FEEL-GOOD INSPIRATION

Live, look & feel fabulous

MELINDA MESSENGER
HOW TO
‘Midlife can REDUCE
be the best STRESS
time of life’ With tips from
Dr Dawn Harper
On her career
change and
feeling fulfilled THE BIG DEBATE
in her 50s
Should we live
communally as
we get older?

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5
A GLOWING
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MONEY
SAVING COLUMNISTS
MEALS Loose Women’s Jane Moore
Healthy Triathlete Louise Minchin
dinners
sorted! Author Adele Parks MBE

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 Editor’s
welcome
Spring is on its way – hooray! The lighter days This month
mean we can get outside for a dose of natural light, I’m trying..
which is so important for health and happiness. But
although spring is a time to be out and about, it’s also
a great time for a spring clean, especially to open up
the windows and give everything a good airing.
I say this, as we have a feature about the rather
unpleasant topic of mould (p80), which can be a
The CBD Collection
silent killer when lurking in cupboards, carpets and of teas, £28.99,
corners, quietly harming your health. We often have all our windows jpsoriginals.com.

closed in winter to keep the heat in and this can result in a build-up of
condensation, which can trigger mould. I encourage you all to have a
thorough look around your home for any mould. The feature contains
tips on cleaning, but sometimes it’s good to call the professionals too
as mould isn’t something you want to mess with or breathe in.
Also on the home front, our Big Debate (p70) looks at shared housing
and why this could be a great idea – not only in retirement but for some DIRTEA Cacao
even before that – as a way to combat loneliness, which is endemic Mushroom Super
Blend, £49.99,
in the UK. We’ve also got a round up of solo holidays as requested by dirteaworld.com.
a reader (p56). And last but no means least, our cover star Melinda
Messenger shares how she felt the fear when it came to changing career
at midlife but did it anyway – plus it’s her birthday the day this issue
goes on sale! Happy birthday Melinda from all at team Platinum.
IMAGE OF KATY: GEORGINALITTLEPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK.

Katy x WillPowder MCT

Keto Creamer
Sachets, £21,
Katy Sunnassee, Editor-in-Chief willpowders.com.
Connect with me at instagram.com/thehealtheditor

Thank you for joining our Platinum Ambassadors!

Many thanks to everyone who emailed in to join, or re-join, the Platinum Ambassadors. We
will be including your submissions from the next issue. It’s not too late to sign up though –
simply email platinum.readers@kelsey.co.uk with AMBASSADORS in the subject header.
We want to hear about your tips, tricks and reviews of anything from recipes to fitness ideas.
All messages are diverted to my inbox, and I get hundreds of emails a day so please be
patient, as I will endeavour to get back to everyone individually – eventually!

PLATINUM 3
 COVER INTERVIEW
16 MELINDA MESSENGER on new
career, new loves and life after TV
April 2024

Your style
26 PLATINUM PICKS
Things are looking peachy this
month with spring fashions
28 FASHION INSIDER
It's time to ditch the trends and
create your own style
32 WORK IT OUT!
Comfortable and technical

70
activewear for your outdoor pursuits
Contents

You beauty! SHOULD WE ALL

42 FACE IN FIVE LIVE COMMUNALLY
IN OLDER AGE?
Dottie Monaghan's subtle make-up
tips to highlight your features
44 LET THERE BE LIGHT!
Read our in-depth review of the
best at-home LED face masks
DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT
50 TIME TO LATHER UP! Discover beautiful bedding and
It's time to rediscover the benefits fabrics from Secret Linen Store

IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK AND VARIOUS BRANDS. COVER IMAGE: JENNY SMITH.

of good old-fashioned soap
52 PLATINUM BEAUTY AWARDS
Meet our panel of experts putting
Adventure time
56 ME, MYSELF AND I
Four stunning solo retreats to
escape to in the UK and Europe
60 ADVENTURE IN ASPEN
The popular ski destination has
much more to offer in the sunshine
66 GIVEAWAY TIME!
Enter our prize draw for a luxury
overnight spa stay worth £700
Home comforts
70 LET'S LIVE TOGETHER?
Can communal living solve the
isolation crisis in older age?
IS YOUR HOUSE HARMING
YOU? Find the causes and
solutions for mould that might
be lurking at home
TIME TO FRESHEN UP
Interior inspiration to brighten
up your home in time for spring
5 MONEY-SAVING MEALS
Deliciously speedy and thrifty
recipes from chef Rosie Sykes
96 FROM AIRLINE EXEC TO
INSPIRING ORPHANS
Read one woman's inspiring
move from corporate career
ladder to charity champion
100 3 WAYS TO BOOST YOUR
CAREER In need of a change?
SUBTLE MAKE-UP TIPS Find expert advice on switching
FOR DAYTIME GLAM direction in later-life working

4 PLATINUM
 Your healthy life
106 DR DAWN HARPER The doctor
offers stress-busting advice ahead
of Stress Awareness Month
108 TIME TO SET NEW
BOUNDARIES? How to say
no and take back control with
advice from coach Brenda Winkle
112 THE MENOPAUSE GUINEAPIG
Elizabeth Joseph focuses hard on
overcoming menopausal brain fog
with some interesting ideas
88
SPEEDY, MONEY-
SAVING RECIPES
PEACHY
PLATINUM
PICKS
114 'THE JOYS AND HORRORS
56
REDISCOVER
YOURSELF AT
A SOLO RETREAT
OF GROWING OLDER!'
Author Sylvie Boulay shares all
120 THE HEALTH COACH
Create an attitude of gratitude
with Suzy Glaskie's top tips
128 WALK AWAY YOUR...
Tight hip flexors, with Joanna
Hall's expert walking guide
130 FIT & FEARLESS Louise Minchin
conquers the surf in Sri Lanka
Regulars
10 STAYING IN, GOING OUT
Your guide to what’s on
12 MOORE’S MONTH Jane
Moore on lasting friendships
14 BOOK CLUB Adele Parks
rounds up the best new reads
52 BEAUTY AWARDS Meet
our panel of industry experts
122 SUBSCRIBE TODAY
Never miss an issue!
124 PUZZLES Three pages of
problems to boost your brain
78
DESIGNER
SPOTLIGHT:
SECRET
LINEN STORE
PLATINUM 5
Our
experts
Each month, our team of experts share their wealth of
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Yalding Hill, Yalding, Kent ME18 6AL
01959 541444, email platinum.letters@kelsey.co.uk
(Please do not send products to this address).
THE TEAM
Produced for Kelsey Media by The Health Editor Ltd
knowledge, from fashion and beauty to health and wellbeing. Editor-in-Chief Katy Sunnassee (katy@thehealtheditor.com)
Editor’s Assistant Emma Coxon
Art Director Jennifer Ratcliff
Production Editor Emma Conquer
Regulars Editor Lily Smith
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01732 446 755, neil@talk-media.uk
LOUISE MINCHIN A D E L E PA R K S M B E JA N E M O O R E
The TV presenter Bestselling author The Loose Women MANAGEMENT
Managing Director (Lifestyle) Oswin Grady
and author finds Adele rounds up presenter shares her Retail Director Steve Brown
surfing success on her six favourite latest thoughts, and Head of Direct Consumer Revenue Nick McIntosh
Direct Consumer Revenue Executive Molly Walton
her latest sporting new reads for why female friends Print Production Manager Georgina Harris
Print Production Controller Hayley Brown
adventure. us this month. are all you need.
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not supersede the advice of medical experts. You must not rely on
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any medical condition, seek expert attention.

Platinum Magazine is a registered trademark and is published monthly by Kelsey Media

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Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden except with permission in writing from the
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Note to contributors: Articles submitted for consideration by the editor must be the
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JOANNA HALL GAIL ROLFE ELIZABETH JOSEPH and services offered by third parties.
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PLATINUM 6
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Have your
say… Thanks for writing in to share feedback on the magazine.
Here’s a selection of your letters this month. Email your
thoughts to us at platinum.letters@kelsey.co.uk.

‘I want to read more about how to have

a voice as an elder in society’
‘I feel Platinum has got so much
potential as a mainstream magazine
reaching out to mature women. And
I also feel frustrated that it feels
so much like many other women’s
magazines. As a menopaused woman,
life is about embracing new ideas, new
concepts and new perspectives on life
and society and my role in it. I so wish
Platinum would dare to start tackling
a few more relevant topics to women
who don’t necessarily have the budget
nor interest in expensive holidays, for
example, but who are more concerned
about how to have a concrete voice
as an elder in society – a society that
faces so many serious challenges. I
am not sure we want yet more fashion
pages and the lure towards more
selfish, well-to-do lifestyles that don’t
contribute anything concrete to our
positions as elders.’ Suzanne
some of which will resonate with and finance stories to help women
readers and others not so much. It’s working longer and later in life, either
impossible to please all of the people by choice or circumstance. And going
all of the time, as they say (which I back to fashion, I’m thinking about
found out very quickly when I removed including either a one-off or regular
the puzzle pages!). column on pre-loved, i.e. second-hand,
In this issue we are looking at the fashion. If you or any others reading
topic of housing for older generations this have specific ideas for features
and at alternative options people might or topics you’d like to read, please
consider, as loneliness is a major issue write in and let me know and I’ll
facing a lot of older people. I also look see what I can do. All the best,’
for useful and/or inspiring work, career Katy, Editor-In-Chief
STAR LETTER PRIZE!
Congratulations Suzanne, you win a bundle of
Star Viridian Nutrition products worth £95! Ethical and
letter pure, with 100 per cent active ingredients, Viridian
products will help support your health as we head
into spring. The brand will send your prize directly.

‘Dear Suzanne, thanks for your honest

opinions, which I will most certainly
take into consideration. I am always
looking to source relevant, helpful
IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK AND VIRIDIAN.

topics that contribute positively to the

lives of the readers at the life stage
they are at, and I know what you
mean about not necessarily wanting or
needing more fashion (though a lot of
readers do say they like the beauty and
fashion, as we present a range of price
points, not just high-end fashion, so
I can’t do away with those).
This type of magazine always has
to provide a balance of content pillars,

8 PLATINUM
 Your letters

‘THANK YOU
PLATINUM FOR
BRIGHTENING
MY JANUARY’
‘Browsing the magazine section at
my local store, I was looking for
something to cheer up the post-
Christmas, dark January days.
Platinum instantly caught my eye:
I loved the image, the colour, the
articles mentioned. I am heading
towards my 70th birthday this
year so the article about planning
financially to live to 100 was of
particular interest. Also, who
could resist a £5,000 giveaway!
A diamond necklace would be a
real treat. Thank you, Platinum, for
brightening my January.’ Susan

‘Dear Susan, I’m glad the February

‘THERE IS SOMETHING
FOR EVERYONE’
‘What a great magazine with diverse
articles. Because many people
continue to work into their 70s, you
manage to be inclusive, and with a
good age range of models too. There
is something for everyone.’ Norma
‘Dear Norma, thanks for your lovely
message and positive feedback. I do
try to make sure the models are age
‘PLEASE PROVIDE SOME
CHAIR EXERCISES’
‘As a returning reader to Platinum,
I was pleased to see that it hasn’t
lost its wide range of informative
articles. Last issue there were a lot of
wellbeing articles, which also made
good reading. But could Platinum
please consider giving some chair-
based exercises? As a disabled
person, I would love to be fitter but
there are no local groups where I live.
issue caught your eye – we must
do red again! – and that you were
drawn to that feature. As a health
journalist (and also editor of Top
Santé magazine, which is all about
health for women 40+), it’s a real
interest of mine to find out all the
latest ways to stay fit and healthy
and improve longevity – although
it’s not always easy to do it all!
I am passionate about sharing
information with other women
on health and longevity, as it
saddens me to see so many people,
including ones close to me, ravaged
by lifestyle diseases that could
possibly have been averted had
they made healthier choices. This is
in part why there are more health
features now, although I try hard
not to turn Platinum into a health
magazine as I know not everyone
is as interested in the topic as I
am. Good luck with the diamond
competition too – we may have
picked a winner already by the
time this goes to press!’ Katy
Financial planning

appropriate – although that’s not Others in my situation may benefit as

Are you W
ith demographers predicting that 100, but in order to accommodate this, the
today’s five-year-olds have a old financial playbook possibly needs rewriting
better chance than ever of living for a new era.

always possible with fashion shots, as well. Carry on the good work.’ Jo
to be centenarians, it is crucial to ‘Getting the risk levels right by not necessarily
be prepared for a potentially longer lifespan by following the old norms that dictate people

financially
prioritising the pace of your spending and the
longevity of your wealth.
According to the latest ONS data, the UK is
home to 13,924 centenarians, placing us seventh
worldwide for the highest number.
should be in low-risk investments as they
approach retirement because their money needs
protecting, is key,’ he says.
‘People are living better for longer and have
big goals and ambitions far beyond retirement,

it’s still the case that most brands shoot

Moneyfarm estimates that the average person so make sure your money continues to grow at
will need a retirement pot of £650,000 – in a rate to match those ambitions. Slowing down

prepared to
addition to their state pension and taking into
consideration 1.5 per cent growth after inflation
– if they are to live comfortably on £30,000
a year from the age of 66 through to 100.
Chris Rudden, head of investment consultants
is not the answer, so don’t forget about “future
you”,’ adds Chris.
SAVINGS & PENSIONS
The thing to remember is that, hopefully, you will

their campaign imagery on models ‘Dear Jo, thank you for writing in
at Moneyfarm says: ‘From a financial perspective be living in retirement for a long time, and you

live to 100?
it is now almost prudent to assume you will reach want to be living comfortably. That might sound

younger than their target audience. and for making this suggestion. I will With advancements in healthcare and improved lifestyle choices, reaching the grand
old age of 100 is becoming a tangible reality. Platinum looks at ways to ensure you
have provisions in place to reach a century with money still in your pocket!

However, this is slowly starting to
change, as you will see from some
of the lovely imagery we have on our
active wear round up this issue.
Many thanks,’ Katy
look to see how we can include some
chair-based workouts for people with
limited mobility. And I am so pleased
to hear you are a returning reader –
welcome back!’ Katy 98 PLATINUM PLATINUM 99

PLATINUM 9
STAYING IN
GOING OUT Y O U R W H AT ’ S - O N G U I D E
Make the most of your downtime with our guide
to the best entertainment for the months ahead.

Upcoming events
TASTE CHESHIRE FOOD & DRINK
FESTIVAL 2024
MARCH 30-APRIL 1, CHESTER,
CHESHIRE (chesterfoodanddrink.co.uk)
Returning for its 24th year, this celebration of
food features celebrity chefs, cooking classes
for kids and adults, plus over 150 exhibitors
showcasing their best culinary offerings. Fancy
making a weekend of it? Join CamperFest for four
days of camping in the heart of Cheshire and get
free access to the festival!

WELLNESS IN THE CITY EXPO

APRIL 19, LIVERPOOL (wellnessinthecity.co.uk)
Boost your wellness with Liverpool’s largest
immersive wellbeing festival. Gathering wellbeing
experts from across the North West and beyond, the
day-long event features a jam-packed line up
of interactive panels, networking sessions and talks
covering physical, mental, social, environmental,
financial, occupational and spiritual wellbeing.
Perfect for Stress Awareness Month this April!
WORDS: LILY SMITH. IMAGES: VARIOUS BRANDS.

FESTIVAL 2024
APRIL 25-27,
PAIGNTON, DEVON
(palacetheatre
paignton.co.uk)
Formerly known as the
Abigail Yardimci, guest
English Riviera Literature author at this year’s festival.
Festival, this bookworm’s
haven returns for its third year and features a line-up
of well-known and emerging authors from the SouthWest.
You can expect talks from guest authors and local
historians, plus writing workshops where you can hone
your own creativity.

10 PLATINUM
 Ones to
Latest page turners watch

The Imposter Cure Somehow: Thoughts The Mother Artist

by Dr Jessamy Hibberd, On Love by Anne by Catherine Ricketts, MOVIE: BACK
Octopus Books Lamott, Riverhead Broadleaf Books TO BLACK
Investigating why Books (on sale Apr 9) (on sale Apr 16) RELEASE DATE:
people believe they are This book explores the Forged in the stress APRIL 12 IN CINEMAS
not worthy of success, transformative power of early motherhood, Starring Marisa Abela, this
this book is filled with love has in our lives: essayist Catherine biographical film chronicles
strategies for increasing how it surprises us, Ricketts celebrates the life and music of Amy
confidence and self- forces us to confront creativity while asking Winehouse, through the
belief. A must-read for uncomfortable truths, questions about the journey of adolescence to
anyone struggling with reminds us of our making of motherhood adulthood and the creation
imposter syndrome. humanity and guides us. and the making of art. of one of the best-selling
albums of our time.

DOCUMENTARY:
JOHN SINGER
SARGENT:
FASHION AND
SWAGGER
RELEASE DATE:
APRIL 16 IN
SELECTED CINEMAS
John Singer Sargent is
known as the greatest
portrait artist of his era.
Through interviews with
curators, contemporary
HARROGATE SPRING FLOWER SHOW 2024 fashionistas and style
APRIL 25-28, HARROGATE, NORTH YORKSHIRE (flowershow.org.uk) influencers, Exhibition
The first major event in the national gardening calendar, this prestigious flower on Screen’s documentary
showcase features stunning display gardens, live talks and demonstrations, garden examines how Sargent’s
shopping, and showstopping floral arrangements. Organised by the North of unique practice has
England Horticultural Society, all profits are returned to the charity and used influenced modern art,
to promote UK gardening and horticulture. culture and fashion.

PLATINUM 11
 Our columnist and Loose Women presenter,
Jane Moore, asks, why are men and women
so different when it comes to friendship?
M
any years ago, my
then husband was
supposed to be going
for lunch with a friend,
but the man cancelled at the last
minute. “Apparently, his son is ill,”
he explained. “What son?” I asked.
He looked confused. “Good point.
I have no idea.”
It turned out that his friend, who
was single, had fathered a child with
someone after a brief fling but hadn’t
thought to mention it to his friends.
And now that he was owning up
to it, my then husband hadn’t even
picked up on this dynamite piece of
information. He’d simply replied:
“Alright mate, catch you later.”
Imagine if the same conversation
had taken place between two women.
After, ooh, about five minutes, we’d
know who the other parent was,
where the child had been conceived
and born, his name and birth weight,
why he was ill, the current status of
the relationship and every one of their
plans for co-parenting into the future.
ARE MEN FROM MARS?
Sweeping generalisation I know, but
heterosexual men are funny creatures,
aren’t they? They seem to bond over
a shared love of a certain sport or
hobby rather than life events or,
12 PLATINUM
God forbid, their feelings. There are
notable exceptions, of course, but
for the most part, the majority of
my friends who are still married
remain transfixed by their other
half’s ability to get in a taxi and talk
in great detail with the driver about
Chelsea/Arsenal/Spurs/whatever’s
chances in the league, but then
be rendered virtually mute with
a “beam me up Scotty” expression
when she wants to talk about
their relationship.
Whereas, while us women – again
with notable exceptions – generally
tend to be far more open about
anything that’s bothering us and seek
the advice of family and friends to
help us through it, men feel the need
to appear self-reliant so are more
likely to hide what they’re feeling.
I pride myself on being a good pal
to others and regularly “water” my
friendships with contact, both via
phone and face to face. And when
I got divorced, they repaid that
loyalty in spades. I remember one
particular day when, shortly after
my ex had moved out, the house was
looking a little dusty and sparse and
I mentioned on our group WhatsApp
that I was spending the day cleaning
and reorganising it to look nicer for
potential buyers. An hour or so later,

the doorbell went, and outside were
five mates who live locally to me,
armed with their own vacuum
cleaners, dusters and various
cleaning products. “We’re here
to help,” they declared, and
of room refurbing
spent the next three hours
moving furniture around and getting a new look
polishing my house from top doesn’t have to be
to bottom. By the time they’d
finished, it was transformed.
WORDS: JANE MOORE. IMAGES: JANE MOORE, SHUTTERSTOCK AND ASDA.COM.
FIERCE FEMALE
LOYALTY
Would men do that for each other?
Maybe, but it’s more likely they’d
take each other out for a pint and a
curry. Nothing wrong with that, but
there’s something about close female
friendships that transcends the norms
of support and becomes something
much deeper.
When I hit 60, I didn’t fancy the
same sort of big party I’d had a
decade earlier, when I celebrated with
150 people. Instead, one of my oldest
friends hosted a lunch party at her
house, to which I invited 18 friends
(and a couple more who couldn’t
make it) who have meant a lot to
me over the years and remain part
of my trusted inner circle.
They all know about each other, but
some have never met, so I gave
Columnist
Jane’s diary
I took my daughters to New
York recently and we visited
the 9/11 memorial museum;
a poignant reminder to all of
us of how precious life is and
to enjoy it while we can.
Look
Buy
of the month of the
I’m doing a spot
month
at home, and If I have a favourite style,
it’s something tailored
and “classic”. Usually,
it’s a suit, but I love a
waistcoat too. This dark
blue pinstriped one with
matching trousers is from
Zara, teamed with that
wardrobe staple everyone
should have: a white shirt.
a little speech to introduce them all
and explain what they each mean to
me. It was a magical day and, as you
can see from all the squinting (above),
boiling hot too.
These women are there for me, and
I’m there for them. I don’t speak to
them every day, and in some cases,
not even once a month, but I know
that I could call any of them at 4am
from a police holding cell (hopefully
a claim I never have to test!) and
they’d spring into action.
Mind you, the same can be said of
my ex-husband too, except he’s not
so handy with a vacuum and duster.
PLATINUM 13
 BOOK
OF THE
MONTH MRS. GULLIVER
by Valerie Martin (£16.99, Penguin Random House)

This will certainly give your book club some interesting discussion
points! Set in 1954, in the tropical haven Verona Island where
prostitution is legal, Lila Gulliver runs a brothel that promises her
exclusive clientele privacy and discretion. So, a haven for the men
then, not necessarily the poor women! To coin my mum’s phrase,
“it was ever thus”. The exclusive clientele includes gangsters
and corrupt lawmen. Mrs. Gulliver has a new girl working for her,
mesmerising and mysterious Carità. A 19-year-old beauty who has
been blind since birth. When the son of a wealthy judge visits Mrs.
Gulliver’s establishment, he immediately falls madly in love with
Carità. Ian Drohan is as naïve as he is ardent, protected by family
wealth and connections. Mrs. Gulliver mistrusts him but Carità is
fearless and headstrong and holds a different view. The two women
must fight for agency in a community too ready to underestimate and
dismiss them. The winner of the Women’s Prize for Fiction, Valerie
Martin has written an unexpected and witty novel examining the
eternal inequalities embedded in this particular trade.

