do a lot of physical activity. You spend your entire day outside and being really active. You’ll spend half a day kayaking, or you’ll go to a Vinyasa class where you practice things you’ve never done before, or you’ll try a totally new way of meditating. We try to bring things that go beyond the everyday, and not only that, you also sleep outside. So, for three days, you’re operating well outside your usual rules, your body gets a really big reset and you’re forced out of the autopilot mode that exhausts us and strips us of energy.” The impact, she says, can be huge. “Mindful is a word that’s used right, left and centre right now, but essentially all it means is connecting with the things that we are designed for. And I think doing that has made me a better parent, a better partner and a better friend, because I’ve been able to see myself as I really am. People will always say ‘you can’t give unless your cup is full’, but as someone once said to me, it doesn’t matter if the cup is half-full or half-empty, what matters is that the cup is refillable – so why not ensure that it’s always brimming? Everything that we need is around us already. We just need to rediscover that.”
wander-women.co.uk instagram.com/wildswimmingphotography beyondthewater.co.uk scapafest.com
“THERE’S NO QUESTION, IT’S DAMN COLD”
Think wild swimming is a step too far? Our editor Jen felt the same, until she took to the sea with our interviewees… “To be honest, when I started following Scotland’s wild swimming community on Instagram, I was as baffled as I was fascinated. Having refused point blank to so much as jump into a cold pool on a recent European holiday, the appeal of submerging oneself in the North Sea was completely anathema to me. Cold water? For fun? Not a chance… As such, I think it was only my competitive nature, and total reluctance to be beaten by a challenge, that saw me accept Anna Neubert-Wood’s invite into the water back in February. And as I donned my swimming costume on a chilly east coast beach, I was fully convinced that everyone around me had taken leave of their senses. So, what is wild swimming really like? Walking into the water for the first time, it took everything I had not to turn and run back to my towel. As my ankles, and then my legs, were submerged, the cold was so extreme that it almost, conversely, felt like being burned. Genuinely pained, I couldn’t quite fathom how those around me were continuing forward. However, after taking the plunge (on someone else’s encouraging countdown) and breaking into a breast stroke, the strangest thing happened. As I gasped for breath, my mind cleared. With every stroke, I felt stronger, more alive, more in tune with my limbs. And as my body fought to keep me warm, sending blood from my extremities to my core, I realised I had an actual, physical fire in my belly. We took pictures that day. In the before shots, I am cowering, embarrassed, behind another swimmer, horrified at the idea of my thighs being captured on camera. Those thighs are still there in the after shots, glowing bright red as I run from the water, arms swinging, a look of almost-demented joy on my face. That’s a feeling that lasted almost 48 hours, at which point I needed a hit and headed off to my local beach, alone, to submerge once again. Does it get any easier? Not really. That cold smack of the first wave will take your breath away every time. But I’ve fallen for the exercise regardless. I’ve dragged friends into my madness. I can now be found in the water, come rain or come shine, at least a few days each week, and I hope I’ll be able to say the same when next February rolls around. Cold? Yes. Torturous? Absolutely. Life-affirmingly addictive? You’d better believe it…
hood • 21
Is it time to ditch the pill? It’s the country’s most popular contraceptive – but new research suggests women may have been incorrectly advised on how best to take the pill for an astonishing six decades. The big question, why? 22 • hood
THE WATERCOOLER
W
hile initially available to married women only, it’s safe to say that in the 60 plus years since the pill was licensed, it’s become somewhat popular. The most used contraceptive method in the UK, 44 per cent of all women accessing birth control through sexual health services opt for the combined contraceptive pill, and it remains the preferred first choice of young women looking to maintain control over their own reproductive health, with two thirds of those aged 20-24 taking it. But if you’re among the millions of women who pop a pill daily, there’s a good chance you’ll have, at some point, looked at your pack and experienced the dread of realisation – the moment you see that your monthly period is due to coincide with your beach holiday or romantic weekend away. There’s also a reasonable chance that, when faced with that realisation, you’ll have decided to link two packets of your pill together to avoid the diary clash, mentally filing the practice away as a justifiable, once-in-a-while healthcare rebellion. But while delaying the false period that comes with the pill has always been treated as a practice of exception, a break from the 21/7 pattern advised by GPs, new research suggests that’s what we should have been doing all along. There’s no medical need, it seems, to take a break or to bleed monthly while on the pill. And not only that, the advice to do so could actually have been making the pill less effective. Why then, has this advice sustained for more than 60 years? THE PILL AND THE POPE “Pill-taking often isn’t perfect; the riskiest time to miss pills is at the beginning and the end of a pill-free interval,” claims Dr Diana Mansour, vice president for clinical quality of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH), which prompted a furore when it released its new guidelines recommending fewer hormone-free intervals recently. “There is no health benefit from the seven-day hormone-free interval,” the new guidelines state. “Women can safely take fewer (or no) hormone-free intervals to
avoid monthly bleeds, cramps and other symptoms, and if a hormone-free interval is taken, shortening it to four days could potentially reduce the risk of pregnancy.” But if the idea of women being misled for decades seemed shocking, it was when one scientist claimed to have uncovered the reason for the discrepancy that the disbelief reached fever pitch. Our monthly bleeds, Professor John Guillebaud, emeritus professor of family planning and reproductive health at University College London, told The Telegraph, had been mandated in order to appease the Pope. “The gynaecologist John Rock devised [the break] because he hoped that the Pope would accept the pill and make it acceptable for Catholics to use,” Professor Guillebaud said. “Rock thought if it did imitate the natural cycle then the Pope would accept it. How could it be that for 60 years we have been taking the pill in a sub-optimal way because of this desire to please the Pope?” Quickly branded ‘the Pope rule’, Guillebaud’s claims understandably caused consternation in the church. But perhaps more surprisingly, a number of campaigning female doctors also dismissed the notion, suggesting it was an easy way to avoid a greater examination of the way women’s health issues are dealt with in comparison to men’s. UNCONSCIOUS BIAS Writing for The Guardian, Dr Alice Howarth, a clinical and molecular pharmacologist and cell biologist at the University of Liverpool, said: “Studies have shown repeatedly that our medical system has an inherent bias against women. Women presenting with pain are more frequently given sedatives than painkillers, where men are given painkillers. Women with coronary heart disease have delayed treatment compared with men. And people even rate the perceived pain of a paediatric patient differently, depending on whether they are told the patient is male or female. “We now have another clear example to add to the pile: women are exposed to unnecessary, inconvenient, uncomfortable and potentially damaging monthly bleeds for no reason other than that
nobody thought to question whether those bleeds were necessary.” It is a sentiment echoed in part by the authors of the FCRH guidelines, who admit that, while connecting pill packets to avoid bleeding altogether could make the experience of taking the pill safer and more pleasant for many women, more has to be done to ensure that women’s contraceptive needs are being correctly met. Too many women, they suggest, see the pill as being their only option when alternative, longterm contraceptives may be a better fit. Indeed, Professor Guillebaud argues that the NHS should, as a general rule, be moving away from viewing the pill as the most obvious choice for all women. “The Pill is last century’s method,” he argues, insisting: “The bottom line is that LARCs – long-acting reversible contraceptives such as intrauterine devices (IUDs), hormonal intrauterine devices (IUSs) and subdermal implants – are best.” But while usage of such alternative contraceptives has doubled over the last decade, evidence from a multitude of patient studies during the same period suggests they remain less widely promoted by GPs. For the Scottish Government, ensuring women are given a clear picture of all the options open to them is key. “It is for a doctor or nurse, in consultation with their patient, to offer advice on the most suitable method of contraception,” a spokesperson told Hood. “Additionally, information about a variety of contraceptive methods is available on the NHS Inform and Sexual Health Scotland websites. We are committed to ensuring that everyone in Scotland receives high quality relationship, sexual health and parenthood education from an early age. We will continue to work with NHS staff and other partners to create a more positive culture around sexual health.” In the meantime, the pill-popping status quo remains unsurprising to Dr Howarth, who says its time the medical establishment started taking women’s health issues more seriously. “Unconscious medical bias is a real phenomenon that we can, and must, work to fix,” she says. “Blaming the pope merely allows us to hide from the truth.” fsrh.org
hood • 23
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24 • hood
SISTERHOOD
A positive force Think you’ll never be able to look in the mirror and love every so-called flaw? Danni Gordon, founder of body positivity movement The Chachi Power Project, is out to prove you wrong… hood • 25
I
n truth, I always thought The Chachi Power Project would be a stop-gap between jobs. I was made redundant from a role I loved in December 2016, and at the same time, I had been doing a self-development course down in London for which the next undertaking was to be a project to positively impact our communities. I'm the sort of person who relishes stuff like that and, since I’d had a recent change of mindset towards my own physique, I decided to start a body confidence project. I figured I’d help a few of my friends be happier about their bodies and then I'd look for a job – and wouldn't that look good on the CV, showing how resourceful Danielle is with her time? I never intended it to become my full-time job. But as we all know, things don't always go as planned, and I soon found I'd unknowingly ignited a hard-to-dampen passion which I'd never really had in relation to a ‘career' before. I held my first big event, Chachi Live: The Power of Loving Your Body, in May 2017 and the feedback was unbelievably positive. I started to receive messages from online followers and people who had come to the event, heart-warming outpourings of love, desperation, confusion, sadness, joy and, mainly, need. It was clear people were seeking something and, while I'm not egomaniacal to say they were seeking me, there was definitely a need for something new: a new way to think about themselves, a new way to talk about and relate to their bodies, a new way for us to think about our physicality. I understood. Until I was 33, I had terrible body image. Daily, a voice in my head would tell me that strangers in the street thought I was disgusting because I was fat, which obviously meant they thought I was lazy and worthless. I now realise that voice affected so much of my life. The choices I made, my confidence, the way I let people treat me, the relationships I had and the way I treated myself. But only now I do I realise that’s so normal – that so many people experience that crappy voice to varying degrees, and it affects so much of our lives. When you think about the time and energy you have spent obsessing about your body, or the way you look, or how you are perceived by others… well, you probably could’ve built a multinational company in that time, or grown a garden, or accepted 1,400 dates you were too scared to go on. Two things I learned on that self-development course empowered me to make that voice disappear. Firstly, it helped me realise that my life is made up of the things I do and say, the ways I interact, the people I meet and the things I create. In other words (and weirdly, this came as a shock to me) I realised that my life is not my body. Rather, my body is an incredible tool for me to live my life. Secondly, I learned that taking on, or indeed imagining, what other people think is futile and unimportant. They have their perspective because of their education and experiences, but that perspective has got nothing to do with me. So, whatever they think, unless they say it out loud, I don’t have to deal with. And when they do say it out loud, it’s still their perspective and that’s coloured by all the toxic, racist, fatphobic, insecurity-driven nonsense our society gave them to deal with as they grew up. I still get to decide whether their perspective matters to me. Properly recognising those two things was a lightbulb moment for me. I realised, as we all need to realise, that it was not my fault I had been thinking that way about my body. I had been surrounded by a homogenised beauty ideal since I was born. I had realised from about five years old that women and girls have to be ‘beautiful’ – which means being thin, small, white, able-bodied, big-boobed,
