FEEL-GOOD INSPIRATION

Live, look & feel fabulous

ANDREA MCLEAN

‘We’re
delving
into some
taboo
topics!’
The TV star
on starting a
podcast with
her husband

EAT WELL
TO LOSE
WEIGHT

5 low-carb recipes to
keep you feeling full

Plan to
live to
100!
Financial advice
for a prosperous
long life

£5,000
giveaway!

Enter our prize
draw for a diamond
necklace worth
£5,000!
*UK entrants only

THE POWER
OF PLEASURE

9

simple ways
to increase
enjoyment

Love is in
the air!
Take a break in a
converted windmill!

● Romantic reds ● Pretty pinks ● Calming neutrals

FEBRUARY 2024 / £5.50

HOW HOUSEWORK IMPROVES HEART HEALTH ● WALK OFF FESTIVE WEIGHT GAIN

Editor’s
welcome

IMAGE OF KATY: GEORGINALITTLEPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK.

So here it is. 2024! A new year. Those numbers
look strange as I don’t think I’d gotten used to 2023
before it was whisked away (and as I said last month,
I’m still putting ‘23 on things). Time just seems to fly.
Perhaps a break away from the norm would be good,
like author Janet Rouss who spent a year travelling
the world as a digital nomad, working from a new
city each month (see page 102). But you needn’t go
too far to experience newness, as we have some
UK-based breaks in our travel section (starting page 59), or even just
try upping the pleasure quota in your life with our nine ways to boost
enjoyment (page 116). Health and beauty-wise, this year I’m getting on
board the NAD+ bandwagon, the newest super-ingredient in the beauty
world that’s good for both your looks and your longevity (page 52).
If it’s nourishing meals you’re after, we have five simple low-carb
recipes to help with weight loss and blood sugar control (page 86).
And we’ve also got top tips for a healthy ticker with February being
Heart Month (page 120).
As it’s also the month of love, we’ve got some fabulous fashion in racy
reds and pretty pinks (from page 29), plus a jewellery prize giveaway
worth £5,000! Finally, The Big Debate focuses on love with an age gap:
specifically on older women dating younger men. Whatever you’re doing
this month, I hope it’s filled with love, joy and happiness!

Katy x
Katy Sunnassee, Editor-in-Chief
Connect with me at instagram.com/thehealtheditor

Editor’s picks

This Sarah Haran
bag is on my musthave list! (p30)

I love the shade of
this Ruby Hammer
blush (p46)

Scent really lifts my
mood, and this one
is gorgeous (p82)

Subscribe to Platinum & connect with us!

Thanks to everyone who wrote in keen to join our ambassadors’
programme. We’ll be getting in touch very soon once we get the wheels
in motion. Thank you to everyone who filled out the reader survey in last
month’s issue, too. If you didn’t see it, you can still complete the digital
survey online by scanning the QR code. And if you subscribe this month,
you’ll save more than £29 on your first six issues! See page 56.

Scan me
PLATINUM 3

16 ANDREA MCLEAN on love, life

and complicated relationships

Your style

30 PLATINUM PICKS Be bold with hot

pinks and reds for the month of love
32 FASHION INSIDER Discover your

not-so-ordinary capsule wardrobe
36 HOT LOOKS Top off your outfit

in shades from neon pink to scarlet
42 GIVEAWAY TIME! Enter our prize

You beauty!

46 FACE IN FIVE Dottie Monaghan's

top products to make your make-up
routine greener and cleaner

48 FEELING LIFTED Read Editor-in-

Chief Katy Sunnassee's review of
the new CACI SYNERGY facial

22

82 TIME TO SPRUCE UP

Ideas to refresh your home,
including the latest eco cleaners
and germ-busting gadgets

52 YOUR BEAUTIFUL FUTURE

Discover NAD+, the new beauty
super-ingredient that can help boost
your looks and longevity

86 EAT WELL TO LOSE WEIGHT!

Five delicious low-carb meals
from The Fast 800 Keto Recipe
Book by Dr Clare Bailey

Adventure time!
60 TIME FOR YOU

Work & Finance

Reset and revive with our pick
of the best self-care spa retreats

94 'I SWITCHED FROM HR TO PT'

66 'SWIMMING WITH HORSES
HEALED MY HEART'

Meet the corporate high-flyer
helping midlife women stay fit
and healthy, and changing her life
in the process

Writer Alison James found peace on
a life-changing retreat in Indonesia

72 LOVE IS IN THE AIR!

Editor-in-Chief Katy Sunnassee
shares her review of a romantic break
at a restored windmill in Suffolk

Home comfort
80 DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT

Fall in love with the beautiful
printed textiles from Ray de Soleil
4 PLATINUM

DOES AGE MATTER
WHEN IT COMES
TO RELATIONSHIPS?

46
ECO-CONSCIOUS
BEAUTY PRODUCTS

98 ARE YOU FINANCIALLY
PREPARED TO LIVE TO 100?

Expert advice on how to make
your money go (much!) further,
now that we're all living longer
102 'I WORKED ACROSS THE
WORLD FOR A YEAR!'

Digital nomad Janet Rouss
describes a bucket-list journey
while working remotely

COVER IMAGE: NICKY JOHNSTON.

draw for a bespoke jewellery design
experience worth £5,000!

Contents

February 2024

COVER INTERVIEW

Your healthy life!
108 DR DAWN HARPER The doctor

120 3 WAYS TO PROTECT
YOUR TICKER Advice on looking

shares who's who at your local GP
110 'I'M REDEFINING AGEING'

after your heart this month

Suzy Glaskie invites you to check
in and take time to recharge
116 TAKE YOUR VITAMIN P!

MAKE TIME FOR
SELF-CARE AT A
WELLNESS RETREAT

122 THE MENOPAUSE GUINEAPIG

Photographer Alex Rotas captures
the spirit of older sportspeople
114 THE HEALTH COACH

60

Elizabeth Joseph's got some good
advice for midlife aches and pains
128 WALK AWAY YOUR WEIGHT
GAIN Joanna Hall's expert tips for

walking off any festive pounds
130 FIT & FEARLESS! Read Louise

Rediscover pleasure in all its forms
with Kate Codrington's top tips

Minchin's thrilling experience of
free diving under ice

86
LOW-CARB RECIPES
FOR WEIGHT LOSS

Regulars

10 STAYING IN, GOING OUT

Your guide to what’s on
12 MOORE’S MONTH Jane

Moore's looking to move
14 BOOK CLUB Adele Parks

rounds up the best new reads
26 THE M WORD Heather

Jackson on living your best life
56 SUBSCRIBE TODAY

Never miss an issue!
124 PUZZLES Work your grey

matter with these brain teasers

80
DESIGNER
SPOTLIGHT:
RAY DE SOLEIL
HANDMADE
PATTERNS

30

BE DARING IN RED
FOR VALENTINE'S DAY

PLATINUM 5

Our

experts

Each month, our team of experts share their wealth of
knowledge, from fashion and beauty to health and wellbeing.

Kelsey Publishing Ltd, The Granary, Downs Court,
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
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
Social Media & Digital Content Amy Marsden
ADVERTISING AND AD PRODUCTION
Head of Investment Bonnie Howard
01732 447 008, bonnie@talk-media.uk
Investment Manager Kim Butler
01732 445 678, kim@talk-media.uk
Production Manager Neil Hepden
01732 446 755, neil@talk-media.uk

GAIL ROLFE

A D E L E PA R K S M B E

Fashion expert Gail
showcases three
capsule-wardrobe
looks that offer
stand-out style.

Bestselling author
Adele rounds up
her six favourite
new reads for
us this month.

D R DAW N H A R P E R

JA N E M O O R E

The author and
GP gives the full
lowdown of who’s
who at your local
GP surgery.

The Loose Women
presenter is
comtemplating a
new move where
peace is a must!

DOTTIE MONAGHAN

Platinum’s resident
make-up artist
Dottie shows us how
to go clean with our
make-up routine.

SUZY GLASKIE

Health coach
Suzy shows you
how to recharge
your battery with
renewed purpose.

H E AT H E R J A C K S O N

LOUISE MINCHIN

ELIZABETH JOSEPH

Menopause champ
Heather on why
your best years
are ahead of you.

The TV presenter
and author shares
her journey to
qualified free diver.

Our ‘Menopause
Guineapig’ tries out
remedies to manage
niggly midlife pain.

PLATINUM 6

MANAGEMENT
Managing Director (Lifestyle) Oswin Grady
Retail Director Steve Brown
Head of Direct Consumer Revenue Nick McIntosh
Direct Consumer Revenue Executive Molly Walton
Print Production Manager Georgina Harris
Print Production Controller Hayley Brown
SUBSCRIPTIONS
12 issues of Platinum are published per annum
● UK annual subscription price: £66
● Europe annual subscription price: £78
● USA annual subscription price: £78
● Rest of World annual subscription price: £84
● UK subscription and back issue orderline: 01959 543747
● Overseas subscription orderline: 0044 (0)1959 543747
● Toll-free USA subscription orderline: 1 888 777 0275
● UK customer service team: 01959 543747; cs@kelsey.co.uk
Customer Services website:
help.kelsey.co.uk/support/home
Find subscription offers on our website:
shop.kelsey.co.uk/pla
Manage your subscription online
shop.kelsey.co.uk/site/loginform
DISTRIBUTION
Distribution in Great Britain: Seymour Distribution Limited,
2 East Poultry Avenue, London, EC1A 9PT
020 7429 4000; seymour.co.uk
Distribution in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland:
Newspread; 353 23 886 3850

●

● The information in Platinum is provided for entertainment and should
not supersede the advice of medical experts. You must not rely on
this magazine as an alternative to advice from your doctor or other
professional healthcare provider. If you think you may be suffering from
any medical condition, seek expert attention.
Platinum Magazine is a registered trademark and is published monthly by Kelsey Media
2023© all rights reserved. Kelsey Media is a trading name of Kelsey Publishing Ltd.
Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden except with permission in writing from the
publishers.
Note to contributors: Articles submitted for consideration by the editor must be the
original work of the author and not previously published. Where photographs are included,
which are not the property of the contributor, permission to reproduce them must have been
obtained from the owner of the copyright. The Editor cannot guarantee a personal response
to all letters and emails received. The views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily
those of the Editor or the Publisher. Kelsey Publishing Ltd accepts no liability for products
and services offered by third parties.
PRIVACY NOTICE: Kelsey Publishing Ltd uses a multilayered privacy notice, giving
you brief details about how we would like to use your personal information. For full
details, visit kelsey.co.uk, or call 01959 543524. If you have any questions, please ask,
as submitting your details indicates your consent, until you choose otherwise, that we
and our partners may contact you about products and services that will be of relevance
to you via direct mail, phone, email or SMS. You can opt out at ANY time via email: data.
controller@kelsey.co.uk or 01959 543524.