★★★★★
READ
T

BOOK CLUB
GREA
A

Bestselling author Adele Parks MBE shares her picks of the month, including a house-full-of-secrets
thriller, a coming-of-age tale with a quirky heroine, and an honest guide to navigating grief.

I PROMISE IT WON’T ALWAYS HURT LIKE THIS

by Clare Mackintosh (£18.99, Little, Brown)

Death is unavoidable and so grief is universal, but we are not

universally good at talking about it. Grief can be crushing,
draining, isolating, unpredictable and seemingly never-ending
when you are going through it. Wherever you are with your
grief, and whoever you’re grieving for, this incredibly honest
book was written to support you, to reassure you that things
will get easier. When bestselling writer Clare Mackintosh lost
her five-week-old son, she searched for help in books. The
books she read told her how she should be feeling, but her
experience resisted neat, digestible stages of grief. Many years
later, Claire has written the book she needed back then, offering
18 short assurances that are full of compassion and comfort.

★★★★★
14 PLATINUM
 New reads

CLARA READS
THE DREAM HOME PROUST
by T.M. Logan (£16.99, Bonnier Books) by Stéphane
Carlier
Adam, Jess and their three kids move translated
into a rambling Victorian villa right by Polly
at the very top of their price range. Mackintosh
(£9.99,
It’s in need of TLC before it can be
Gallic Books;
considered perfect, but it has potential
available
to be their dream home. However, March 28)
on the very day they move in, Adam
discovers a door hidden behind a fitted Clara is a
wardrobe, concealing a – frankly freaky hairdresser at
– secret room. Inside, he discovers a Cindy Coiffure,
small selection of secreted personal a sleepy
possessions. Obsessed with how the objects got there and who they belong French salon. Everything about
to, Adam sets in motion a series of events that place his family in terrible Clara’s life seems tired and past its
danger. T.M. Logan always delivers tense, can’t-look-away thrillers that feel best; the old dears who frequent
horribly real. I was on the edge of my seat. the salon, her relationship, her
tanoholic boss Madame Habib who
★★★★★ only looks back and not forward.
Clara wonders if there’s more
to life. Then a customer leaves
behind the first volume of In Search
of Lost Time by Marcel Proust.
Adele Parks MBE is the author of
23 bestselling novels including Just As Clara reads, she discovers
Between Us, Lies Lies Lies and Just an entirely different world, and
My Luck. She writes compelling, is encouraged to strike up an
twisty, psychological thrillers that unexpected friendship. Slowly but
are popular all over the world, with surely, she sets about working out
five million English language editions who she wants to be. I found this
sold. She is dedicated to spreading tender and witty coming-of-age
the joy of reading and is a proud story refreshing. It’s peppered with
ambassador of the National Literacy a cast of quirky characters and led
Trust. She loves hearing from readers by a unique heroine.
P L AT I N U M E X P E R T so keep in touch with her via X
Adel e Park s M BE (formerly Twitter) @adeleparks
or at instagram.com/adele_parks.
★★★
THE WAR WIDOW EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE
by Tara Moss (£9.99, Penguin Random House) by C.L. Taylor (£14.99, HarperCollins;
available March 28)
Set just after WWII, journalist Billie Walker is
finally back home in Sydney, although the loss of her Alex, Lucy, River and Bridget have one
father and the disappearance of her husband makes dreadful thing in common: they are all being
celebrating the end of the war bittersweet. Billie stalked. Consequently, their lives are filled
reopens her late father’s private investigation agency with constant anxiety, which ramps up to
and spends her time tailing cheating husbands. But daily terror as they are always watching
when a young man goes missing, Billie finds herself and waiting, never knowing who is in the
on a dangerous path that barrels through the highest shadows or what will happen to them next.
levels of Sydney’s society and its filthy underworld. The worst thing is, this group of four used
This thrilling historical mystery has earned glowing to be five, until Nat was finally and fatefully
reviews from literary stalwarts including Peter James, followed home by her stalker… Coming
Joanne Harris and Ian Rankin, as well as support together for Nat’s funeral, they are handed
from Hugh Jackman. I can certainly see the appeal of a wreath saying RIP. The threat is that in 10 days, another one
the straight-talking, champagne-drinking detective, of them will die. The only way to stop the killer is to get closer
who plunges us into a flamboyant, escapist past. than they ever dared to their stalkers. Tense and powerful.

★★★ ★★★★★
PLATINUM 15
 ‘It’s taken a long time to get to where I am today,
but I’m really grateful that I went for it’
16 PLATINUM

‘I don’t want to
live with regret’
TV presenter-turned-psychotherapist Melinda Messenger, 53, talks to Joanna Ebsworth about
changing careers, following her heart, and the importance of taking on new challenges.
M
elinda Messenger
is living proof that
you can successfully
switch careers in
midlife when you put your mind to
it. Having graced our TV screens
for almost three decades, the former
glamour model-turned-presenter,
53, made the conscious decision
back in 2010 to begin stepping
away from the showbiz spotlight
to pursue her childhood dream of
becoming a psychotherapist. And
years of academic endeavour later,
it’s clear the risk has paid off: having
completed her diploma and master’s
degree, the mum-of-three now runs
a private psychotherapy practice
at the Centre for Psychotherapy
in London. She has also trained
to become a dream guide; taken
a course in mindfulness at Oxford
University; and is days away from
qualifying as a reiki master and
energy therapist when I meet her for the first
time – along with Platinum Editor-in-Chief Katy
Sunnassee – at a swanky celeb-packed party for
WORDS: JOANNA EBSWORTH. IMAGES: JENNY SMITH.
her TV agent’s birthday (she still dips her toes
into telly work when the urge takes her).
Our meeting is short and sweet – just like
Melinda herself who, at a petite five foot two,
radiates enough warmth to heat a church hall.
Our time is only cut short due to the fact that
she’s setting off on a charity trek up Snowdon the
next day with her fiancé, television expedition
leader and medic Dr Raj Joshi, who she first met
when she was least expecting it, on the 2023
series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins. All
I can do after wishing Melinda lots of luck on her
next adventure and watching her head home for
an early night, is grab another glass of Sauvignon
Blanc, sigh a little enviously, and turn to Katy
to ask, ‘how does she do it?’. But then, Melinda
Celebrity interview
is the first to admit her journey to
building a new career has been far
from easy when I catch up with her
over Zoom a few days later.
‘Up until the point when I started
to fully wind down my TV work
around seven years ago and start
training, I’d spent over a decade
doing up to four different TV shows
a year, often working every day
back-to-back,’ says Melinda. ‘It
was just one thing after another,
and while I was really grateful
to have all those opportunities,
I also recognised if I didn’t make
a conscious choice to step away
[from TV], I’d never get to be a
psychotherapist, and that would be
something I’d massively regret.’
It was during a stint as a
contestant on Dancing On Ice in
2010 that Melinda says she ‘got
a calling’ to change careers and
take control of the situation –
however it turned out. ‘I knew if I didn’t do
something about how I felt, something precious
in me would be destroyed. So, I decided to
honour that and see where it took me. It’s taken
a long time to get to where I am today, but I’m
really grateful that I went for it.’
Melinda says lots of people regularly tell
her they’d love to retrain for a new career, but
admit they’re scared of change. ‘And I really
understand all of that,’ she says earnestly. ‘I’ve
faced real challenges; there were lots of false
starts and huge difficulties, but I’m on the other
side now. I’m fully qualified and accredited, have
my own psychotherapy practice, and I’ve been
working with clients for seven years as well as
doing dream-guide work. I’m reaping the gifts
and benefits of getting through the challenge.’
Continuing the hard work when it feels like
the world is against you is a bit like harvesting,
PLATINUM 17
suggests Melinda. ‘You keep ploughing and
ploughing the field – even when the weather’s
bad and you don’t feel like it and you feel like the
crop isn’t going to yield anything – but you keep
going because you believe in it. And eventually,
you will take in the harvest and benefit from the
work you’ve created.’
It’s an incredibly inspiring attitude, I tell her,
especially for those of us who feel scared by
the idea of starting over in later life to follow a
childhood dream or higher calling. ‘It’s scarier
not to try,’ says Melinda firmly. ‘Imagine if you
don’t? Every new beginning is scary. Every
new adventure is scary, but there’s a really fine
line between fear and excitement. Not doing
something because of fear is much, much worse
than trying something new or different and
seeing what path it can take you down.’
More to the point, says Melinda, we shouldn’t
allow our thoughts and feelings about getting
older prevent us from seizing every new
opportunity that comes along. ‘I think midlife
is the best time of life, without fail,’ she says
emphatically. ‘I feel that this is the time that
women come into their own power, and you get
to live the life you want to live. Usually, we’ve
done our child rearing, we’ve built our careers,
or we’ve looked after relationships and family
members, and it’s at this point where you get the
opportunity to come into your own power. And
we have an awful lot to give, to share, to offer.
I think it’s an extraordinary time, and quite a gift.’
A NEW CALLING
The type of psychotherapy Melinda practises is,
she says, ‘very in depth’, requiring her to work
with clients over several years to help them
find out who they really were ‘before the world
told them who to be… before you got distorted
and out of balance, or you lost the connection
to yourself’. To this end, she focuses on helping
people to change patterns in their lives, find their
way ‘back home’ and, most importantly, heal, so
they can ‘live life as they were meant to, and not
by the expectations that were placed upon them’.
But before Melinda could begin to help others,
she had to go through nine years of therapy
herself as part of her training.
‘As a psychotherapist, I can’t take anyone
anywhere I haven’t been,’ she explains. ‘So, I’ve
gone into the depths of my soul, self and psyche.
I’ve gone to the places where there’s nothing
apart from death, destruction or fear. Very often,
when I’m sat with a client, they can feel like
they’re the only one dealing with the situation
they’re in. But all the processes pretty much have
similar core routes and themes. So, I can sit with
somebody in their extreme distress, or fear, or
loss or grief, and I can see what’s happening.
18 PLATINUM
I can see the process they’re in, and I know
they’re going to be OK.
‘When a client’s lost all hope, I can hold
the hope for them until they’re ready to take
it back,’ she continues. ‘And that’s how it helps
to heal. My work is really challenging but
deeply rewarding; it’s a vocation. And you do it
because you’re called to do it. You couldn’t do
it otherwise, because there are much easier
ways to make a living, let’s put it that way.’
A DEEPER MEANING
As a child, Melinda says she wanted to be a
teacher or a psychiatrist. But it was only when
she got older that she realised she was more
interested in healing. ‘I was always spiritual,
but I hid it, I guess,’ she explains. ‘I grew up in
a family where spirituality wasn’t accepted, and
I didn’t really see it around me, so I kept it
private. But it was always in my nature as far
back as I can remember; being really little and
wanting to know the answers to why we were
here, why we’re human, what is God, and what is
there that’s bigger than us.
‘I just went on a journey of exploring different
faiths, but essentially, doing this was all about
looking for a way back to myself because all the
answers were there anyway. Personally, I believe
healing is about the whole body, the whole
system – mind, body and spirit – so I wanted to
find something where I could address all three,
because that for me was the only way healing
would be possible. That’s when I decided to train
in integrative transpersonal psychotherapy. In
addition, I went off to Peru and Nepal to do my
own shamanic retreats, trained in meditation and
reiki and energy work for healing, and learned
for myself directly what helped me to heal so I
could offer those practices to others.’
FINDING YOUR “YOU”
Melinda admits to having tried most alternative
therapies over the years, from Bach flower
remedies, Qigong and yoga to using crystals to
help her connect to different energies. ‘There are
a lot of powerful practices I’ve learned to trust in
over the years to help me draw in strength when
I need it, and I think that everything has a place,’
she says. ‘If you think about it, looking after your
wellbeing is about how you keep your being well.
It’s not about your job, or the roles you play. Your
being is who you are underneath all the roles and
jobs you do. Your being is who you are when you
sit quietly, when you can feel connected to your
heart. It can feel different for different people.’
To that extent, Melinda believes self-care
forms an essential part of looking after your
wellbeing, whether that involves getting dressed
up, using face masks, eating well, reading books,
 Celebrity interview

‘I’ve faced real

challenges; there
were lots of false
starts and huge
difficulties.
But I’m on the
other side now’

PLATINUM 19
 ‘ Every new
beginning is scary.
But not doing
something because
of fear is much
worse than trying
something new’

20 PLATINUM
 Celebrity interview

socialising in the right company, or taking
regular exercise. Ironically, however, she claims
she’s only recently started to enjoy fitness as
part of her lifestyle since entering her early
50s – following years of telling herself that
she wasn’t the “sporty” type.
‘As a child, I was always active, but I now
recognise that I disowned that part of myself
somewhere along the line, even though the
outdoors is my favourite place to be,’ she says.
‘I love sporty challenges. I’ve done skydiving,
lots of treks, and have taken part in reality TV
programmes such as The Jump and Dancing
On Ice. But I never acknowledge that I enjoyed
doing those things.
‘Now, I realise that being active is an
important part of me. I did Celebrity SAS: Who
Dares Wins because I wanted the physical
challenge of doing something I never thought
I could do. Naturally, I struggled, because I’m
only 5’2” and my Bergen [large rucksack]
weighed the same as all the male contestants’.
But what I got from the experience was getting
to the point where I couldn’t go any further,
and I’d never experienced that before. Marathon
runners talk about breaking through that
moment, and when I felt it for myself, I was
like “wow, that’s real”. It woke up a part of
me that realised I like to be pushed and
challenged physically. I just wish I hadn’t
discovered it so late in life.’
it?’, retorts Melinda, wisely. That leads us nicely
onto the subject of her deciding to ditch the hair
dye last year and embrace the grey – which
subsequently sent the UK media into meltdown.
Was she surprised by the reaction?
‘Yes, I was!’ she admits. ‘And I’m still shocked
about it. I couldn’t understand why my hair
colour was so significant, and people are still
talking to me about it now. I was astounded,
because I had people calling me up to say they’d
been watching the story on the BBC news. But
it’s just my hair colour. Embracing my greys
was meant to be freeing. And then, ironically, it
became very un-freeing because there were huge
expectations [for me to stay grey]. But it’s fine.
Ultimately, it’s about living the life we want to
live and not the life that others expect us to.
Why does it matter if you’ve coloured your hair
or not coloured your hair? Mine might be pink in
six months. Who knows?!’

THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT

If finding a love for fitness was the last thing
Melinda expected to gain from taking part in
Celebrity SAS, you can be sure she definitely
wasn’t looking for love. But find love, she did.
After being dismissed from the gruelling training
camp covered in bruises, she was asked to
pop into the programme’s medical tent to see
Dr Raj Joshi for a “quick chat about foot rot”
(yes, really!). They kept chatting, and less than
a year later, the pair got engaged on a trip to
New Zealand last August.
‘Yeah, I mean, I won’t say too much, but it
was the last thing I expected,’ she says. ‘It was
interesting timing, because I’d just completed
my training, and my children are all grown
up now, so maybe the timing was right. I’m a
great believer that when the timing’s right for
something, it happens. And again, I think when
you’re not looking for something, that’s when
it usually comes and knocks at the door, in the
most unexpected places.’
I suggest that it’s when you meet someone
at your most real and vulnerable, that you can
often begin a relationship from an authentic,
more genuine place as opposed to an unrealistic
place of perfection. ‘Which never exists, does

PLATINUM 21
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 Your style
Find what looks good on you with our round-up of top fashion picks,
expert style advice and the latest in activewear.

P26 – Pantone’s
Colour of the Year
2024, Peach Fuzz,
is the inspiration
for this month’s
style picks.
P28 – Gail Rolfe
helps you find your
own personal style,
so you don’t have to
follow the crowd.
P32 – Move in
style whatever the
weather with great
activewear pieces to
help you feel good
and look great!
IMAGE: BONMARCHÉ AT PR SHOTS.

Bonmarché Sweatshirt,
£18, and Jeans, £22,
bonmarche.co.uk.

PLATINUM 25
 Scamp & Dude Amele Peach Cats Eye
Sunglasses, £30, scampanddude.com.

Oliver Bonas
Space Dye
Roll Neck, £65,
oliverbonas.com.

Boutique x Damaris
Balcony Bra, £24, and High
Leg Knicker, £12, both
marksandspencer.com.

F&F Soft Touch Tech Cowl

Neck PalePeach Sweat,
£16, tesco.com.

Barbour
Our peachy picks this month are an homage Vivienne
Trousers, £169,
to Pantone’s Colour of the Year, Peach Fuzz! barbour.com.

Fable England
Nocturnal
Garden Pink
Lady Lyocell
Robe, £125,
fableengland.com.

TK Maxx
Peach Trim Oliver Bonas
Jeans, £29.99, Peach Sparkle
tkmaxx.com. Coco Cardi, £65,
oliverbonas.com.

Earsass
The
Wendy,
£23,
earsass.
com.

26 PLATINUM
 Platinum picks

Bonmarché DASH Long Sleeve

Coloured Stripe Sweatshirt, £30,
bonmarche.co.uk.
Naturalizer Clarice Ankle
Strap Pump, £69.99,
naturalizer.co.uk.

Aurum Activewear Joe Browns Free

Sports Bra, £4.99, Fallin’ Suede Bag,
tkmaxx.com. £65, joebrowns.co.uk.
Fable England Nocturnal
Garden Silk Lyocell
Scarf Pink Lady, £60,
fableengland.com.
COMPILED BY: REBECCA MAY. IMAGES: VARIOUS BRANDS.

Bonmarché DASH
Long Sleeve Plain
Hooded Sweatshirt,
£22, bonmarche.co.uk.

PLATINUM 27
 Fashion
with Gail Rfe
Ignore sartorial trends and create your own style, says Platinum's
resident fashion expert. Rules are there to be broken!
T
he world of fashion has
changed dramatically over
the last few decades. And I
think it’s safe to say that the
overwhelming autonomy of global fashion
trends is no longer as significant as it used
to be. Which is probably a good thing for
everyone. I have witnessed almost five
decades of fashion trends be reinvented.
In my early days as a fashion editor,
headlines screamed the “next big thing”
and those of us who cared about being au
courant, followed like lemmings. The first
question anyone asked me was, “what
should I be wearing this season?”. But,
without doubt, there has been a seismic
change since the emergence of the
internet and social media.
The power to influence has shifted
and the result is a world where there
are myriad options. Style and fashion
inspiration now emerge from so many
platforms. Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest,
and blogs sit happily alongside the hugely
influential glossy fashion mags. Instead of
diktats and must-haves, there are gentle
suggestions and hints of what may appeal.
WORDS: GAIL ROLFE. IMAGES: VARIOUS BRANDS.
Today it’s more about how you wear
an outfit that matters, with style hacks
that instantly elevate existing wardrobe
favourites, clever new ways to wear a
scarf, or which jeans best suit your shape.
All this freedom may sound wonderful,
but freedom can be daunting. So where do
I get my inspiration from these days? I still
view the fashion shows of those designers
I find inspiring. Then I turn to Instagram
28 PLATINUM
and the carefully curated group of women
I follow, who are no longer in the first
flush of youth, but still have a magical
ability to look stylish and unique. A few
of my favourites include @susirejano,
@anoukyve, @dearcharlotteparis,
@lindavwright, @sissiottostyle,
@whatpeoplearewearing, and @beatriz84.
It’s all about finding your style heroes,
the women in your tribe and accepting
they may change over time. It also helps to
visit a big city as a source for inspiration.
I may live in the countryside now, and
there are some beautifully dressed women
here, but for me nothing beats a quick trip
to Notting Hill and Chelsea if I wish to be The Boyfriend Fine
fired up with new ideas. Poplin in Chocolate, £95,
Nothing will ever prevent women withnothingunderneath.com.
shopping for something new. So my
advice is to go in two distinctly
different directions. If your
purchase is a whim, a fashion
flutter, then spend the least amount
possible. But when it comes to something
you hope to hang onto for a decade or
more, spend your cash wisely and invest. Hayley Leather
Square Hinge
It could be a leather handbag, a pair of
Belt in Tan,
timeless boots, a wool or cashmere scarf, £60, reiss.com.
a blazer or even jeans. Don’t be afraid to
buy out of season. Some of my best buys
were bought in the sales at completely Leather Heeled
Ankle Boots in
the wrong time of year. Simply store them Brown, £149,
until the right season arrives. Trends don’t massimodutti.com.
matter anymore. The really important
maxims are: does it fit correctly, is the
colour good for you, does the cut flatter
your figure, and does it make you happy?
 New looks

Organic Cotton Ribbed

The all-rounder
Knitted Tank in Flax, £98,
thewhitecompany.com.

This is my new favourite I admire. Add a layer,

mix of colours: ivory, drop a layer, depending
brown or tan, with on the season. The
black and denim blue. sweater-vest revival in
It’s a totally versatile plain or Fair Isle knits
combination that is perfect for those
works all year round, “I need an extra layer
and looks fresh and days”. The more wintry
instantly appealing. The Arket jacket can be
inspiration came from switched to a lightweight
Anouk Yve (1.3million blazer, bomber or just a
followers on Instagram, cardigan. And if jeans
@anoukyve), whose are not your thing, then
minimal taste in dressing add a midi-skirt instead.

Swing Crossbody
Leather Bag in Beige,
£110, cos.com.

Adidas Originals SL72 Leather

and Suede Trimmed Mesh
Sneakers, £80, net-a-porter.com.
Ameria Palazzo
Jeans in Light Blue,
£168, reiss.com.

100% Silk Paisley Print

Scarf in Brown, £39.95,
massimodutti.com.

Mini Grey Pearl Drop

Earrings, £12.50,
marksandspencer.com.

Lyocell Blend Long Short Double Jacket in Dark

Sleeve T-shirt in Off Beige, £229, arket.com.
White, £27, arket.com.

PLATINUM 29
 New Balance 574
Trainers in Green Leaf
Grey, £95, arket.com.

Casually curated
Blend casual street-style vibes
with tailoring: I would add a grey
T-shirt under the denim shirt,
add the wide-leg trousers that
have an edge from the topstitch
detail, and finish with the chic
and sleek tailored blazer. It may
still be chilly in March so throw
an oversized scarf over the
blazer when necessary. This love
affair with oversized scarves is
going nowhere, as it’s just too
sensible and practical. So even
now, it will be a great buy. If you
already own anything similar to
this look, then you can kick them
into the new season with the
addition of a narrow leather belt.
Rule: never throw belts away as
they never go out of fashion.

Black Leather Belt,

£25.99, zara.com.

100% Wool Scarf

in Cream, £49.95,
massimodutti.com.

Bronte Textured
Double
Breasted
Blazer in White,
£368; Kylie
Contrast
Stitch Wide Leg Lyocell Denim Collared Relaxed Shirt,
Trousers, £178, £49.50, marksandspencer.com.
both reiss.com. Block Heel Shoes
with Buckles,
£35.99, zara.com.

Radley London
Westwell Lane
Medium Crossbody
Leather Bag, £259,
radley.co.uk.