clear-skinned, reserved, polite, straight-haired and smiley. After all, those of us who aren’t those things don’t get picked. LEARNING TO LOVE Body confidence and body positivity are not the same thing. Body confidence is how good you feel about your own body, while body positivity is a political movement which fights for the acceptance and respect of all bodies. It aims to educate on the various intersections of how different bodies are oppressed in our society, whether you are female, fat, black, disabled, old or all of those things. And it helps you to recognise what causes those oppressions, whether it’s capitalist-fuelled diet culture, patriarchal beauty standards, fatphobia, racism, ableism, ageism, sexism or any other ‘isms on the seemingly never-ending list. It is not our fault that we feel bad about our bodies. But it is our responsibility to undo the toxic messaging that we have been fed our whole lives in order to be happier in our own skins, which I’m sure most people want to be. It’s only when you stop thinking negatively about yourself that you see how it can cloud everything in your life. Lack of body confidence is a pervasive little bugger. It affects how we speak up, how capable we think we are, how we expect to be treated, how we present ourselves, how we use our time, how we treat ourselves and how we treat others. It’s so common for issues to hold us back from playing sport, giving presentations, attending or speaking up at events or even eating in front of others, because we are concerned about being judged. It breaks my heart when women tell me they can’t take their kids swimming because they are paralysed with fear about how they might be perceived. I was asked to be on a panel at the Scottish Parliament recently with the Young Women Lead Committee, organised by the YWCA and Scottish Government, to help understand why there are massive drop-off rates of girls playing sport at school age. The saddening evidence I collated suggests that trend is primarily to do with body image and self-esteem issues connected to girls’ rapidly changing bodies throughout puberty, and the culture of bullying, or threat of bullying, that runs alongside it. Also reported was an inordinate and perpetual pressure to be presentable and perfect thanks to social media and, interestingly, how diet and celebrity culture has altered our idea of why we should take part in sport or fitness in the first place. We’ve lost the idea that sport is about mental and physical wellness, team building and fun, and replaced it with a belief that squats will help build our butts and burn off bad calories. That sort of thinking moves sport very far away from fun. The young women on the committee are collating all of the findings and will be raising awareness amongst MSPs in hopes it can lead to something being put in place to tackle this drop-off. In the meantime, I am now so comfortable in my positivity bubble that it’s a shock to me when I hear people being mean about their own or someone else’s body, not to mention when I hear people chat about diets. In that sense, I need to be careful not to take my foot off the gas. I may have impacted the people around me, but I have to remember that there are a lot of other people who still need to hear this stuff. And I’ll keep shouting until they do. chachipowerproject.co.uk
SISTERHOOD
Practice some much needed self-compassion Start being kinder to yourself in the mirror. Use gentler words like soft or round or rippled rather than gross or ugly. Are affirmations your bag? Shouting ‘you are beautiful’ into the mirror every day might seem ridiculous and futile, but trust me – your brain is squishy. It can re-mould, and this is a great way to help it do that. Start learning about the Body Positive movement Follow better people online and unfollow the idiots that inspire shame and comparisons. Get right in amongst the movement instead and educate yourself. Everyone is welcome to be part of it. Remove the toxicity Don’t engage with media that makes you feel bad about yourself. Don’t hang out with the toxic aunties and don’t let people talk about your body. Your energy and your body is sacred. Start treating it with respect and demand others treat it that way too. Don’t be sucked into the diets that promise you happiness Peace is better than happiness and diets are just another battle. Stop bringing more battles into your life. Look into intuitive eating to get a better handle on your relationship to food. Stop saying negative stuff out loud about your own or anyone else’s body Here is the golden nugget. If you do nothing else, heed these words: Stop putting that energy out there. Stop taking part in those awful bonding conversations about how your cellulite is worse than your friend’s. Stop gaining a second of pleasure by badmouthing someone’s clothes or hair or body type. It’s just adding to the toxicity we already experience. This one act is your sure-fire way to rewire your brain.
The body positive personalities to follow on Insta • • • • • • • • • • • •
Megan Jayne Crabbe @bodyposipanda Virgie Tovar @virgietovar Michelle Elman @scarrednotscared Stephanie Yeboah @nerdabouttown Imogen Fox @the_feeding_of_the_fox Dana Suchow @danasuchow Harnaam Kaur @harnaamkaur Chidera Eggerue @theslumflower Rebekah Taussig @sitting_pretty The Everyman Project @theeverymanproject Shoot McDaniel @shooglet And, of course, me, Danni Gordon @chachipowerproject
hood • 27
SISTERHOOD
A SH L EY DAV I E S Knows your face… but she can’t remember your name
I
often struggle to recall the exact date of my own wedding, but I do remember every single instance of a person not saying thank you for the tiniest (and I do mean minuscule) of favours over the past 30 years. On the subject of the former point, yeah, yeah, I was pretty hammered towards the end, but that’s not an excuse: that would be like saying I don’t know who Churchill was because I wasn’t alive in the 1940s. Regarding the latter point, I’m genuinely not even that petty (I hope). The problem is that my stupid memory has its priorities all wrong and it’s getting right on my, um, whatcha call ’em again? The list of things I wish I remember is long, and it’s growing by the day. I have to write down the names of friends’ children if I don’t see them more than once a year or they just slip out of my mind. That’s pretty rude, especially considering I know their pets’ names, dates of birth, food preferences and vet histories. Sending Christmas cards to ‘Rachel, Scruffy and family’ is bad form. Another thing I find tricky is recognising my neighbours if they’re not literally standing within ten metres of their own doorsteps. This is particularly awkward, because I live in a smallish town, there’s usually someone on the train I’ve met before, and it’s just plain rude to not acknowledge them. That’s why I’ve developed a catch-all facial expression – not quite a smile, but smile-flavoured, with a hint of a nod of acknowledgement. And yet, while I demonstrate a disappointing lack of engagement in my own, lovely community, I can remember the face of pretty much every actor who’s been in everything I’ve ever seen, from tiny Edinburgh Fringe shows in which I made up half the audience, to those poor buggers who play criminal lawyers who never get to say anything on The Bill. Passwords: I’m terrible at recalling those too. I thought I had a system, but it turns out all my data memory has been eaten by something completely
ANOTHER THING I FIND TRICKY IS RECOGNISING MY NEIGHBOURS IF THEY’RE NOT LITERALLY STANDING WITHIN TEN METRES OF THEIR OWN DOORSTEPS pointless: the lyrics to some of the worst TV adverts ever to have seen the light of day. I’ve no idea how to get into my iTunes account without a thumb print, but I’ll happily sing you the Australian Vegemite ad from 1987, or the rap written to sell Merlin towels in Zimbabwe in 1982. Wanna know the Smiths Crisps song (to the tune of Bobby’s Girl)? What do you mean no? Hey, come back, I’m talking to you… In recent years I’ve had to use Google to remember the name of New Orleans, but if you need to know the Portuguese translation of Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini, I’m your guy. And yes, before you ask, I’ve tried the old memory palace technique. Seems what I’ve got is more of a memory lean-to: it’s kind of mouldy and draughty, rats live in it, and something’s flapping. I’m not sure I can remember how to get there… @msashleydavies (Twitter)
hood • 29
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30 • hood
LIVELIHOOD
The beauty of balance CEO and founder of PURE Spa, Becky Woodhouse, has built one of the UK’s fastest growing beauty businesses while gaining recognition as a staunch supporter of flexible working and female-friendly employment practices. She sits down with Hood to discuss working womanhood, her entrepreneurial journey, and the joys of boosting client confidence… hood • 31
You trained as a chartered accountant. How did you make the transition to founding PURE Spa, and why? I actually trained first as a chemical engineer, and spent a year in the industry, before deciding to switch to accountancy. But it was while there that I spotted a gap in the market that would later become PURE Spa. While I’ve never trained in beauty therapy, I have always loved beauty products and visiting spas. But I found it difficult to spare the time to enjoy that side of life with a busy career and a young family, and I thought that there was a real need for a new type of spa that suited busy city lifestyles like mine. I wanted to create a spa that was accessible to everyone, with exceptional, high-quality treatments and fair prices. That was back in 2002, and the idea was so clear that I decided to make the leap and go for it. I secured a loan from HSBC and opened the first PURE Spa on Lothian Road in Edinburgh, which remains our headquarters to this day. How tough was it juggling the launch with life with a young family, and how has it affected the way you are as an employer? I always knew that at some stage, I’d like to run my own business – I knew I had the drive, and I felt so passionate about the idea that I had to trust my instincts and go for it. The juggle was tricky at times, but I just did what I had to do to make it work; my eldest son was still a baby, so he pretty much came along with me to everything – we actually have photos of him in his car seat in the midst of the refurbishment of the spa at Lothian Road before 32 • hood
BALANCE IS IMPERATIVE TO HAVING HAPPY, RELAXED AND FULFILLED STAFF, AND I TRY TO OFFER THAT WHEREVER I CAN it opened! I wanted to build a business that would work for me and my family, so I worked hard to make that happen, and it’s really made me understand the importance of that balance as an employer, so I’m a huge believer in flexible working. How quickly did you realise you had an expandable business, and how daunting was the idea of doing so? The first spa got off to a great start and really proved that my instinct was right – there was a real want for this kind of business. Expanding was daunting, of course, but I was confident in the idea and the success of the first outlet really spurred me on. I just felt that it was a really strong concept and would work well in other cities too.