Destination-focused journeys
to all seven continents
RIVERS • OCEANS • EXPEDITIONS

Call 020 8780 8571
or book online at viking.com

Have your
say…

Thanks for writing in to give feedback on the magazine. Here’s
a selection of your letters this month, with some great udpates
of Platinum on tour! Email your thoughts to us at
platinum.letters@kelsey.co.uk.

‘HELLO FROM AN
AMERICAN FAN OF
PLATINUM MAGAZINE’

‘I enjoyed reading
about Kate Humble’s
latest adventure’
As a great admirer of the intrepid
Kate Humble, I loved reading
about her forthcoming hot air
balloon trip over the Serengeti
National Park. So far, my only
experience of such a flight was
over a village in North Yorkshire,
and I confess to having been

terrified the whole time I was up in
the air. The pilot and I were alone
in a basket little larger than the
one I use for laundry, the burner
above us scorched my head every
time it whooshed, and I’ve never
been as grateful in my life to be
back on terra firma. Maggie

Celebrity interview

MONTGOMERY FOR LIFESTYLE

O

FOR PORTRAIT SHOTS; ANDREW

ver five decades,
Kate Humble has
journeyed to all
seven continents
,
visited more than
100 countries
and
undertaken feats
, including cross
the Sahara Dese
ing
rt with salt trade
rs over a fiveweek expeditio
n in 1999 – not
for the benefit
of television but
purely
‘It was just a journ for personal reward.
ey I wanted to
of the hardest
do and one
things physically
and mentally
I’ve ever done
, but it was an
absolutely
extraordinary
journey,’ says
the TV presenter
who, 25 years
on, is preparing
for another
mind-boggling
challenge: attem
pting to
become one of
the first people
to fly across
the Serengeti Natio
nal Park by hot
air balloon.
‘I’m a little bit
nervous!’ laugh
s Kate
who, three days
after our interview , 54,
to Tanzania wher
, will travel
e she willMfly17for
four days with
an experienced PLATINU
balloon pilot and
her
of 31 years, TV
husband
producer Ludo
Graham, 62.
‘We don’t know
where we’ll be
landing.
You can’t fix it
because it’s all
to do with the
winds. He’s a supre
mely experienc
ed pilot,
but he’ll have
to land in place
s where no one
16 PLATINUM

8 PLATINUM

‘A FRESH, BUZZY AND
ON-TREND MAGAZINE’

I’ve so enjoyed my first read of
Platinum. Fresh, buzzy and on trend
compared to the other magazines I’ve
been buying for years, which seem to
be a bit stale and repetitive these days.
I’d love to be one of your ambassadors.
I am a freelance writer and live in
southwest Scotland. Gillian

Reflecting on
a year of chan
ge,
TV presenter
and author Kate
Humble talks
abou
challenging self- t the power of
belief, making
small, quiet chan
ges, and alwa
being open to
ys
new opportun
ities.

‘I LIKE THE YOUNG BUT
STYLISH VIBE!’

WORDS: GEMM
A CALVERT. IMAG
FOR PORTRAIT
ES: SARAH HUDS
SHOTS; ANDR
ON VERNON
EW MONTGOM
ERY FOR LIFES
TYLE IMAGES.

IMAGES.

‘We need
more midlif
e
women doin
g
adventurou
s
things!’

I was so happy to find out that Platinum
was still being published after the
earlier news that it was going to be
discontinued. I love Platinum… lots of
interesting interviews and stories about
people struggling with life’s issues. The
best thing about Platinum was that it
was about real people. It seems to me
that you might have been attempting
to attract younger readers now with
the latest issues. I was an American
diplomat in Edinburgh and in London a
long time ago and am married to a Scot,
so have a real affinity with the Brits and
their lives. I am hoping to see a return
to some of those values in future issues.
Julie, Arlington, Virginia

Please include me as an ambassador.
I subscribe to the magazine monthly. I
loved the magazine before the changes
and I still love it in the new format. I like
the balance and the young but stylish
vibe of the mag. Gone are the days when
older women also feel older in head and
heart. I am 63 and still working fulltime. Keep up the good work! Dawn

Your letters

Star
letter

‘KEEP UP THE
GOOD WORK!’

Greetings from Mauritius
where I have just read the
latest copy of Platinum.
Love the magazine and travel
extensively and one thing I always
want to take with me is a copy of
the magazine as it’s great. I would
love to be an ambassador as I
often promote this great magazine
especially on my travels. Keep up
the good work and I do love that
the puzzles are back! Andrea

STAR LETTER PRIZE!
Congratulations Andrea, you’ve
won our star letter prize of
an Athletia Phyto Sleeping
Cream and Lip Oil Essence,
worth £104! Athletia’s skincare
products have soothing
textures that glide onto the
skin, plus the natural uplifting
scents of botanical essential
oils, all combined to encourage
a complexion that glows with vitality. All products
available at athletia-beauty.co.uk. We’ll be in touch
soon to get your address and the prize be sent out
directly from Athletia.

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
LONDON ART FAIR

SKIES AND PIES WITH THE
STARSMITH AT BROCKHOLES
NATURE RESERVE

JANUARY 4 & 18, AND FEBRUARY 15,
LANCASHIRE (brockholes.org)
Get clued up on the night skies of Lancashire
with local astrophotographer, Lee Hunt, who
will take you on a virtual journey to explore
planetary neighbours and distant galaxies.
You’ll also enjoy a warming pie and peas
supper and, if the skies are clear, a look
through the Starsmith telescopes!

10 PLATINUM

WORDS: LILY SMITH. IMAGES: VARIOUS BRANDS.

JANUARY 17-21, LONDON (londonartfair.co.uk)
Held at the Business Design Centre in Islington,
an exceptional line-up of modern and contemporary
art galleries from across the globe is waiting to be
explored, alongside sensational live performances
and an inspiring programme of talks and tours.

Latest page turners

Farrow And Ball:
How To Redecorate
by Joa Studholme &
Charlotte Cosby
£35, amazon.co.uk.
This step-by-step book
is packed with stylish
redecorating advice and
inspirational images
to help you transform
your home. Perfect
for anyone wanting
a new-year refresh!

Sudden Loss, Slow
Grieving by
Vanessa Moore
£10.99, amazon.co.uk.
This heartbreaking
memoir by clinical
psychologist Vanessa
Moore explores the
questions posed by
unanticipated death,
the process of healing
after loss, and how to
find a way forward.

Unprocess Your Life:
Break Free From
Ultra-Processed
Foods For Good by
Rob Hobson £18.99,
harpercollins.co.uk.
With practical tips,
effortless swaps and
tasty recipes, you
can discover how to
avoid harmful foods
and embrace a simple,
unprocessed life.

Ones to
watch

MOVIE: ONE LIFE

RELEASE DATE:
JANUARY 1 IN
CINEMAS
Featuring an all-star cast
led by Anthony Hopkins
and Helena Bonham
Carter, this moving film
follows the story of British
humanitarian Nicholas
Winton, who helped
save hundreds of Central
European children from
the Nazis on the eve of
World War II.

TV SHOW:
CRISTÓBAL
BALENCIAGA

CELTIC CONNECTIONS FESTIVAL

JANUARY 18 – FEBRUARY 4, GLASGOW (celticconnections.com)
Held at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and featuring over 2,100
musicians, this winter festival celebrates Glasgow’s connections to
cultures all over the globe. Expect 18 days of immersive performances,
from music and engaging talks, to art exhibitions, workshops and more.

RELEASE DATE:
JANUARY 19 ON
DISNEY+
Set in 1937, this series
follows the story of
designer Cristóbal
Balenciaga as he swaps a
successful career dressing
the Spanish aristocracy for
the sophisticated fashion
empire of Paris, eventually
becoming one of the most
noted designers of all time.
PLATINUM 11

This month our resident columnist Jane Moore
searches for a piece of paradise in her next
house move. Piece of cake, right?

N

ow the last of my children
has flown the nest, I plan
to downsize to a smaller
property in the same area
of South West London where I’ve
lived for the past 35 years.
I have many friends here, there’s
a wonderful common nearby, and
I like the local shops and cafés, and
the close proximity to all the cinemas,
galleries and museums that our capital
city has to offer. So my dilemma is
not where my next home will be, but
what? A smaller Victorian house than
the family-sized one we’re selling,
or a state-of-the-art, modern flat
overlooking the Thames?
In my dreams, I’m going to buy
a manageable, two-bed apartment
in a well-maintained block where
everything works and I don’t have to
spend 50 per cent of my waking hours
with workmen who pull a “this is
going to cost you” face as they inspect
the latest problem that needs fixing.

