12 minute read
Time to Look at a Book?
Nothing beats a GOOD BOOK
The season of reading is upon us. There is nothing quite like enjoying a good read en plein air. From emerging to established authors and from chefs to royalty, we’ve got you covered. So, if you’re in the market for your next book, here’s our selection of the best page-turners. Sit back, relax and get stuck in.
How this celebrated chef coped with owning a restaurant
One of New York’s most celebrated chefs, Gabrielle Hamilton is not only a success in the kitchen but also a very gifted writer. Her New York Times column about navigating restaurant ownership during the pandemic, perfectly captured the absurdity of reality and showcased all the ins and outs of the industry. Her memoir follows her unconventional journey through the many kitchens she has found herself in over the years. The way she talks of food and about other women in her life is spellbinding. Her story is told with rare honesty, grit, wit and passion. This is the chapter that was never told. It is the story of how Britain went to war with Germany in 1939. In the early 1930s a group of young, homosexual British MP’s visited Berlin on a series of trips that would change the course of the Second World War. Having witnessed the Nazis’ violence first-hand, these men were some of the first to warn Britain about Hitler, frequently speaking out against the government’s policy of appeasing him. Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain hated them. Labelling them ‘the glamour boys’, he had their phones tapped and threatened them with exposure. At a time when even the suggestion of homosexuality could land you in prison, the bravery these men were forced to show in their personal lives gave them astonishing courage in public. Undeterred, they refused to be silenced and when war came, they enlisted. Four of them died in action. And without them, Britain would never have faced down the Nazis.
How ‘the glamour boys’ changed the course of history
A new life by the sea
In the coastal town of Margate, hotels sit empty and ‘For Sale’ signs grace the streets. The sea is higher and those who can are moving inland, however a young girl, Chance, is just arriving. Her family is one of many offered a cash grant to move out of London, so along with her mother Jas, and brother JD, they relocate to the seaside. The family welcomes the space and fresh air which is a far cry from the cramped bedsit they have lived in until now. However, old and new acquaintances start to shake things up. Set against a backdrop of soaring inequality and creeping political extremism, Rankin-Gee demonstrates, with deep humanity, the enduring power of love and hope in a world spinning out of control.
Philip The Final Portrait tells the story of two contrasting lives, assessing the Duke of Edinburgh’s character and achievement and exploring the nature of his relationships with his wife, his children and their families. This is a powerful, revealing and moving account of a long life and a remarkable royal partnership told with unique insight and authority by an author who knew the Prince for more than forty years. This is the final portrait of an unexpected and often misunderstood figure. Shuggie Bain is the unforgettable story of young Hugh “Shuggie” Bain, a sweet and lonely boy who spends his 1980s childhood in run-down public housing in Glasgow, Scotland. His mother, Agnes Bain has always expected more from life. She dreams of greater things: a house with its own front door and a life bought and paid for outright, but Agnes is abandoned by her philandering husband, and soon she and her three children find themselves trapped in a decimated mining town. As she turns more and more to drink, the children try their best to save her, yet one by one they must abandon her to save themselves. It is her son, Shuggie who holds out hope the longest. A heart-breaking story of addiction, sexuality, and love, Shuggie Bain is an epic portrayal of a working-class family that is rarely seen in fiction.
The sinking of The White Ship was one of the greatest disasters in English history. When it sank sailing from Normandy to England, it was carrying the only legitimate heir to King Henry I, William of Etheling; the rowdy, egotistical young prince who had made a party out of the journey, pushing wine into the eager hands of the crew. It was the middle of the night when the drunken helmsman rammed the ship into rocks. Only one of three hundred aboard lived to tell the tale. The White Ship, by our cover star, Charles Spencer, tells the real story of how one disastrous shipwreck changed England’s course forever.
Growing up in working- class Scotland
A moving story of the Royals A story that changed the course of history
#HappyPod
Joy and Excitement as Avery Care Homes Open for Visitors!
With frequent Prime Minister announcements in the easing of lockdown restrictions, and in a continued effort by Avery to assist relative visiting during the pandemic, the Group has invested in outdoor garden ‘visitor pods’ with a rapid install programme seeing them pop up in the portfolio of 59 care homes at a rate of three per week.
The pods, installed by Wild Environments, are a garden room specifically designed to facilitate safe face-to-face contact with relatives and visitors. Each pod contains a floor to ceiling glass partition, completely dividing the space, meaning there is no need to wear a mask, and a hands-free intercom so that communication is clear and safe for use. The luxury pods also boast heating and air conditioning, making a comfortable interior so that residents and families can spend time together.
The homes and the Avery families have been delighted with their new pod for residents to enjoy quality time with their family and loved ones in a safe and comfortable setting. Steve Matthews, son of Stratford upon Avon’s Scholars Mews resident Violet, said, “It was absolutely lovely, and you would never know that there was a glass panel between us. The intercom system worked really well, so voices were very clear.”
Socialising is such an essential part of our lives and supports mental health. Avery’s staff have done a fantastic job adapting to the current times and keeping residents connected. It has been wonderful to see families reuniting with loved ones after following strict government guidelines for so long. And in true Avery fashion, some homes have been throwing parties to welcome visitors back. One such home, Glenmoor House in Corby, made the emotional reunion extra special as they celebrated by decorating the home with ‘Welcome Back’ banners, balloons and handed out flowers to their visitors. Resident Jean, who had a special visit from her daughter Lyn, said, “Is this real? I dreamed about seeing you, and now you’re here!” To which her daughter replied, “Yes, it’s real. You can pinch
me if you like? I am over the moon with my flowers and how lovely the home is looking. I am so happy to be back in the home to hold my mother’s hand and talk face-to-face.”