LIVELIHOOD
What is it that you love about the beauty industry? I love working in an industry that has such a positive influence on other people’s happiness and wellbeing. People visit us to unwind, to pamper and relax, and knowing that the business has helped people to feel good about themselves never fails to put a smile on my face. You recently won the Professional Beauty award for Employer of the Year. What do you think stands out about your business model? We’ve now won this award twice, which I think certifies that what we’re doing is unique. The beauty industry is made up of 94 per cent women, so I feel that it’s the industry’s responsibility to look after its staff. Women largely remain the primary caregivers in families, and there’s a unique set of requirements for each and every woman we employ, but I like to think that our model goes to show that anything is possible with enough planning, thought and care. How important to the success of the business is it to have happy, professionally satisfied staff, and what processes do you have in place to help support and encourage that? For me, it’s so important. Our staff’s job is to make our customers feel amazing, but how can they do that if they don’t feel good themselves? I am committed to nurturing and supporting PURE’s staff along their career journey with us, so we offer a signature
leadership scheme to encourage promotion within the company, and work closely with our staff to ascertain their needs and goals and make sure that we can help in meeting them. You are a huge proponent of flexible working. Why is that and what do you think the benefits are? I understand the need for balance and flexibility from my own career path; it’s something I would have struggled to achieve in my previous roles but, having built the business myself, I know first-hand how tricky being a working mother can be. Balance is imperative to having happy, relaxed and fulfilled staff, and I try to offer that wherever I can. I say yes to pretty much every request I get for flexible working – there’s always a way to make it work, if you try hard enough, and it’s something that my staff really value. There is also a clear business case for trying to be the best employer you can possibly be, as you’ll create a happy and motivated team who are all actively working towards success – PURE would not be the company it is today without the commitment of the whole team. I believe you get trust by giving trust and that’s why we work so hard to make sure everyone is happy here. You have both a majority female staff and management team – what do you think that brings to the business? I don’t look at it as a gender issue; I hire the best person for the job. It’s certainly the case that the majority of my staff are female, but so are the majority of our clients. It’s almost like there’s
hood • 33
an inherent understanding, a connection that’s really unique to females where we all have these shared experiences and can support each other through them. I also love that there’s no glass ceiling at PURE; 70 per cent of my management team is female, which largely stems from the leadership programme we created. Whatever my employees want to do in their careers, we try to help them achieve that. So much so, we have actually promoted four team members while they were on mat leave. You’ve gone from a start-up to employing 150 people in nine spas in two countries. What have the main challenges and surprises been along the way? The main challenges have centred on scaling up whilst retaining the integrity and standard of the brand. I am responsible for making sure my staff are paid on time, paid well, looked after, nurtured, trained and fulfilled, but I’m also responsible for ensuring that our customers are happy and satisfied too. The buck stops with me and I’m always aware of that, which is quite daunting to manage alone. One of the biggest personal challenges I’ve faced is learning how to manage my workload effectively, and learning how to delegate – I have to be very mindful of what I spend my time on, and always check in with myself to make sure that what I’m doing is adding value to the business. It’s been quite the journey to get to this point. It’s important also to recognise when you may become a blocker to your company’s own development and growth. I have always been mindful of my own skills and ability, and I have invested over the years in additional professional development to ensure that I am learning, growing and developing. I think it’s also important to have mentors and coaches along the way – I’ve had a number, and their sage advice has been invaluable to me. How easy did you find it to access funding and support, and what do you think are the main barriers to other women doing the same? Funding remains one of the biggest challenges to the business. It’s a very tough task and something that we’re constantly coming up against. To date, PURE has been turned away by 55 private equity businesses – we’re not big enough for venture capital funding, and as the business is 16 years old, it doesn’t qualify for tax reliefs available from venture capital trusts and enterprise investment schemes. I actually think there is a huge barrier to women seeking business funding; I read a recent study from the British Business Bank which found that only 1p in every £1 of venture capital funding in the UK goes to businesses with a female founder, which is just shocking. I would have said I was pretty savvy at the fundraising game, and while we’ve been unsuccessful so far, I am 100 per cent confident we will get there in the end with some persistence and determination – it’s certainly not going to stop me! But an interesting anecdote – recently, we approached a bank for funding. I went in with a modest amount to start with, but when we had a subsequent meeting with them, Michael, my partner and fellow director, asked for an amount more than twice my initial ask and the bank manager didn’t bat an eyelid! It made 34 • hood
LIVELIHOOD
me realise that perhaps being bolder with the ask in the first place and going in higher rather than lower, can also pay off – something I don’t think comes naturally to females! We need to be more confident in our own worth. How do you find a balance between work and personal life and how difficult has that been to maintain? I am lucky to have a flexible role; whilst it is very busy and at times incredibly full-on, I have a great support system that makes it achievable. Learning how to delegate has been the biggest factor in being able to achieve a balance – you physically can’t do it all, so you have to know when someone else should take over and do something faster or better than you can. Some days it’s easier than others, and there’s always going to be times when the two overlap, especially with two children who need me for different reasons. But overall, I feel fortunate to be able to have the best of both worlds, most of the time. I also realised long ago that I am unable to switch off on a daily basis, so over the years I have developed my own version of work/life balance, which involves taking a lot more holidays and being physically away from the office. I am often working on my holidays, however, it’s on my terms and allows me to spend time with my family and relax more, which ultimately makes me more effective at my job. Your partner is also involved with the business. How does that work and what are the drawbacks and benefits to working together? Michael joined PURE last year as a director, but was already very familiar with the business after listening to me go on about it all the time! Michael was a highly successful leader and CEO in his own right in his previous roles, so it’s been great to be able to work together, and we have very complimentary skillsets. One of the drawbacks, I guess, is that we can get so caught up in the business that it’s very difficult for us both to switch off. Also, you can end up being with each other literally 24/7, so it’s a good job we get on so well! At the end of the day, we have a lot of fun together and we are doing something that we both love, so it’s all good. Do you have any remaining unfulfilled ambitions? My ultimate ambition is to make PURE a leading global spa and beauty brand – that’s maybe a bit ambitious, but it’s still the goal! I would love to go international and have had opportunities come up in the last few years, but the timing wasn’t right yet. It remains my ultimate ambition. If you could give one piece of advice to a woman considering launching a business, what would it be? I really admire any woman who wants to start a business – it’s so hard to take that first step as there are so many unknowns. My advice to anyone thinking about it is to plan ahead: double the time and costs you think it will take, do your research, know your business model inside out, and be prepared for lots of highs and lows, especially in the early years. It’s all worth it though! purespauk.com
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FEATURES
FEATURING 40+ FOOD VENDORS… platform ON TOUR gin71 camra BEER TENT THE DIRTY VEGAN gary maclean SPROG ROCK RUM SHACK KIDS FOOD WORKSHOPS LIVE MUSIC and much more yum! fri 26 April, 4pm–10pm SAT 27 April, 12noon–9pm ABBEY CLOSE, PAISLEY Paisleyfoodanddrink
In association with Coaching Direct
Finding your fire Whether you’re looking to turbo-charge your career or find a better work-life balance, our coach and columnist Kirsty McWilliam can help. This month, she shares her tips for identifying and harnessing your individual inner superpower…
D
o you love what you do? Before I set up Coaching Direct in 2008, I worked as an accountant. I don’t actually remember when I decided to become an accountant, but it had always been what I was going to do when I left school, the subject of a very clear career path that I did not stray from at any point. I also don’t remember any conversation around whether I would actually be any good at this chosen path – I simply performed well in all my exams and it was job done. As grateful as I am now for my accountancy background, had I looked at not only what I was good at, but at what sparked my energy and excitement, it could well have been a very different story. Because what we are good at does not always equate to what makes us happy. And while we could be getting exemplary performance reviews each year, when we know deep down we are not at our best, it is easy to become exhausted by the daily grind. Our strengths are so much more than what we are good at. They are linked to our performance, our energy and how often we use them, and while we all have realised strengths, which we know and use often, we also have unrealised strengths, of which we are unaware. Think of your potential talent that is
unrealised – harness that and you really will feel like you have superpowers! A good way to spot strengths, in yourself or in others, is to notice when you are at your most focused, animated, passionate and relaxed. When are you quick to learn? When you are in your flow, time passes easily. When you review your to-dolist, which items gets done first without any hesitation? These are the things that energise you – your top strengths. Spotting unrealised strengths can be harder, but a good start is to try out new things. How do they feel? Does a new activity make you buzz? On the opposite side of this, when are you drained, anxious and agitated? Which parts of your to-do-list keep getting put off to last? These can be our weaknesses (we all have them) or our learned strengths, and while we may not be able to eliminate these parts of our lives completely, we can look at how often we use them. Using these drains our energy – no wonder we’re tired – so ensuring we balance them with use of our strengths can be very beneficial. I work with lots of different people but the one common thread I see is they struggle to articulate their strengths. Would you believe there are over 60 strengths ranging from pride to adherence? I was not surprised to find that adherence is one of my ‘learned strengths’, so even though I have taught
Interested in learning more? Chat to Kirsty about how strengths profiling could help you harness your potential, or view a full list of all 60 human strengths, which can be found at coachingdirectuk.com/ strengthscoaching
myself to be good at it (think back to my audit days in accountancy), I delay most box ticking exercises and look to delegate form filling at every turn as it literally drains the life out of me. An easy way to identify a learned strength? Procrastination… Given we can learn those that don’t come naturally, you might ask why we even bother with strengths? Over the past 20 years, various research projects, mainly by Alex Linley, have shown that individuals who harness their strengths have higher levels of happiness, confidence, self-regard and energy. Further studies have demonstrated a positive impact on mental wellbeing, as well as engagement in both life and work. In further good news, our strengths can change over time, if we recognise them and increase their use. Think of all that untapped potential in you…. So, how to harness it. If you make to-do-lists, next time you create one notice what you do first, then link that task to a strength and figure out how to use that more. On the other side, work out what you are putting off and either do it, dump it or delegate it to someone who has that strength. Kirsty is the founder and CEO of Coaching Direct, an Edinburgh-based centre for emotional intelligence, coaching and training.