30 PLATINUM
 New looks

The Everyday Military

Jacket In Authentic
Khaki, £350; Forever Shirt
in Chambray Blue, £150,
both meandem.com.
Style tips
Trends to try this season – but
remember to make them your own!

Wear one sweater and throw the

other across your shoulders. In the
Nappa Leather same colour it looks chic.
Woven Croissant
Bag in White, £169,
massimodutti.com.

Open-knit Sweater
with Button Detail in
Navy Blue, £99.95,
massimodutti.com. Alpaca Blend Open-knit
Sweater, £49.99, zara.com.

"Grandadcore" has emerged from

Elevate the TikTok as a strong trend this spring.
This shirt ticks all the right boxes.

ordinary
Why take the conventional option
when you can be more daring? Classic
navy and white will always be a style
winner but adding a less predictable
shade, like this khaki jacket, elevates
the look to striking and fresh. The
navy pleated midi-skirt is one of those Gathered Grandad Collar Blouse
versatile items that can be styled up in White/Blue Stripe, £95, cos.com.
for weddings with an ivory blazer and
heels, will look office-perfect teamed The kitten-heel slingback is the shoe
with a silk blouse or toning jumper, for this season. It works with jeans,
dresses, skirts and cargo pants.
and still has the ability to look casual
Leather with a white T-shirt and trainers.
Knee High Worn with flat black boots makes it
Boots,
£109, wearable in spring, autumn and even
zara.com. winter if you add a puffer jacket.

Pleated Midi Skirt in Navy,

£119, thewhitecompany.com.
Metallic Accent Slingbacks in
Chalk, £65, charleskeith.co.uk.

Easy to throw on, this striped

knit dress in tones of blue is a
wearable alternative to florals.
Printed Silk Scarf
in Blue/Off White,
£57, arket.com.

Wool-blend Ribbed Dress in

Dark Blue, £97, arket.com.
Monty Cream and Black Leather Mary
Jane Pumps, £249, lkbennett.com.

PLATINUM 31
 Move your body in
effortless style with
comfy activewear
made for every age,
shape and size.

Finisterre Women’s Bolster

Full Zip Fleece, £135,
finisterre.com.

COMPILED BY: EMMA CONQUER.

IMAGES: VARIOUS BRANDS.

32 PLATINUM
 Activewear

Lola Starr Midnight

Leggings, £70, Midnight
Sports Bra (pink), £40, and
Drop Arm Tank Vest, £35,
all lolastarr.co.uk.

PLATINUM 33
Wallien One Piece
Swimsuit Longsleeve in
Moon, £129, wallien.com.

34 PLATINUM
 Activewear

Amazing Jane Rise

Leggings Black &
White Stripe, £42, and
Rosa Active Tank, £30,
amazingjane.com.

PLATINUM 35
 M&S Goodmove Jacket, £65,
Goodmove Joggers, £29.50,
and Goodmove Trainers, £79,
all marksandspencer.com.

36 PLATINUM
 Activewear

Finisterre Nieuwland
2e Yulex® Long Sleeve
Swimsuit, £150,
finisterre.com.

PLATINUM 37
 M&S Goodmove Coat,
£59, Goodmove Vest,
£17.50, and Goodmove
Leggings, £27.50, all
marksandspencer.co.uk.

38 PLATINUM
 Activewear

Bonmarché DASH Plain

Panelled Leggings,
£20, and Mosaic Print
Side Panel Vest, £15,
bonmarche.co.uk.

PLATINUM 39
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 You beauty!
Make the most of your beauty routine with expert make-up tips,
new beauty gadgets and tried-and-tested products.

P42 – Make-up artist

Dottie Monaghan’s
expert tips for subtle
make-up to enhance
your features.
P44 – We shine
a light on the best
at-home LED
masks to boost your
skincare routine.
P50 – Soap has
had a makeover! It’s
time to test the new
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK.

cleansing bars that

can work wonders.

PLATINUM 41
 Platinum beauty guru and celebrity make-up artist Dottie Monaghan shares tips on
how not to overdo your make-up. Connect with her at instagram.com/dottiemakeup.

‘H
ow do I apply make-up onto
my mature skin without
looking overly made up?’
It’s a question I often get.
Sometimes it’s from people who have
never applied make-up and feel they
could benefit from a little help to look
less tired and brighten their complexion
or redefine areas like lips and brows,
which can thin with age. But it’s also
asked by people who find the products
they apply no longer work as well for
them now as they did in the past. Your
skin is always evolving and its needs
change, as does the shape of your face.
Think about what you want to achieve
from your make-up and focus on
enhancing your best features. You can’t
hide wrinkles by applying extra make-up
– it will only draw attention to them.
A great skincare routine is essential Blending
to looking fresh and having a healthy with a brush is
complexion. And the more hydration the
skin has, the brighter it will be. Heavy key to a light,
moisturisers are not compatible with natural make-
make-up so apply serums and skincare up look.
products with hydration added to them,
then place a primer on top to seal it and
help avoid make-up going into wrinkles.

Dottie’s how-to for enhancing what you’ve got!

It should only take five minutes and skin using a brush. Avoid the outer Apply blush to cheeks when the face
a few key products to transform skin eye area as you don’t want make-up is straight, and not when smiling.
VARIOUS BRANDS AND SHUTTERSTOCK.

from dull and tired to glowy and fresh. migrating into laughter lines. If applied the latter way, when you
WORDS: DOTTIE MONAGHAN. IMAGES:

● Not everyone needs foundation, but
if you feel you do then opt for a tinted
moisturiser or tinted serum. Use a
brush to blend out to the ear and
down the neck.
● A thin application of a creamy-
textured concealer to the undereye
and inner corners of the eye will really
brighten the face yet won’t leave
you feeling caked in make-up. Make
sure to blend seamlessly onto the
● A colour-correcting concealer is
great to hide age spots, blemishes or
high pigment areas. Again, blend well.
● Define the eyebrows using a pencil
or angled brush and build the colour
up slowly. Open eyes look more
youthful so use eyelash curlers before
you apply mascara.
● Blush and highlighters are skin
saviours offering warmth and radiance
to bring your complexion back to life.
relax your face it will bring the colour
lower, giving the appearance of a
droopy face. You want max lift!
● Many of us use a magnifying mirror
when putting on make-up – which is
a great help – but it’s all too easy to
focus on small areas with magnified
texture and pores. So, use a regular
mirror to look at your finished result
and see your whole face. Remember,
this is how others will see you.

42 PLATINUM
 Beauty buys

Chanel Eyelash Max Factor

Curler, £30, Miracle Pure
chanel.com. Concealer,
Create the £10.99,
illusion of a superdrug.com.
more open eye Blemishes may
using eyelash need coverage
curlers. Be gentle and a more
and always use matte finish,
before mascara, perhaps even
otherwise with colour
PRAI MenoGlow Collagen Boosting eyelashes may correction in.
Cremegel Moisturiser, £30, stick to the If the area is
marksandspencer.com. curler. dry then apply
Maximise your make-up results by primer first,
applying a lightweight base. This is or mix the
a cross between a cooling gel and a product with
skin-plumping cream, blurring fine a little of your
lines while adding hydration. moisturiser.

Ilia Limitless Lash

Mascara, £28,
iliabeauty.com. Trinny London Studio 10 Hydra Peptide
The shape of this BFF Eye Fusion Daily Defence
applicator wand will Concealer, £28, SPF30, £48,
capture even the trinnylondon.com. studio10beauty.com
shortest, finest hairs, The undereye area This 5-in-1, colourless,
for a flake-free and will benefit from supercharged daily
volumising look. If this brightening, skincare will offer
you’re not used to hydrating concealer instant luminosity to
putting on mascara, that’s buildable and the skin plus nourish,
hold the wand to non-creasing. With perfect, protect,
eyelashes and blink hyaluronic acid restore and prime.
onto it while gently offering hydration, Apply onto cleansed
wiggling the wand. it’s a cross skin in the morning
between a serum where needed and watch
and a concealer. dull, tired, lacklustre skin
Stila Blush & Bronze Hydro-Blur transform. It’s my new
Cheek Duo, £27, stila.co.uk; or Ilia favourite product!
Multi-Stick, £36, iliabeauty.com.
When a product delivers more than Max Factor
just one thing, it’s a big win. A creamy Miracle Pure Eco Artist Precision
textured blush can be used on cheeks, Skin-Improving Face Brush, £18,
lips and eyes resulting in skin looking Foundation, tropicskincare.com.
luminous. A stick is also easy to apply: £14.99, boots.com. Apart from applying
simply dot on This gives a very fine detail, this
then blend out light coverage could be the only
with fingers. to imperfections brush you need. It’s
while evening your finger but better,
skin tone. It’s as one end gets into
also buildable small areas and above
on the areas that the eye, then the
may need more other end is great
coverage. Apply for buffing out
with fingers then larger areas.
blend out to ears
and neck using a
large, soft brush.

PLATINUM 43
Let there
be light!
W
The at-home ith the recent backlash against
beauty gadget the term “anti-ageing”, it’s now
market is almost un-PC to discuss wanting
taking off. to reverse or halt time in some
Editor-in-Chief way. And it’s understandable; for years, beauty
Katy Sunnassee companies made us feel as though it wasn’t
puts some of OK to grow older, and you’d not see any older
the latest LED models in adverts. This, thankfully, has changed,
face masks and it’s far more common to see 50-plus women
to the test. in advertising, which is to be celebrated.
But yet… most of us still want to look as good
as we can. It’s not as though women are no
longer seeking the same treatments they once
were. It’s just that “anti-ageing” has undergone
a rebranding to “pro-ageing” or “age positive” –
which is a good thing, as it’s more celebratory of
the fact we’re all getting older, while at the same
44 PLATINUM
time wanting to look as good as possible
for as long as possible.
One way to help stay looking great is to
use laser treatments, of which there are many
varieties. But LED devices are now becoming the
most common as you can get these for at-home
use. ‘LED (light emitting diode) therapy is a
non-invasive treatment that penetrates the skin
at different layers to treat different skin concerns
including laxity, acne, pigmentation, eczema,
psoriasis, rosacea and ageing,’ says Dr Raj
Arora, GP, skin doctor and top medical educator
(instagram.com/dr_rajarora).
‘The mechanism of action is essentially at
a cellular level. LED light therapy appears to
affect cellular metabolism by triggering cellular
reactions. This results in increased collagen

SAFETY NOTE
It’s important to consult
your skin doctor or GP if you are
unsure as to whether LED light
therapy is suitable for you. ‘Generally,
it’s very safe but it should be avoided
by anyone using photosensitive
medication (oral and topical), or with
photosensitive eye or skin conditions,
as well as those with a history
of skin cancer or who are
pregnant,’ says
Dr Arora.
WORDS: KATY SUNNASSEE. IMAGES: VARIOUS BRANDS.
NCBI.NLM.NIH.GOV/PMC/ARTICLES/PMC3926176/
FAQ SWISS 202 SILICONE LED FACE MASK
£719, currentbody.com
This mask offers eight wavelengths of
light: red, blue, green, orange, purple,
cyan and yellow, as well as NIR (near
infrared), all emitted from 600 tiny
LEDs spread evenly and densely
across the surface. It gently warms
skin to dilate pores temporarily so the
light can penetrate effectively. The
smart mask is also app-connected and
features pre-programmed treatments,
or you can design your own. Use a few
times a week for 6-12 weeks to see
visible results. The FAQ Swiss 201
is also available at £449 with just the
red, green and blue lights.
You can wear this around the house
rather than having to sit in one place
due to a cord or a battery pack, which
I like. It also has an open-eye design
rather than small eye holes, meaning
you can do other tasks while wearing,
such as work at a computer or watch
TV. Other masks are so bright you
have to keep your eyes closed during
use, but not this one. It has a good
non-slip, adjustable silicone headband
and is super lightweight so it’s easy
to use. Although it’s expensive, the
LED Masks
fact it’s so wearable means I’m more
likely to use it. I also like the pre-
programmed treatments that mean the
mask automatically changes colour
after 5-10 minutes and that my phone
plays relaxing “spa” music on the app.
However, the mask didn’t always
connect to the app, plus it needs
charging after only a few days – not
really an issue as long as you don’t
lose the charging lead! And while this
mask is significantly lighter than some,
it doesn’t pack down flat due to the
rigid eye hole – so not one to take on
holiday. Another slight drawback of
the large open eye hole is you don’t
get many LEDs near the “crow’s feet”
area, and neither do you get them
directly above and between your eyes,
where frown lines develop, as that’s
where the chunky on-off button sits.
But, overall, the FAQ Swiss 202
is easy to use, and I feel the biggest
improvements were to skin texture,
as serums seemed to glide on more
smoothly. For best results though,
you need to use it a few times a week
for three months.
PLATINUM 45
production, wound healing and increased
blood flow,’ she says.
In terms of light range, Dr Arora says it
depends on what outcome you want. ‘The most
popular is red light, which penetrates skin at
a deeper level and therefore triggers cellular
changes. Red light therapy can help to stimulate
the production of elastin and collagen, as well
as increase blood flow. This leads to tighter
and smoother skin. Red light therapy is also
great for wound healing.’
Other LED colours include blue light to target
acne, and green light for pigmentation. Some of
the newer and more savvy at-home devices have
a wider range of wavelengths to target several
concerns, including near infrared (NIR) for skin
tightening. NIR comes at wavelengths 810nm
to 850nm (nanometres) – beyond what humans
can see – and can help increase your skin cells’
mitochondrial function, meaning they produce
energy more efficiently, thereby extending
their lifespan. This all helps stimulate collagen
production, reduce wrinkles and sunspots, and
reduce inflammation with regular use.
‘Using red light therapy can increase blood
flow to your skin, while blue light can reduce
acne and congestion – in both cases allowing
better absorption of active skincare ingredients.’

Other models If your budget doesn’t stretch to the FAQ 202, these are some good options…

OLIVIERE
WILSON
LED GLOW
MASK £320,
olivierewilson.com
This mask features
132 LEDs, 66 of which
are red and 66 near-
infrared (NIR). NIR
enhances the efficacy
of red light when
combined, so each
bulb contains both
wavelengths to best
benefit skin. Use it for
10 minutes a day for
improved plumpness
and radiance, fewer
wrinkles and less
pigmentation and
inflammation. There’s
no need to wear eye
shields but they are
provided. It also packs
down flat and comes
with a travel bag.

46 PLATINUM
 LED Masks

MZ SKIN
LIGHT-
THERAPY
GOLDEN
FACIAL
TREATMENT
DEVICE
£390, mzskin.com
Skincare expert Dr
Maryam Zamani
created this golden
mask containing 150
diodes and five LED
colours: red (630nm)
for stimulating collagen
and elastin and
reducing inflammation;
blue (430nm) for
blemishes; green
(520nm) to calm and
reduce pigmentation;
yellow (570-590nm) to
boost circulation and
lymphatic flow; and
white (450-460nm)
for wound healing and
repair. There’s also a
£600 mask with NIR
plus a red/blue combo
specifically for acne.

PRIORI UNVEILED
MASK
£275, prioriskincare.co.uk
This silicon-based LED face mask
delivers red and near-infrared light.
The red 633nm light waves penetrate
1-6mm deep to rejuvenate and plump,
boosting circulation and helping build
collagen. The mask switches off after
10 minutes and it’s recommended to
use it 5-7 times a week. The portable
battery pack lasts for ages before
needing to be recharged at the mains,
making it good for travel.

PLATINUM 47
 CURRENTBODY SKIN
LED LIP PERFECTOR
£149, currentbody.com
This small device helps smooth
feather and smile lines, and increase
fullness of your lips while evening out
lip tone – all in three minutes a day.
Four wavelengths of LED light are
emitted from 56 individual bulbs. Add
it to your daily skincare ritual and it’s
said you’ll see results in eight weeks.

SIGNATURE
SKIN RESET
£190, FACEGYM in
Notting Hill, London
LED masks are expensive
so if you want to “try
before you buy”, head to
FACEGYM on Kings Road,
Notting Hill, where you can
try the Signature Skin Reset.
This tri-technology facial
workout combines a double
cleanse chemical peel, a
hydro-vacuum sealed mask
and the rejuvenating power
of LED, all designed to
target hyperpigmentation,
blemishes, dullness and
signs of ageing.

48 PLATINUM
 LED Masks

OMNILUX
& DÉCOLLETÉ
£350.90, omniluxled.com
For anyone with concerns
around the delicate skin on
the neck and décolleté (top
of your chest), this red light
therapy device provides
clinically proven results.
Three 10-minute treatments
per week can reduce the
appearance of redness,
pigmentation, wrinkles and
sunspots while promoting
healthier looking skin, with
no downtime. Made from
soft, flexible silicone, it’s
very portable, and with a
small pre-powered, hand-
held controller attached to
it, you don’t have to remain
plugged into a socket.

CURRENTBODY SKIN
LED EYE PERFECTOR
£189, currentbody.com
This is ideal for those crow’s
feet and brow furrows that can
be difficult to treat. The mask’s
shape means these tricky areas
are entirely covered, and if
you add the Skin Hydrogel Eye
Masks under the device, you can
enhance the performance of the
80 LEDs even further. Delivering
four powerful wavelengths
that target collagen and elastin
production, you only need to wear
this for three minutes, six times
a week. It’s hands-free too, so
you can get on with other things.
Although I think I’d take the three
minutes of beauty relaxation!

PLATINUM 49
Time to
Loved for its simplicity, soap and other similar bars are making
quite a comeback –even for those of us with dry skin.
M
ost of us remember the
days when a skincare
routine meant nothing
more than lathering
up with a bar of Pears, Camay or
Palmolive. But such cleansing bars
went out of fashion in more recent
times with the increase in popularity
of cleansers and shower gels. Much
of this, of course, was due to the
drying nature of soaps.
‘The epidermis is your body’s first
line of defence,’ explains skincare
expert Karen Sinclair Drake, co-
founder of Flowering Pharmacy
(floweringpharmacy.com). ‘Skin
has a mildly acidic coating that
acts as a defensive barrier against
environmental pollution and
chemicals, and is home to 20 million
skin bacteria and fungi per inch. Your
skin’s acid mantle neutralises agents
50 PLATINUM
harmful to the skin. Studies have
found that the optimal acid mantle is
mildly acidic, with a pH of 4.7-5 – and
those around this level will have fewer
issues such as dryness and irritation.’
Those with more alkaline skin,
pH8-9, may experience acne, eczema
or irritation. ‘Despite these findings,
the pH of many skincare products is
above pH5, with the average soap
being 9.5-10.5,’ says Karen. And when
the pH of your skin is disrupted by
products, your complexion can suffer.
TYPES OF SOAP
Soaps are popular because they work
– they rid your skin of grease and dirt,
and leave it feeling squeaky clean.
The problem with this effectiveness
is that as well as ridding your skin of
dirt, soaps can strip it of sebum, the
natural oil produced by your skin’s
sebaceous glands. This is because
soap is formulated by mixing either
animal fat or vegetable oils with
water and an alkali. ‘The alkali works
on the oils and triggers a chemical
process called saponification.
Soap traditionally contains anionic
surfactants [organic components]
that produce high foam,’ says Karen.
But as with all things cosmetic, we
have many types of soap to choose
from. The three soaps below aren’t
guaranteed to be mild, but if you
don’t have dry skin, and use a good
moisturiser, you will be fine...
● SUPERFATTED SOAPS:
‘These are bars that contain extra oil,
such as olive oil, that has not been
saponified, meaning it hasn’t turned
into soap,’ explains Karen. ‘This
superfatting greatly improves the

‘Soap rids your
skin of grease and
dirt and leaves
it clean, but
can strip it of
its natural oil’
soap’s moisturising capabilities, but
it doesn’t change the high pH and
some people can find them not
cleansing enough.’
● TRANSPARENT SOAPS:
WORDS: NATALIE MILLMAN. IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK
‘These include the addition of alcohol
to make them clear, and glycerin
for moisturisation,’ explains Karen.
‘Alcohol can dry the skin, but for
many, the moisturising properties
of the glycerin balance this out.’
● TRIPLE-MILLED SOAPS
‘These are passed through a milling
AND VARIOUS BRANDS.
machine of smooth stainless steel
rollers three times, and pressed into
a smooth, fine paste,’ says Karen.
‘They contain more soap and less
water, which produces a longer-
lasting, harder soap with less goop
and a richer lather.’
Cleansing bars
Pass the bar
Choose one of these caring cleansers
FOR SENSITIVE SKIN:
All Naturals Organic Eczema
Soap Olive Oil and Calendula
(£6.15, allnaturals.com)
contains allantoin to help healing,
calendula to soothe, and kaolin
(a clay) to mop up irritants.
FOR DULL-LOOKING SKIN:
Skinowl Beauty Bar Kit Turmeric
& Agave (£36, cultbeauty.co.uk)
harnesses the cell-stimulating
power of turmeric and hydrating
hyaluronic acid to leave skin
refreshed, renewed and protected.
TO EXFOLIATE: The thermal
mud and bamboo powder in
Drunk Elephant Juju Bar (£25,
cultbeauty.co.uk) gently remove
dead skin cells and impurities,
while açaí, goji berry and marula
oil condition. This fragrance- and
soap-free bar has a pH of 6.3,
so won’t strip your skin.
TO FEEL AND SMELL GOOD:
Each of Holy Lama’s four varieties
of handmade Ayurvedic soap
contains saponified coconut oil and
essential oils. Rainforest Soap (£4,
holylama.co.uk) contains vetivert
oil to cool skin, as well as patchouli,
cedarwood and turmeric oils.
THE MULTITASKER: Filthy Faace Face
& Body Bar (£14, wearefaace.com) isn’t your
run-of-the-mill bar – it’s a 100 per cent natural,
handmade, vegan soap. Packed with skin-loving
ingredients such as shea butter and glycerine,
this multitasking bar is perfect for both face
and body. Good for all skin types, it’s a
one-stop shop for feeling squeaky clean.
SOAP ALTERNATIVES they are synthetic, they can be very
If you have dry skin, try these: gentle on your skin.’
● SYNDETS: ‘Soap products with
a more neutral pH are called syndets,’ ● CLEANSER BARS: ‘These
says Karen. ‘Chemically, they are are gentle, effective and far from
not soaps, but a synthetic detergent drying, so are safe to use on your
(hence the name, “syn-det”) in a bar face. Many of these bar cleansers
form. They generally have a more contain ingredients to fight breakouts,
favourable pH of 5.5, and though pigmentation and even wrinkles.’
PLATINUM 51
 TY AWAR
AU

DS
BE
2024

Platinum
Beauty
Awards
2024
We can’t wait to start testing what’s hot this year in skincare,
haircare and make-up. Follow us to see what makes the cut from
our beauty guru Dottie Monaghan and her panel of industry experts!