LIVING THE DREAM…

I will enjoy a morning coffee whilst
watching life on the river go by from
my small balcony, and a “concierge”
will take in parcels for me at the
reception desk, so no more of those
irritating little cards saying “while
you were in, we didn’t bother to ring
12 PLATINUM

the doorbell and have taken your
package to the sorting office where
you will queue for two hours to
retrieve it”.
But a friend who hankered
after, and went for, this exact setup reckons it’s not all it’s cracked
up to be. Yes, her block is “well
maintained” and has a smiley
porter, but it comes with an everescalating service charge that now
runs into thousands a year. And any
time the building needs repairing,
it involves an arduous process of
getting everyone’s approval.
Then there are the renters or,
worse, the Airbnb weekenders
who don’t treat the building as well
as the owners. Consequently, there
are noisy balcony gatherings and
music long into the night, bicycles
clogging up the hallways, doors
slamming, and loud chats in the
corridors at all hours.
Meanwhile, in Victorian
conversions, that gorgeous garden
flat with the huge windows may seem
like your own personal paradise when
you view it during the day. But then
you move in and discover that, by
night, a Riverdance fan lives upstairs
and spends all night thumping across
the wooden floorboards whilst you grit
your teeth in despair.

Columnist

Jane’s diary
I go back 45 years with my
school friends (from L to R)
Wendy, Carolyn, Sue and Sonia,
and they came to stay with
me in London recently. We all
live in different places now,
but whenever we get together
the years roll back and it feels
like we’re 16 again. Well,
psychologically anyway!

Buy of
the month

WORDS: JANE MOORE. IMAGES: JANE MOORE AND SHUTTERSTOCK.

WHAT PRICE
FOR PEACE?

Recently, I read that a family in West
London is suing the people living
above because they claim their life
is being made “unbearable” by noise
after the carpets were ripped out.
“During the week, we are woken up
daily between 5.30am and 7.30am…
we can hear the floor making creaking
sounds, walking sounds and the sound
of moving furniture right above our
main bedroom… living with this every
day… is torture,” they say.
No thanks. I’m too old and grumpy
to be dealing with other people’s
noise. I want to be queen of my own,
relatively calm castle, so it looks like
it’s a small freehold house for me.
But before I make an offer on
a potential property, I’ll be found
parked outside at all hours of the
night and day, checking out the
immediate neighbours. Is there a
teenager that plays loud music every
night? Is there outdoor play equipment

How many times do you take
an outfit out of your wardrobe to
find it’s creased and you don’t have
time to iron it? Get yourself a hand
steamer and it will change your
life. There are plenty on the
market for around £30. You
can de-wrinkle your
curtains too.

for small children that’s likely to
be the source of constant shrieking
all through the summer months?
Are there any dogs and, if so, do
they bark maniacally at the slightest
noise? Is their garden overgrown and
encroaching on what might potentially
be my new house?
If the answer to any of these
questions is yes, then I will continue
my search for the perfect “forever”
home I plan to stay in until I need
residential care.
And until that day comes, I want
as much peace as I can possibly get
without having to live in the middle
of nowhere.

Look
of the
month

Jumpsuits are still
bang on trend and
this one from Aspiga
(£250, aspiga.com)
in plum corduroy is
both stylish and warm –
my favourite combo.
I also like the frill detail
on the neck and sleeves.
Here I have teamed it
with my faithful old
Adidas trainers.

PLATINUM 13

BOOK
OF THE
MONTH THE EXCITEMENTS

by C J Wray (Harper Collins, £19.99)

I enjoy dipping into cosy crime where everyone is debonair and
charming and the reader knows that villains will be not only justifiably
despatched, but that it will be accomplished with flair.
The Williamson sisters are among Britain’s remaining treasured
World War II veterans. Now in their 90s, Josephine and Penny are often
invited to commemorative events, rubbing shoulders with celebrities
and royalty. They are heading to Paris to receive the Légion d’honneur.
They are to be accompanied by their great-nephew, Archie, a gay arthistorian who is devoted to them. He believes his great aunts had minor
roles in the Women’s Royal Navy and the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry,
but that’s not the full story. Scandal and crime have stalked the sisters
since the war. Now armed with new information about an old foe, these
decorated veterans intend to settle scores, avenge lost friends, and pull
off a final heist worthy of their illustrious careers.
I chuckled while reading this uplifting and gentle mystery about two
droll, dynamic national treasures, hiding official secrets and living
fabulous double lives.

T

A

GREA

★★★★★
READ

BOOK CLUB
Bestselling author Adele Parks MBE shares her picks of the month, including two female-led
whodunnits, a “cosy” crime caper, and a gripping debut novel about family love and sacrifice.

THE MYSTERY GUEST

by Nita Prose (HarperCollins, £16.99)
Molly Gray is head maid at the Regency Grand Hotel.
She is immaculate, discrete and industrious. She prides
herself on restoring rooms to a state of calm and clean
perfection. However, when a renowned guest – a famous
mystery writer – drops dead in the grand tearoom, gossip
and suspicion whirl through the hotel corridors. It is clear
there’s a huge mess to clean up. Molly could do so, as she
alone holds the key to the mystery of his death, but unlocking
it means thinking about things she tidied away long ago.
Molly once knew the dead guest – and he knew her. This
sparkling new novel from the million-copy bestselling author
of The Maid is set to be a big hit.

★★★★★
14 PLATINUM

New reads

IN MEMORY OF US
A MAID ON FIFTH
AVENUE

by Sinead Crowley (Aria, £20)
Annie runs away from her home on the
west coast of Ireland and boards a ship
for New York. Irish maids are in demand
in the 1920s and she finds work with the
wealthy Cavendish family in their opulent
Fifth Avenue mansion. Her friendship
with Elena, an Italian waitress, deepens
into something more; that’s risky for them
both. Once again, she must flee.
A century later, Emer is also running away. She finds a haven in her
family’s home in West Kerry. Annie and Emer’s lives intertwine and long
hidden secrets are about to be revealed.
A dual timeline sometimes loses me, as I tend to prefer one place or
the other, but I was gripped. Hugely atmospheric and absorbing.

★★★★★

P L AT I N U M E X P E R T
Adele Parks MBE

Adele Parks MBE is the author of
23 bestselling novels including Just
Between Us, Lies Lies Lies and Just
My Luck. She writes compelling,
twisty psychological thrillers that
are popular all over the world, with
five million English language editions
sold. She is dedicated to spreading
the joy of reading and is a proud
ambassador of The National Literacy
Trust. She loves hearing from readers
so keep in touch with her via X
(formerly Twitter) @adeleparks or at
instagram.com/adele_parks.

THE STORM WE MADE

by Vanessa Chan (Hodder & Stoughton, £16.99)
This morally complex, beautiful and nuanced saga
examines how an individual’s horrific personal
circumstances leads to an agonising choice. Set
in Japanese-occupied Malaya, in 1945, Cecily
Alcantara’s children are in dreadful danger. Her
eldest child, Jujube, works at a tea house frequented
by drunk Japanese soldiers, their constant presence
is not only angering but also threatening. Jasmin, the
youngest, lives confined in a basement for her own
safety. And her son, Abel, has vanished without a
trace. Cecily’s decision changed history, therefore
the danger her family faces is her fault. They must
never learn the truth. This gripping, original debut
about the power of familial love, in the face of the
horrors of war, will be a book-club favourite.

★★★★★

by Jacqueline
Roy
(Simon &
Schuster,
£18.99)

Joined at birth,
then pulled
apart, Selina
and Zora’s
connection
is defined by
a pattern of
intimacy and
separation.
Growing up in London in the
50s and 60s, they are intuitively
dependent on each other, so much
so others believe the twins are
interchangeable. Yet Zora longs
for an independent identity.
Now in her 70s and living with
the early stages of dementia,
Selina is trying to piece together
elusive slivers of memory. She
is determined to unravel and
understand the traumatic events
of the past that formed the twins’
lives. This reflective study of
memory and illusion as a survival
technique is fascinating. Offering
insight into life as a Black Briton
after the Windrush generation,
this thoughtful novel entertains
and educates.

★★★★★

THE TRIALS OF
MARJORIE CROWE

by C. S. Robertson (Hodder & Stoughton, £20)
Marjorie Crowe lives in Kilgoyne, Scotland.
She’s a mystery to those who live nearby. They
speculate whether she is divorced or a spinster,
a retired librarian or pharmacist, or even an
active witch. Some think she’s lonely or ill,
others think she’s just plain rude. Generally, they
leave her to her own devices because as a rule,
middle-aged/elderly women don’t excite much
attention. Then, local teenager Charlie McKee is
found hanging in the woods and Marjorie is the first to see his
body. What she says she saw is impossible so the police doubt
her statement. When a second young person goes missing,
suspicion falls on the strange and solitary woman. Is Marjorie
monster or victim? A notable, voice-driven mystery.

★★★★★

PLATINUM 15

16 PLATINUM

Celebrity interview

‘I felt ashamed
about being
married three
times’
Former Loose Women presenter Andrea
McLean opens up about past relationships,
grief over her changing role as a mum, and
now laying bare her marriage with third
husband Nick Feeney on their tell-all podcast.