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1979-2019
40 Years of Music Memories www.thequeenshall.net | Tickets & Info: 0131 668 2019 85-89 Clerk Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9JG
APRIL & MAY HIGHLIGHTS AT THE QUEEN’S HALL, EDINBURGH APRIL
MAY
QH@40: Tommy Smith Sextet: Beasts of Scotland
QH@40: Heidi Talbot presents Väsen, Floriane Blancke and Inge Thomson
Tradfest Launch: Lankum
Gretchen Peters - Strings Attached
QH@40 gigs supported by Creative Scotland
Erland Cooper
Thu 18, 7.30pm
Fri 26, 8pm
Sat 4, 7.30pm
Sun 5, 7.30pm Fri 24, 8pm
Thu 30, 7.30pm
Leah MacRae: My Big Fat Fabulous Diary And much more, check our website for details...
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Woman hood
LEOPARD LOVE It might be spring, but in Scotland – that don’t mean a thing! We’re pretty sure that we’ll still be relying on our jumpers for a few weeks (or months) yet, so a new-season update seems perfectly sensible. Enter Scamp & Dude’s electric blue leopard print sweatshirt, which is the perfect transitional piece to keep you just cosy enough and ensure you’re looking cool, whatever the weather. Pair it with relaxed jeans or even chic dungarees for a laidback weekend look. Scamp & Dude leopard print sweatshirt, £50, indiandwill.com
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Smart Works Edinburgh helps women to feel conndent, look fabulous, succeed at their job interview, and move on with their life. Smart Works is a UK charity that dresses and trains women for their job interview. Each Ea woman who comes to Smart Works Edinburgh receives a complete interview outtt, personally styled for them and theirs to keep, followed by one to one interview training. All our high-quality clothes are donated by other women or retailers, and our styling and training is delivered by a skilled volunteer team. This past year, 71% of the women who visited Smart Works Edinburgh got the job. A visit to Smart Works can change the course of a woman’s life.
WOMANHOOD
Wear it three ways Real women need versatile pieces that work for real life, no matter what their day holds. This month, we show you how to style a jumpsuit for every occasion
Work
Shayne Brodie, 61, is a model based in Edinburgh. Find her on Instagram @mssilverlinings
Jumpsuit (used throughout), £34.99, and blazer, £24.99, H&M. Sandals, £19.99, New Look. hood • 41
Rest
Jumpsuit, as before. Roll neck, £9.99, New Look. Trainers, £14.99, H&M. Straw bag, £10, Primark. 42 • hood
Photographer: Aleksandra Modrzejewska • Make-up: Kate Cleland
WOMANHOOD
Play
Jumpsuit, as before. Blazer, £29.50, Marks & Spencer. Shoes, £25.99, bracelet, £3, and earrings, £3, New Look. Clutch, stylist’s own. hood • 43
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DOTTY about
SPOTS
They might sound childlike, but polka dot prints have been spotted on many a street styler this spring, and the effect is as whimsical as it is chic. Join the procession with monochrome pieces that are bang on point… Photography: Aleksandra Modrzejewska
Dress, £22, Warehouse. Scarf, £8.99, Zara. Earrings, £3, New Look.
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Top, £9.99, New Look. Skirt, £70, Free People at Harvey Nichols. Hat, £4, Primark.
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WOMANHOOD
Jumpsuit, £15, and earrings, £3, Primark. Bag, £17.99, H&M.
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WOMANHOOD
Top, £5, Primark. Trousers, £29.99, Zara. Earrings, £3, New Look.
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FEATURES
Dress, £220, Hugo Boss at Harvey Nichols. Hat, £4, and earrings, £3, Primark.
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Dress, £29.99, Zara. Bag, £10, Primark. Boots, stylist’s own.
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Dress, £89, Warehouse. Tights, £4, Amazon. Earrings, £3, bracelet, £2, and shoes, £25.99, New Look. Model: Oceane Bergerot at Model Team • Make-up: Kate Cleland
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In association with Jane Davidson
The style insider Got a burning fashion question? Unsure of the style etiquette for your next event? Owner of Edinburgh’s Jane Davidson boutique, Sarah Murray, is on hand to help. This month, she lets us in on her secrets to a stylish day at the races…
“F
or me, the start of spring means one thing: occasionwear. Ladies Day is one of the most hotly-anticipated events in the calendar, and rightly so, given it’s one of those rare occasions when getting all dressed up is actively encouraged! That said, the stakes are high and your outfit needs to be well considered, with strict dress codes in place and, often, prizes up for grabs. The basic rules are simple; think elegant, sophisticated and stylish. Dresses are a classic, but you can also look at top and skirt pairings or even jumpsuits and trouser suits. Whatever you choose though, etiquette insists you avoid anything too tight or revealing, so skip past strapless or midriff-baring numbers and consider your hemline – some races specify knee-length in their dress code, but I always think this looks incredibly chic anyway. Eva saucer hat, £340, Sally Ann Provan
Gigi pencil dress, £550, Goat
Nandita midi dress, £595, Beulah
For spring days, opt for a soft colour palette with shades of pink, mint, blue or cream, and think about prints – florals look particularly beautiful at this time of year. Goat’s Gigi pencil dress perfectly balances feminine floral details with a sleek shape, whilst Beulah’s Nandita dress feels fresh whilst remaining sophisticated. In terms of fabric, lace is a classic which always feels appropriate, whilst chiffons and silks are wonderfully floaty and elegant – though if it’s a blustery Scottish day, do as the Queen would and have a tailor sew in some hemline weights, so you’re not caught looking windswept! Well-considered accessories always make for a great finishing touch and shouldn’t be an afterthought. You’re creating an overall look here, so everything from how you wear your hair to your jewellery, bag and shoes will have an impact. Heels should be practical, but pretty, and heel stoppers are a must to avoid sinking into the mud, particularly with thinner heels. I personally think that the races offer a great excuse to wear a hat or headpiece, as the opportunities to do so are so rare. We stock some wonderful pieces by Sally-Ann Provan, so you can try your full outfit on and find the perfect hat to complement it. We can also help you to discover the perfect race day look that will ensure you’ll be on the best-dressed list – simply pop into store and our team can help to take you to the races in style. Jane Davidson, Thistle Street, Edinburgh. Tel: (0131) 225 3280. janedavidson.co.uk
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A holistic fusion of advanced science and Ayurvedic Massage, Ologie is here to help mind, body and soul shine again.
7 Brougham Street Edinburgh, EH3 9JS 0131 229 4668
www.ologieclinic.co.uk info@ologieclinic.co.uk Follow us:
A NOSE FOR CHANGE Q&A WITH JACK BAXTER
Glasgow’s colourist extraordinaire shares his expert advice on taking hair to a glossy, luxe blonde, and keeping it that way… What’s the most important factor in lightening hair? When I take a client blonde, the most important thing is always the condition of the hair. A hairdresser has a responsibility to advise clients on how far their hair can be pushed and what’s realistically possible. It’s always important to listen to the hair! What’s the most common misconception about colouring hair? That it’s easy to do. My most-used phrase when consulting with clients is that every hair colour has had a journey – and that’s easy to forget when you’re looking at social media for inspiration. If you want Instagrammable hair, there’s always a process behind that and you can get the look you want, but only if you trust your stylist and don’t rush the process.