Hello!
It’s with great excitement
that I’m announcing
Platinum’s first ever beauty
awards! Later this year,
we’ll be showcasing the very
best products on the market –
the ones that really deliver – and
we’re pretty sure there’ll be some
surprises in store.
I’ve recruited a panel of expert
judges that is diverse, experienced
and incredibly enthusiastic. We’ve
deliberately gone for a breadth of
expertise, with skin specialists,
beauticians, make-up artists and
hairdressers, plus celebs and
influencers with proven expertise
and opinion. They’ll be joining me
to test a broad spectrum of products.
Our testing will be independent,
real-world and reliable. And it’s not
just about skincare, haircare and
make-up – fragrances and gadgets
will feature too.
So, watch this space to find
out which products deliver on
performance and value, which ones
are innovating, and which ones are
just marketing fluff, and soon you’ll
be able to make a confident beeline
straight to the tried-and-tested
award winners. In the meantime,
you can sign up to the Platinum
newsletter via our website for
more great beauty news.
There may be other beauty awards
out there, but the Platinum Beauty
Awards will reveal exactly what’s

52 PLATINUM
 Beauty awards

THE PANEL
Introducing our fabulous team of expert judges. We asked each of them what
they feel are the most exciting things happening in beauty right now.

Dottie Monaghan Andrea McLean Anthea Turner Ariane Poole

Platinum beauty Presenter, author Media personality Make-up artist and
expert, hairdresser and media coach ‘The biggest change advocate for women
and make-up artist ‘The availability of is our access to over 50
‘For me personally, creams and gadgets research knowledge ‘The biggest change
the most exciting that were once the via the internet. is the acceptance by
thing going on at preserve of A-listers. We can now make the beauty industry
the moment is the They have become informed decisions that women over 50
first ever Platinum normalised as part about where to spend are relevant and are
Beauty Awards!’ of a beauty routine.’ our money.’ finally being seen.’

Denise McAdam Emma Coleman Grace Fodor Jane Black

RVM Dermatology nurse Studio10 Founder & Beauty therapist
Hairdresser and hair practitioner pro-age advocate and aesthetician
health expert ‘Inclusion of more ‘Most exciting is ‘The use of
‘The most important sustainable options the deep fusion of technologies that
change I see is the in skincare, such skincare ingredients naturally rejuvenate
increased inclusivity as plant-based and personalisation the skin for clients
of our industry. ingredients and of make-up driving who want to look
Embracing diversity fully biodegradable higher performance their best without
is a positive.’ packaging.’ at skin level.’ surgery or filler.’
WORDS: DOTTIE MONAGHAN AND CONTRIBUTORS.

Lorna McKay Nicola de Burlet Petsa Kaffens Zanne Lee

Experienced creator, Co-director at The Journalist in fashion, Content creator of
buyer and innovator PR Studio Plus beauty, health and timeless style and
‘The creation of new ‘The rise of the travel; lecturer in skincare over 40
products that affect midlife woman – and design and fashion ‘We’re becoming
our wellbeing. And demystifying the ‘Skincare becoming more educated about
how we communicate menopause. We are more specialised, the ingredients that
– the internet has finally seeing more combining science benefit our skin, and
made the industry older women in and anti-ageing how to be healthy
more accessible.’ beauty advertising.’ techniques.’ from the inside out.’

Entries to the awards will open from February 26, 2024. Entry is free. The awards entry form
can be found at smartsurvey.co.uk/s/Platinumawards24 or by scanning the QR code.

PLATINUM 53
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 Adventure
time!
Head off on a solo retreat, find out what
Aspen’s got to offer in summer, or enter our
giveaway for a luxury overnight stay.

P56 – Rediscover yourself

on a solo adventure with our
round-up of restorative UK
and European retreats.
P60 – Writer Lily Smith heads
to Aspen on a summer break and
finds that the winter ski resort
has so much more to offer.
P66 – It’s giveaway time with a
luxurious stay in The Coniston
Hotel Country Estate & Spa in
the Yorkshire Dales.
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK.

PLATINUM 55
 and I
Take yourself away on
an adventure to enjoy
some alone time or to
find your tribe on these
retreats and getaways,
specially designed for
solo travellers.

56 PLATINUM

Have a
Mamma Mia
moment
WHAT Wellbeing Escapes x Nefeli
Nine Yoga and Hiking Retreat
WHERE Dikastika, Greece
WHEN April 21-27, May 12-18,
June 9-15
PRICE From £1,675 pp (sharing)
WEBSITE wellbeingescapes.com
Staying in a beautiful seaside villa in
Dikastika near Athens with views of the
Aegean Sea, follow in Donna Sheridan’s
footsteps as you pack your bags and take
yourself off to Greece for this wellness-
packed getaway, created by Wellbeing
Escapes and Nefeli Nine. Designed
for those who want to experience the
sights, sounds and smells of Greece
while keeping active and relaxing the
mind, the itinerary features daily guided
hikes exploring the flora and fauna of the
WORDS: LILY SMITH. IMAGES: VARIOUS BRANDS.
beautiful Greek countryside and coastline,
alongside a visit to a traditional Greek fish
taverna and an organic farm.
Back at the villa, you’ll enjoy a healthy,
largely plant-based diet of three gourmet
meals per day, alongside stress-relieving
yoga classes and a relaxing massage
treatment. Plus, the small group setting,
with a maximum of eight people, creates
an inclusive and friendly atmosphere –
perfect for solo travellers who are looking
to connect with others. Airport transfers
are also included, giving you added peace
of mind when travelling alone.
Hone your artistic skills
WHAT Painting Week in Italy
by Friendship Travel
WHERE La Placette Hotel,
Usseaux, Italy
WHEN May 3-10, June 7-14,
September 20-27
PRICE From £1,475 pp
WEBSITE friendshiptravel.com
Staying in your own double room
in the charming La Placette
Hotel, complete with panoramic
views of the mountains, this full-
board retreat offers the perfect
opportunity for anyone who is
craving some countryside solitude
and artistic inspiration.
Your week in Italy’s hidden hills
combines sightseeing and culture
with creative pursuits, including
five days of tuition and painting
workshops with local artist Luisa
Diaz, who encourages you to take
in your surroundings and unleash
your impressions onto canvas.
You will also have the opportunity
Solo retreats
to visit the old town of Usseaux
and the city of Turin, alongside
nearby sights including Brunetta
d’Usseaux Protagonists’ and
Heroes’ Museum, Laux Lake and
the Church of St. Peter.
After a day of exploring and
painting, you can relax and unwind
in your very own double room or
treat yourself to a treatment at
the hotel spa. The package also
includes a daily menu of freshly
prepared local cuisine, as well as
ATOL-protected flights from the
UK and airport transfers, taking
the fuss out of solo-travel admin.
PLATINUM 57
Move in Morocco
WHAT Pilates Retreat in Marrakech
by Flavours Holidays
WHERE Marrakech, Morocco
WHEN April 13-20 and 20-27
PRICE From £2,199 pp
WEBSITE flavoursholidays.co.uk
Guided by expert instructors who
tailor each class to you – no matter
your experience level – this active and
exciting week-long retreat features
daily Pilates classes alongside health
and fitness advice to help you get the
most out of the week.
Staying in a modern villa situated on
the outskirts of Marrakech – complete
with a chef on-hand daily to prepare
58 PLATINUM
delicious meals, and a pool for sunny
days spent relaxing – you’ll also have
plenty of time to explore the beautiful
Moroccan city. Included are group
excursions planned to the famous
Majorelle gardens and the local
market in nearby Ourika, alongside
an optional guided walking day in the
Atlas Mountains.
Sticking together with your fellow
retreaters, all transport (including
airport transfers) is taken care of in a
private minibus. The big win for solo
travellers on this trip is that you won’t
be charged a single room supplement.
So, you can enjoy a space all to
yourself, for no added charge.
 Solo retreats

Go on a
campervan
adventure
WHAT Campervan Retreats
WHERE Various UK locations
WHEN Various dates
PRICE From £250 for two nights,
£295 for three nights
WEBSITE campervanretreats.co.uk

Got your own campervan? Fill the tank,

pack your bags and whisk yourself
away on a curated Campervan Retreat,
specially designed for women who
own campervans – or who fancy hiring
a camper and giving “van life” a go!
Taking place at private estates across
the UK, each retreat offers a maximum
of 16 women a safe space to pitch up
their campers and enjoy a wellness-
packed itinerary together.
The activities vary between retreats,
but you can expect to enjoy a selection
of yoga classes, drumming circles, gong
baths, meditation sessions, macramé
workshops, guided awe-walks, paddle
boarding, sauna sessions, sailing
lessons, wild swimming, massage
therapy, ecstatic dance and more! It’s
self-catering, so you’ll need to pack
your own food and cooking equipment,
but groups often gather round a
communal fire to eat and spend time
together. Upcoming locations include
East Sussex (May 9), Cornwall
(June 9), Pembrokeshire (June 27),
Yorkshire (July 4) and Kent (August 9).

PLATINUM 59
 in
When you hear the name Aspen, do you immediately think of snow and skiing? This mountainous
region isn’t only a winter paradise but fabulous to explore in summer, too. Lily Smith paid a visit.
A
fter an early start,
a long-haul flight, and
a bumpy connecting
flight into the mountains,
I was relieved to finally touch down in
Aspen, Colorado. The sun was shining
as we stepped off the plane and into
the quaint little airport – complete
with carved wooden bears holding
welcome signs – before heading to
downtown Aspen three miles away.
As the historic mountain town came
into view, I immediately fell in love
with the perfectly cosy and authentic
small-town vibe it radiated. While
60 PLATINUM
Aspen is often pictured alongside
snow, there was something about the
infinitely bright sunshine that made
the town come alive.
We checked into the most
luxurious hotel I’ve ever set foot in,
The Little Nell (thelittlenell.com),
before setting off on a guided walk
with Dean’s Aspen Walking Tours
(aspenwalkingtours.com). We learned
about the town’s proud history while
wandering through the streets – which
feel like they’ve been plucked from
a flawless movie set – complete
with talented musicians on every
corner and bright flowers lining
the clean pavements.
The next day, after a nourishing
breakfast, we donned our hiking
boots and headed to the gondola
(conveniently located right next
to the hotel) to ascend Aspen
Mountain – a journey complete with
picturesque views over the town,
which sits perfectly nestled among the
surrounding mountains. Upon reaching
the top, we met with our ACES guide
(Aspen Center for Environmental
Studies, aspennature.org) for a guided
hike, where we explored shaded
 Aspen in summer

Enjoy stunning
views while
ascending
Aspen Mountain
on the gondola.

Rafting is a
popular summer
activity in nearby
Snowmass.
WORDS: LILY SMITH. IMAGES: ASPENCHAMBER.ORG

‘On our hike, I gazed at

AND GOSNOWMASS.COM.

the most unreal “pinch-me”

views I have ever seen‘
PLATINUM 61
 Breathe the fresh
Aspen air during
mountain-top yoga.

forests, admired wildflower meadows,

and gazed at the most unreal “pinch-
me” views I have ever seen.
After the guided portion of our
hike, we continued to explore at our
leisure, unable to peel our eyes away
from the picture-perfect landscape.
Then, we descended the mountain
and enjoyed a hearty lunch at The
Little Nell’s Ajax Tavern – featuring
the renowned truffle fries, which we
were told we had to try – followed
by a relaxing afternoon of culture
and classical music at Aspen Art
Museum (aspenartmuseum.org) and
Aspen Music Festival and School
(aspenmusicfestival.com).

BIKING AND YOGA

The next morning, we hopped on
some e-bikes for a visit to the most
photographed mountains in North
America: the Maroon Bells. Having
never ridden an e-bike before, the
initial propulsion caught me by
surprise, but once I managed to
balance out my pedalling with the
motor, the extra umph was greatly
appreciated during the uphill ride. Snowmass is
While I was half-expecting a hugely popular
with mountain
moose or bear to cross my path at bikers in summer.
any given moment, this activity was

62 PLATINUM

Zip along the
alpine coaster at
The Lost Forest
in Snowmass.
my favourite part of the trip. There
was something simply magical about
whizzing along on my e-bike, passing
grand mountains and expansive lakes,
with the wind in my hair and the sun
shining down on me – that grin never
left my face.
As the roads took us higher, our
surroundings became increasingly
spectacular until the vast, snow-
capped twin peaks finally came into
view – and what a view it was. Mouths
agape and eyes fixated upon the
looming mountains, we made our way
towards Maroon Lake to meet another
ACES guide, who led us on a trail and
taught us all about local nature.
After the guided tour, we continued
our hike beneath the Maroon Bells,
traversing some uneven and tricky
terrain (hiking boots recommended!)
while listening to babbling brooks and
keeping our eyes peeled for wildlife. It
was a sunny day, which made for a hot
and sweaty hike, so we retreated to a
shady spot to refuel before e-biking
back to the hotel. On the downhill
home, our bikes seriously picked up
Aspen in summer
Watch out for
zippy mountain
bikers at the Elk
Camp Gondola
in Snowmass.
speed, reaching around 40mph at one
point, which resulted in involuntary
squeals and laughter bursting out of
me. I’m not sure what ached more
at the end of that day: my legs from
biking or my cheeks from smiling!
The next morning, we headed back
up Aspen Mountain for an outdoor
yoga class. As a yoga teacher myself,
I was especially looking forward to
this – and it exceeded all expectations.
After a long day of travelling,
followed by a few active days of
hiking and biking, I was grateful for
the opportunity to stretch my body,
breathe deeply, and re-centre myself.
The class was filled with creative
flows, breathwork and meditation –
which I would’ve enjoyed anywhere,
but getting to move through the class
while gazing out over the mountains
was an awe-inspiring experience.
A PLAYGROUND FOR
THE ADVENTUROUS
Next, it was time to go to Snowmass
Village (gosnowmass.com), a
renowned winter playground and
vibrant summer community just
nine miles from Aspen. Home
to an abundance of restaurants,
accommodation, shops, and a huge
PLATINUM 63
 selection of things to do come snow
or sunshine, Snowmass is perfect for

‘As we went anyone seeking an outdoorsy getaway.

Upon arrival, we checked into
our cosy condo at The Crestwood

higher, our (thecrestwood.com) before donning

our hiking boots and taking the Elk

surroundings Camp Gondola and Chair lift all the

way to the summit. Here, we enjoyed
a short hike and admired yet more

became more mountainous views, this time featuring

a dramatic backdrop of ominous
clouds as a storm brewed overhead.

spectacular’ After a battering of freezing rain on

the chair lift, we headed to The Lost
Forest at Elk Camp. This lively hub
offers a range of outdoor activities,
and while it’s a skiing haven in
winter, the main draw in summer is
mountain biking. In fact, according
to the International Mountain Biking
Association, it’s the fifth most popular
mountain biking spot in the US and
seventh globally. It was astounding
to see agile bikers hurtling down the
mountains, and while I didn’t feel
brave enough to try it out myself,
I did put my thrill-seeker hat on for the
alpine coaster – an exhilarating ride
on an elevated track through the forest
– which I’d highly recommend.
Another summer activity on offer
in Snowmass is rafting. One for the
adrenaline junkies, this adventurous
activity sees you traversing down
rivers of turbulent currents as you
try to stay on course (and upright!).
If that sounds like your cup of tea,
check out Blazing Adventures
(blazingadventures.com).

MY FIRST RODEO
On our final evening in Snowmass,
we donned our cowboy hats and
headed to the Snowmass Rodeo
(snowmassrodeo.org). This was, in
fact, my first rodeo, and I once again
found my mouth agape as I watched
people attempting to hold onto horses,
bulls and sheep, who were furiously
trying to throw them off (often with
much success). With our ears still
ringing from the electric atmosphere
and cheering crowd, we ended our
The Aspen night at a local tavern, where we
Mountain ski raised a glass to what had been a
lift is located spectacular week of adventures.
just beside
The Little Nell.
If I were to summarise how I felt
while exploring Aspen and Snowmass,

64 PLATINUM

Just down the road from
Aspen, Snowmass is
a mountain town
with plenty to offer
in summer.
the word that immediately springs
to mind is awe. From the moment
I arrived, my eyes were endlessly
treated to a stunning array of sites
– from scenic mountains to pristine
streets, all embellished with colourful
flowers of every hue.
Speaking about their beloved
mountain towns, the locals all said
the same thing: people come for the
winter, then stay for the summer.
After spending a week soaking up
the sunshine and scenery last summer,
I can certainly see why.
Aspen in summer
Trip notes
Return flights in July between
The Little Nell in London and Dallas cost
Aspen features around £480, with connecting
a courtyard and flights between Dallas and
pool where you
can relax after Aspen costing around £600
a busy day in (skyscanner.net). Visit
the mountains. aspenchamber.org for more.
STAY: The Little Nell in
Aspen (from £748 per night in
summer, thelittlenell.com) and
The Crestwood in Snowmass
(from £315 per night in
summer, thecrestwood.com).
EAT: Aspen restaurants
include: French Alpine Bistro
frenchalpinebistro.com),
Jour de Fête
jourdefeteaspen.com),
Las Montañas
(lasmontanasaspen.com).
Snowmass restaurant
highlights: Venga Venga
(eatvengavenga.com), and
Mawita (mawita.com).
The streets
of Aspen are
charming
and pristine.
PLATINUM 65
 Here’s your chance to win a
stay for two at The Coniston
Hotel Country Estate & Spa
in the Yorkshire Dales.

S
et within 1,400 acres of beautiful woodland and Finnish sauna, Himalayan sauna, aromatherapy steam
parkland, The Coniston Hotel Country Estate & room, indoor bubble pool and ice fountain. There is also
Spa has been family run for more than 50 years. a luxury couples’ suite, including double spa bath and mud
Starting out as a local farm shop, it has grown rasul. A spectacular private spa garden complete with a
to become one of North Yorkshire’s premium destination relaxation pod, loungers and two outdoor baths boast the
hotels, boasting award-winning dining, a luxury spa, most incredible views.
and bedrooms with far-reaching views of the Yorkshire The hotel spa was also a finalist in the category Best
Dales. The hotel and grounds have a range of exceptional Destination Spa in the annual Good Spa Guide Awards
facilities, including one of the best shooting grounds in the 2023. Find out more about The Coniston Hotel Country
country and a Land Rover off-roading experience, plus a Estate & Spa at theconistonhotel.com.
suite of event spaces perfect for weddings and conferences.
The Coniston makes the most of its location on a
picturesque and private 1,400-acre estate surrounded by
the spectacular Dales. Other outdoor activities include
archery, clay pigeon shooting, cycling, fishing and
walking, and after all this high-impact action, there is
also the chance to unwind and relax in the award-winning
Nàdarra Spa. Nàdarra means “natural” in Scots Gaelic
and is a homage to the Bannister family’s history on the
Isle of Lewis. The spa features two infinity pools with
commanding views across the estate, lake and Yorkshire
Dales; a lake-view terrace with relaxed seating, fire pits
and a covered outdoor bar; a 15m indoor swimming pool;
and a thermal experience including an infrared sauna,

66 PLATINUM

The prize includes:
l Overnight stay in a Dales room
l 2hr spa facilities access
l 1hr Land Rover taster
l 25 clay pigeon shoot
l Dinner in The View (to the value of £35 pp)
l Yorkshire breakfast
TERMS & CONDITIONS
• This prize cannot be exchanged
for monetary value. The gift is
non-refundable, non-transferable,
and non-exchangeable.
• Based on two guests sharing.
• Any other incidental expenses
relating to the prize are not
included in the above prize and
must be paid for by the winner,
wherever relevant.
• This competition is open to all
UK residents aged 18 years or over
except employees, directors or
officers of The Coniston Hotel, their
families, agents, or anyone profes-
sionally connected with the draw.
• The Coniston Hotel reserves the
right to substitute the prizes with
one of an equivalent or greater
Worth
£700!
value, subject to availability.
• No cash equivalent or re-sell.
• To be taken Sunday–Thursday,
subject to availability.
• Valid until September 30, 2024.
• Entry into this prize draw is
taken as acceptance of these
terms and conditions.
• Closing date to enter is March
21, 2024.
Giveaway
UK entrants only.
HOW TO
ENTER…
1 Simply visit us at
platinum-mag.co.uk where
you can enter the prize
draw for an overnight stay
at The Coniston Hotel.
2 Answer the question on
the entry page.
3 Closing date and time is
Thursday March 21, 2024,
at 23:59 GMT.
4 Full Ts&Cs can be found
left and online.
PLATINUM 67
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 Home
Interior inspiration, money-
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advice on home issues.

comfort
P70 – Can living
together be the
solution to isolation
in older age?

P78 – Meet one

of the founders
of British brand
Secret Linen Store.

P80 – Discover
where mould may
be lurking and
how to tackle it.

P86 – Get a fresh

take on your home
décor with design
ideas for spring.

P88 – Five
delicious money-
saving recipes that
are ready in a flash.
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK.

PLATINUM 69
 The

Debate

With a loneliness epidemic hitting hard, would you consider living

communally to fend off isolation? Cohousing, retirement villages
or shared houses could be the future of independent living as we
get older, but what’s it really like being part of one big boisterous
community? Angela Kennedy investigates.

I
f you’re feeling lonesome,
you’re certainly not alone as
1.4 million people aged 50
and older admitted they were
often lonely1. It’s a black hole that’s
easy to fall into; for example, due to
retirement, if your partner has passed
neighbourhoods, according to
a recent study4.
‘Communal living builds up
meaningful relationships where strong
bonds can grow. Collaboration of
skills gained throughout a person’s
New Ground Cohousing photo by Jill Mead, Burghley Retirement Living;
Marilyn Hamilton of Findhorn photo by Kate Bewick, Postlip Hall – all
working life can be a wonderful asset and community. Residents make

Ben O’Sullivan, findhorn.org, Birchwood Hall by Marie-Therese King.