N

WORDS: GEMMA CALVERT. IMAGES OF ANDREA: NICKY
JOHNSTON. IMAGE OF ANDREA AND NICK: ANDREA MCLEAN.

ick and I met in 2013 on a blind date
that neither of us wanted to go on.
We were both sad and not in a great
place. About three hours in, after
quite a lot to drink, we were at a club in Brighton
and he reached out to hold my hand to walk
across the dance floor. We both had the biggest
electric shock, looked at each other and it felt as
if we’d known each other for a thousand years.
Having not flirted with me, Nick said, ‘I need to
kiss you’. We’ve been together ever since!
The relationship worked because both of us
felt a deep sense of connection and neither of us
had anything to lose. He’s also the only partner
that I’ve ever felt able to relax with, knowing he’s
not going to hurt me. With Nick I feel safe.
After two divorces, I didn’t want to marry
again. I felt ashamed about being married
three times because I felt it smacked of
irresponsibility. I was also scared it would jinx
the relationship. Nick, however, felt strongly
that if we wanted to spend the rest of our lives
together, marriage was important, and I realised
I shouldn’t let my fears stand in the way of
something that could be great for us.
We married in 2017 and I now feel so lucky.
People go through their whole life without ever
finding love and I found it three times. Two times
it wasn’t forever but life is messy and that’s okay.
Being married to a life coach isn’t always
easy. Yes, Nick is a great communicator, very
self-aware and open to learning about himself
PLATINUM 17

and other people, but sometimes I end up
shouting, ‘Stop coaching me. Just give me a
normal husband answer, let me moan and stop
trying to fix it!’. I’m a coach too now and I’ve
written books on these subjects so all in all, it
makes our relationship quite entertaining.
The idea for our Midlife Conversations podcast
came from thinking, “what’s it like to be a fly on
the wall with a couple who think they have all the
answers?”. Then I realised the interesting thing
is our mistakes, because no one gets it right all
the time. The podcast reveals the challenging,
emotional, frustrating, uplifting and, at times,
hilarious truth of midlife as a blended family.
I’ve never tried to be a mother to Nick’s
daughters Tia (21) and Sienna (18). They have
a mother. I’m 100 per cent here for them, I love
them and support them, but our relationship is
about us as individuals.
Any parents in a blended family will know
that the waters can be really choppy. It’s not like
a Disney movie. There are times when it really
works and times when it all falls apart. It’s come
to a head before over our different parenting
styles combined with what’s acceptable and
not acceptable behaviour in the different homes.
It can get complicated.
My daughter Amy [17, with Andrea’s exhusband Steve Toms] lives with us and has a
lovely relationship with Nick. She’s the youngest
and has been with him the most but he’s never
tried to be her dad because she has a dad. They
get on as well as I get on with his girls.
My stomach is a battlefield of scars. I’ve had
laparoscopies and two emergency caesareans.
The first time Nick and I were intimate, I
thought, “If you don’t like these, then I don’t like
you”. That attitude comes from feeling like, “I
want you but I don’t need”. There’s a difference.

‘ The podcast reveals the
challenging, emotional,
frustrating, upliing
and, at times, hiliarious
truth of midlife as
a blended family’
18 PLATINUM

Celebrity interview

Here’s something that any midlife woman who
is newly single or unhappy in a relationship
should hear. It’s important to be in a place
where you are alright with you and are making
a choice to be with someone else. When you’re
middle aged and single, you don’t get invited
to dinner parties, you get left out and it feels
horrible, but don’t think you need to find love
in order to be complete.
When my son left for uni in 2020 I felt grief.
Letting go of my close connection with Finlay
[Andrea’s 22 year-old son with first husband,
BBC producer Nick Green, who she divorced in
2005], and that change in my responsibility as
a mother, was hard. I remember sitting on his
bed and crying and crying because my baby boy
was gone and I knew things would never be the
same. He now has his own place, sharing with
friends, and a job. Now I see him on his terms,
not mine. That’s when you know your children
are adults – it’s a normal part of leaving the nest,
but it took some adjustment.
I miss bits of Loose Women since leaving
the show in 2020. Anyone who works for
themselves knows you can feel like an octopus
because you’re doing so many things, so there’s
something lovely about the idea of turning up to
work and only having one thing to do – I miss
that! I went from working with a team of so many
people to literally working alongside Nick at
home and that was a real shock to the system,
especially in the middle of the pandemic. I’ve
got used to it now and I’m quite a homebody.
I practically hibernate in winter.
TV is not part of my life anymore, purely
because the right sort of thing hasn’t come along.
I dip in and out of telly if things seem fun or
interesting, but it’s not my “job”.
I feel like I’ve found my menopause groove.
I had a full hysterectomy in 2017 and HRT
works for me. I’m ticking along nicely but
everything ebbs and flows. Anxiety is still
present sometimes because I’m human.
I’m quite a visual person so I like to picture
my brain on top of a three-legged stool. One leg
is sleep, one is movement and one is food. If my
brain starts to feel wobbly, I think, “Have I been
going to bed too late?”, or “It’s Christmas time,
I’m digging into the Quality Street and not eating
properly!”, or “It’s winter, I’ve not left the house
for days – time to go for a walk”.
I had long Covid for 18 months. I don’t know
how the future looks. I read a lot of science
articles about the condition and I don’t think it
will ever completely go. Research shows that

people with pre-existing immune system issues
are the ones struggling. In 2017, I was diagnosed
with vasculitis, an autoimmune disease where
your immune system thinks there’s something
wrong so it starts to attack itself. I’ve now
accepted that I need to be really aware of
looking after myself.
Last May, after returning from The Body Camp
[thebodycamp.com], a holistic transformation
retreat in Mallorca, I set myself a goal of doing
five minutes of yoga every day for 30 days.
Sometimes I’d do a few minutes and was so
exhausted I couldn’t do any more, but at the end
of the 30 days I upped the yoga to 15 minutes.
Then in August, I started going to the gym to
do a few weights. I also started intermittent
fasting because I learned that it resets the gut
and the length of your telomeres, which are
associated with life span. Now I stretch every
single day and do weights three or four days
a week with 5kg dumbbells, either in my
bedroom or in the gym.
I had therapy in 2019, which opened a
Pandora’s box of memories about an unhealthy
relationship. There was a lot of fear and a lot
of trauma, and although certain things can still
set me off – a tone of voice or a certain energy
that I get from people when I feel afraid – since

PLATINUM 19

having the therapy, I now look back and know
the shame and fear have gone.
In the past, Nick and I have had relationship
coaching. We did it when I left my job at Loose
Women because circumstances were changing
and we knew it was going to be challenging. We
needed some tools to navigate it well. Going to a
therapist when things are good is a power move.
As I’ve got older I don’t want to look younger,
just to look good for my age. I’m chilled about
how I look and I’ve always been open about

‘We can both be
Andrea and Nick under the spotlight…

What was your first impression of the other?
ANDREA: When we met I wasn’t wearing my
contact lenses so I didn’t know exactly what he
looked like at first, but when he said hello,
I knew he smelled nice.
NICK: I was really nervous. My friend who
helped set the date up had been teasing me
about what Andrea was like, so when I finally
saw her I was relieved that she was just a chilled
lady with a great smile.
When did you realise you were in love?
ANDREA: I fell in love quicker than Nick and
told him so after a few months. He replied:
‘thank you’, which was embarrassing! Then he
explained he didn’t want to say it if he didn’t feel
it, and that when he did, I’d know it was true.
NICK: When I realised I had fallen in love with
Andrea I knew the next time I saw her, I was
going to tell her. I wanted to make it special as
Andrea had already told me how she felt. She
came for lunch and I got some sushi in as it’s a
favourite of ours. Then I played Miley Cyrus’s
song Adore You, and said ‘I love you’.
What’s the greatest strength in your marriage?
ANDREA: We not only love each other, we
really like each other. He’s genuinely my best
friend and I’m really proud of him.
NICK: I just really like her. She’s my wingman.
I genuinely love spending time with her and
because our life has a lot of variety, we always
have something to talk about.
What makes you both feel connected?
ANDREA: Our shared vision for our future.
NICK: Our shared values and we both have a
wicked sense of humour, although not all my dad
jokes are appreciated!

20 PLATINUM

Celebrity interview

occasionally dabbling with injectables. I’ve
always looked after my skin, and if I’ve had
a problem with it, I try and find a way to solve
it. Just like I do with life!
I’ve recently had botox again. I last had it a
few years ago and hadn’t been bothered about it
for ages, then a couple of months ago I looked in
the mirror and thought, “I look like my granny!
I’m 54, I’m going to have some”.
I’ve also been having laser treatment at
D. Thomas Clinic [dthomas.com] in London
because when I got long Covid, I developed

rosacea, a skin condition that mainly affects
the face, which is linked to your gut and your
immune system.
Living in a warm climate is on my radar.
We were gearing up to live in America for
three months a year, then everything went
out the window when I became ill.
I am so much better in the warmth. For
someone who loves dogs as much as I do,
I was clearly a cat in another life because I
love being toasty!

stubborn, but it works’
What’s the most recent thing the other did
for you that you really appreciated?
ANDREA: Nick made pancakes for us like he
does most Saturday mornings. We sat in our
pyjamas and chatted with my daughter Amy
about life, and I really appreciated how he just
looks after us and makes us feel loved.
NICK: Andrea put all the Christmas decorations
up by herself. I love Christmas and how
everything looks but I am not a fan of putting
up the decorations. Thankfully Andrea is and
I really appreciated her doing it.
What pet peeve do you have about eachother?
ANDREA: He talks very loudly sometimes and
it makes my ears ring. I know his pet peeve will
be me saying he’s shouting when he knows he’s
not. But he is!
NICK: NO I’M NOT!
What’s your favourite memory of a time
you spent together?
ANDREA: Our honeymoon was a two-night stay
in Claridges Hotel over Christmas and it was
absolutely magical. It was like being in a Richard
Curtis movie, and we still talk about it.
NICK: When we moved into our new home this
summer. The children were all away and it was
just us unpacking everything. It felt like we’d just
got married and moving into our first home. It
just felt so new.
If you could go anywhere now together, where
would you go?
ANDREA: The Caribbean. I’ve always wanted to
go to St Barts – it looks so nice.
NICK: We have spoken lots about relocating to
Miami and Florida for our winters but haven’t
quite managed to get there yet. Let’s hope we get
to do this soon.

Andrea and
husband Nick share
real-life issues on
their new podcast.

l Midlife
Conversations
is available
wherever
you get your
podcasts,
including
Apple and
Spotify.