Perfumer and founder of Scotland’s only independent fragrance house, Jorum Laboratories’ Euan McCall, shares his expertise on switching scents for spring… “Changing fragrance seasonally is a good idea, but spring’s unpredictability can make things tricky. For me, the spring air almost begs for more delicate fragrances, and I think it’s the right time of year to look at light and breezy, powdery and floral scents. Perfumes which combine a healthy dose of flowers with a nice green bite and an earthy development are particularly good in spring. To help these more delicate fragrances stay put, try spritzing your fragrance onto your coat or scarf, or layer onto your skin with a matching body lotion. I also love combining two fragrances, and spring is the perfect opportunity; wear a heavier fragrance on the skin, and mist a lighter scent over your clothing to create a halo of scent that lingers all day.” jorumlaboratories.co.uk
THE
BEAUTY CHART The skincare, hair and make-up news you need to know now…
Which products do you use and why? I use Redken in the salon. It’s perfect for the type of hair that I like to create, helping to strengthen the strands and minimise the risks involved in lightening, plus it gives me the flexibility to tailor every formula, so every client gets a bespoke blonde. How should blondes care for their colour at home? The process of lightening can be tough on the hair, so I tell my clients they have to care for it properly at home if they want it to look like it does in the salon. A good shampoo and conditioner combo is key – my favourite is Pureology Strength Cure, which is vegan, prevents fade and adds plenty of shine and moisture. @jackbaxter
THREE OF THE BEST: SPRING FRAGRANCES
Guerlain Jicky eau de toilette, £92, John Lewis Gucci A Song for the Rose eau de parfum, £240, Harvey Nichols Miller Harris Coeur de Jardin eau de parfum, £105, millerharris.com
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The sharp end of skincare The Dermaroller might look like a medieval torture device, but with fans swearing by its skin enhancing benefits, is it a case of no pain, no gain? Our editor, Jennifer Crichton-Gibson, finds out…
C
onfession time – I’m scared of needles. Embarrassingly, while I like to think I’m fairly brave (I execute my role of spider catcher-in-chief at home admirably), injections of any sort are well known to bring me out in a serious case of the heebie-jeebies. As such, it is with no small sense of trepidation that I arrive at the acclaimed Dermal Clinic for a microneedling treatment, here using the industry leading Genuine Dermaroller – effectively a tiny, handheld device covered in hundreds of 1.5mm needles that are passed repeatedly over your skin until you resemble, in the words of my fabulous therapist Jackie, “a human cherry tomato”. Why, you might ask? 56 • hood
Well, while it might sound fairly horrific, microneedling actually comes with some serious scientific thinking behind it and, when in the hands of a well-qualified therapist, the device can prompt all manner of beneficial changes, attacking everything from acne scarring and stretchmarks to fine lines and wrinkles. Effectively, the belief is that, by using tiny surgical steel needles to create small piercings over the treatment area, skin is forced to rejuvenate itself by encouraging new growth of collagen, elastin and fibroblasts. This activity strengthens the skin from within to leave it feeling smoother, firmer, brighter and healthier. After a thorough consultation with Jackie, during which she examines the paperwork I’ve completed about my health
TREATMENT TRUTHS
Three more to try
IT MIGHT SOUND FAIRLY HORRIFIC, BUT WHEN IN THE HANDS OF A WELL-QUALIFIED THERAPIST, MICRONEEDLING CAN BE USED TO TACKLE EVERYTHING FROM ACNE SCARRING TO STRETCHMARKS and beauty concerns, she gives my face a thorough cleanse and then slathers my skin in a thick layer of anaesthetic cream. Then the waiting game begins – the numbing effect of the cream can take around 40 minutes to kick in fully. I lie back with a cup of tea and relax – at least until one side of my mouth begins to freeze to such a degree that I can merely slur. At this point, Jackie declares me ready for treatment and I steel my nerves, expecting a pain that lives up to the appearance of the torture device approaching my face. And then… a very mild scratch across my forehead. “How’s that?”, Jackie enquires. “Erm, fine. Totally fine,” I exhale, surprised. As such, Jackie pushes on, running the roller repeatedly over my face, section by section. Some areas, such as the fatty apples of my cheeks, are no bother at all. Others, such as my nose and browbone, sting somewhat, the needles running closer to the bone. But it’s all entirely bearable – even my upper lip area, which I’m told I have the option to skip due to its sensitivity level. All that said, there’s no question that, for the squeamish, avoiding mirrors during the treatment would be advisable. For while my face might feel fine halfway through the procedure, the selfies tell a different tale. I look, to put it mildly, a fright. I’m blotchy and red, bleeding in places and not a pretty sight. Twenty minutes later though, after a
clean-up and the application of a soothing cream by Prescribed Solutions, designed to speed up healing, I can walk out of the door without too much shame. I look, admittedly, like the promised cherry tomato, but I will no longer scare small children – a definite plus with a five-year-old waiting at home. The next day, I wake up with skin that both looks and feels mildly sunburned – taut, tight and a tad red. This effect continues for a couple of days, at which point it begins to crack and flake. It’s not dramatic – with make-up on you’d have to look quite closely to notice anything amiss – but it is a definite change to my usually oily/combination skin. Within a few days though, things have settled down and my skin definitely feels smoother and more refreshed. Full effects from the treatment, however, take around six weeks to materialise, and depending on your particular skin complaint, multiple treatments are recommended. Is it a fun day out at the spa? No. Even at its best, microneedling is not a restful experience. But it is effective, and far less gruesome than the videos (which will definitely earn you the respect of those at home) would suggest. Smooth skin and bragging rights? Needle-phobia or not, I’ll return…
TCA SKIN PEEL A trichloroacetic acid, or TCA, peel is a chemical skin peel that can be effective for treating everything from pigmentation and uneven skin tone to wrinkles and acne scarring. At Sk:n’s clinics in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, staff use a variety of strengths to customise the treatment to patients’ individual needs. From £160 for a course of three. sknclinics.co.uk
DERMALUX LED If the idea of even slight discomfort puts you right off treatment for skin issues, this could be the appointment for you. Using LED lights to tackle all manner of skin difficulties, Renu Skin Clinic’s Dermalux programme is a safe and non-invasive way to trigger skin’s natural renewal processes. £45. renuskinclinic.co.uk
AGERA RX SKIN PEELS If microneedling seems a little dramatic, but you’re looking to tackle issues such as unwanted pigmentation, an Agera Rx peel could help. The mild chemical peel, on offer at Grampian Skin Clinic, stimulates the fibroblasts deep in your skin, without causing redness, peeling or irritation. From £75. grampianclinic.co.uk
Dermal Clinic, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, from £260. dermalclinic.co.uk
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WOMANHOOD
The eyes have it
While it can fill some with fear, properly applied eyeshadow can add depth and drama to any look. Beauty editor Sara Hill shows why it will be your best friend for SS19…
Soft and smokey
If you’re nervous about dark shades, why not try a warm bronze smoky eye for an understated look? After applying your base, swirl bronzer over the cheekbones, nose, forehead and chin, and then use a small eyeshadow brush to smudge the same shade over the eyelids and under the lower lashes, for a sexy but subtle smoke. Finish the look with a warm, rose-hued lipstick. 58 • hood
Pretty green eyes
A green smoky eye is cool and contemporary, bringing a flash of colour to your look. Use a damp eyeshadow brush to apply eyeshadow to the lid and lower lash line, then blend out to soft edges using a fluffy brush. Apply your base after the eyes are complete, to avoid fallout. We love luminous skin and a rosy cheek to complement this daring eye look.
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Purple reign
Softer than charcoal and with more depth than pink, purple eyeshadow is an easy way to add sophistication to your smokey eye. Apply your eye first, ensuring lashings of lashes with a few coats of mascara, and then move on to the rest of your make-up – go for a warm blush, glowing, perfected skin and a pop of bright lipstick to finish it off.
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Get the look SOFT AND SMOKEY Clinique Beyond Perfecting Super Concealer, £18.50, clinique.co.uk Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet foundation, £37, chanel.com Guerlain Rouge G de Guerlain lipstick in No. 02, £26, Guerlain.com Benefit Hoola bronzing powder, £26, benefitcosmetics.com
PRETTY GREEN EYES Dr Lipp Moisturising Colour Tint with Sweet Potato, £6.99, drlipp.com Iconic London Luminous Powder, £30, iconiclondoninc.com NARS Ganges single eyeshadow, £17, narscosmetics.co.uk Clinique Chubby Stick in Amp’d Up Apple, £20, clinique.co.uk
PURPLE REIGN Benefit Cheekleaders Mini Bronze Squad palette, £26, benefitcosmetics.com Maybelline The Blushed Nudes palette, £11.99, superdrug.com Fenty Beauty Pro Filtr Instant Retouch Concealer, £19, Harvey Nichols Origins Blooming Bold lipstick in Bold Bouquet, £18.50, origins.co.uk Make-up: Sara Hill • Hair: Pamela Docherty • Model: Lauren Tempany at Model Team • Photography: Donna McGowan • Retouching: Olga Grebennikowa
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Glow to go While a day at the spa is lovely, sometimes more than a relaxing facial is needed to really see results. But what if down time is out of the question? A host of new treatments at Dr Nestor’s Medical & Cosmetic Centre could help…
W
hether you’re a skincare addict or a soap and water person, when it comes to professional skin treatments, we often view the experience as falling into one of two camps. There’s the spa facial, where we expect a pampering experience full of luxurious scents, the focus on relaxation rather than long-lasting results. And then there’s medical skincare, encompassing everything from chemical peels to laser treatment, where the results can be wonderful, but the journey to reach them requiring of patience and, at times, a willingness to look less than your best. 62 • hood
But what about those occasions where you need to see fast improvement, or restore radiance quick smart? Well, that’s where the new clinically-led facial treatments on offer at Dr Nestor’s Medical & Cosmetic Centre in Edinburgh come into play. While the award-winning team is already well-renowned for its results-driven skin health programmes, for those who have already seen Dr Nestor himself and are working towards a long-term skin goal, the new treatments could prove a complementary way to accelerate progress. Performed by aesthetician Helen Cowan, the ZO Skin Health radiance peel is particularly useful for those
In association with Dr Nestor’s Medical & Cosmetic Centre
Five minutes with Helen Cowan Tell us a little about your background before joining the team at Dr Nestor’s… After completing my qualifications at Mary Reid International Beauty Academy in 2013, I worked my way up to senior therapist in an established multi award-winning salon, providing a full range of cosmetic and aesthetic services primarily focused on improving my clients' skin health. I spent seven years there, creating tailored programs and using peels, needling and energybased devices, and with that knowledge, I felt it was time to move to a more medical clinic to pursue my passion. What is it about medical facials and skincare treatments that appeals to you? After suffering from adult acne a few years back, I’m fully aware of the impact it can have on daily life. After that experience, I became passionate about giving people their confidence back by concentrating more on the results driven treatments, treating each client and their skincare needs individually. What are the key differences between the treatments you offer and standard spa facials? I thrive on getting results for my clients, and the treatments I offer are far more results driven and clinical than spa facials. The ZO Skincare range is medical strength, meaning alongside in clinic treatments, you can stick to your programme at home we can achieve your ultimate skin goals. Who are your treatments most suitable for? Honestly, for everyone! From acne, pigmentation and fine lines to simply wanting to keep your skin healthy and maintain that radiant glow. As I always tell my clients, prevention is key.
looking to manage acne or reduce the appearance of acne scarring. Using a combination of salicylic, glycolic and lactic acids, together with calming ingredients such as willow bark and liquorice root, the gentle but effective peel has a microbial effect that’s great for breakouts, and works by loosening the cells of the top layers of skin, peeling and exfoliating for smoother, healthier looking skin. For ageing skin, meanwhile, the ZO Ossentials stimulator peel uses beta and alpha acids to stimulate cell turnover, resulting in improved skin tone, texture and clarity without any downtime. Beloved by celebrities, the non-invasive treatment is known as ‘the lunchtime peel’ and is ideal for those looking to rejuvenate their complexion before a big event.
What is your favourite part of your job? It has to be exceeding expectations. I thrive on my clients' happiness and gaining results. Skin and its appearance are so important, and intimately tied into our psychology and self-confidence. It can have such a big impact in many different ways. What is your favourite skincare secret? I have a hot water and lemon every morning and evening, which is a lovely detox for my skin, and my new hero product is my ZO exfoliating polish – it feels like my very own at home microdermabrasion, leaving my skin silky soft, It’s not so much of a secret though as I’ve been shouting from the roof tops at how great it is. I can’t get enough of it!