Words: Angela Kennedy. Images: Shutterstock, Charlotte Balazs of

away, or if friends or family have
moved away.
Loneliness is dire news for health
because being socially disconnected
is as bad for you as smoking or heavy
alcohol consumption. Plus, those
who feel lonely are 50 per cent more
likely to die prematurely than socially
engaged people2. Interestingly, over-
50s are five-and-a-half times more
likely to be lonely if they don’t have
someone to talk to3. In other words,
having people around you for a good
chat is vital for wellbeing.
That’s where communal living
comes in. In fact, being part of a
cohousing community gives you
a mental health boost and lowers
anxiety compared to traditional
to the group. Socially, it opens up
possibilities for shared meals, walks,
activities or even holidays. The
emotional support of community living
brings peace of mind to know you
always have a valued support network.
It’s a bit of a win-win,’ says Dr Annette
Greenwood (annettegreenwood.com),
who specialises in helping women
challenge limiting habits or beliefs
to create happier lives.
One highly successful example
of an all-female community of
over-50s is New Ground Cohousing
in London. Cohousing is a group of
self-contained homes with additional
communal spaces such as gardens,
arts rooms and dining areas. So, you
get a good balance between privacy
decisions together on managing the
community, share social activities and
eat together regularly. New Ground’s
aim is to “promote neighbourliness,
combat isolation and offer mutual
support” and “share a determination
to stay self-dependent, young-at-
heart and active”. Residents are also
encouraged to become active in the
wider local community. Charlotte
Balazs, 70, a former Medical Royal
College administrator, moved to New
Ground in 2016 because she wanted
that balance of community with
independent living – as well as the
benefits of being part of an all-female
group. ‘I chose New Ground as I
could be part of a community but also
continue living my own life with my

70 PLATINUM

own front door. As women, we have
commonality, and of course we have
varied life experiences, but we are
now in control of our decision-making
and future. We do this as a mutually
supportive community, which is such
a heart-warming and reassuring way
to live. It really is a no-brainer as a
good way to live in your third age,
with mutual support, sense of purpose,
stimulation and friendship – it’s a good
life,’ she says.
WORLD OF YOUR OWN
Retirement villages are larger scale,
purpose-built sites for over-55s,
which are self-contained apartments
or houses with communal areas and
regular social activities on offer, such
as trips, crafts, games or fitness. They
The big debate
are usually positioned close to towns
so you can easily access shops and
public transport, and you pay a service
charge to cover things such as security
and building maintenance.
Burghley Retirement Living has
four retirement villages in the UK
offering one- or two-bedroom luxury
a no-brainer apartments, with smaller sites having
about 37 apartments, while the bigger
as a good way sites have up to 64. The housing is
to live in your designed with the needs of older
people in mind, meaning appliances
third age’ and plug sockets are positioned for
easy use, there’s non-slip bathroom
flooring and easy-access showers, and
Charlotte Balazs,
buildings are thermally insulated with
New Ground Cohousing
double glazing to reduce energy costs.
(newgroundcohousing.uk)
There are security measures, such as
video-door entry, CCTV surveillance
PLATINUM 71
systems and security locks on
windows. Gardening, window cleaning
and building repairs are included.
‘As people age, their circle of
friends gets smaller and loneliness
creeps in. We want our owners to
be active in the community, making
and maintaining friendships, because
we see first-hand how important
this is in later life. Homeowners
have opportunities to participate in
group activities, events and clubs,
promoting a sense of belonging and
companionship. Regular interactions
with neighbours, our lodge managers
and participation in activities can
positively impact mental health and
emotional wellbeing,’ says Marie
Buckingham, development director
at Burghley Retirement Living.
In general, retirement villages
may be a good option if you want
to downsize and live in a supported
community among people of a similar
age with activities on offer. However,
it always pays to do your homework
before you jump in, as some
retirement sites have been criticised
for charging high service costs,
having poor resale value, leaseholder
restrictions and additional ground rent
costs, according to campaign group,
HomeOwners Alliance5.

THE GOOD LIFE

Yet another type of communal living
are the big house communities, which
used to be associated with the hippy
communes of the 1960s and 70s,
although most have long thrown off
that stereotype. They are now called
intentional communities, meaning
people who have come together
by choice rather than chance. For
example, when you move house in
the usual way you don’t pick your
neighbours, but big house intentional
communities often have shared beliefs
time to come have been converted into separate
whether that’s spiritual, political or together units too. You’d also be expected to
just a desire to live in a certain way
with like-minded people. to nurture be fully involved with the community
from decision-making to cooking,
Of course, the sense of intention
also applies to cohousing and community cleaning and gardening by rota, as
well as having access to lots of social
retirement villages, but big house
communities differ as they are a more
relationships’ activities. If you are a very private
person, this is probably your worst
immersive experience. You might Heather Holve, Postlip Hall nightmare. But for others, a huge
have a private room but share other (postliphall.org.uk) attraction of this type of community is
facilities such as the kitchen and that it’s like living with one big family.
bathrooms, although many big houses It’s multi-generational living too, as

72 PLATINUM

residents range from families with
children to retired people – so you
get the mental and emotional benefits
of mixing with all ages.
The Findhorn Foundation is one
of the biggest and oldest intentional
communities in the UK. It was founded
in 1962, near the north-eastern
Scottish coastal village of Findhorn,
as a self-sustaining eco-community
with spiritual roots. It has a big house
as part of the site but it also has an
eco-village sustainable development
of about 125 houses.
Marilyn Hamilton, 76, moved to
Findhorn in 2018. ‘I felt called to
move to Ecovillage Findhorn after my
husband died in 2017 and I attended a
retreat there. I love living in a village
environment, where I can walk out my
door to the shop and will know most
people I see. The familial/community
bonds are tangible and strong. I also
love walking out through my small
The big debate
garden into nature. The dunes, forest,
beach and lagoon all energise and
support me. This is a community that
is nourishing and inspiring.’
Of course, sharing your life with
a big group of people won’t always
be sweetness and light – community
decision-making and general
differences can lead to conflict.
‘Dealing with disagreements generally
comes down to being willing to have
difficult conversations with others in
PLATINUM 73

a mutually trusting and respectful
way,’ says Marilyn.
Heather Holve, 59, is part of
the community at Postlip Hall – a
beautiful listed Jacobean manor house
in Gloucestershire. It has 15 acres of
land with organic vegetable gardens
and livestock. It’s been divided into
separate units so it’s essentially
cohousing within a big old house and
it is run as a housing association with
monthly meetings for community
decision-making. ‘I love the space and
the community at Postlip. We share a
manor house with a kitchen garden,
chickens, pigs and sheep. You bond
and care for your community. You
can be very different people in your
interests and professions, but you
have a shared will to collaborate and
be worthy custodians of the building
and the land. We make time to nurture
these relationships – the summer is
great for sharing a barbeque or pizza
evening,’ says Heather.
74 PLATINUM
GROUP DECISIONS
When it comes to conflict resolution,
patience, openness and respectful
communication is the key to harmony.
‘Not everything in a community is
plain sailing and Postlip has seen its
fair share of conflict. With 50 years
of residents moving in and out there
is always flux on group dynamics
and how the group gels. We make
decisions through consensus so we
need to keep lines of communication
open and be prepared to be patient.
We have agreements so everyone
is clear about commitments to the
community and what is good and
bad communication. We also have a
facilitator who helps us be open and
fair about differences,’ says Heather.
Residents at Postlip Hall are aged
from one to upwards of 80, so there’s
a real big family vibe with plenty of
room for the talents and wisdom of
all ages. ‘One of our founders, who
is in her 80s, has more than 50 years
journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1000316#abstract1 3 campaigntoendloneliness.org 4 researchgate.net/publication/347737814_Living_in_Cohousing_Commu-
nities_Psychological_Effects_and_Coping_Strategies_in_Times_of_COVID-19 5 hoa.org.uk/advice/guides-for-homeowners/i-am-buying/hidden-costs-retirement-properties/#:~:text=Ac-
ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/reports-and-publications/consultation-responses-and-submissions/health--wellbeing/loneliness-and-covid-19---december-2021.pdf
of experience at Postlip, which is a
wonderful resource. But even more
impressively she remains open to
new ideas and is willing to try new
ways. Plus, she has a hilarious set of
cording%20to%20research%20by%20the,what%20they%20bought%20it%20for.
anecdotes on Postlip and the people
who lived here,’ says Heather.
While communal living isn’t for
everyone, it does sound like a smart
way to live as you get older, if you
enjoy company, collaboration and
shared activities. But it’s certainly not
some sort of utopia. ‘Communal living
can bring challenges. Sometimes
decisions are taken by majority, so if
you are a person who prefers complete
autonomy, bear this in mind. If you
prefer a very private life this may not
be the best fit for you. With so many
different people and personalities,
conflict can arise. The question to ask
yourself before deciding to embark
on this journey is, do the benefits
outweigh the negatives?’ says Dr
Annette. Only you can answer that.
2
1

Meet the women who love
communal living…
THE ECOVILLAGE COMMUNITY
‘We practise holistic
ways of living’
Mary Inglis, 78, Findhorn, Scotland.
‘I joined Findhorn in 1973, when the
community was only 11 years old with fewer
than 100 residents, all living in mobile
homes. Today there are more than 500
residents living both at The Park and in
the local area in ecologically built houses.
Before coming to Findhorn Community,
aged 28, I was a journalist and began
getting involved in experiential education.
I continued with writing, editing, developing
and running educational programmes at
Findhorn. I’m a coach in personal and
spiritual development and a facilitator in the
Transformation Game, a board game that
offers a playful approach to exploring
and transforming issues in life and work.
‘I love that my community continues
to explore and practise more holistic
ways of living – ecological, social and
The big debate
the elders then were encouraging and
people, even if sometimes these were
strange to them. I appreciated their
steadiness and their life experience,
which they shared but didn’t press upon
us. Hopefully, those of us who are
now elders can do likewise. There’s a
recognition that people will have different
viewpoints and priorities. Not everything
needs to get sorted out immediately; some
things just take time.
‘I plan to remain here for lots of reasons:
long-term friends who have been involved
in building this community; new friends
bringing fresh energy; my appreciation of
the area; and the familiarity and friendliness
of the local areas of Findhorn and Forres.’
(findhorn.org)
Findhorn is
a spiritual
ecovillage
made up of
individual
dwellings with
shared spaces
for gardening
and other
sustainable
activities.
PLATINUM 75
 THE RETIREMENT VILLAGE

‘I’m not lonely

anymore’
Pam Ward, and afternoon tea. We all get along
74, Albany so well. And I’ve even used the big
Lodge, lounge space to host a Prosecco
Derby. get-together with my friends from
‘My daughter the charity shop.
moved to ‘I am visiting my family in Australia
Australia with at the moment, and I know all is well
her partner and my and safe in my apartment. I have
grandchildren six years arranged for the lodge manager to
ago. Then I lost my husband to put my heating on for me the day
Parkinson’s disease three years later. prior to me returning to England. Just
So, my life changed forever. I am a having someone to help like that is
sociable person and I felt so lonely. wonderful. I don’t have to deal with
I realised the street I lived on was a the stress or cost of maintaining a Burghley
Retirement
lonely place that lacked community large home. I’m not lonely anymore. Villages offer
spirit. Even when walking my dog, I have made friends and we have lots apartments
Ollie, daily, I hardly saw anyone else in common. We chat, we laugh and alongside
communal living.
on the road. So, I knew something we look out for each other. I have a
needed to change. I volunteered at lovely apartment that really feels like
a local charity shop, which helped me home.’ (burghleyretirement.co.uk).
meet people and I started to look for
a new place to live. I saw an advert
for Albany Lodge, and after a good
look around and finding out I’d be
able to bring Ollie, my six-year-old
Shih Tzu with me, I knew it was the
right place for me. I moved in in June
2023, and it has been wonderful!
‘Within a couple of weeks of
moving in, I made new friends.
I spend time in the communal lounge
where I often meet up with other
homeowners to have a morning
coffee before work or before a big
walk with Ollie. I’ve also attended
events planned by our wonderful
lodge manager. There’s been a fashion
event, carol singing, Christmas party

76 PLATINUM
 The big debate

THE BIG HOUSE COMMUNITY

‘It feels like

a big family’
Marie-Therese King, 54, Birchwood Hall
Community, Worcestershire.
‘I moved to Birchwood Hall in 2017 with my
10-year-old-daughter. I had separated from the
person I was living with and didn’t want to rent
somewhere alone as a single parent. Living
communally was the obvious solution and I was
lucky there was space at Birchwood for us.
‘I love sharing this amazing Victorian house
with so many interesting like-minded individuals.
I feel as if we are one family. It’s supportive and
affordable for someone like me, with a career as
a self-employed artist and art tutor that brings in At Birchwood
Hall, everyone
varying amounts. I love the space. We rent huge
maintains the
rooms, so we have plenty of our own space and house and
also share eight acres outdoors. The vegetable gardens
garden is my favourite part; growing food, together.
herbs and flowers, sharing the workload and
knowledge. Another favourite are the communal
meals – we eat as a household every night and
twice a week we eat together as a community.
‘I think my daughter, Freya, has benefited
tremendously from being around the community
at Birchwood Hall; she is a very well-rounded
young adult with a mature outlook on life. As a
parent, I’ve felt very supported living amongst
elders. I am one of seven siblings from a very
close-knit family, so I’m used to having lots of

in a busy social environment. I love the

interaction. We spend at least one day a month
doing routine maintenance jobs as a group; this
is also a fantastic time of working together to
improve the place we all share. It does feel like
a big family.
‘We all respect each other and I have formed
some really close friendships. Being here has
enabled me to concentrate on my art with less
pressure to earn money, as living communally
means the bills are shared and the rent is
very reasonable. I feel I can easily achieve
a very good work-life balance, mentally and
physically. I am now able to work from home
from a studio (mariethereseking.uk), so can be
very flexible with the hours I work. Part of my
art involves studying nature and wildlife in the
countryside, so daily walks from the hall are
also one of the things I love about living here.’
(birchwoodcommunity.wordpress.com).

PLATINUM 77
 DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT

Fall in love with…

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Store
Give your bedroom a makeover with the gorgeous bedlinen, curtains,
nightwear and more from Secret Linen Store. Co-founder and creative
director Molly Freshwater tells us all about her foray into the world of
fabrics and where she gets the inspiration for her designs.

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Harriet and Molly (L-R). and Fitted Sheets, from £95.

78 PLATINUM

Kitty McCall Summer Garden
100% Linen Pillowcases, £37,
and Emperor Duvet Cover, £289.
I have always been interested in
pattern and fabric. I was also good
at maths when I was younger and
there’s something about repeating
patterns that ties the two together.
I went to Epsom School of Art,
and then did a degree in Textile
Design at Nottingham Trent
University. We didn’t use computers
at all on my degree, but I have since
learnt how to use them for design and
WORDS: LILY SMITH. IMAGES: TIM YOUNG.
now love to combine hand painting
with clever computer programmes.
I originally thought fashion
might be my calling, but I then
realised my passion was for the
fabrics themselves, rather than
the actual garment design. I fell
into bedroom retail after a part-time
job in a bedroom showroom, selling
mattresses and iron beds. I then
worked my way up and into head
office, and the rest is history.
My favourite fabric to work with is
linen. It’s all about texture for me and
linen has a texture like no other fabric.
We piece-dye our linen bedding,
which gives the colour amazing depth.
My favourite colours change most
days, but I’m currently into muddy
neutrals like sludgy reds and yellows
with dusty pinks, alongside pops of
bright colour. No grey, thank you!
I get my inspiration from everything
and everywhere. I recently visited
Paris where I was inspired by art,
pavements, fashion, graffiti and fruit
shops. I love putting together a colour
palette from daily life and nature. Most
of my designs start with plants, but
colour can be found everywhere.
My favourite design is probably
Jude. This new design features a
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palette. It’s on my bed now! We have
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including a collaboration collection
with printmaker Molly Mahon
(mollymahon.com) and a design from
Jessie Cutts (cuttsandsons.com), made
using our leftover fabric scraps, which
will raise money for charity Choose
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We are delighted and proud to be
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We have more to do, but this is a big
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l Find more inspiration and shop the
full collection at secretlinenstore.com.
PLATINUM 79
 26% The number
affected by damp or
mould in the UK *

80 PLATINUM

Is your
house
harming
you?
Spring cleaning is around the corner but sometimes we need more
than a quick vacuum and spruce up. If mould is lurking anywhere, you’ll
want to be rid of it fast before it can harm your health. Find out why it’s
so deadly and what to do to prevent mould from building up.
L
ove it or hate it, a spring
clean is a ritual that can
uncover more than a spot
of dust in the kitchen
cupboards. That’s because, while
scrubbing away in a forgotten corner
of the bathroom you might find a
hidden health hazard lurking in your
home. A dark patch of discolouration,
slimy film or fuzz probably means you
have mould in your house. It thrives
in damp conditions, so kitchens
and bathrooms are mould hotspots,
especially if poorly ventilated.
It’s often found on walls, ceilings,
window frames, floors, baths,
showers, concealed behind furniture
and even inside your fridge.
About 6.2 million households
had issues with mould and damp
during 2018 and 2019 – and it
can be a serious threat to health.
Having mould in your home can
make you more prone to respiratory
infections, allergies and asthma as
well as harming your immune system,
according to the NHS.
The danger was starkly highlighted
in 2020 by the tragic death of two-
year-old Awaab Ishak, who died due
to a respiratory condition caused by
exposure to toxic black mould in his
Mould advice
social housing home. As a result, a
new law has been proposed requiring
landlords to investigate tenant
WORDS: ANGELA KENNEDY. IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK. 1ALLERGYUK.ORG/RESOURCES/MOULD-
complaints of mould or damp within
a fortnight and make repairs rapidly,
if there’s a medically confirmed risk
to health. Currently, the Government
is undertaking a review of existing
guidance on health impacts of damp
and mould in homes, with new
guidelines expected by summer.
ALLERGY-ADVICE-FACTSHEET. 2ALLERGYUK.ORG. *SHELTER.ORG.UK.
VARIOUS STRAINS
So, what exactly is this unwelcome
substance that could be making itself
at home in the dark recesses of your
bathroom or kitchen? ‘Moulds are a
type of fungi that spread by making
spores and they thrive best in warm,
humid conditions. Mould exists in the
air as a microscopic substance, which
usually can’t be seen until it grows
together in large numbers,’ says Dr
Nasha Winters, healthcare teacher
and specialist in integrative cancer
care (drnasha.com).
‘Although some species of mould
are considered harmless, like those
that grow on cheese, there are others
that cause major health issues.
The most toxic to human health
is called Stachybotrys chartarum,
PLATINUM 81
 5 ways to
stop mould
Embark on the ultimate spring clean
with these expert tips and products for
eliminating and avoiding mould growth.

1
Try Clean
Living Biological
Bathroom Cleaner
Starter Kit (£10.80,
cleanlivingint.com), which
contains everything you
need to zap mould without
the harsh chemicals. It
was developed using
probiotic technology,
so the friendly bacteria
in this solution eats
away mould to leave
sparkling clean surfaces. It’s free from
toxic ingredients and leaves no harmful
residues. Refills start at £1.99 each.

2
Use Astonish
The Good One
Natural Power
Cleaning Paste
(£3.50, astonish.co.uk).
This multi-purpose
cleaner is made from
100 per cent naturally
derived ingredients and
is not toxic to pets or the environment.
A little goes a long way – dab onto a cloth
and dampen, then wipe away mould.

3
Ventilate and clean. ‘Mould
thrives in rooms lacking natural
sunlight and adequate ventilation,
and in damp environments such as
bathrooms. Regular cleaning reduces the
plants reduce airborne toxins such as
benzene, xylene and trichloroethylene.
*NOTE: Mould can grow in houseplant
soil. Prevent this by letting excess water
drain into a tray underneath, and cover
the top of the soil with aquarium gravel.

5
likelihood of any mould growing. Focus
on corners, shower curtains and rugs, as
these can retain moisture from the shower.
Avoid drying clothes or towels in the
bathroom,’ says Holly Shaw of Allergy UK.
Try essential oils. A traditional
blend known as Thieves Oil
(cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus and
rosemary) may protect against

4
Add air-purifying plants.
Houseplants were found to absorb
harmful toxins from the air, in a
study by space agency NASA*.
In particular, English ivy may help reduce
mould in your home, peace lilies remove
VOCs (volatile organic compounds)
including formaldehyde, while snake
airborne pathogens. This blend was found
to significantly lower airborne levels of
three different types of bacteria1. Find it
in Young Living Thieves Essential Oil
Blend (from £19.97, youngliving.co.uk).
Dr Winters also suggests adding
cinnamon, clove, tea tree, grapefruit seed,
oregano and thyme essential oil to a
cold-air diffuser to purify your home.