What’s the key to resolving an argument?
ANDREA: Knowing when it’s become a debate,
and you’re trying to make the other person see
that you’re right, which, let’s face it, is how most
of us feel when we argue. No one is listening
by this point, so we both know to admit when
we’re going round in circles, to walk away and
come back when we are calm and able to listen.
It’s not easy as we can both be stubborn, but
it definitey works.
NICK: It’s not always easy, however you
have to remember the bigger picture. Try not
to get too caught up in the moment and the
need to be right.
What do you fancy most about each other?
ANDREA: His twinkly blue eyes.
NICK: Her smile melts me. She can give me
a smile across the room and I feel so loved.
I feel like the emoji with the hearts popping out
of its eyes!
PLATINUM 21

MIND
THE
AGE
GAP?

While most relationship taboos have been consigned to
the dustbin, dating a younger man still sparks disapproval.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, Angela Kennedy asks,
could you – or should you – find love with a younger man?

empowers singles to be confident
daters. ‘You can be an old soul or
you can be young at heart, so it’s not
dependent on age but on mindset.’
Thankfully the tide is turning, with
a recent US survey finding 81 per cent
of women open to dating 10 years
younger, plus nearly 90 per cent of
men interested in dating someone

comfortable in their skin and
embracing life, rather than concerned
about what people think or seeking
approval and validation, as so many
of us did when we were younger.’

TREND SETTERS

Of course, celebrities are ahead of
the trend, with Platinum’s December
cover star, Joan Collins,
blissfully married to a
man more than 30 years
her junior since 2002.
Pop icon, Cher, 77, is
reportedly in a longterm relationship with
a music producer, aged
37. Supermodel Heidi
Klum, 50, is married to a musician
who is 16 years her junior. And
Mariah Carey, 54, has been dating
a choreographer, 40, for about seven
years. Although these may seem
like extreme examples, the shift
away from traditional relationship
structures is also reflected within
non-celeb society, with women no

‘ Dating is not dependent
on age, but on mindset ’

22 PLATINUM

10 years older. In a 2011 UK study, the
number of women married to or living
with a man at least five years younger
has almost tripled since the 70s.
‘More mature women are being
approached by younger men,’ says
Eimear. ‘I think younger men find
older women attractive as they are
much more assured in themselves,

WORDS: ANGELA KENNEDY. IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK.

C

ougar. Cradle-snatcher.
These are just some of the
derogatory terms thrown at
women who date a younger
man. Of course, these sentiments are
dripping in double-standards as men
who date younger women are usually
congratulated, not condemned. It’s
plain, old-fashioned sexism to label
a woman a predator on
the prowl for daring to
date younger. To clarify,
we’re not talking about a
Mrs Robinson scenario of
deceit or extreme power
imbalance. This is about
a healthy relationship
between two adults –
where the woman happens
to be older. Shocker!
‘The idea of an older woman/
younger man relationship being
taboo is about not wanting
women to embrace and enjoy
their sexuality,’ says dating coach
Eimear Draper, founder of Kindling
Dating (kindlingdating.com), which

The big debate

PLATINUM 23

longer needing an older male provider.
Mature women are more self-sufficient
than ever before with thriving careers.
‘Women today are dynamic and
vibrant, and looking for a partner who
can match their energy and fit into
their lifestyle,’ says Sharin Shafer of
Bond The Agency (bondtheagency.
com), a matchmaking service she cofounded in her mid-50s to help clients
navigate the search for love. ‘We have
noticed women today are much more
independent and not looking for a
husband for financial security, rather
they are looking for shared values
and life goals. The key is to find the
right partner with whom you share
values. We have a female client, 59,
who is dating a male client aged 46.
They work beautifully as a couple as
they have shared life experiences and
are in similar places in life. They have
both been married before to partners
they met quite young, so their children
are the same age group, which means
their lives fit together well.’

BEING CAUTIOUS

The romance landscape has also
shifted with the rise of online dating.
Gone are the days when your
rendezvous were limited to those
around you. Now you can match
with a varied range of prospective
partners with the click of a button.
‘It’s easier for women to connect
with younger men online and explore
the idea without too much pressure.
Plus, it’s a great way to meet people
you’d never cross paths with,’ says
Eimear. ‘However, be careful not to be
targeted by catfishers or scammers.
Don’t get swept away into intense
romantic messaging, but ask to meet
in person (in a public place). If the
person isn’t genuine, they won’t meet
you, which is a red flag.’
Other pitfalls might be a lack of
commitment or a tendency to cling
onto a toxic relationship. ‘A younger
partner may see this relationship as
a bit of fun until they settle down
with someone else. If you are willing
to accept this and it’s the same for
you then great, but don’t think you
can change them. Also, if there’s an
imbalance within the relationship,
where you feel exceptionally lucky to
be with this younger man, you may
24 PLATINUM

accept things within that relationship
that don’t align with your values.’
So, what’s the key to making a
success of your age-gap relationship?
Turns out it’s much the same as
with any romance: open and honest
communication between you.
‘Be clear about what you want and
challenge him to be honest too. Don’t
allow self-doubts to sabotage your
confidence. If they stick around, it’s
because they enjoy being with you.
Make sure you are respected, and if
something doesn’t sit well with you,
discuss it and set a boundary so it
doesn’t happen repeatedly. Remember
you are their partner, not their mother.
Expect to be treated as an equal and
treat them as your equal,’ says Eimear.

GETTING INTIMATE

When it comes to sex, dating younger
can be a match made in heaven.
With pregnancy pressures off the
table post-menopause and no longer
being chained to a monthly cycle with
hormonal swings, women can feel
sexier and freer than ever!
‘Age is no limit to sexual
fulfilment,’ says Madalaine Munro
(madalainemunro.com), a sexologist
adept at resolving trauma and
connecting you to your sexuality. The
pairing between older women and
younger men can be powerful because
life stages and choices are often
compatible, and women can have a
new lease of life and freedom. This
may include feeling more adventurous,
which can match the energy that a
younger man provides. Often women
hit their sexual peaks later on in life
than men, so you start to have more
satisfying sex because you know what
you want and how to communicate
desires and boundaries,’ she says.
The trick is not to worry about the
destination but concentrate on
enjoying the journey. ‘Post menopause,
the decrease in oestrogen means
your vaginal walls can be dry, so sex
may be uncomfortable. Try different
lubricants until you find one that feels
nourishing. See sex as a co-creation
rather than something you’re good or
bad at. This creates space for fun and
lessens insecurities. Then, I believe,
you can have the most fulfilling sex
life at any age.’

Safe
dating
tips

By Sharin Shafer of
Bond The Agency
(bondtheagency.com).
1. Do not give out your
last name until you are
comfortable with the
person you have met.
2. Always meet in a
public place.
3. Do not give personal
information such as
where you live or where
you work.
4. Be prepared to walk
away if you see any
red flags.
5. Do not engage in
lots of messaging back
and forth as this can
establish false intimacy.
Instead, set an in-person
date and meet for a chat
(in public!).

The big debate

PLATINUM 25

Columnist

The
Word

Businesswoman and co-founder of GenM,
Heather Jackson, reminds you to be the
protagonist of your own life, because your
best years are very much still ahead of you!

SILVER SCREEN STARS

Three of the films I watched were My Sailor, My Love;
Moving On; and Mending The Line. Other than starring
actors past midlife age, each of the films had a complex
and beautiful truth to share about life.
When asked in an interview how she feels about getting
older, Helen Mirren once said: ‘I’m not growing old, I’m
growing up!’ This mindset is a thread that runs through
each of the films as the characters deal with the raw
realities of life, both good and bad.
My Sailor, My Love shows the strained relationship
between a retired father (James Cosmo) and his midlife
daughter (Catherine Walker) after he begins a new
romantic relationship late in life. The performances are
fantastic and the script does a great job showing the
tension of accepting that your life perhaps hasn’t turned
out the way you’d hoped. But it’s the determination to keep
going, to keep hoping, to keep trying that really gets me.
Moving On stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, two
actors who have been trailblazers in transforming how
older women are seen and portrayed. And aside from an
26 PLATINUM

enjoyable film with many laughs, that is really what I took
away from watching the film. Fonda and Tomlin are two
women in their mid-80s who are still at the absolute top
of their game. You don’t watch the film feeling like you’re
watching “old women” – you’re simply transported on a
journey with two of Hollywood’s greats.
By far my favourite film of the bunch is Mending The
Line. Starring Brian Cox and Sinqua Walls as two exsoldiers who take up fly fishing and form an unlikely
friendship despite their 30-year age gap. There are many
great lessons to take from this movie: friendship across
generations, that everyone has their own past traumas, the
importance of resilience, the mutual benefits of mentoring.
This film is truly beautiful and, like the others, it reminds
us all there’s a life out there to be lived. No, it won’t be
perfect. Yes, it will be tough at times. But, you know what?
It’s the only one we’ve got.
So if you get the chance, I’d recommend watching all
three of these films. But more than that, I recommend
taking these messages to heart. It’s a big world out there,
but it’s ours for the taking at any age.
Heather Jackson is co-founder of
GenM, an organisation that empowers
brands to understand, support and
serve the UK’s 15.5 million-strong
menopausal audience. GenM recently
launched the M-Tick – the world’s first
menopause-friendly symbol – which makes it easy
for shoppers to find products that support the 48
menopause symptoms. Find out more at gen-m.com.

WORDS: HEATHER JACKSON. IMAGES: CHANTEL KING, GENM.