Meanwhile, if you’re looking for the ultimate instant glow, with serious skincare science behind it, the M22 Carbon Laser Peel could be your skin saviour. Combining a skin-clearing carbon mask with non-invasive and pain-free laser treatment, the programme can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, even out pigmentation, shrink pores, and remove blackheads and acne, all with zero downtime. And if that doesn’t give you a dose of patience to await deeper seated change, we don’t know what will…
Dundas St, Edinburgh. Tel: (0131) 4671450. drnestor.co.uk
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TO SAVOUR IN THE SKY
It’s got indisputably the greatest view in the capital, but can the food at The Lookout by Gardener’s Cottage live up to the vista?
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realise I risk the wrath of many a reader here, but there’s little makes me more annoyed than my meal being delayed by a photography moment. Having friends who are food bloggers is a double-edged sword – they may be in the know about the tastiest spots in any given city, but their insistence on keeping me staring at a plate while they stand on a chair curating the best possible foodie flat-lay gives me the rage. It should not be taken as any indicator of the standard of The Lookout’s offering, though, that on the evening I visited with a table full of media types, not one of our phones was pointed downwards. Food photos were forgotten. Instead, we all grimaced and groaned as our cameras tried, and failed, to capture the inky nightscape blinking beautifully outside the restaurant’s glass walls. Many an accidental picture of the kitchen’s reflection was taken that evening, but if our inability to capture the view offers
up a reason to return to what is undoubtedly Edinburgh’s most dramatically-situated dining room, I’ll take it. Jutting out over the top of Calton Hill, what The Lookout lacks in accessibility (it’s quite some hike from the nearest permitted parking spot) it more than makes up for in spectacle, with floor to ceiling glass walls offering up frankly breath-taking views across Edinburgh, Fife and even further afield on a clear day. It’s a giant, skywards leap on from the quiet, understated vibe of its parent restaurant Gardener’s Cottage, though for all the ritzy views and chicly stylish minimalist interiors, the focus on fresh, seasonal Scottish produce remains. The Outlook is open for breakfast and lunch (and I’m dying to return to take in those views in daylight), but I visit on a weekday evening to sample the ever-changing, five-course signature set menu, priced at £70 a head.
FOOD IN THE ‘HOOD
Three more to try THE SEAFOOD RISTORANTE Located above the beach just behind the R&A in St Andrews, this chic, glass-walled spot does justice to its waterside setting, pairing stunning views of the town’s picturesque sands with equally awe-inspiring dishes of the freshest Scottish fish and shellfish. A seriously high-end spot, the lunchtime set menu is a steal, at £30 for three courses. theseafoodrestaurant.com
We start in understated but delicious style, with wedges of chewy sourdough bread and whipped butter served alongside a plate of translucently thin East Coast charcuterie, the highlight of which is a superlatively savoury, truffle-flecked salami. Next come two delicate tapioca crackers topped with white crab meat and a brown crab emulsion, with the addition of scurvy grass mayo bringing an interestingly green, vegetal note. A delicate plate of halibut with mussels, celeriac and artichoke proves to be the highlight of the meal for me, the perfectly cooked fish sitting atop a deliciously savoury slice of celeriac fondant, a sauce created from the mussel stock, a little cream and dill oil pulling everything together with an admirable subtlety. No such delicacy from the next plate, with two beautifully pink, generous hunks of Scottish venison acting as a savoury, gamey smack around the chops when paired with
perfectly caramelised salt baked beets, parsnip puree and purple sprouting broccoli. It’s a prime example of what the best of Scottish produce can amount to when allowed to shine. Dessert, a gin and tonic sorbet, is served alongside a citrus cream and deliciously crisp shortbreads, topped with delicate shards of meringue and architecturally arranged over a slightly savoury thyme pesto, the flavour combination adding up to much more than the simple recipe description. It’s a refreshingly light end to the meal, and a faultless summary of the menu as a whole – well-executed and seemingly simple, but with a subtle complexity that raises it above so many of its competitors in a figurative, as well as literal, sense. It might be new, it might be hard to get to, but on the evidence of this early showing, the sky is the limit for The Lookout. Calton Hill, Edinburgh. Tel: (0131) 3221246. thelookoutedinburgh.co
CAFÉ FISH There are few more quaintly picturesque spots in Scotland than the brightly coloured harbour of Tobermory on Mull, and local favourite Café Fish knows how to make the most of it. Pull up a seat by the window of this relaxed little haven and sample swimmingly fresh local seafood while gazing out across the harbour. Perfect. thecafefish.com
HICKORY This award-winning eatery, located in Nairn’s Golf View Hotel, serves up locally-landed seafood and meat comes from Crerar Home Farm pedigree herds in a traditional dining room that makes the most of its spectacular views across Moray Firth and the Black Isle. Making a weekend of it? Don’t miss the champagne afternoon tea… crerarhotels.com
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Easy Italian The Hazel family has been creating light, bright and delightfully traditional homestyle Italian dishes for more than 100 years at St Andrews-based institution Jannettas Gelateria. Here, they present three dishes that sum up their all flavour, no fuss approach…
Stuffed peppers Serves 4 • • • • • • • • •
1 small onion, peeled and finely chopped 3 closed cap mushrooms, cleaned and chopped 200g smoked bacon lardons ½ tsp Italian mixed herbs 4 large bell peppers 6oz dry breadcrumbs 1 tsp flat leaf parsley, finely chopped Handful black olives, pitted and finely chopped Ground black pepper
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1. Preheat your oven to 250°C. 2. Fry the bacon lardons in a little olive oil in a heavy-based saucepan. 3. Add the onion to the pan and fry it gently until translucent, then add the mushrooms, herbs and a good pinch of ground pepper, stir, then continue to cook for around ten minutes. 4. Add the olives and mix together. 5. Cut the peppers in half diagonally and remove the seeds, but leave the stalk on – this will help maintain the pepper’s shape, and will also look good when serving. 6. Transfer the cooked mixture to a large mixing bowl, add the breadcrumbs and finely chopped flat leaf parsley and mix well. 7. Stuff the peppers, taking care not to overfill them, then drizzle with olive oil and place in the oven. After 20 minutes, reduce the temperature to 180°C and cook for a further half an hour, keeping an eye to ensure they don’t burn. Remove from the oven and serve straight away with a fresh green salad. These will also keep well until the next day, and are equally delicious served cold.
FOOD IN THE ‘HOOD
Nocciola pesto pasta Serves 4 • 250g spaghetti • 1 garlic clove • 100g hazelnuts, toasted and without skins • 100g Parmesan cheese • 1 tbsp olive oil • 2 tbsp milk • 1 lemon, zest and juice • Salt and pepper, to season • Parmesan cheese, grated, to serve • Chives, chopped, to garnish
1. Bring a large saucepan of well-salted water to the boil and cook your pasta until al dente, following the instructions on the packet. 2. Meanwhile, place the hazelnuts, parmesan, olive oil, garlic, milk and lemon juice and zest into a food processor and blend until you have a grainy paste, adding some pasta water to give a looser consistency if necessary. 3. Drain the pasta, return it to the pan and immediately add the pesto. Stir until the pasta is well coated then serve immediately, garnished with the grated Parmesan and chopped chives.
Rhubarb, ginger and vanilla syllabub Serves 4 • 400g rhubarb, cut into 1cm cubes • 1 vanilla pod • 1 inch of fresh root ginger, peeled and finely grated • 75g caster sugar • 100ml white wine • 100g light mascarpone • 200ml double cream • 50g icing sugar 1. Place the rhubarb, ginger, vanilla, sugar and white wine in a pan and bring to a gentle boil. Lower the heat, then cover with a lid until softened. Set aside to cool. 2. Place the mascarpone, double cream and icing sugar into a bowl and whip until it forms loose peaks. Add a third of the stewed, cooled rhubarb into the cream mixture and gently fold. 3. Take four serving glasses and divide the remaining stewed rhubarb evenly between them, keeping some back for the topping. Follow with the cream mixture, then top with the reserved rhubarb. 4. Serve with an almond biscotti for a perfect springtime sweet treat. jannettas.co.uk
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An M&S Easter
Whether you’re hosting lunch or looking for delicious sweet treats, Marks & Spencer has everything you need this Easter. Here’s our pick of the products to make your celebration special…
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ombining a trio of our favourite things – prosecco, chocolate and the sweetness of berries – who could fail to fall for Marks & Spencer’s signature Easter offering this year – the Proseggo Easter egg? Created by master egg developer Katy Patino, the decadent chocolate treat blends the flavours of raspberries, blackcurrant and prosecco with smooth, luxury milk chocolate, resulting in a pink-hued treat that’s sure to make the grown-ups as happy as the little ones this Easter weekend. “This year’s egg collection is possibly my favourite ever,” Katy admits. “I absolutely love the new, on trend, Proseggo egg and, at just £5, you can treat your loved ones to that touch of luxury without breaking the bank.” Our advice? Stick one in your basket when you stock up on other sweet treats from the Easter range for the rest of the family… then hide it away for yourself when you get home!
Proseggo egg, £5
Moonbeam the Unicorn, £5
Hand-decorated Belgian Milk Chocolate Colosseum egg, £15 68 • hood
Jazzie egg, £4
In association with Marks & Spencer
A taste of spring
Nothing says Easter lunch like a delicious lamb roast, and for discerning diners, it doesn’t come better than Marks & Spencer. All of the retailer’s lamb comes from specially selected Scottish farms, where it is raised to M&S Select Farm Assurance standards on a wholesome natural diet. M&S guidelines cover everything from traceability and integrity to animal health and welfare, as well as transport, environmental protection and worker welfare – ensuring you can take pride in knowing you’re serving your family only the very best, most ethically raised produce.