82 PLATINUM
 Mould advice

‘Check your kitchen and bathroom

regularly and don’t forget to look
behind larger furniture’

or black mould,’ she adds. Other
types of health-harming mould
include Cladosporium herbarum,
which is easily transported through
the air and commonly found inside
uncleaned refrigerators, on spoiled
food, on window frames, in rooms
with poor ventilation, and in damp
areas. Aspergillus fumigatus is found
in decaying vegetables and roots,
and stored sweet potatoes, while
Alternaria alternata grows in food,
textiles, rotten wood and plants.
All of these strains can trigger
mould allergy, causing symptoms
such as bronchitis, rhinitis, itchy
eyes, eczema and asthma1.
‘Mould usually enters the human
body through inhaled spores, which
can lead to chronic health conditions
such as upper respiratory tract issues.
For example, more than 25 per cent of
asthma cases in the USA are related
to mould exposure. In rare instances,
when there’s systemic mould infection
in immune-compromised individuals,
such as those living with cancer,
AIDS or long-term steroid patients,
it can lead to organ failure and death,’
says Dr Winters.
HEALTH HAZARD
The first signs of mould exposure
can appear similar to a common cold,
such as coughing, sneezing, sore
throat – but crucially, symptoms don’t
clear up after a couple of weeks as
they would with a seasonal cold virus
if the mould remains in your home.
Instead, with prolonged exposure, you
may experience memory problems,
excessive fatigue, weak voice, watery
eyes, dizziness, headaches, throat
and sinus discomfort, bloating, visual
changes and rashes. So, it becomes
a systemic issue that depletes your
energy levels as well as causing health
problems and joint pain, leaving you
feeling tired and drained.
‘Long-term mould exposure stirs
up an inflammatory and immune
response, sapping cellular energy
from your body for the day-to-
day physiological activities that
are required to survive. If mould
infections become systemic, they can
impact all cells, tissues and organs
of the body, including your joints,’
explains Dr Winters.
So, what do you do if you’ve been
exposed to mould? ‘First, you must
identify and remove the mould source
or healing can’t begin,’ advises Dr

PLATINUM 83
 ‘ The first thing to do is
find out what is causing
the mould to grow’
Winters. ‘For cleaning, hydrogen
peroxide is a gentle, non-toxic
disinfectant that works by releasing
oxygen to break down moulds.
Then, my favourite way to recover
from mould exposure is with 30-45
minutes, five days per week, of low-
EMF sauna sessions, as sweating
liberates the mould spores from the
tissues of the body,’ she says.
‘Also, you need to ensure your
organs of elimination are functioning
optimally. This means exercising
and practising breathwork, as well
as sweating for elimination through
the skin. Make sure you are properly
hydrated so your kidneys can function
well. Try milk thistle supplements
to support your liver, and eat plenty
of fibre and magnesium-rich foods
84 PLATINUM
to increase elimination through the
bowels,’ she advises.
DEALING WITH DAMP
As for cleaning up mould in your
home, you should, of course, check
your kitchen and bathroom thoroughly
and regularly. But don’t forget to
look behind the fridge, sofa and other
furniture that’s pressed up against
the wall. Window frames covered by
curtains are another prime spot for
hidden patches of mould, as are inside
wardrobes. The first thing to do is
to deal with the damp, which is the
source of mould growth.
‘Find out what is causing the mould
to grow; repair any leaks and fix
problems causing condensation or
excess moisture in the home,’ says
Holly Shaw, a nurse advisor at Allergy
UK (allergyuk.org). ‘Then remove the
mould. If you experience breathing
difficulties or severe allergic reactions
to mould, it is best to consult a builder
or specialist to remove it.
‘But if you want to remove it
yourself, clean with vinegar solution
or use specialist mould-removal
products. Wear a face mask to protect
yourself from breathing in harmful
mould spores and ensure that your
hands and eyes are protected with
gloves and goggles.’
PREVENTION IS KEY
When it comes to preventing mould
regrowth, there are plenty of simple
ways to stop it creeping back into the
corners of your home. ‘Keep rooms

DIY removal of mould
1
Protect your lungs, eyes
and skin from contact with
mould when cleaning, by
wearing an FFP3 respirator
face mask, goggles, rubber
gloves and long sleeves.
2
Use a vinegar solution,
or a specialist mould
removal product. Spray
onto a cloth, then rub rather
than spraying directly onto the
DID YOU
KNOW?
Old foam
mattresses or
pillows can harbour
hidden mould2,
so check them
regularly.
mould, to avoid blasting mould
spores into the air.
3
Don’t attempt to tackle
extensive patches
of mould yourself.
For areas larger than one
meter, call in a professional.
Search Trading Standards-
vetted companies on
buywithconfidence.gov.uk
for mould removal specialists.
Mould advice
well ventilated by opening doors and
windows whenever possible. Dry your
washing outside if you can, or at least
ensure there’s adequate ventilation in
the room while drying. Try to make
sure your home doesn’t get too cold
either – aim for at least 15 degrees
centigrade,’ says Holly.
‘Also, quickly repair or report to
your landlord any leaks that could
lead to damp conditions, such as wet
carpets or floorboards. Keep living
spaces minimalist and clutter-free
to allow for good air circulation.
Wipe windows that become damp
or wet inside the glass and around
the frames to prevent black mould.
For persistent mould, you can have
walls covered with a mould-resistant
paint, and it could be worth investing
in a dehumidifier with a HEPA (high
efficiency particulate air) filter to
remove microscopic particles, such
as mould spores, from the air in your
home,’ advises Holly.
Dr Nasha
Winters is
a leading
healthcare
authority and
best-selling
author in
integrative
cancer care and research. She has
created educational programmes
for both healthcare institutions
and the public on incorporating
vetted integrative therapies in
cancer care to enhance outcomes.
Find her at mtih.org and
instagram.com/drnashawinters.
Holly Shaw is a
Nurse Advisor
at Allergy
UK, a patient
organisation
supporting,
advising and
advocating
for those with allergies. She
specialises in paediatric food
allergy and education. Find more
tips for cleansing your home of
mould with Allergy UK’s factsheet
at allergyuk.org/resources/mould-
allergy-advice-factsheet.
PLATINUM 85
 Dragonfly Swarm Wallpaper
in Sage, £140 per roll,
thecuriousdepartment.com.
Time to freshen up
Spring is here – and with it, a multitude of interiors ideas to throw out the old and invest in the new.
But refreshing your look doesn’t mean spending a fortune, advises interiors writer Carol Burns.
I
n winter, when the light is shorter and less intense,
our interiors turn to features like the flickering of a
real fire and the twinkling of Christmas decorations.
But with the change of clocks and the lengthening
days, our homes can look a bit tired. So, before you start
scrolling those impossibly perfect show homes for ideas,
here’s a few simple tips to update your look.
WINDOW DRESSINGS
In an ideal world, you would have two sets: one thick
and cosy for winter, and another light and airy set for the
summer. You can’t underestimate the difference window
dressings will make to your house. If you can, take
them down (spring is a great time to wash or air them
anyway) and the room will be instantly awash with light.
The downside of this is that the state of your décor will
immediately reveal itself, but a lick of paint – even the
same colour – can make a huge difference.
TEXTILES
I’m a lover of throws at any time of year – let’s face it, even
in the height of summer, nights in Britain can be a bit chilly.
Swap out your thick chunky wool and velvets for linens and
86 PLATINUM
cotton mixes. Allow them to mingle on the ends of sofas
and the backs of chairs and let them get as creased and
crinkled as you can – it’s part of their natural texture.
Keep heavier textiles handy for lengthening those summer
nights you want to enjoy outside.
COLOUR
A boutique owner who favoured a black wedding dress
in her window, once explained its appeal: “Everyone is
wowed by it and tries it on, but nobody ever buys it.”
This can sum up high fashion when it comes to interior
colours. But if trend is important to you, it’s worth knowing
that Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2024 is Peach Fuzz
(pantone.com). This tone will be found everywhere, but
always beware of refreshing your interiors to follow the
crowd – high-fashion colours can age poorly (think of
aubergine and avocado bathroom sets) so only use on-trend
colours if you genuinely like them.
If you like the coastal interior look, blue is a real staple,
alongside whites. But blue tones are seemingly infinite, so
have a wander through this season’s paint colours if you are
keen to improve upon the classic Cornish-themed light blue
and cream colour scheme, or go for a softer powder blue.
 Spring style

Niki Allium Powder Blue Alice

Sheer Voile, Stripe 100% Cotton
POA, iliv.co.uk. Bedding, from £17,
secretlinenstore.com.

Klaude Sofa, POA,

covethouse.eu,
in Peach Fuzz-
inspired living room.

Oscar Sofa in
Prussian Blue
Velvet, £2000,
sofa.com.

I vote for the wonders of the inky Prussian Blue (in the
gorgeous sofa above), or even something with a grey tone.

ACCESSORIES
I’m a huge fan of the power of plants, and bringing a little
of the outside in with a few well-placed palms or a ficus
will power up your look. Go big for floor plants if you have
Security Plantation Shutters,
the space, and move them around your room until you
WORDS: CAROL BURNS. IMAGES: VARIOUS BRANDS.

POA, shuttersup.co.uk.
find their perfect spot.
Don’t underestimate the impact darker colours can
offer, too. They will add zing to your interiors and the
bright lights of spring are the perfect accompaniment to
experimenting with darker tones that will also work during
the winter months against that crackling fire. Dark greens
are classics for heavy rooms like libraries and dining rooms,
but they can be tricky to pair up with. It’s best to dip your
toes into the many shades of green with a colour like sage.
Remember to collect plenty of paint and colour charts
before embarking on a major project. And if you do choose
a strong colour, avoid pairing it with a glaring brilliant
white. Softer tones of this interior staple will enhance your
XV Stripes The Yarmouth Blanket, and The
bold choice of colour. Compton Blanket, both £120, xvstripes.com.
Happy decorating!

PLATINUM 87
 Tilde’s magic
wrap
Serves 2

l 2 eggs
l Soy sauce, splash
l 1 tbsp water
l Salt and black pepper, to taste
l Light olive oil
l 10g butter
l 2 flour tortillas
l 2 spring onions, finely sliced
l 80g bean sprouts
l ½ carrot, cut into ribbons
l 50g sustainable frozen cooked
North Atlantic prawns
l Lime juice, to taste
l Chilli oil, to taste
l Coriander, few sprigs

1. Whisk the eggs with the soy sauce,

water, and salt and pepper. Heat the oil in
a medium frying pan over a medium heat,
add half the butter and pour in half the
egg mixture. Leave the egg to set on the
base, until about 60 per cent set.
2. Drop 1 tortilla on top of the egg mix
and leave to cook through. Remove
to a plate, egg-side up, and repeat the
process with the remaining wrap. Keep
the first one warm, covered with a clean
tea towel.
3. When both are ready, top the wraps
by laying on spring onions, bean sprouts,
carrot and prawns down one side of the
eggy flatbread, then season to taste with
soy sauce, lime juice, chilli oil, salt and
pepper. Finish with coriander, then roll
the whole thing up to eat.

l Bean sprouts are good value but tend

to come in large packets. If I have any
left over, I like to pickle them to extend
their life, then use to pep up salads and
sandwiches. To make the pickle, cut the
bean sprouts into bite-size pieces and
sprinkle with salt. Heat light vinegar,
such as rice vinegar, with sugar to
taste, enough to completely cover the
veg. Add aromatics such as coriander
seeds or star anise. Once the pickling
liquor has simmered for a few mins,
pack the veg into a sterilised jar and
pour over the liquid. Once cold, seal
and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

88 PLATINUM
 Money-saving recipes

5 speedy
money-saving
meals
Use up kitchen cupboard
ingredients for home cooking with
maximum flavour and minimum
cost with recipes from chef Rosie
Sykes’ new book, Every Last Bite.

PLATINUM 89
 Cauliflower farfalle
Serves 4
l 1 cauliflower, 400g, broken into
bite-size florets, leaves included
l 2 red onions, cut into eighths
l ½ lemon, diced small, skin on
l Chilli flakes, pinch
l 1½ tbsp light olive oil
l 400g farfalle pasta
l Sea salt and black pepper
For the dressing:
l 75g walnuts
l 2 garlic cloves, chopped
l Flat-leaf parsley, handful
l 80ml light olive oil
l ½ lemon, juice
l 50g Parmesan or pecorino, grated
1. Preheat the oven to 220°C, gas
mark 7. Heat a large oven tray at
the same time. Spread the walnuts
90 PLATINUM
out over a separate baking tray and
toast in the warming oven until light
golden brown. Remove, leave to cool
and rub the loose skin off. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine the
cauliflower, its leaves, the red onions,
confetti of lemon pieces and chilli
flakes. Glug over the olive oil and
season thoroughly with salt. Toss
everything together well. Remove the
hot tray from the oven and spread out
the cauliflower mixture, then roast for
20-25 mins until the cauliflower has
softened and slightly caramelised.
3. While the cauliflower is roasting,
make the walnut dressing. Put the
walnuts, garlic and parsley into a
food processor and whizz until it
starts to form crumbs. Slowly add
the oil until you have a paste, then
fold in the lemon juice and all but
1 tbsp of the cheese. Season to taste.
4. Bring a large saucepan of salted
water to the boil and cook the pasta.
When the cauliflower is tender, turn
off the oven and leave it to stay warm
while the pasta finishes cooking.
Once cooked, drain the farfalle,
saving a bit of pasta water. Toss the
pasta with the walnut dressing and
splash in the bit of pasta water to
help coat the bows, then fold through
the cauliflower. Season to taste, pile
into warmed bowls and sprinkle the
remaining Parmesan over the top.
l Nuts are an expensive
commodity so it is really worth
storing them well. Since they
contain a lot of oil they can spoil
easily, so it’s a good idea to keep
them in well-sealed packets in
the fridge. I keep mine in a large
Tupperware container.
 Money-saving recipes

Satsuma, l 6 satsumas
l 1 small red onion, finely sliced

pomegranate l 1 pomegranate
l 1½ tbsp red wine vinegar

and fennel l 1 tsp honey

l 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

salad with feta

l 2 fennel heads
l 200g feta
l 3 chicory heads or radicchio leaves
Serves 4
l Chives, finely chopped
l Sea salt and black pepper

1. Peel the satsumas with a knife to get

rid of all the pith, then cut into slices
about 3mm thick. Put the satsuma
slices, along with any juices, into
a large bowl with the onion and a
pinch of salt. Mix well, then leave
the onions to soften.
2. Cut the pomegranate in
half, then cut one half in half
again. Squeeze the juice
from the two quarters
through a sieve into a
bowl. This should reward
you with about 4 tbsp of
pomegranate juice. Add
the vinegar and honey
to the bowl, then season
with salt and pepper.
Slowly drizzle in the oil,
whisking to incorporate.
3. Take the other half of the
pomegranate and place it cut
side down in your hand. Tap
it with a rolling pin to dislodge
the seeds. Remove any white
membrane from the seeds, then
add to the bowl with the satsumas
and onion. Trim the fennel, reserving
any fronds, then slice very finely and
add to the bowl. Chop the reserved
fennel fronds and add those too.
4. Crumble in the feta and gently toss
all the ingredients together. Put the
salad leaves and chives in another
bowl, season lightly and dress with
some of the pomegranate dressing.
Arrange the salad leaves on four plates,
then scatter the rest of the salad over
the top, finishing with extra dressing.

l Pomegranates and satsumas come

into season around the same time and
make very good partners, with their
contrasting notes of sharp and sweet.
This salad is ideal with warm pitta or
flatbread to mop up all the juices.

PLATINUM 91
 Every Last Bite by
Rosie Sykes (£18.99,
Quadrille). Photography
by Patricia Niven.
Leek, spinach and chickpea soup
Serves 4
l 3 tbsp olive oil, plus extra splash
l 1 onion, halved and finely sliced
l 2 small leeks, sliced, using all
the green
l 5 garlic cloves, 4 crushed, 1 cut
into quarters lengthways
l 400g frozen spinach, defrosted
l 400g chickpeas tin, drained,
liquid reserved
l 800ml vegetable stock
l 2 slices bread, cut 2cm thick
and cut in half
l Thyme, sprig
l 1 heaped tsp sweet smoked
paprika
l 2 tbsp sherry vinegar
l Sea salt and black pepper
1. Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a medium
heavy-based saucepan with a lid over
a medium heat and when hot, add the
onion. Add a good dose of salt and,
92 PLATINUM
when sizzling, turn the heat down.
Put a lid on and cook for 10 mins so
the onion is softening and sweet,
stirring halfway through. Add the
leeks and cook over a medium heat
for a further 10 mins, with the lid on,
until the leeks lose their crunch.
2. Add a splash more olive oil and
the crushed garlic to the pan and
cook gently for a couple of mins.
Once the garlic has got familiar with
the onion and leek, add the spinach,
chickpeas and stock. Bring to a
simmer and cook for 5 mins, lid on.
3. In a separate frying pan large
enough to hold the bread in a single
layer, heat the remaining oil. Add
the bread and thyme sprig and fry
over a medium heat until the bread
is starting to become light golden,
turning occasionally. Add the
quartered garlic and let it colour
a little. When the bread is ready,
add the smoked paprika and stir
about a bit, then add the vinegar.
4. Whizz the contents of the pan in
a food processor, then add the saved
liquid from the canned chickpeas
and blend to a smooth paste. Stir the
bread purée into the soup, stir well
and cook for a further 5 mins. Season
to taste and add more stock if you
prefer a thinner soup. Serve in hot
bowls with a slick of olive oil on top
and hunks of bread.
l Water left over from cooking
pulses (or from the tin) adds
body and depth to soups and
stews but will also lighten batters.
Try replacing one of three eggs in
pancake batter with 50ml of pulse
liquor. For vegan recipes, pulse
water, also known as aquafaba,
is a flavoursome replacement for
water. It keeps well in the fridge for
several days and can be frozen for
up to three months.
 Money-saving recipes

Harissa
baked rice
with sausage
Serves 4

l 3 tbsp light olive oil

l 400-500g best quality sausages,
each chopped into 4 pieces
l 100g small round shallots or red
onions, cut in quarters
l 240g greens, very finely chopped
l 200g short-grain rice
l 2 heaped tbsp harissa
l 100ml cider or white wine
(optional); if using, reduce the stock
amount to 500ml
l 600ml boiling vegetable stock
l 198g sweetcorn tin, drained
l Coriander, generous handful
l 1 lemon, juice
l Sea salt

1. Preheat the oven to 220°C, gas

mark 7 and at the same time, heat a
large casserole dish with a lid with
2 tbsp of the oil. Once hot, add the
sausage pieces to the dish and cook,
uncovered, for 15 mins, stirring halfway
through, until browned and cooked
through. Remove from the oven and
turn the oven temperature down to
200°C, gas mark 6. Lift the sausages
out with a slotted spoon, leaving the
juices behind. Add the shallots or
onions and a good pinch of salt, stir
well. Put the lid on and return to the
oven for about 10 mins, or until the
shallots are softening.
2. Add the shredded greens and
remaining oil, stir and put the lid back
on. Return to the oven for a further
5 mins to continue softening the
WORDS: ROSIE SYKES. IMAGES: PATRICIA NIVEN.

shallots and wilt the greens. Then,

stir in the rice and coat well with the
shallot mixture. Add the harissa and
return to the oven for a few mins. At
this stage, you can add the cider or
wine, if using, and return the dish to the
oven for a further 5 mins.
3. Add the hot stock, give everything to the oven for 15 mins. Now the stock l The greens bulk this recipe up
a good stir and cook, uncovered, for has absorbed but the rice shouldn’t be without taking centre stage and
20 mins, or until two thirds of the stock entirely dry – add a splash of hot water give the rice a wonderful lightness.
has been absorbed. If you are not using if needed. Stir in the coriander and a Cutting the sausages into little
cider, just add in all the hot stock. Add squeeze of lemon, cover the pan with chunks makes them go further. For
the sweetcorn and the sausage pieces a clean cloth and leave to settle for a vegan version, replace the sausage
and give everything a good stir. Return 5 mins, then serve. with cubed root vegetables or squash.

PLATINUM 93
Complete your collection ORDER
TODAY

March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023

COVER STAR Angela Rippon, COVER STAR Andrea McLean COVER STAR Kate Humble on COVER STAR Dame Joan
plus top beauty buys, stress- talks relationships, with fashion seeking adventure. Plus fashion, Collins, plus a bumper Christmas
busting tips and bright knits. fitness and finding pleasure. finding joy and boosting health. special filled with festive fashion.

November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023

COVER STAR Penelope Wilton COVER STAR Anthea Turner COVER STAR Vanessa Feltz on COVER STAR Louise Minchin
on grief. There’s also active travel, on family, plus collagen boosters, working hard. With luxe travel on role models, plus vibrant style
ways to save and beauty tips. boutique buys and a digital detox. and ways to find your purpose. and how to embrace ageing.

July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023

COVER STAR Mariella Frostrup COVER STAR Lorraine Kelly. COVER STAR Jane McDonald COVER STAR Nadia Sawalha.
on hitting 60. Don’t miss our pro- Plus summer style, recipes and on loving her 60s, plus spring We’ve also got ageless style and
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 Work
Looking each month at issues affecting
women from midlife onward in the world
of work, with expert help and advice.

& finance
P96 – Charity
founder Natalie
shares her story
from corporate exec
to championing
needy children.
P100 – Career
coach Josie Copsey
shares her expert
help on tackling
work challenges
in later life.
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK.

PLATINUM 95
 My new chapter
From airline
executive
to inspiring
orphans
Natalie, a former British Airways employee, left her role in 2017
and set up Chat Club to support and motivate disadvantaged
children in orphanages overseas to achieve their goals.
W
orking for British
Airways for 33 years in
a variety of roles – from
customer service and
marketing to product design, sales
and franchising – gave me the travel
bug. In 2017, at the age of 57, I chose
to restructure my life and decided to
combine my love of travel with a new
venture outside of the corporate world
– and I’m here to say that life very
much goes on after a full-time career!
Ever since my school days, I’ve
combined employment and volunteer
work with charities and foundations in
the UK and overseas. So, after a great
deal of research, the support of my
patient partner and friends, and
many introductions to people in
various other charities and groups,
I set up Chat Club, which is now part
of a registered charity.
FULFILLING WORK
Chat Club matches up mentors in
the UK with underprivileged and
destitute young people in schools
and orphanages overseas, helping to
96 PLATINUM
build their confidence and self-belief,
as often many of them have lost their
sense of worth in life as a result of
being abandoned and/or deprived.
Along with other mentors in the UK,
including students at sixth forms, we
meet online with groups of children
aged 12-17 at selected orphanages
and schools. Each mentor works with
their youngsters for a period of 3-4
months before helping new students.
Throughout the hour, our chat is both
Natalie was motivated
to set up the charity
after 33 years at BA.
Natalie with one
of the Chat Club
students who
won a blogging
competition.
verbal and written, as we also help
improve their English skills. We have
debates and conversations about
topics that matter to all of us, whether
they be environmental, personal,
issues in our respective countries,
news headlines, future ambitions,
sports or the arts – really anything
we all want to chat about. Most
importantly though, we have fun.
Chat Club has been as fulfilling
and exciting as my career was
with BA, but with more personal
WORDS: KATY SUNNASSEE. IMAGES: NATALIE HILL
reward. Through Chat Club I have
witnessed students develop from shy,
unconfident youngsters into inspiring
young teens and adults who are proud
to use their voice and skills; giving
(SURNAME HAS BEEN CHANGED).
speeches, winning competitions,
hosting events and more.
I’m so proud that many of them
have pushed through the barriers
of their traumatic backgrounds to
complete college, university and
apprenticeships, gaining qualifications
to help them pursue their chosen
career paths and on to leading
self-fulfilling, independent lives.
 Volunteer work

Children’s Garden
Home was set up
in 2001 to help
abandoned and
destitute children.

‘Chat Club
has been as
fulfilling as
but with more
personal reward’
Some of th
e yo
children from unger
orphanage the
having fun
Natalie with Ernest !
and Stellah (to her
right), and other Chat
Club students during
her visit in Nov 2023.

Moses (centre), founder of Children’s

Garden Home, with his wife Sylvia
and some of the children.

PLATINUM 97
 Chat Club students outside
the Chidren’s Garden Home
Craft Shop, which they made!