T

here’s something about watching a film on an
aeroplane that makes it feel special. Maybe it’s
because you know you’ll be sat down for a while
so your mind settles in. Whatever it is, I find that
I often enjoy films more when travelling.
Over the last few months, I’ve had the privilege
of travelling to share GenM’s menopause vision with
international brands and stakeholders. It won’t surprise you
that I’ve watched several films during the journeys. It was
only looking back afterwards that I realised one common
theme of all the films I’d seen: they all featured protagonists
over the age of 50!
This wasn’t a conscious choice that I’d made to watch
films with older casts – I’d simply picked the ones that
looked the most interesting. But the fact that there are
multiple options with more diverse age ranges is a welcome
change. We’re slowly seeing a difference in the kind of
movies made by a film industry that is often thought to be
obsessed with youth.

“ Wellwoman helps
support me for the
busy days ahead.”

24 nutrients
To help maintain

health & vitality
With vits B6 & B12, magnesium & iron
which contribute to normal

energy release

26 nutrients
To help maintain

health & vitality

Pantothenic acid which contribute
to the reduction of

tiredness & fatigue

50+

No.1 women’s vitamins*
Wellwoman
supports

From
,
,
, supermarkets,
health stores, pharmacies and wellwoman.com

Nielsen GB ScanTrack Total Coverage Value & Unit Retail Sales 52 w/e
*7/10/23.
To verify contact Vitabiotics Ltd, 1 Apsley Way, London, NW2 7HF.

Advertising promotion

‘Leeds Children’s
Hospital gave our
family hope’
When Rufus was born with cystic fibrosis, it was the specialist
staff at Leeds Children’s Hospital who got him back home with
his family. Will you help to keep more families together by
remembering Leeds Hospitals Charity in your will?

Y

ou’d never guess just
how much baby Rufus
(pictured right, with his
mum and dad) has been
through in his 16 months of life.
Even before he was born, Rufus was
unwell. At his mum’s 34-week scan,
a blockage was detected in his bowel.
And just minutes after entering the
world, he was taken off for scans. It
was cystic fibrosis, and the blockage
needed to be removed, urgently.

AT JUST 30-HOURS
OLD, LITTLE RUFUS
UNDERWENT A FIVEHOUR OPERATION
TO SAVE HIS LIFE.

Thankfully, all went well and the signs
were positive… until Rufus got sepsis.
His temperature soared, along with his
heartbeat, and he needed round-theclock breathing support for five days.
Ben, Rufus’s dad, recalls seeing his
pulse escalate from 180 to 320 beats
per minute. He says, ‘I’ve never seen
four doctors move into a room as
quickly’. It was such a frightening
and traumatic time for the family.

BUT THE CYSTIC
FIBROSIS TEAM
PULLED TOGETHER TO
GET RUFUS STABLE
ENOUGH TO GO HOME.

And since October 2022, he has
been kept at home, free of admissions
through the support from his team at
Leeds Children’s Hospital, with his
mum, dad and big brother Henry.
28 PLATINUM

Thinking about the support the
family received, Ben says: ‘It was
interesting to find out that some of
the cystic fibrosis support was made
possible thanks to someone’s will.
We’d have been lost without that team
during his stay – and after!’
You too can help a local family like
Rufus’s in their hour of greatest need.
By remembering Leeds Hospitals
Charity in your will, you could fund
researchers in their search for
life-changing treatments for cystic
fibrosis, or help to upgrade crucial
equipment and hospital rooms.
Together, we can go above and
beyond the care and support that
our local NHS service offers.

Find out more about
remembering Leeds Hospitals
Charity in your
will today by
scanning the QR
code. Or visit leeds
hospitalscharity.
Charity number:
org.uk/legacy.
1170369

Your style
It’s time to blush with clothes and accessories to celebrate Valentine’s!
Plus a capsule wardrobe, but not as you know it, from Gail Rolfe.

P30 – Platinum picks
brings you pieces in
shades from blush to
crimson to celebrate
the month of love.
P32 – Gail Rolfe’s
not-so-ordinary
capsule wardrobe
with pieces to suit
every occasion.

IMAGE: COTTON TRADERS.

P36 – Add a pop of
colour and a dash
of intrigue with hot
looks to turn heads
this February.

Cotton Traders Cerise
Cutest Cable Crew
Neck Cardigan, £38,
cottontraders.com.

PLATINUM 29

Dune London Slouch
in Red £170,
dunelondon.com.

Scamp & Dude Pink
Leopard Scarf, £40,
scampanddude.com.

TK Maxx Pink& Red Beaded
Necklace, £12.99, tkmaxx.com.

Platinum
Radley Small Ziptop
Grab Bag, £199, radley.co.uk.

From hot pinks to racy reds, February is the
month to be bold with the colour of love.

Sarah Haran “Ivy” in
Pillarbox Red, £185,
sarahharan.com.

Monsoon Priya Ponte Trousers
in Red, £65, monsoon.co.uk.

Monsoon Red and Pink Pattern
Shirt Dress, £110, monsoon.co.uk.

Oliver Bonas Pink Washed Cotton
Jumpsuit, £90, oliverbonas.com.
TK Maxx Pink Tassel Earrings,
£4.99, tkmaxx.com.

30 PLATINUM

Platinum picks

Bonmarché Short
Sleeve Floral Split
Front Dress, £30,
bonmarche.co.uk.
Oliver Bonas Shoe The
Bear Valentine Low
Cut Red Boot, £139.95,
oliverbonas.com.

Fable
England
Victoriana
Embroidered
Bag Rose
Pink Velvet,
£50, fable
england.com.

WORDS: REBECCA MAY. IMAGES: VARIOUS BRANDS.

Crew Clancy
Suede Loafer
in Pink, £79,
crewclothing.co.uk.

For smaller busts
Little Women Lingerie
Ruby You Bra, £35,
little-women.com.

Dune London Detailed
in Red, £90, dunelondon.com.

Dune London Definitive
Bag in Red, £80, dunelondon.com.

PLATINUM 31

Fashion
with Gail Rfe
Platinum’s fashion expert showcases three not-so-ordinary
capsule wardrobe looks to update your style.

WORDS: GAIL ROLFE. IMAGES: VARIOUS BRANDS.

A

cursory flip
through magazines,
newspapers, Sunday
supplements and
millions of influencers on Instagram
will prove that fashion is having
a groundhog moment. All you can
see is a never-ending loop of the
same trends from the foremost
luxury designers down to the least
expensive brands. True diversity is
lacking. And I have probably been
as complicit as the rest.
But an email from a reader jerked
me out of my fashion complacency.
She asked for a column dedicated
to a capsule wardrobe that did
not feature the following: “The
ubiquitous trench coat, blazer,
jeans and white shirt.” To which
list I would currently add: a Breton
striped T-shirt (I have cherished
mine for more than 30 years, but
even I think the time has come to
put it away for a while; anything
that is prefaced with the word
“oversized” – no, no, no, this is
not a good look for anyone; striped
sweaters that have all taken their
inspiration from the Scandinavian
label Toteme; and the Parisian
cropped cardigan-style jacket.
It’s time to change the style
record and move on. So, this
column is dedicated to those
who don’t wish to be part of the
32 PLATINUM

“lemming” fashion brigade. These
three outfits are simply templates,
even if I had the space to create
10 or more capsule wardrobe outfits
I could not please everyone.
So, change the colours to suit
you, swap the silhouettes to flatter
your body shape, and adjust the
mood or vibe to suit your lifestyle.
Designed to be the bedrock of your
wardrobe, this is when you ignore
trends and select timeless items
that will last for many, many years.

STYLE TIPS!

1
2

If you make a mistake, sell it
immediately. Don’t let guilt leave
it festering in the wardrobe.
If you truly adore something
and are certain you will be
wearing it for eternity, then buy
two. It’s a trick I learnt long ago
that has worked for me. Especially
with jumpers.
Store something that you are
bored with and bring it out
again in a few years – you will see
it with a fresh perspective.
Find a style heroine (celeb,
colleague, friend) whose taste
and inspiration syncs with yours.
If something is labelled as “out”
of fashion and you love it, stand
your ground. Especially when it
comes to jeans, puffer jackets, floral
dresses and white trainers!

3

4
5

Cashmere Barely There
Layering Jumper in
Deep Cabernet, £195,
meandem.com.

Buildable
basics

My can’t-live-without basics
include a blazer, tailored trousers,
jeans, white T-shirt, a silk blouse,
a polo neck sweater, a leather belt,
a down-filled jacket, and a classic
wool coat. It’s the uniform that
makes me feel confident and put
together, with very little thought
required in the morning. I have
been loyal to a neutral palette of
navy, grey and white, but there
is something energetic about the
combination of khaki and burgundy.
It looks fresh and dynamic. And
works with so many other shades,
both neutral and vibrant.

New looks

Khaki Long Padded
Overshirt with Snap
Buttons, £119,
massimodutti.com.

Cotton Turtleneck
Jumper in Utility Green,
£110, jcrew.com.

327 Moonbeam
with Classic
Burgundy, £110,
newbalance.co.uk.
Rivecour Boots
No.289, £220,
smallable.com.

Sonny Cords in
Dark Green, £80,
alresfordlinen.co.uk.

Adelaide Wide
Leg Trousers Plum
Sculpt Crepe, £295,
thefoldlondon.com.

Boyfriend Khaki
Tencel Shirt, £120,
withnothingunderneath.com.

The Newmarket Women’s
Loafer in Plum Suede,
£185, fairfaxandfavour.com.

PLATINUM 33

Scarf 70
Rousseau
in Natural
Washable Wool,
£102, inouieditions.com.

Temple
Collection Gold
Necklace with
Labradorite,
£245, branch
onthepark.co.uk.

Black Clever
Crepe Wide Leg
Trousers, £250,
thefoldlondon.com.

The Uncomplicated
Crew in Heron Grey,
£280, aethel.com.
Black Chunky
Fellini Pochette,
£189 (made to
order), dragon
diffusioncom.

Millie Leather
Ankle Strap
Cut-out Heels,
£300,
jcrew.com.