One a penny, two a penny…
Easter wouldn’t be complete without a hot cross bun, and this year’s M&S offering is arguably its most tempting yet thanks to a new twist on a cult classic that’s sure to impress your guests: the Golden Hot Cross Bun. The apricot-hued, fruity treats are delicious served simply toasted with salted butter, but for a real Easter treat, we love them with a generous slick of M&S Scottish Heather Honey and a dusting of cinnamon. M&S hot cross bun developer, Sadia Usman, says: “This year sees the launch of our brand-new Golden Hot Cross Buns. They’re a mix of golden wholemeal flour and honey, goldenberries, sultanas, raisins and dried cranberries, and are truly scrumptious. The question is, how do you eat yours?” Golden Hot Cross Buns, £1.50 for four, available in store now
M&S Select Farmer, Andrew Houstoun from Glenshee, has been supplying M&S with lamb for 24 years. He says working with the brand brings huge benefits to his company • It means a lot to us to be working with such a well-respected retailer. We take great pride in producing the best quality product we can and are delighted to be working with a retailer that ensures Scotch Lamb is given the recognition it deserves • We are extremely proud of producing high quality meat from our family farm. We ensure our lamb is reared as naturally as possible on some of Scotland’s most beautiful pastural hills. Our lamb feed on grass and forage crops, part of the landscape and environment which is sustainably managed. • A healthy environment is essential for the future of Scottish agriculture and is always at the forefront of our decisions on the farm. • We put a lot of work into making sure our livestock is cared for to the highest of welfare standards. We work tirelessly to give our lambs the care and attention they need, ensuring they have a happy and healthy life on the farm.
The Marks & Spencer Easter range is available from stores across Scotland now. marksandspencer.com
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Jungle is massive We might be getting four seasons in one day outside, but who says we can’t bring the great outdoors into the warm? Tap into the trend for lush greenery and ethnic touches with Next’s home collection, which makes nailing the urban nomad vibe a walk in the park 70 • hood
In association with Next
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n interiors as in fashion, if there’s a general rule when it comes to trends it’s that what’s in one season is gone the next. But for every rule there is an exception, and in the case of our homes, the special case would appear to be our love of botanicals. It seems like it’s been years since we all fell in love with banana leaf, but as we approach summer 2019, the frenzy for all things jungle shows no signs of abating. Indeed, so keen have we become on the outdoor/indoor interiors look, green is now regarded as something of an interiors neutral, and whether you want to go maximalist, with leaf print wallpaper and leopard highlights, or more low key with a grey, green and white palette and ethnic touches of rattan and bamboo, there’s a way to make the look fit your mood. “Perhaps it’s because our own weather is so unpredictable, but the desire for homewares that take their inspiration from the great outdoors is showing no sign of slowing down,” the Next homewares team tells us. “What’s nice about this trend is that there are so many ways to adapt it to your own personal style. A dramatic printed wallpaper will bring a bold pop of colour to any room, but if it’s a little too dramatic, leaf print accessories, from table runners to cushions, towels and even rugs, can achieve the same look in a more manageable way. Or why not opt for dark green chairs in an otherwise neutral dining space? Combined with pale walls and natural woods, they bring depth of colour without overdosing on drama.” If you’re up for a bold, seasonal look, green pairs surprisingly well with Pantone’s colour of the year, living coral, while those who enjoy a darker finish will find bottle green and terracotta to be a marriage made in heaven. Simply add a hint of metallics and you’ve got a luxe take on lush. More Scandi in your sensibilities? Opt for cream, white or beige walls and use texture and greenery to bring life to the space. Unsurprisingly given the trend towards health and wellbeing, indoor plants too are having a moment – and while they’re an easy way to tap into the jungle trend,
and clear the air in your room at the same time, the use of plants and flowers also serves to brighten up any decorative theme in an accessible and affordable way. Not looking to overhaul your lounge? Simply add a trailing succulent to a bookshelf. Large fig or palm plants in baskets look lush and dramatic in larger spaces, or why not pop a planter in the corner of a smaller room to make use of empty space and bring fresh life in the process? “Houseplants look so modern right now, but in truth, they’re one of the easiest and most adaptable ways to add new life to your home without breaking the budget,” says a Next spokesperson. “Whether you opt to place an indoor tree in an ethnic belly basket, or to dot some small pot plants around your room, the effect far outweighs the effort involved. There’s such a gorgeous array of greens you can add through the use of plants, or if you’re looking to stick with an existing colour scheme, a couple of huge monstera leaves popped in a modern vase will offer a nod to the jungle trend in a subtle but chic way”. Modern, stylish and individual, the jungle trend, it seems, is one that’s very much here to stay. Pass us a fiddle leaf fig… next.co.uk
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A BETTER WAY TO EXTEND YOUR HOME
Edinburgh Showroom now open 0131 322 6753 retailinfo@sidey.co.uk www.sidey.co.uk
In association with Next
Lloyd bureau, £699
Juniper table runner, £16
Pink Fizz leopard candle, £5
Green reactive vase, £7
Banana leaf wallpaper, £20
Trailing succulent, £14
GET THE LOOK
Love the jungle chic look? These pieces from Next’s SS19 home collection will help you nail the trend.
Belly basket, £16
Tiger print cushion, £10
Lloyd sideboard, £699
Grass plant in stand, £18
All pieces available now at selected Next stores nationwide, and at next.co.uk
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Glen Affric
Off grid in an hour One of the great joys of Scotland is that wherever you live, you’re rarely more than an hour from retreating into some true wilderness. Don’t believe us? Here’s our pick of the away-from-it-all spots to camp, swim or walk, within easy reach of any city If you live near Glasgow, head for… Campsie Fells They may be just 19km from Glasgow, but the Campsie Fells feel a world away from the city hustle and bustle. A range of volcanic hills, hiding geographical evidence of 30 lava flows dating back more than 300 million years, there’s a level of walk here for every ability level, though those well-acquainted with their hiking boots will likely want to tackle the 578-metre Earl’s Seat. Near Stirling, Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park. visitscotland.com 74 • hood
If you live near Edinburgh, head for… Seacliff Beach Just five minutes outside the quaint seaside town of North Berwick lies the tiny sandstone harbour thought to be Britain’s smallest. Accessed via a coin-operated barrier tucked away down a hidden access road, the unspoilt private beach gazes out over the Bass Rock and Tantallon Castle’s ruins, and is a prime spot for those seeking solitude on even the sunniest of Scottish spring days. Tantallon, North Berwick, East Lothian. visitscotland.com
NEIGHBOURHOOD
Campsie Fells
Seacliff and Tantallon
If you live near Perth, head for… Glen Lyon Scotland’s longest enclosed glen, Glen Lyon weaves its way through 32 miles of Perthshire countryside, taking in the banks of Lochs Lyon and an Daimh, not to mention all manner of corries, gorges, meadows and pools perfect for a wild dip. Prefer to stay on dry land? You’ll also find Munros and Corbetts, paths through the remnants of the ancient Caledonian forest, and a host of angling opportunities too. Glen Lyon, Innerwick, Near Aberfeldy, Perthshire. visitscotland.com If you live near Dumfries, head for… Sandgreen Beach Gazing out over the beautiful Islands of Fleet, Sandgreen Beach is the best known (and easiest to find) spot on this trail of hidden coves, dunes, headlands and bays stretching from Sandgreen round to the village of Borgue. Whether your idea of relaxing is picnicking with a view, or taking a secluded dip, you’ll find something to please on this unspoilt stretch of coastline. Near Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries & Galloway. visitscotland.com
If you live near Dundee, head for… Corrie Fee A true haven for local plants, birds and animals, this wildly rocky basin was sculpted from ice thousands of years ago, leading to a dramatic mix of corries and cliffs, moraines and rivers. Popular with hill-walkers and bird-spotters alike, golden eagles and peregrines are a regular sight, while beautiful alpine flowers abound in summer. Not sure where to start exploring? The visitor reception at the Angus Glens Ranger Base will point you in the right direction. Glen Clova, Angus. nature.scot If you live near Inverness, head for… Glen Affric Dubbed the Glen of a Thousand Whispers, Glen Affric features more than 30 miles of ancient pinewoods, as well as sparkling lochs and acres of moorland that make it a haven for all manner of wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for ospreys and otters, or wait until autumn, when the red deer stags make their appearance. Inverness Forest District, Inverness. forestry.gov.uk
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Seafood Heaven
Delicious, fresh local produce with unbeatable sea views
The Pierhouse Hotel & Seafood Restaurant Port Appin, Argyll, PA38 4DE pierhousehotel.co.uk | 01631 730302
FEATURES
48 hours in…
Lisbon
Offering a perfect mix of bustling city break and chilled sunshine spot, Lisbon should be top of your travel to-do list this spring. We’ve scouted out the best bits of the Portuguese capital to help you make the most of 48 hours in this beautiful tiled city…
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DAY ONE 9am Set yourself up for the day with a completely customisable brunch at Early Birds, a bright and modern all-day breakfast café. The ‘Egg Constructor’ menu allows you to pick and choose your favourite ingredients – from pancakes to guacamole – to create a delicious personalised plate. Grab a table in the rough-and-ready secret back garden and sip your coffee in the sunshine for a slow start to the day, Lisbon style. 10am Lisbon is also known as The City of Seven Hills, and after a short walk through the cobbled streets, you’ll understand why. Ease yourself into it with a leisurely stroll downhill towards the water, where you’ll find Lisboat’s hop-on hop-off boat tours departing from Cais do Sodré. If you’re short on time and want to take in some of the city’s most famous sights, this is the way to do it. The boat trip to Belém takes around half an hour, and you can see the 25 de Abril Bridge, Padrão dos Descobrimentos and the Christ the King statue along the way. 11am Hop off the boat when it docks in Belém and admire the imposing medieval Torre de Belém, before taking a short stroll along to one of Lisbon’s most iconic cafes. Pastéis de Belém is famous for producing the city’s signature custard tarts, using an ancient recipe from the nearby Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. The queues at the takeaway counter are often lengthy, so settle in for a pastel de nata (or two) in the light and airy café instead. After sampling our way round Lisbon, we can confirm these little tarts are the original and the best… 11.30am Next up, take the 751 or 15E bus to the LX Factory, a historical industrial complex which is now home to a colony of artists and designers, with plenty of concept stores, studios, restaurants and cafés to explore. Lisbon’s coolest quarter, the young creatives here have transformed a dilapidated part of town into a colourful haven with everything from vintage shops to tattoo parlours, café bars to yoga studios. Stop for an espresso at the Wish Slow Coffee House or grab something to eat at artisan cheesecake café LXeesecake, before picking up a souvenir at the LX flea market (Sundays only) or shopping for books at the incredible Ler Devagar. 78 • hood
Boubous
3pm Head back towards the centre of the city for a late lunch at Pistola y Corazon, an authentic Mexican restaurant with a very laidback approach. There’s no cutlery here, no reservations, no individual tables. There’s often a queue at the door, but it’s well worth waiting for the fresh, flavoursome food that will follow. Once you’re seated, you’ll be given a paper menu to tick off your choices from the lunch offering, which is great value at just €9 for an agua fresca, three tacos, two quesadillas and a coffee. We’d recommend a portion of the de pescado tacos (beer battered hake with cilantro mayo, red cabbage and mango salsa). 4.30pm Lisbon is a city made for people-watching, so spend the afternoon soaking up the atmosphere in the leafy Rossio Square. In a city of winding streets and steep hills, the square is refreshingly open, with outdoor seating lining each pavement. Just south of the square, you’ll find the Elevador de Santa Justa, a historic cast iron lift which was originally built to connect the upper and lower streets of Lisbon’s centre, but which now serves as the perfect place to go for panoramic views of the city. Skip the queues at the entrance by walking up to the mid-level, then buy a ticket to access the viewing platform at the top. 7pm After a quick pitstop to get glammed up for dinner, make your way to Boubous, an undeniably stylish, yet casual, fine dining restaurant in the heart of the Principe Real district. Start off with a
cocktail at the dark, intimate bar (make ours a Frida, please), before heading through to the terrace for dinner, decked out with gorgeous wicker furniture, marble tables and hanging planters. The food here is refined and delicious without being pretentious, making it the perfect place for a ‘treat yo’self’ holiday dinner. Start with the steak tartare, then share the showstopper grilled octopus with sweet potato, dashi and aioli with a side of grilled cauliflower. 10pm Finish off the evening by sipping drinks in a rooftop bar as you watch the sun set. Located on the top floor of an unassuming hotel, The Garden is a tiki paradise which errs on the side of cool rather than kitsch. With a great party atmosphere at the weekends, you can enjoy DJ sets and live music along with your cocktails, and the fairy-lit terrace offers stunning views of Lisbon’s waterfront. Elsewhere in the city, PARK (situated on top of a multi-storey car park) is another buzzing rooftop bar well worth a visit.