The dilapidated science room needs

funding to rebuild.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
But while chatting sounds fun, and
it is undoubtedly beneficial – we’ve
seen the good results after all –
these overseas homes and schools
need financial support too as this
is vital for their survival. Sadly,
many governments don’t support
orphanages in their own countries,
so a key part of Chat Club is raising
funds to help support these children.
We currently work with an amazing
but desperately poor orphanage
school in Kenya called Children’s
Garden Home. It was founded in 2001
by a man named Moses, who himself
The girls’ bathroom
was abused, destitute and living in is in dire need of
the streets, and yet he had a vision to refurbishment to make
better himself and the lives of other it more hygienic.
children like him. And so Children’s
Garden Home was born, with the help in their school break and after school shower and toilet facilities, which
of his wife Sylvia and their staff. before going to bed at 10pm. have been in place for too long and
Now, 500 youngsters attend the I’ve been to Kenya many times and, are now in a state of disrepair.
school, with 200 of them living in believe me, it is tough for many living The second is to fund the rebuild
the orphanage – some with special there. But I visited Children’s Garden of the science classroom, which
educational needs – and they range in Home in November last year with has been well used but is no longer
age from three months up to 20 years two other mentors from the UK and functional, and without which the
old, only leaving when they are fully found it to be a safe haven, an oasis students can’t take their national
self-sufficient. Moses must find ways in the midst of the strife and chaos, exams in sciences, which impacts their
to cover all the costs, from basics such providing a loving, caring and happy ongoing education. These two projects
as food, clothing and toiletries and environment – in fact, one of the need around £3,000 each, which isn’t
facilities, to support workers’ happiest places I’ve ever visited. a huge sum compared to the cost of
and teachers’ salaries. building in the UK.
All cooking, cleaning, washing MUCH-NEEDED FUNDS Our third project, which is ongoing,
and caring for babies is shared by For 2024, Chat Club is focusing is to help fund healthcare for those
everyone, both kids and staff alike, on three projects to help Children’s at the home, such as regular doctor
and starts before the school day – they Garden Home. One is to fund and and dentist check-ups, emergency
wake at 4am. Children also do chores rebuild the separate girls’ and boys’ visits to hospital when needed, and

98 PLATINUM
 Volunteer work

Natalie saying
goodbye to
everyone at
the orphanage
after her last visit.

prescribed and essential medication,
none of which is funded by the
Kenyan government. If a child needs
emergency care, as happened in the
home this past Christmas, they can’t
access it as the state hospital was
closed – yes, they close! – and they
can’t afford private care so have to
wait and hope they get help before
it’s too late.
Since we started, more than 100
children and young adults in schools
and orphanages have taken part in
Chat Club. We’re proud that 100 per
cent of all donations to Chat Club go
directly to the orphanages, and I really
hope we can raise the money needed
to help Children’s Garden Home.
To find out more and donate to the
vital work of Chat Club, go to their
Kindlink giving page at kindlink.com/
fundraising/Brighton-Beachside-
Rotary-Club/childrens-garden-home.

Words from the children Lucy, 12, in

a Chat Club
Two of the pupils at Children’s Garden Home share about session.
life at the school and how Chat Club has helped them.
‘There has been a big increase ‘I’m in grade 12 and I joined
in the number of children Chat Club in 2022. There are
coming to the home, but we four of us in our Chat Club
lack resources. We need basics group including our teacher
including food and personal Kathy in England. She is my
items such as soap, toothpaste hero; she taught me many
and shoes. We also need things I didn’t know and I’m
salaries for our wonderful applying them in my life.
teachers. We do all we can Right now, I’m confident,
to provide for ourselves by focused, and determined in
growing healthy vegetables, everything I do. She is the
raising chickens and running a best mentor and teacher
sewing business. I am grateful because she always teaches
to all who donate and for the us with all her heart and
home for shaping me into who without getting tired of us.’
I am today.’ Paul, aged 19. Lucy, aged 12.

PLATINUM 99
 to boost
your career
Feeling stuck in your job, struggling with workplace changes or simply looking for something
new? These challenges can be quite daunting later in life, says career coach Josie Copsey.
Here, she offers three ways to look at your work situation and make those important changes.

A
s a career and confidence
coach, I see many of my
clients experience
self-doubt about the
job they’ve been in for a number of
years – from experiencing imposter
syndrome to wanting to make a career
change – but they’re not sure where to
start in order to fix these issues.
With that in mind, I’ve prepared
three questions that have been
presented to me from my clients
recently about their own work
situations, plus a snippet of the
coaching we’ve gone through to help
them navigate a solution and find a
way forward. Hopefully you’ll find
these answers useful if you’re going
through a later-life career change.

100 PLATINUM

WORDS: JOSIE COPSEY. IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK AND GEORGINA LITTLE FOR IMAGE OF JOSIE.
‘HOW DO I MOVE TO
REMOTE WORKING?’
Q
‘I’m in my late 50s, currently
working in office admin and
looking for a role where I can
work more from home. I’m not sure
where to start or what I could do?’
A
You’ve identified that you’re
currently working in an
administrative role and want
to work from home on a more regular
basis. There are many opportunities
available now for remote-working
administrative assistants who support
many companies and entrepreneurs,
for a few hours or days a week.
Spend time identifying the areas you
enjoy about your role and list out your
Later-life career
skills and strengths. Would these be
‘List out your skills
transferable to a new remote-working
role? This gives you clarity on
what you can do and who you can
help – particularly useful when
meeting potential employers or
clients in the future.
and strengths.
You can either work for yourself
and source your own clients, or Would these be
alternatively you can work for
companies who specialise in sourcing
virtual assistants for their clients.
They arrange the work for you.
transferable
It’s also worthwhile reaching out to
your own professional network and
arranging a coffee with colleagues
to a new remote-
you may have worked with in the past.
You never know who you could be
working re? ’
connected to and the opportunities
those connections could bring.
PLATINUM 101
 ‘MY JOB HAS
CHANGED FOCUS’

Q
‘My company recently
carried out a review of key
functions and as a result
I’ve lost an area that I’ve looked
after for 25 years to another
department in the business. It’s
where I started my career initially;
I’ve achieved so much in this area
and now feel like it’s been taken
from me. My boss has told me it’s
not personal and that they want
me to focus on project work, which
is another area of my role. I can’t
help feeling lost and that part of
my identity has been taken. I’m
not sure what to do?’

A
Grab a journal and write
your answers to the
following questions:
l What’s been your greatest
achievement in your career and
why is this important to you?
l What does success mean to
you now?
The answers that you see reflect
where you are today. They will
change, because your definition
of success will change, and you
will have many more incredible
achievements in your future career.
But remember, your job and role
do not define who you are. Your
skills, strengths and experience are
what make you unique. Reconnect
with these to remind yourself of
who you are and what you can do.
Make a list of your top 10 skills
and strengths. Then pick five
significant people, at least two
who know you in a work capacity,
and ask each of them to tell you
what they believe are your three
greatest strengths. Make a note of
what they share and look over your
list. What themes do you notice?
Build on this with your
experience. I encourage clients
to write their story so far, a short
biography. Include in here what
you’ve accomplished, the lessons
learnt and where they’ve taken you
both personally and professionally.
This is a powerful reminder of
what you’ve already achieved in
your life so far.

102 PLATINUM

Josie Copsey is
a career and
confidence coach
for corporate
professionals,
supporting individuals, teams
and senior leaders to become
the best version of themselves.
Josie is her clients’ cheerleader,
helping them to believe in
themselves with 1:1 coaching.
Visit josiecopsey.co.uk for more
or connect with her at
instagram.com/josie.copsey.
‘I’M RETURNING
TO WORK AFTER
TIME AWAY’
Q
‘I’ve taken a couple of
years out of work to
concentrate on some
personal projects. I now need to
look at getting back into work
to bring a salary in, but I’m not
sure if I’m ready to go back into
a senior leader corporate role.’
A
Taking time out from
work can help to put
other areas of life into
perspective. Before you make
any decisions, look over your last
two years and journal on what
you have learnt about yourself.
Are there any new skills that
you’ve acquired in your time
away from work? There may be
some inspiration here that can
help shine a light on what you do
next. Returning to work after a
Later-life career
long time can also bring mixed
emotions, so be kind to yourself.
Here are some journal prompts
to help you explore that next step:
l What did you love about your
previous job or role?
l What did you love about your
three favourite past roles?
l What has been missing from
your past role?
l If you never had to work
again for money, how would
you spend your time?
Finally, before you make any
big decisions on what to do,
get clear on what your non-
negotiables are when returning
to work. Think on your work
hours, your work-life balance, the
type of work environment, the
location, and travel time to get to
work. By defining what you won’t
compromise on in your next role,
whatever that may be, you’re
putting what matters most to you
at your core.
PLATINUM 103
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104 PLATINUM
 Your
Boost your health with expert guidance for your
physical and mental wellbeing, plus walking tips,
doctor’s advice and brain-boosting puzzles.

healthy life!
P106 – Dr Harper’s
tips to combat
stress during Stress
Awareness Month.
P108 – Learn how
to say no and set
better boundaries for
yourself and others.
P112 – Menopause
Guineapig Elizabeth
Joseph tackles
menopausal brain fog.
P114 – Meet author
Sylvie Boulay who
writes about the joys
of getting older.
P120 – Our resident
health coach offers
advice for cultivating
more gratitude.
P124 – Boost your
mental wellbeing
with three pages
of puzzles.
P128 – Walk away
tight hip flexors with
Joanna Hall’s guide.
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK.

P130 – This month,

Louise Minchin
conquers the seas
on a surfboard.

PLATINUM 105
 DR DAWN HARPER ’S
We all want to know how to live not only longer but better. This month, Dr Harper invites
us to check our stress levels and learn how to be kinder to ourselves.
S
adly, I cannot remember the last time I did a
surgery without seeing someone suffering with the
adverse effects of stress. And as April is Stress
Awareness Month, I thought it might be a good
opportunity to think about how we recognise difficulties in
ourselves and those around us.
Our bodies respond to stress with a surge of adrenalin
that puts us into “fight or flight” mode. Back in caveman
days, when stress came in the form of a mammoth looming
on the horizon, the stress reaction was a good thing.
It put us in the best place to aim an arrow accurately or
to run fast to escape, and having survived the encounter,
the adrenalin surge would pass.
UNDER PRESSURE
In 2024, our stresses don’t come in the form of mammoths.
They come in the form of relationship or family tensions,
financial worries and pressure at work, and that longer term
ongoing stress can take its toll physically and mentally.
For some people, chronic stress may manifest as mental
‘S tresses come in the form
of relationship or family
tensions, financial worries
and pressure at work’
106 PLATINUM
health problems like anxiety and depression, and for others
it may be physical problems like a flare-up of irritable
bowel syndrome or a skin condition. Recognising how we
respond to stress in ourselves and others is the first step
in managing things; communicating it is the second.
Many years ago, I worked in a busy hospital department.
We worked long hours with very little let-up and we were
being asked to work longer days. One of my colleagues
explained very calmly that she was working at capacity
and didn’t feel she could safely take any more on.
Another said nothing but, in the weeks, and months that
followed, she often left the ward early for meetings, which
we subsequently found weren’t happening. She had never
behaved like this before, but rather than recognise her
changing behaviour as a symptom of being under too much
pressure, the rest of us became increasingly annoyed with
her. Eventually she broke down and admitted she wasn’t
coping. She ended up taking several months off work.
I often reflect on that time, as I am sure, had she been able
to communicate her stress with us and had we been able
to have open and supportive conversations, the outcome
could have been very different.
LIFE GOES ON
I also think it is important to learn to prioritise and
delegate. In 2016, I went on Celebrity Island with Bear
Grylls for Stand Up 2 Cancer. It was the toughest thing
I have ever done. We spent two weeks literally surviving
on a remote island off the coast of Panama with no
outside contact. I have never been so hungry, thirsty and
exhausted, but it was an amazing experience and it taught

me a lot about the pressure I put myself under. When we
were collected from the island, we were given our phones
and we all spent the next couple of hours trawling through
messages and emails. Very quickly, I realised that the world
hadn’t stopped spinning because I wasn’t able to respond
WORDS: DR DAWN HARPER.
immediately to queries, and much of the correspondence
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK.
had righted itself without me. I was 52 when I was on that
island, and it was life changing. I learned for the first time
that it is OK to say no and it is OK to delegate.
Sometimes, as women, we put ourselves at the bottom
of a long to-do list, below looking after family, friends and
colleagues. But I am a firm believer that you will be a better
Doctor’s advice
partner, mother, friend and colleague if you allow yourself
some “me-time”. So, this Stress Awareness Month, be kind
to yourself. Do something that makes you smile every day,
and you and those around you will reap the benefits.
Dr Dawn Harper is author of
Live Well To 101: A Practical Guide
To Achieving A Long And Healthy
Life (£10.99, Headline).
PLATINUM 107
 Time to set new
boundaries?
If you’re always saying yes to others, and no
to your own needs, it may be time to set
healthier boundaries for yourself,
says coach Brenda Winkle.
WORDS: BRENDA WINKLE. IMAGES: KAM NETH OF PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAM, AND SHUTTERSTOCK.
W
hen I left an unhealthy
marriage 15 years ago
and began a healing
journey, I quickly
realised that the life I wanted was
on the other side of setting healthy
boundaries – but I didn’t know what
healthy boundaries felt like. I went
from having almost no boundaries
to being so rigid with boundaries that
they became my armour.
‘Think of boundaries like a cell
membrane where you get to decide
what flows in and out,’ says Laurie
Anne Briere (laurieannebriere.com),
a somatic practitioner. Boundaries
allow us to be in healthy relationships
with others and aren’t just a protective
tool. They are an essential component
of deep connection.
Life-changing transformations
happen when you get clear with your
own needs and desires. Setting aside
some time to consider what your
preferences and limits are is time
well spent, whether you decide to
108 PLATINUM
do that on your own or in a like-
minded community with support.
One of my clients who struggled
with boundaries said, ‘It’s not like I
was last on the list, more like I had
taken myself off the list, and I wasn’t
listening to my body or my own
feelings very well’. After taking time
to understand her own needs she now
says, ‘I’m much better at listening to
myself and considering my opinion
and desires and incorporating those
into decision-making processes’.
The result is that she feels better,
has created more balance in her life,
she has more energy, and the people
in her life trust that when she does
something, it’s because she wants to.
WHAT ARE
BOUNDARIES?
The limits you place around your time,
space, emotions, energy, belongings
and physical body are all types of
boundaries. You likely already know
areas where you need to assess your
 Boundaries

‘You can set

boundaries by
writing a note,
reading it aloud, or
sending an email’

PLATINUM 109
current boundaries, and also reinvent
how you want to show up in your life.
For those people in your life, ask
for their support as you set new
boundaries early in this new year.
Tell them you are learning to set
better boundaries and you’ll likely
find unexpected cheerleaders who
want you to succeed. Keep in mind
there are only two reasons someone
would object to your boundary: you’re
setting a boundary they don’t see

Try this 4-part

themselves being able to set, or they
are benefitting from you not setting
this boundary.

WHEN TO SET
boundary
A BOUNDARY
Waiting too long to set a boundary
framework
might mean resentment or frustration
Change the language to fit your
builds up, which can make your
needs and the situation, and
boundary-setting feel more like a
improvise once you feel confident.
volcanic eruption, weakening the
boundary because you’re apologising
for your frustrated outburst, then
1 I noticed…
Briefly explain the situation using facts
in one to two sentences.
rolling back your boundary, setting
yourself up to repeat the cycle. The
key is to learn to listen to the subtle 2 I felt…
Be honest with how you felt.
cues that it’s time to draw this line.
The first sign of the need for a
boundary might be tension in your
3 I’d like to request that…
State your needs, desires, limits,
or deal breakers.
body, stomach upset, a flash of anger
or irritation, or an impulse to say
something. You can set the boundary 4 Moving forward, can we agree that…
Restate your request.
verbally or in writing. There’s no
In many cases, this will begin a
shame in writing out what it is you
conversation and deepen the relationship
need if you feel worried you won’t by bringing a situation into the open. You
remember the things you want to say. get to decide if you are willing to negotiate
When you first set a new boundary, or not based on the boundary being a
you can expect people to need a few preference or a limit.
reminders before they remember your As you reinvent yourself, communicate
new limit. Maybe you need to restate your needs, preferences and deal breakers
your boundary. If you find yourself to people. You’ll find you not only feel
repeating your boundary more than better but that you’ve built trust.
2-3 times to the same person, it could
be time for a consequence.
Boundary consequences work best
when they are directly related to the
boundary violation and done in a
non-emotional way. A consequence
money to make up for the time it takes
you to fill up the car. ‘Listen to your
for your friend who is repeatedly late
might be that you tell her you won’t
wait in the restaurant for longer than
HOW TO RESPECT
BOUNDARIES
gut; you already
15 minutes next time, or you have her
over to your house so it doesn’t matter
Breaking the promises you make
to yourself are the most common
know where you
as much if she’s late. If your grown
son forgets to put petrol in the car,
boundary violations I’ve found in my
practice. Rather than consequences, need to set better
again, a consequence might be that
he has to give you petrol money, plus
I invite you to consider how you
can create support to keep those boundaries’
110 PLATINUM

promises to yourself. What can you
do to honour the promise you made
to you? Learning to honour your
own promises helps you get better at
setting boundaries for other people.
How you respond to other people’s
boundaries is important too. When
someone sets a boundary or says
no, do you respect that limit or do
you try to talk them out of it? Many
people who are working on their own
Boundaries
boundaries learn they aren’t great at Brenda Winkle is
hearing other people’s boundaries. an educator, healer,
Use their boundary-setting as content speaker and guide,
to get better at your own. You’ll find and is the host of
Your Yes Filled Life
new ways to state your boundaries
podcast. She helps
and learn dozens of ways to say no.
sensitive and successful high
Even bigger, you’ll learn all the ways performers find, reclaim and live
you haven’t been saying no even fuller lives using energy healing,
when you thought you were, which breathwork and somatic coaching.
will mean you get even better at Visit brendawinkle.com/breathe.
setting firmer boundaries for yourself.
PLATINUM 111
 The
Menopause
Guineapig
Forgetfulness, anxiety and word confusion aside, Elizabeth Joseph
focuses hard on finding a solution to her brain fog this month.
Follow her at instagram.com/themenopauseguineapig.
D
o you find yourself
forgetting why you
walked into a room, not
being able to recall the
right word for something as mundane
as “washing machine”, or maybe
can’t remember an appointment or
something you planned or promised
to do? Are you struggling to absorb
and remember new information, to
follow simple tasks, to concentrate?
Losing your sense of direction?
Developing a new anxiety when
driving? Walking into stuff ? These
are all examples of brain fog.
Our brains need oestrogen in order
to function. As our oestrogen levels
fluctuate, we are more likely to suffer
from brain fog. This takes a lot of us
by surprise. Many perimenopausal
women find themselves looking after
both children and ageing parents,
and working in demanding jobs. As
a result, we often mistake brain fog
for life just throwing a few too many
responsibilities our way. It takes a
while, for many, to realise that it is
also down to hormonal fluctuations.
FINDING SOLUTIONS
I have made a concerted effort to
drink more water. Which initially
sounds a bit daft, but water is
essential to the brain – in terms
112 PLATINUM
of preventing dehydration and Earthing next to the
stimulating the circulation of blood. Angel of the North –
a much better location
I have also sought to add foods rich than my back yard!
in omega-3 into my diet. Omega-3
fatty acids have antioxidant and anti-
inflammatory effects, which may lead
them to improve brain function.
Foods rich in omega-3 include fresh
fruits and vegetables, whole grains,
fish, beans, nuts and olive oil. On the
flip side, it also makes sense to avoid
inflammatory foods, which surely only
make brain fog worse – fried foods,
processed foods, refined carbs and
sugary drinks.
GOING “OUT THERE”
But that’s not what you’re here for,
is it? You want to know what else is
out there. You want to know what
really “out there” stuff I have been
trying since last we met. Well, I’ve
been drinking red wine, muttering in
doorways and of course taking my
shoes and socks off. Wait, what?
All of the above can help you combat
brain fog. No, really.
Resveratrol is a plant-based
compound that behaves like an
antioxidant. It can be found in
chocolate, grapes, peanuts and some
berries. It is also found in red wine.
Research has shown that resveratrol
can protect brain cells from damage
 Columnist

and stress by reducing inflammation

and clearing toxins out of the brain.
So, a moderate amount of red wine
(one glass) could allow you to reap
quite a number of health benefits.
Just the one glass mind you!
Recent scientific research has
also shown that walking through a
door into another room can cause
our brains to reset our memory to
make way for new memories and
experiences. So next time you forget
why you went into the kitchen, you
can reassure yourself that it is simply
the result of The Doorway Effect.
You can counteract this effect by
muttering “red wine, red wine, red
wine” as you enter the kitchen, thus
remembering exactly why you went
Pro Plus Fizz in there in the first place.
Berry, £5.99,
savers.co.uk,
combats EARTHING AND
fluctuating FIZZING SHOULD HELP!
energy levels
And taking my shoes and socks off ?
in menopause.
Earthing, also known as grounding,
is marvellous. It simply involves
putting your bare feet on the
ground, preferably in the morning
sun, for at least 20 minutes to
attune yourself to its powerful
electrical field, thereby
reducing inflammation,
speeding recovery and
improving sleep.
Now, as I live in the
North East of England,
I most definitely do not have
morning sun all year round.

‘ Drinking red I also don’t have a garden.

I have a small yard and I don’t
think standing in one of my

wine, muttering larger plant pots is going to quite

cut it. However, I promise you that
the few times that I’ve had the guts

in doorways and to do this in the local park, or indeed

alongside the Angel of the North,
I am convinced it improved my sleep,

taking your shoes lessened some aching joints and eased

the brain fog.
And last, but not least, I am about to
PRO PLUS AND SHUTTERSTOCK.

and socks off can all give Pro Plus Fizz a try. I recall many
WORDS: ELIZABETH JOSEPH.
IMAGES: DARREN KILBURN,

moons ago, as a student, taking Pro

Plus to get me through “having pulled

help with brain fog. an all-nighter” to finish an assignment.

This new product is aimed at the
menopausal woman to help combat

No, really! ‘ unpredictable and fluctuating

energy levels. I wonder whether
it will help with the brain fog?

PLATINUM 113
‘I’ve documented
the joys and
horrors of
growing older!’
Sylvie Boulay shares her ups and downs of growing older, and what
compelled her to collate her thoughts, feelings and experiences
into an illustrated book called Beyond Beige.

When I reached my 70th birthday some reason I visualised them as little

two years ago, I had this feeling I
had crossed into a different world.
A world where I was invisible and
where people treated me differently.
My body also started to change. I
found myself in odd situations, some
of which were quite funny and for
cartoon strips. Eventually there were
so many I had to draw and write them.
Beyond Beige is the illustrated story
of a woman’s old age. It is about and
for women because I just don’t know
what it is like to be a man. I show in

WORDS: SYLVIE BOULAY. IMAGES OF SYLVIE: YAKIR ZUR.

ILLUSTRATIONS FROM BEYOND BEIGE.