Luxe items for longer
When you invest in any item
of clothing, but especially
those pricier items like coats,
cashmere and anything tailored,
its time for canny shopping.
Always wait for the sales
or take advantage of seasonal
discounts. My first choice is to
skim through the offerings at
The Outnet. Logically a designer
label with 50 per cent off or
more will prove to be a better

34 PLATINUM

buy than high street at the same
price. Always check the fabric
label and try to gain the highest
natural fibre quantity as possible.
Or find small businesses
that sell direct, reveal their
transparent pricing and use the
highest quality materials. Look
at Aethel cashmere, Mejuri
jewellery, and The Curated for
coats, blazers, cashmere and
beautiful handbags.

Wool Maxi
City Coat in
Camel, £385,
jigsaw-online.com.

Riley Black
Leather Ankle
Boots, £249,
flattered.com.

New looks
Dot Chain Necklace,
in 14k Solid Gold,
£398, mejuri.com.

Classic cover-up

Although I love the sleek sophistication of my ancient navy
wool tailored coat, once the icy grip of winter arrives, the only
truly cosy option is a puffer jacket or midi coat version. This is
where functionality and style meet and the foolish diktats of items
being “out” of fashion should be ignored. There is one more option
and that’s a shearling coat: expensive, luxurious and chic. When
budgets are tight never ignore pre-loved and second hand. This
burgeoning industry is great for sustainability
and hidden gems at bargain prices.

Oversized Puffer
Jacket in Dark
Brown, £149.99,
hm.com.

Style tips
Every wardrobe should
have one versatile dress
that you can rely on to take
you almost anywhere. Keep
it plain and uncomplicated,
so the accessories and
shoes determine the mood.

Effortlessly elegant, this
monochrome knit dress with its
contrast panelling and flattering
fit works from casual to formal.

Faux Fur Textured
Short Coat, £79,
marksandspencer.com.
Contrast Panel
Pearl Zip Maxi
Dress, £295,
meandem.com.

Joan Now
Waterproof
Lace Boot in
Omega Taupe
Suede, £170,
sorelfootwear.
co.uk.

Cable
Cashmere
Hoodie in
Biscuit Marl,
£198, thewhite
company.com.

The footwear is what instantly
changes the mood of this dress.
My choices: chunky soled ankle
boots, kitten heeled sling backs,
or knee-high heeled boots.

D-ring Knitted
Maxi Dress in
Black and
Khaki, £250,
jigsawonline.com.

A simple dress in a bold colour
will take you almost anywhere.
Add a shapely jacket or
cardigan to complete the look.

Chocolate
Relaxed Fit
Needlecord
Trousers, £69.95,
massimodutti.
com.
Champagne
Silk Slash Neck
Blouse, £159,
thewhite
company.com.

Elegant
Panelled Midi
Dress, £250,
meandem.com.

PLATINUM 35

Throw some

Roman Originals Dusk
Pink Diamante Button
Detail Cardigan, £38,
roman.co.uk.

Top off your outfit in
style with jackets,
jumpers and shirts in
hot pinks and reds.

36 PLATINUM

Hot looks

Baukjen Annika Shirt
with Tencel, £119,
baukjen.com.

PLATINUM 37

Threadbare Women’s
Red Paisley Print Knitted
Cardigan, £36,
threadbare.com.

38 PLATINUM

Hot looks

IMAGES: VARIOUS BRANDS AT PRSHOTS.COM.

M&S Collection Textured Single
Breasted Coat, £79; Satin
Collared Shirt, £29.50; Roll
Neck Fitted Jumper, £19.50;
Patent Finish Chain Strap
Cross Body Bag, £39.50, all
marksandspencer.com.

PLATINUM 39

Roman Originals Roman Cerise
Halterneck Sequin Stretch Top,
£35, roman.co.uk.

40 PLATINUM

Hot looks

Bonmarché Pearl Floral
Embellished Jumper, £20,
bonmarche.co.uk.

PLATINUM 41

Here’s your chance to win a
bespoke ring or necklace by
Lottie Leigh Fine Jewellery,
worth £5,000!

I

magine owning a truly exceptional
piece of jewellery that perfectly
represents your unique style and
preferences. Now you can, with this
giveaway from Lottie Leigh, a bespoke fine
jewellery designer specialising in crafting
custom jewellery designs that are both
sustainable and meaningful.
Whether you want to create something
entirely new or redesign a family heirloom,
Lottie’s aim is to work with you to develop
a stunning and personalised design that
resonates with you, and places you at the
heart of the design process. She listens to
your story, style and inspiration, and by
using cutting-edge CAD and 3D-printing
technology, you can see and try on your
piece before it is made. This gives complete
peace of mind that your final creation will
be as beautiful as you envisioned.
The whole design process can be carried
out face-to-face or remotely. Find out more
about Lottie’s work at lottieleigh.com or
@lottieleighfinejewellery.

THE PRIZE!

With this giveaway, worth £5,000, you can
work with Lottie to create a piece of bespoke
jewellery to treasure for years to come.

GIFT SET INCLUDES:

l Lottie Leigh Fine Jewellery is giving away
a one-carat Sri Lankan sapphire, fifteen pavé
diamonds and three grams of nine carat gold.
The winner can then use the stones and
metal to create a bespoke ring or pendant.
l The whole design process is carried out
remotely and designed using CAD/3D
design and 3D-printing technology so
that the jewellery piece can be tried
on and checked before it is made.

42 PLATINUM

Giveaway

Worth
£5,000
UK entrants only.

TERMS & CONDITIONS
•The necklace chain is not included as
part of the prize. Should one need to be
supplied the winner will bear the cost.
•This prize cannot be exchanged for
monetary value. The gift is nontransferable and non-exchangeable.
•Any additional items required to fulfil
the design will be charged and invoiced
by Lottie Leigh Fine Jewellery.
•Lottie Leigh and/or the third party will
need the personal details of the winner,
including a name, telephone number,
and address for delivery purposes.
•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.
•Lottie Leigh Fine Jewellery is not
responsible for any delays caused by
forces outside of their control. This includes missing post or damaged post.
•All Lottie Leigh Fine Jewellery is sent
via special delivery, with a signature required, at which point responsibility for
your purchased goods transfers to you.
•Any wear and tear of purchased goods
after use is the customer’s responsibility.
•Should the winner reside outside of
the UK, Lottie Leigh Fine Jewellery has
additional taxes and duties which are
payable by the customer.
•This competition is open to all UK
residents aged 18 years or over except
employees, directors or officers of Lottie
Leigh Fine Jewellery, their families,
agents, or anyone professionally
connected with the draw.
•See full Ts&Cs on the online entry page.

HOW TO
ENTER…

1 Simply head to the Platinum
website at platinum-mag.co.uk
where you can enter the Lottie
Leigh Fine Jewellery prize draw.
2 Answer the question on the
entry page.
3 Closing date and time is
Thursday January 25, 2024,
11.59pm GMT.
4 Full Ts&Cs can be found top
right and online.

PLATINUM 43

NEW

THE FUTURE OF
SKIN HYDRATION
Is Ingestible
WITH HYALURONIC SHOT TM

What is hyaluronic acid, and
what can it do for my skin?

Why topical hyaluronic acid
skincare just isn’t enough

Why Hyaluronic Shot™ is so
effective!

Hyaluronic acid is a popular ingredient used
typically in topical skincare, but seeing it in
an ingestible liquid sachet is a new concept.
Scandinavian breakthrough, New Nordic,
has formulated the UK’s first Hyaluronic
Shot™. The ready-to-drink beauty shot
starts your skincare routine from within and
has been tested and found to improve skin
elasticity, enhance skin moisture and reduce
the appearance of wrinkles.

As we age, our body’s natural production
of hyaluronic acid declines. Crucially,
hyaluronic acid (HA) helps to retain skin
moisture, prevent dry eyes and keep your
joints lubricated. In an effort to restore
HA levels, ingestible hyaluronic acid reigns
supreme. By binding with water molecules
in your skin to retain moisture, ingestible
hyaluronic acid absorbs quicker and more
effectively into the body than any topical
products.

With a natural fresh citrus taste, Hyaluronic
Shot™ is packed with hyaluronic acid, sea
buckthorn, hydrolysed marine collagen,
vitamin C and lutein. This unique
formulation is the key to counteracting
wrinkles and boosting skin moisture.

Available at newnordic.co.uk or call 0800 389 1255 |

Start your beauty routine from within with
Hyaluronic Shot™ and expect to see visible
results within 8 to 12 weeks.

|

You beauty!
Go green and clean with your make-up for 2024, plus a salon
facial review and the trending super supplement for longevity.

P46 – Make-up artist
Dottie Monaghan’s
top tips for a cleaner,
greener make-up bag
full of eco products.
P48 – Editor-inChief Katy Sunnassee
checks out the latest
CACI microcurrent
facial to tone skin.
P52 – Read our
report on NAD+, the
new super ingredient
to help you age better
from the inside out.

PLATINUM 45

FACE FIVE
Celebrity make-up artist Dottie Monaghan shares her tips on how to embrace a cleaner
and more conscious beauty routine. Connect with her at instagram.com/dottiemakeup.

W

hether you’re thinking
of animal welfare, trying
to do your bit for the
planet, or making a
health choice, looking your best while
consciously choosing “eco” products
needs a little thought and planning.
You don’t have to sacrifice on
luxury or spend more when opting
for a cleaner and kinder beauty
routine. Simple swaps can make a
big difference. Use up what you have
before replacing it or, if you feel that
a product no longer suits you, give it
to a friend instead of throwing it away.
Look for products with packaging that
is biodegradable, compostable, or
made from recycled material. Zero46 PLATINUM

waste products such as soap bars can
be good instead of liquid-in-a-bottle
versions, as they result in less landfill.
Hot cloth cleansers with high-tech
fibres requiring only hot water to
loosen and lift make-up are a great
alternative to using face wipes or
cotton pads. Double cleansing will
also reap maximum skin results.
Take advantage of refill options or
recycling initiatives offered by lots of
companies, including Beauty Kitchen
(beautykitchen.co.uk) for skincare,
and Known (knownnutrition.co.uk)
for collagen. Some will even reward
you for doing so and have schemes
where they donate a portion of their
profits to conservation societies.