FLYING FROM SCOTLAND Both easyJet and Ryanair offer direct flights from Edinburgh several times per week.
NEIGHBOURHOOD
of the River Tagus from the esplanade, it’s worth buying a ticket for the castle itself to learn more about the history and culture of Portugal’s capital. 2pm Feeling peckish? The Time Out Market is a must-visit when in Lisbon. This historic market hall has been transformed into a foodie haven, with everything from fresh produce and street food stalls to pop-up restaurants from Michelin-starred chefs. It’s a great way to try the local cuisine, and be sure to check for cooking workshops in the Chef’s Academy or events in the Time Out Studio during your visit. Be warned – the market has become very popular and can be extremely busy. If you’re after a more relaxed vibe, head to the traditional Mercado de Campo Ourique on the other side of the city instead.
A Cevicheria
4pm The beautiful tiles which decorate the sides of every other building in Lisbon play an integral part in the story of the city’s history. Stop by the National Tile Museum to discover five centuries’ worth of azulejos and learn about their importance in Portuguese culture.
Amelia
DAY TWO 9am As if Lisbon’s pretty pastel buildings and tiled streets weren’t already providing you with enough Instagram content, we’ve discovered the city’s most beautifully on-trend millennial brunch hangout, Amelia. Think rosy pink walls, neon signs, banana leaf plants and food that looks almost too pretty to eat. Live like a local and enjoy an alfresco brunch on the patio – you could opt for the trendy acai bowls or avocado toast, but we’d head straight for the pancake menu, which offers some of the biggest, fluffiest versions we’ve ever seen. 10am Just around the corner from Amelia is the stop for Lisbon’s iconic Tram 28.
Get yourself a ticket and take the scenic route from Campo de Ourique to Martim Moriz. There aren’t many seats on this dinky yellow tram, so your best bet is getting on at the start of the line and enjoying the views as you wind through the oldest parts of the city. Some of the streets barely seem wide enough for the tram to get through, but have faith… 11am Hop off the tram at the last stop, and it’s just a short (but steep) walk through the historic Alfama district to Castelo de São Jorge. An imposing Moorish castle perched on top of one of Lisbon’s seven hills, this is one landmark you won’t be able to miss. As well as admiring the panoramic views
6pm Wander back up (yet another) hill to the Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara to enjoy the sweeping postcard-perfect views from the terrace viewpoint. Just across the road is The Decadente, the ideal spot for pre-dinner cocktails. This place is actually part of a hostel, but you’d never know it from the stylish interiors and accomplished drinks menu. It’s cosy, casual and affordable, but with an air of luxury. 7.30pm Once you’ve worked up an appetite, head along to A Cevicheria for some of the best seafood in the city. Specialising in imaginative versions of traditional ceviche dishes, the restaurant is the brainchild of local restaurant legend Chef Kiko Martins. Choose the six-course tasting menu to get a feel for the kitchen’s most popular dishes, including the delightfully fresh and zingy pure ceviche. The restaurant is light and bright (with a statement octopus decoration suspended from the ceiling) but small and with a no-reservations policy, so be prepared to enjoy a glass of wine on the street outside as you queue for your table.
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NEIGHBOURHOOD
Castelo de São Jorge
WHERE TO STAY… $ The Independente Palatial rooms without the price tag? Yes please. The Independente describes itself as “not quite a hotel” – you’ll find no room service, mini-bars, in-room phones or spa at this bohemian venue. Instead, the no-frills approach means you get stunning rooms, decked out in perfectly shabby-chic vintage furniture, without the premium price tag. The young, friendly staff are happy to share their off-the-beaten-track recommendations too. theindependente.pt
$$ The Lumiares Perched on top of one of Lisbon’s seven hills in the heart of the Barrio Alto district, The Lumiares occupies a beautifully restored 18th century palace. The design-led rooms in this boutique aparthotel feature bold patterns, chic furniture and bespoke artwork, adding plenty of character to the 53 spacious suites. Don’t miss the small but stylish spa, and stop by for drinks or dinner at the rooftop Lumi Restaurant. thelumiares.com
$ Teatro B&B Quirky is the word that immediately springs to mind when we think of Teatro B&B. This place, which is more of a boutique hotel than a B&B, is inspired by theatre and the arts, with each room themed around a different character from Commedia dell’arte. The rooms are small but decadent, making it the perfect place to rest your head if you like things a little bit out of the ordinary. teatrobbb.com
$$$ Pousada de Lisboa The word “pousada” traditionally refers to a Portuguese hostel or inn, but that description couldn’t be further from the truth at Pousada de Lisboa. The stunning sunshine yellow building mixes historical elegance with modern luxury, creating one of the coolest hotels in the city. Elegant and sophisticated, it also has a wonderful spa and rooftop swimming pool. pousadas.pt
Your little black book of Lisbon Top five food and drink spots boubous.com acevicheria.pt pistolaycorazon.com pasteisdebelem.pt thegarden.pt Must-not-miss attractions castelodesaojorge.pt torrebelem.gov.pt lisboat.com timeoutmarket.com/lisboa museudoazulejo.pt
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MANHOOD
GA R RY SPE NC E Is on email, if you need him…
F
or most of the last month I’ve been in a very bad place. I have been without my mobile phone and, without boring you with the more intricate details of my complaint regarding my provider’s alleged ‘flexi-upgrade’ programme, let me just take you through the five stages of phone-loss grief. 1. DENIAL I have no idea where the phone is but it just has to be somewhere. I’m not even going to start retracing all my steps throughout the house, I’ll just try not to think about it for a couple of minutes and it’ll magically reappear. It’ll be down the sofa. or that bit below my car radio where it always blends in to the background. Or in one of the kitchen drawers where I would never put it because they are the ‘Boris Johnson’s hair’ of the storage world – inexplicably full of unexpected crap. I will keep adding to this list of extreme outside possibilities until I am ready for the next stage, which is… 2. ANGER Mainly with myself for never, ever, ever backing things up and deleting anything I don’t need. Every so often I’m offered the chance to back-up my WhatsApp which I’ve always found to be a hugely hilarious suggestion. Now, hilarity is far from my mind. I’m just so angry. I’m an idiot. An idiot who didn’t update his bank with the individual chassis number of the phone, thus cancelling out the insurance. The list goes on. 3. BARGAINING Grovelling, begging, pleading – every conceivable act of desperation is now being either tried or contemplated. I send texts to myself in the fainter than faint hope somebody has found my phone and will send it to me at the address I specify on the text. I even offer a reward. This beacon of desperation goes out on all social media and half the world now knows my condition. The sympathetic messages flow in with suggestions on how I should deal with the situation by means of alternative communication methods. 4. DEPRESSION None of the above has worked and the sorrow of all that has happened starts to weigh heavy. I cry for the photos of my family. I wail for the very important details of life admin which should 82 • hood
never have been – under any circumstances – saved in Notes. But most of all, I cry for the memes, those hourly gifts from my various group chat comrades. I miss them more than the homescreen picture of my wife holding our first and only son. I find myself laughing at the TV, before it hits me all over again – a wave of grief mixed with guilt for daring to attempt happiness, as if the phone had never existed. 5. ACCEPTANCE It’s over. It’s time to move on and make new memories with a new device. Finally, after weeks of DM’s with my provider on Twitter and several hours on the phone with somebody I cannot understand (and am unable to express my lack of understanding to because that would make ME feel like the bad guy), it arrives. I talk myself into pulling back the perfectly clean, plastic film, and the painful sixteen-hour process of setting it up begins. Damn clouds. Remember how simple life was when your entire existence wasn’t on your phone? Garry is the host of Capital Scotland’s Drivetime show, weekdays from 4pm to 7pm
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