114 PLATINUM
 Real life

‘I was worried my
illustrations would
not be good enough…
then I realised
they didn’t have
to be perfect, they
just needed to
make sense’

PLATINUM 115
‘Being invisible brings out the worst in me
and makes me want to do outrageous things’

gritty detail exactly what it is like
to be old, the joys and the horrors
of my experience and that of other
older women who confided in me.
I bring it all out into the open with
no euphemisms or censorship.
The book documents the highs and
lows of my life now. The worst thing
is the tiredness. My energy is finite
now and that sucks. For me that lack
of energy is worse than depression,
anxiety, illness or being invisible. At
the same time, I am incredibly grateful
for the joys of old age: being involved
with my granddaughter, having fun
with my friends and not caring too
much what anyone thinks.
I have no art training other than
a limited amount of life drawing.
However, I have a lifelong passion
for cartoons. I was worried my
illustrations would not be good
enough, but I had no choice because
all my ideas came to me as pictures,
and they simply took over my brain
until I drew them. Eventually I realised

116 PLATINUM
 Real life

my drawings didn’t have to be perfect, had addiction issues. As I’ve

they just needed to make sense to my
readers. Learning to use the drawing
package on my iPad was the hardest
thing I have ever done!
I was attractive when I was young,
and it was a shock when people
(men mainly) stopped looking at
me. But I was not prepared for them
to literally stop seeing me at all, and
sometimes bump into me! Being
invisible brings out the worst in me
and makes me want to do outrageous
things. I can see the advantage in
terms of robbing banks or jewellers!
I don’t, of course, do those things but
I can draw them. And I am planning
to do chalk art on the streets next.
got older, I’ve found that my
own emotions are amplified;
sadness is deeper, but joy
and happiness are also
brighter. Not many women
of my age are willing to
discuss intimate physical
problems but even fewer will
talk about their mental health.
I feel that everybody’s mental
health is neglected in society, not
just in older people. It is discussed
more now but it doesn’t attract as
many resources as it should. In the
case of old people, there can be
extra issues such as lack of mobility,
hearing loss and the deaths of family

I grew up in France, where it didn’t

matter whether women looked
young or not, but they did have
to be beautiful. I think it is worse
now, as whereas it’s OK for women
to be older, they also now need to
be fit and slim, well dressed, take
care of themselves and continue to
do interesting work – the pressure is
relentless. Now, I would rather be a
loud, cross old woman than an elegant
one. I get angry that women’s health
issues, including menopause and
incontinence, are still often seen as
things women should just put up with.

My training as a therapist makes

it easier for me to talk about
emotions and painful situations. I’m
a member of the British Association
for Counselling and Psychotherapy
(BACP) and particularly loved
working with cognitive behavioural
therapy (CBT) where it is crucial to
recognise thoughts and feelings, body
sensations and the behaviours that
follow. I can talk openly about cancer,
depression, anxiety and fears. I also
included a chapter on my own coping
mechanisms in the hope they would
help my readers.

Mental health is very close to

my heart, partly because of my
childhood experience. I lived with
a depressed, controlling mother,
which I write about in my book. Also,
I worked for many years as a therapist
helping clients who were bereaved or

PLATINUM 117
 and friends, which make it more likely
for people to suffer from loneliness or
depression. The world of technology
is changing so fast too that many
old people get left behind, me
included, but I am lucky to
have a lot of very helpful
young people and some
clever old ones to help me.

Thinking about the book took years

but producing it took about 18
months. I don’t know which comes
first, writing or drawing. My ideas
come mostly in bed in the morning
when I am still half asleep, or during
the day when I am out walking. The
ideas collide in my head and insist on
coming out, so I need to write or draw
them to quieten them down. The buzz
in my brain is magical.

I had wanted to write about other

women’s experiences but few of my
friends wanted to contribute. So,
I decided to talk about my own life,
or describe what I had observed in
others. As the book grew, it became
more and more personal, and I
included stories about my childhood.
My experiences are unique to me,
but I discovered from my friends’
reactions when they read it that they
could relate to it and the book led
them to tell their own stories.

When I gave the book in draft form

to all my friends, I was surprised
how they started opening up about
their own stories. I discovered things
about my oldest friends they had
never before mentioned. One friend
called me a show off, which I took
as a great compliment! One woman
said it made her feel sad, made her
laugh, and that she identified with a
lot of it and would buy it for friends.
And that’s my hope for Beyond Beige
– that it will be passed from friend to
friend and provide a chuckle as well
as helping women feel they’re not
alone. I want women to be amused,
entertained, saddened, and even
shocked – and perhaps more willing
to talk to their friends and families
about their own lives. I feel much less
invisible since I wrote Beyond Beige,
and ultimately that’s what I want for
readers, too.

118 PLATINUM
 Real life

‘I want women
to be amused,
entertained,
saddened, even
shocked – and
perhaps more
willing to talk to
their friends and
families about
their own lives’

4 ways I stay active

1 PARKRUN I do parkrun every
Saturday. It is for all ages,
and you can run, jog or walk. I am
usually one of the last to finish and
I get a standing ovation because
the lovely volunteers can finally
pack up and go for coffee!
3 LINE DANCING I do line
dancing, albeit badly, with a
local group organised by Healthy
Communities, which I love as it’s
fun and I meet new people.
4 LEARNING I have just
joined my local U3A
Find Beyond
Beige: A Woman’s

2 WALKING HOLIDAYS I go (University of the Third Age, Illustrated Story

with an organisation called u3a.org.uk) because they have Of Old Age, by
HF Holidays. I love walking but I an iPad group, so I’m finally Sylvie Boulay at
don’t have a sense of direction, so trying to learn all the tricks about Amazon (£11.99,
Free Association
walking with other people creates drawing I could have done with
Books).
all the joy without getting lost. a year ago!

PLATINUM 119
 There’s a simple, inexpensive daily habit that will improve your
health and transform the way you feel. Health coach Suzy Glaskie
shares the extraordinary power of an attitude of gratitude.
W
e all know the feeling
of being trapped in
a spiral of negative
thoughts. The good
news is there’s a simple but amazingly
powerful antidote that can interrupt
the cycle of anxiety. It’s something
that I’ve been doing for more than
12 years now and I wouldn’t give it up
for anything. So, what is this magical
habit? It’s a daily gratitude practice.
Nothing fancy: in fact, it couldn’t be
simpler. Each night, I jot down three
things that I’m grateful for in a journal
that I keep by my bed.
If I could persuade everyone to
adopt just one habit, it would be
a daily gratitude practice. It’s no
exaggeration to say that this is a
practice that transforms people lives
on every level.
THE HABIT OF
APPRECIATION
Research has shown that people who
practise gratitude consistently benefit
from a range of amazing benefits.
These include everything from a
stronger immune system and lower
blood pressure to feeling more joyful,
120 PLATINUM
more optimistic and having higher
self-worth. Gratitude has even been
shown to help people to recover
from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Gratitude and negative emotions
cannot occupy the same space in your
brain – so the more that you practise
gratitude, the more it will crowd out
those negative emotions. Put another
way: we can only think one thought
at once. That means that if you’re
expressing gratitude for the lovely text
you received from a friend, you can’t
at the same time be worrying about
the economy or feeling anxious about
your family. The gratitude crowds out
the negative thoughts and signals to
your body that it can relax.
As human beings, we are hardwired
to focus on what’s gone wrong with
‘ What we appreciate appreciates.
The trick is to keep going long
enough to make this a habit’
DID YOU
KNOW?
arch,
According to rese
pr ac tise
people who
de ha ve
daily gratitu
lower le ve ls of
depression.
our day and to ruminate endlessly on
those negatives. It takes a concerted
effort to sift through our day and pick
out the good bits. But I promise you
this, the more you do it, the easier it
gets and the more natural it becomes.
The more you look out for the good
bits, the more you’ll find good bits
to look out for. What we appreciate
appreciates (read that back a couple
of times to let the sense of it sink in –
it’s a simple yet powerful statement).
The trick is to keep going long enough
to make this a habit.

PRACTISE, NOT
PERFECTION
Do try and write the things down
rather than simply thinking them;
there’s something about transferring
these thoughts into written words that
WORDS: SUZY GLASKIE. IMAGES: KAREN STANILAND-PLATT.
makes this practice so effective.
The point of a gratitude journal
is not to be a work of art. My own
journals are scrawled – they’re not
pretty to look at, but they are beautiful
to read. Nobody will see them but you,
so don’t get hung up on writing perfect
phrases in a perfect-looking journal.
Psychologist Dr Robert Emmons,
author of Thanks! How Practicing
Suzy Glaskie is a functional medicine health coach
and host of the Midlife Illuminated podcast. She offers
a subscription-based coaching group called Freshly
Minted. Find her at peppermintwellness.co.uk and
at instagram.com/peppermintwellness.
Gratitude Can Make You Happier
(£12.25, Mariner Books), has proven
that a nightly gratitude practice
encourages us to drift off to sleep with
positive thoughts, and also benefits us
with longer and more refreshing sleep.
I’ve seen the most remarkable
changes in my clients who adopt
this practice. They transform their
personal relationships, feel happier in
their own skin and bounce back more
quickly from life’s challenges. The
ability to reframe what happens to us
through gratitude is a superpower.
And it’s available to ordinary human
beings like you and me.
Health coaching
Suzy’s 5
top tips
Cultivate an attitude of
gratitude with these practices.
1
Compile a “proud-of-me” list
Grab a piece of paper and write
down 50 things you appreciate
about yourself – from your
positive qualities to things you’ve
done over the years to be proud of.
2
Write a letter of gratitude
Sit down and write a letter
to someone in your life who
has helped you in some way.
It will make their day to receive it –
and, importantly, your own emotional
wellbeing will receive a huge, lasting
boost too.
3
Keep a gratitude journal
by your bed
Start tonight! It doesn’t need
to be a fancy book – a plain
pad will do. Write down three things
from today that you’re grateful for.
Remember – they can be tiny!
4
Catch yourself
complaining
We tend to complain about
stuff automatically. Next
time you find yourself having a
moan, follow up immediately with
expressing gratitude for something;
it will instantly shift your state.
5
Adopt a power pose
Whenever you need a boost
of confidence, try the Wonder
Woman power pose. Stand
with your feet apart, hands on hips
and chin tilted up. Adopting this pose
for a few minutes will transform how
you feel about yourself.
PLATINUM 121
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PLATINUM 123
puzzles
SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 126
FROM 10-MINUTE TEASERS TO MORE
COMPLEX WORD WORKOUTS, PLATINUM
PUZZLES ARE THE ULTIMATE RELAXATION

CODEWORD
Each letter of the alphabet
has been replaced by the
same number throughout this
grid. Use the decoded letters
given to work out the identity
of other letters and fill in the
grid. The alphabet list and
reference grid will help you
to keep track of the letters
you’ve decoded.

WORDWHEEL
You have ten minutes
to find as many words
as possible using the
letters in the wheel.
Each word must be
three letters or more
and contain the central
letter. Use each letter
once, and no plurals,
foreign words or proper
nouns are allowed.
There is at least one
nine-letter word.

AVERAGE: 24 words
CELL BLOCK GOOD: 28 words
EXCELLENT: 32 words

Fill the grid by drawing blocks

along the gridlines. Each block
must contain the number of
squares indicated by the digit
inside it. Each block must
contain only one digit.

124 PLATINUM
 Puzzles
CROSSWORD ACROSS
1 Photo taken with a zoom
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 lens (5-2)
5 Lost in thought, inattentive (6)
11 9 Sections of a play (4)
12 One who stands to inherit (4)
12 13 14
13 Place for boats to unload (7)
14 Batch of recruits (6)
15 Pointed to (9)
15 16 17
16 Yonks? (4)
18 17 College courtyard (4)
19 Make allowances for (4,7)
19 20 21 22 21 Public ways (7)
23 24 Harmonised (with) (5)
25 Mythological female divinity (5)
24 25 26 27 26 Bright yellow domesticated
songbird (6)
28
29 Period of a school year (4)
29 30 31 32 33 34 31 Colour-stained (4)
32 Opposed to (4)
35
33 Reluctant (4)
36 37 38 39 40 36 Swap for something else (6)
38 Spookily strange (5)
41 39 Bed cover (5)
42 43 44
42 Gathered with ornamental
stitches (7)
45 44 Pressed together (11)
46 Author not known (4)
46 47 48 49
47 Total catch (4)
50 48 Syllabus (9)
51 Variety of steak (3-3)
51 52 53 52 Shortage (7)
53 Feel sad about the absence of (4)
54 Racing probability (4)
54 55 56 55 Soak up like a sponge (6)
56 Narrow-minded (7)

DOWN
SUDOKU 2 Sleep late (3,2)
3 Napkin (9)
4 Convulsion, revolution (8)
6 Stain or eyesore (4)
Fill in the blank squares 7 Make furious (6)
with the numbers 1 to 9, 8 Identical brothers or sisters (5)
so that each row, each 9 Valuable old object (7)
column and each 3x3 10 Look like (a relative) (4,5)
block contains all the 11 Good at gardening (5-8)
numbers from 1 to 9. 18 Pleasantly warm (5)
20 Flee with the intent to marry (5)
22 Have a hearty meal (4,2)
23 Shocked (13)
27 In sport, a score of nothing (3)
28 Stick (6)
30 12 Angry ___, Henry Fonda
classic (3)
34 The ones here (5)
35 Facts which confirm a story (5)
37 Homo sapiens (9)
40 Not requested or applied for (9)
41 Fast-accelerating racing car (8)
43 Come clean (7)
45 Girl Scouts (6)
47 Animal which laughs
hideously (5)
49 Ancient Greek goddesses
of the arts (5)
50 A great distance (4)
SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 126

PLATINUM 125
Puzzles

FITWORD
3 letters 6 letters 8 letters
ARK ALLIUM ELECTRIC
LAD BODEGA FISHCAKE
YES CRAFTY MONARCHY
YOB DEARTH SPEEDWAY
FIBULA
4 letters 9 letters
NICKEL
CHIC CELLARAGE
ORIGIN
FEAR ENUMERATE
RIGOUR
NOUN HONORIFIC
RARE REDUNDANT
UNNATURAL

How long will it take you to correctly fit

these words into the grid?

SOLUTIONS
CODEWORD CROSSWORD FITWORD
C L OS E
I E
U
P
P
G
AB
L
S E
N
N T
W
AC T
N A
S
MONARCH Y R AR E
H E I R H AR BO UR I N T AK E R R E O E I
I V E E T A N I E
I N D I C A T E D AG E S QUA D N I CK E L B OD EG A
E
ME E T H
V
A
N
L FWA
B
Y
E
S
U F
T R E E T S
G L U O
L T L I L T U E F I S HCAK E N OU N
T ON E D N YM P H CANAR Y
P A G Y U K I N O R N D R
T E RM D Y E D AN T I L O T H UNN A T U RA L
E H R P D N H
CHANG E E E R I E DU V E T D O G M N F
U
SMOCK
R
E D
D O
CO
R
N S T
D N S
R I C T E D
F E AR E L E C T R I C
A O G F T A L A I R B
ANON H AU L P R O GR AMM E
K F Y I A U S I U CRA F T Y A L L I U M
R I B E Y E D E F I C I T M I S S T I E T A L
N S N E A K E E E
ODD S A B SOR B P RUD I S H CH I C S P E E DWA Y

SUDOKU CELL BLOCK WORDWHEEL

The nine-letter word is
APPOINTED.

All puzzles © Puzzler Media Ltd -

www.puzzler.com

126 PLATINUM
 M A RC H
Coming up 22
Don’t miss
in the next the May
issue!
issue…

IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK.

● Cover star Vanessa Feltz

● 6 tips to curb sugar cravings
● Home essentials for a spring clean
● Doctor’s advice on sleeping better
● Foods to add to your beauty routine
…Plus lots more!
Can’t find your copy of Platinum?
Head to seymour.co.uk/storefinder and select Platinum from the
drop-down menu, then input your postcode to find your nearest stockist.
Or why not subscribe to make sure you never miss an issue? See page 122 for details.
 WALK AWAY YOUR…
tight hip
flexors
We all know walking is good for us, so
each month Joanna Hall, The WalkActive
Coach, shares her tips on optimising
your walking efforts to bring you more
joy and more results.
W
hether you suffer from
lower back discomfort,
niggling knee pain as
you stride, or you’re
struggling to pick up your walking
pace, there’s one common factor
that could be undermining your
walking efforts: your hip flexors.
This month, I’m sharing some
important tips to help strengthen
and lengthen your hip flexors, so
you’ll be in better shape to optimise
your walking stride.
WHAT ARE YOUR
HIP FLEXORS?
They are a group of muscles that
thread from the front of the hip
through the pelvis, attaching to the
128 PLATINUM
lumbar spine. The hip flexors are
involved in any movement taking
the leg forward or flexing the hip.
When you limit the time the hip
flexors can move and stretch,
such as extended time spent
seated at a desk or when driving
long distances, the muscle group
becomes shortened, compounding
the effects of misalignment and
restricted movement. This adds
further problems if you are already
experiencing joint discomfort through
the effects of menopause or inflamed
joint conditions such as arthritis.
All of these problems layered on top
of each other can set up challenges
for the body to walk well, which can
lead to the following issues:
1. Tight hip flexors limit the ability
for the leg to extend back and
stimulate the glutes, reducing your
ability to propel yourself forward
and achieve an effective brisk pace.
2. This can result in a “flat bum”
appearance, due to the glutes
not being stimulated, thus
reducing their strength.
3. Your stride length becomes
shorter, so any speed is achieved
through speeding up the legs rather
than lengthening the stride, and this
can impact other joints.
4. Knees are exposed to more load
bearing as you walk.
Stretching the hip flexors and getting
a little bit of mobility into them can so
 Walking

4 hip-flexor fixes
Improve your cardiovascular health by aiming for the right
quantity and quality of movement with these walking tips.

1 3
Walk downhill
Adding a down slope early on
in your walk can be a good hip
easer. As you walk down the
hill, focus on leaving your back foot
on the ground a little longer before
peeling it up, and feel a gentle
opening in the thigh of the trailing
leg. Raise the bar and challenge
yourself to walk up and down a
slope 3-4 times at the start of your
walk. Take your time and check
you don’t rush the back leg off the
ground. Be curious with the feeling
at the front of the thigh. Think of
this as saying “Hello hip flexors”!
Swing your legs
Try this before you set
out. Stand tall, think about
good posture and shift your
weight onto one leg. Slowly try to
swing the non-weight bearing leg to
achieve a smooth pendulum motion.
Keep the bodyweight lifted up so
that you create a smooth pendulum
swing, paying particular attention
on trying to emphasise more of
a backswing. This gently opens
the hip flexor on the swinging leg
and can be really good to mobilise
tight hips and nourish hip mobility.
Repeat up to 12 times on each leg.

often be neglected. But incorporating
this advice, plus my four on-the-go
tips (right), will offer some powerful
benefits to improve results for greater
WORDS: JOANNA HALL. IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK.
2 4
Don’t forget your ankles
Even if you are being
conscientious about opening
up your hip flexors, if your
ankles are stiff, your hip-flexor
range of motion will be limited.
You may not have given your ankles
much thought in the past, but stiff
ankles are quite common.
Before setting off, mobilise your
ankles with some ankle circles and
pointing and flexing your feet. At
home, I’d recommend adding 8-10
daily heel raises, focusing on rising
up to the junction of the pad of your
foot and toes, then easing gently
down. You can do this while waiting
for the kettle to boil. You get the
added bonus of strengthening your
feet and supporting good alignment
as well as supporting your hip
flexor opening when you walk.
Add your arms
This is a simple on-the-go
game changer for your
hip flexors. Start to walk,
focusing on good posture and
standing tall with each stride. Once
settled into a rhythm, raise both
arms above your head, extending
them as high as possible. Continue
to walk with your arms above your
head for 10-20 strides, paying
particular attention to opening up
your stride with your back leg.
Relax the arms down and repeat
3-4 more times. As you walk with
your arms up, you’ll feel a delicious
stretch right through the front of
the torso and opening of the thigh.
Great for hip flexors as well as
boosting gut circulation and back
care. Don’t be self-conscious – give
this a go, it really is a game changer!

mobility. And the added bonus is

that your lower abdominals will
thank you, plus your lower back will
be supported, and you’ll notice an
'If you only do one thing, focus on how you walk
improvement in your posture and the
tracking from your foot to your knee.
downhill to improve the mobility in your hip flexors'
Give these tips a go, and if you’re
only going to take one thing from my
Walk fitter, healthier, happier and trimmer with
advice this month, focus on how you
the WalkActive app, Joanna Hall’s scientifically
walk downhill to improve the mobility
proven walking technique to help you walk better.
in your hip flexors and really make Platinum readers can download and subscribe
a difference to your walking. I look to the WalkActive app today to start a 7-Day
forward to hearing how you get on! all-access free trial. Simply scan the QR code
or find out more at walkactive.com.
Joanna x
PLATINUM 129
Final thoughts
Fit & fearless! Our columnist, endurance athlete and former BBC Breakfast presenter
Louise Minchin, shares updates about her latest daring escapades. This month
she’s conquering the waves with her new surf skills.
T
he sun has only been up
for about half an hour and
already tropical heat wraps
around me like a blanket
as I dip my toes into the pale green
sea which is as warm as a bath. I feel
lucky, not only is it freezing back at
home in the UK, but here in Sri Lanka
I am about to have a surf lesson with
my daughters Mia and Scarlett.
Surfing is one of the sports we
have attempted to do as a family,
but without much success – apart
from my husband David. Most of
our previous experiences have been
in the pounding, relentless waves of
the North Cornish Coast.
130 PLATINUM
ACCEPT DEFEAT?
I have always loved the exhilaration
of battling with the power of the sea,
but encased in a tight wetsuit with my
hands and feet going numb, surfing
has always felt like a particularly
brutal sport. There have only been
fleeting moments when I have
stood up on the board, before face-
planting into white froth. I’ve been
so unsuccessful that I was beginning
to wonder whether, age 55, I should
accept that surfing is not for me.
Our Sri Lankan surf experience
was different right from the start.
Our instructors Amil and Suneth
demonstrated a new way of standing
up which made more sense to me.
I think they took one look at me and Louise caught the waves – and
realised that jumping straight to my the surfing bug – in Sri Lanka.
feet, or in surf speak “popping up”,
was going to be too challenging for shore, only falling off when I hit the
my well-used knees. Instead, they sand and bellyflopped just in front of
showed me how to bring my back foot one of the packed beach bars. In the
forwards first and then step onto my moments before that embarrassment,
front foot. After only 10 minutes on I understood what surfing is about; that
the sand practising, we headed off elusive but magical feeling of floating
like eager ducklings. effortlessly above the surface, being
The waves were perfect; gentle propelled by the power of the ocean. WORDS: LOUISE MINCHIN. PORTRAIT OF LOUISE: RACHEL JOSEPH.
and regular, nothing like the raging After a week spent out on the
mess we are used to. Assisted water, I think we can now officially
by a well-timed push on the call ourselves surfers, and despite my
back of their boards, Mia and misgivings, I have realised my age is
Scarlett both caught the first no barrier. There are few things more
wave they attempted, and joyful than sitting on my board beside
elegantly glided towards the Mia and Scarlett riding the swell,
beach. When it was my turn, chatting and joking while waiting for
despite laughing when I heard the perfect wave. I can’t wait to do
their shouts of “up Mum”, I it again, and hope when we return to
surprised myself by riding those challenging Cornish breakers
the wave all the way to our new skills stay with us.
Louise Minchin’s Fearless: Adventures
With Extraordinary Women (£18.99,
Bloomsbury) is out now. To see more
of Louise’s adventurous exploits, follow
her at instagram.com/louiseminchin.
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