A Step in the Right Direction
For many of us, particularly care home residents and staff, the past months have been tough. They are now looking forward to a brighter future with some normality, aided by the vaccine roll-out plan, which protects from the virus at an encouraging pace.
Residents at Clayton Manor in Congleton were delighted to receive their first dose of the vaccine. Working with Readesmoor Medical Centre, Home Manager, Sally Latham said, “Clayton Manor and Readesmoor Medical Practice have enjoyed an excellent working relationship for many years, delivering the highest standard of care to the people living in the home which cares for people living with general nursing, residential and dementia residential needs.”
The vaccine has had such an impact on everyone in the homes and has brought such hope, there was soon an addictive feel-good vibe that residents and staff wanted to share. One member of staff saw the new dance craze ‘Jerusalema’ that was designed to spread messages of hope during the pandemic, and within the week the homes were dusting off their dancing shoes and dancing the Jerusalema Dance Challenge, to promote the vaccine take-up to all.
Watch the video. It is one of those feel-good moments when we can all take a breath and start to feel positive!
GREY PRIDE
Embracing Your Inner Silver Fox or Vixen
Rachel Carr lives in Norwich with her boyfriend of 17 years, Sean, and their tabby and white cat, Walter. After graduating with an English degree, aged 45, she is starting a new career as a writer. This is her first published piece of work. Since lockdown, she hasn’t been able to keep up with her natural (ahem) blonde, which unmasked two grey hairs. She feels the experience qualified her to write this article. Rachel loves animals, books and laughing at silly things on the internet. She also enjoys drinking cocktails with friends, and her much older siblings.
While ditching the dye has become popular during the pandemic, conscious decisions are now being made to accept naturally greying hair. The new tone has been dubbed grombre (grey + ombre) and it even has its own Instagram page.
Grey hair is no longer associated with the negative cultural signifiers of growing old, giving up and stress. In recent years the perceptions of grey hair have shifted - stylish and confident are now the ordre du jour. For men, greys and silvers have always been synonymous with wisdom and experience; Cary Grant was labelled ‘distinguished’ when he began to turn grey. Hair dye company Just For Men attempted to discourage grey hair by subverting its poster boy, George Clooney, and convincing men not to emulate him with the tagline, ‘Grey’s Not For Everyone’. However, there is now a grey movement of Hollywood men and women which is inspiring others to stop dyeing their hair. The influence has been far reaching, Asian women, who traditionally kept their hair dark as they aged, are now favouring a low maintenance approach too. Jane Fonda has swapped her blonde layered style for a silver pixie cut, and she has never looked brighter. Helen Mirren has a short and shiny white bob, while Jamie Lee Curtis and Meryl Streep are embracing their soft salt ‘n’ pepper tones. They are still as relevant and present on the (literal) silver screen as their younger counterparts.
Everyone experiences grey hair at different rates and ages, for some it is a few strands of silver glitter growing out of the middle of the roots. For others, it is a bit of frosting around the temples, but one of the more unique quirks of going grey is the Mallen streak, otherwise known as a skunk line. It was previously used to depict evil Johnny Depp in Sweeny Todd, or vampire Lily Munster. Its etymology derives from the Latin word malignus, meaning wicked, it also had an association with witchcraft in Medieval times. These days, it is a style statement favoured by One Direction’s Zayn Malik and presenter George Lamb. Newsreader and presenter Charlene White is showcasing a Mallen streak too, while presenter and journalist Caryn Franklin had one as her trademark for years. Society is
@iris.apfel
@baddiewinkle
no longer hiding from the ageing process, while other societies have always had differing views on ageing. In Māori culture, and any Polynesian culture in the South Pacific, older people are considered an asset. Far from becoming invisible, they are relied upon to guide the younger generation and pass on the culture of the Māori tribe; rather than retire, they become leaders. The physical signs of ageing are seen as positive amongst Polynesian cultures, grey hair is a sign of a valued life well-lived.
There is currently a demand for older models; now a global business, Grey Model Agency only accepts models over the age of 35 and their models, which are beyond retirement age are receiving prestigious and plentiful work. Fashion houses such as Dolce & Gabbana and Yves Saint Laurent are employing models over the age of 70 in their campaigns, and the glossy pages of Vogue are adorned with grey haired men and women. The beauty industry is catching up, and cashing in too. In order to maintain the vibrancy and condition of hair which is losing its pigment, lilac, and blue-toned shampoos and treatments are essential. When hair loses colour it becomes coarser, but with the correct care it can still be silky and shiny. The industry traditionally emphasised youth with vintage adverts from Clariol, dramatically telling women that grey hair was ‘The Heartless Dictator’, and Brownatone hair dye proclaiming, ‘You Cannot Afford to be Gray’. Nowadays, rather than tapping into the insecurities surrounding ageing, brands now encourage the older demographic to embrace it. It is also savvy enough to alter the terminology on its products - beauty creams are no longer anti-ageing, they are pro-ageing.
Attitudes towards ageing have changed, social media is a testament to that, the platforms host several groups aimed at supporting those who have decided to let their natural grey shine through. Facebook has Going Grey Gracefully, and Going Gray, Looking Great! Their members seek advice and inspiration, and their numbers are increasing. Grey hair is flattering for all skin tones and with a paint chart’s worth of shades, pewter, charcoal and platinum, to name a few, it is far from dull. The stigma of ageing is disappearing, along with the granny stereotype, Francis Dunscombe, who posed naked aged 82, told BBC Ideas that her confidence has grown with age. Positive ageing posts appear regularly on Instagram accounts, which are now more instaglam than instagran. Ladies and Gents - ditch the dye and join the ‘grey hair, don’t care’ revolution.