Many make-up companies give
you the option to make your own
bespoke palette. And you could try
a refillable lipstick case – this can
work out cheaper as you’re not rebuying the holder each time. You can
also get lots of refillable deodorants
– Wild (wearewild.com) and SANS(sanslondon.com) are two such
examples where you buy the holder
and get refill inserts.
Looking for vegan, cruelty free,
cleaner and kinder products may take
a little more effort, but it will make
a big difference to the effect our beauty
habits have on the planet, without
compromising the joy, confidence
and fun our cosmetics bring to us.

WORDS: DOTTIE MONAGHAN. IMAGES: VARIOUS BRANDS AND SHUTTERSTOCK.

Magnitone Wipe Out
Cloth, £15 for two,
magnitone.co.uk;
Jojo Glow Reusable
Cleansing Pads,
£18 for pack of three,
jojoglow.co.uk.
Remove the toughest longwear or oil-based makeup
with just warm water and
the genius Wipe Out Cloth.
If you still love a cleanser,
opt for the Jojo reusable
cleansing pads.

Beauty buys

Ruby Hammer Cheek Colour,
£24, rubyhammer.com
Ruby sets very high standards
with both how her products are
made and what they deliver.
Lightweight and buildable cream
textured blush is her hottest
addition. It also works well on lips.
Green People One Balm, £21, greenpeople.co.uk
Great for nails, skin, lips, heels, knees, elbows and more,
and the bonus is the pot is 100 per cent
biodegradable.

Bastille Demain Promis
Eau De Parfum,
£95 for 50ml,
bastilleparfums.com
Bastille is a member of
the 1% For The Planet
movement, donating
one per cent of sales
to the NGO Surfrider
Foundation, which fights
against plastic pollution
of the oceans.

Tropic Skincare Custom Make-Up
Palette, £16,tropicskincare.com
Tropic is a leader when it comes to
conscious beauty. Completely recyclable
and endlessly refillable, this palette
allows you to select the shades you want.

Carolina Herrera
Fabulous Kiss
Cap, £19,
harveynichols.com
Pick your case from
the large variety of
colours and designs,
then just pop your ecofriendly refill lipstick
or balm into it for
minimal waste.

Jurlique Nutri-Define Mask,
£63, jurlique.co.uk
Holistic wellness at its best,
using 100 per cent natural
fragrance. This mask will lift,
smooth, firm and plump, and
makes a great addition to your
winter skincare.

Faith In Nature Grapefruit
& Orange Hand & Body
Lotion, £6.69 for 400ml,
faithinnature.
co.uk
This brand has
been showing
love for nature
since 1974,
creating
paraben-free,
ethically
sourced
products.
Look out for
stores that offer
bottle refills.

Odylique Cream Foundation,
£31, odylique.co.uk
Water-free and buildable, great
on dry skin and with SPF25.
With a wide range of
shades available, you
can purchase a small
trial size to find
your match.

Green People Shampoo Bar,
£26, greenpeople.co.uk
Rich in nourishing plant extracts,
and presented in plastic-free
packaging, this works great for
cleansing your scalp and you won’t
need conditioner afterwards.

PLATINUM 47

48 PLATINUM

WORDS: KATY SUNNASSEE. IMAGES: LISA FRANKLIN
SALON AND CACI.

Editor-in-Chief Katy Sunnassee reviews the new CACI
SYNERGY facial at the flagship Lisa Franklin salon in London.

Facial review

C

ACI is a stalwart of
the beauty world. The
original creators of the
microcurrent facial, CACI
(which stands for Computer Aided
Cosmetology Instrument) treatments
use microcurrent wands to tone the
underlying muscles in your face. The
British brand has been around for
30 years and is loved by celebrities
galore including Jennifer Lopez,
Jennifer Aniston, Madonna, Kim
Kardashian, and former Platinum
cover star Anthea Turner. As well
as us regular women!
But although I’ve been a health
and beauty journalist for almost two
decades, I feel embarrassed to say
I hadn’t tried a CACI facial until a few
months ago. I knew about them – who
hasn’t seen their advertising in local
salons around the country? – but
despite them even being in a salon on
tiny Mersea Island where I live, they’d
still somehow gone under my radar.
Perhaps it was because I felt there
was new, dare I say, better gadgets
and technology out now. I’m partial
to an LED face mask and some radio
frequency for tightening my neck,
and I erroneously felt microcurrent
facials were perhaps a bit dated.
Well, I was pleased to be proven
wrong – and to discover that CACI
is very much still at the forefront
of technological advancements, as
their new machine not only offers the

electro-current wands but combines
LED light in with the toning for a
stronger lifting effect.
Their latest and most advanced
facial, the CACI SYNERGY, offers
fast, effective, non-invasive, and
long-lasting results without the need
for surgery. This next generation
machine is the result of 30 years
of research and development by
the non-invasive facial pioneers
and now offers faster, better, more
visible results, as shown in an
independent clinical study conducted
by Cutest Systems Ltd.
They compared standard CACI
microcurrent facial toning with
SPED®-enhanced CACI microcurrent
(SPED stands for simultaneous
photo electrical delivery). The
study involved 25 participants aged
35-60 who had 10 treatments, after
which assessments were taken after
treatments one, three and 10, and then
again two weeks after the treatments
finished. The new CACI SPED system
was found to reduce wrinkle depth by
up to 75 per cent, while skin elasticity
increased by up to 88 per cent.

NEXT-GENERATION
TECHNOLOGY

The new SPED® technology
delivers both LED rejuvenation
and microcurrent toning together
in one treatment, enabling both a
tightening and lifting of facial muscles,

Treatment rooms are
stylishly decorated in
muted pinks and greys.

The waiting area at the Lisa
Franklin salon is all calming hues.

PLATINUM 49

all while rejuvenating the skin thanks
to the circulation boost it gives.
In addition to the electrical
microcurrents that cause your facial
muscles to twitch slightly – but not in
a painful way, I am pleased to report
– three more synergistic technologies
deliver added benefits: orbital skin
resurfacing, which delivers the LED
light at the same time as controlled
crystal-free skin dermabrasion for
fresher, radiant skin; wrinkle reduction
using wrinkle comb technology along
with LED light to effectively and
painlessly target deep lines as a noninvasive alternative to dermal fillers;
and lastly, ultrasonic rejuvenation,
which deeply cleanses and gently
exfoliates the epidermis (top layer)
to rid skin of impurities.
What’s more, for a totally bespoke
experience, you can add on a Jowl Lift
(15 mins) or Eye Revive (30 mins).
There is also a hand rejuvenation
treatment and one for cellulite,
and all can be performed as either
stand-alone or add-on treatments.

The CACI SYNERGY facial
uses electrodes with LED
light to rejuvenate skin.

The results
post-treatment!

SALON WITH A VIEW

Visiting the Lisa Franklin salon
(lisafranklin.london) is a treat in itself.
Having trekked from east to west
London to finally arrive at the classy
bijou salon, decorated in pale pinks,
golds and greys and with black and
white artwork on the walls, felt like
finding a rare jewel nestled among
the noise, exhaust fumes and bustle of
the Big Smoke. Sitting high up – and
I mean high; you have to climb about
five floors – in the waiting room, the
sun streaming into the west-facing
reception area, I felt instantly calm
among the rose quartz and comfy
velvet pink sofas.
And in terms of the treatment?
I must confess, I did feel at times
as though I was being prodded with
chopsticks, as that’s what the probes
look and feel like! Your skin is kind
of pinched, in a non-painful way,
between the electrodes (I still want to
call them chopsticks!) and this is done
along the jaw line, over the cheeks,
and around the forehead. There are
also sweeping movements done in
the second part of the treatment,
performed in a set pattern. The facials
I am used to – when I have one that
50 PLATINUM

Katy noticed her skin was
visibly plumper and rosy.

is, which is rare – are of the more
relaxing, massaging variety where
you could switch off and fall asleep.
The CACI SYNERGY is much more
of a procedure, if you will, although
that’s not to say it’s not relaxing –
anything where I get to lie down for
an hour and attempt to switch off
my brain is relaxing! – but it’s not a
“strokey-strokey” facial. It’s one for
when you want visible results. And
I must say my skin did look plumper
and rejuvenated afterwards (I’ll pin
a video of me having it done at
the top of my Instagram page at
instagram.com/thehealtheditor).
It’s recommended you have a course
of six for the best effects, so I can
only go off my one treatment, but
my skin certainly looked refreshed
and plumped up. And, now I know
what CACI is and does, I think I’ll be
booking into my little local salon for
further treatments… Watch this face!

Starting price for CACI
SYNERGY Non-Surgical
Facial is from £70 (an hour) at
salons nationwide. A course
of treatments is recommended
for optimum results. To find
your nearest CACI salon, visit
cacibeauty.com/clinics.

Master the
menopause
We’re committed to helping
women feel empowered and
supported throughout their
menopause journey.
Our range of pill-free health
and wellness solutions provide
easy and effective ways to ensure
you’re getting the essential
nutrients you need to feel
and live better.

Download our free menopause
e-book for helpful health and
nutrition advice and support.

Palm oil free · Vegetarian · Planet-friendly plastics · Recyclable
Available from
all good pharmacies, health stores and online at betteryou.com
Product available in selected stores. Magnesium Menopause range available at betteryou.com.

52 PLATINUM

WORDS: KATY SUNNASSEE. IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK AND VARIOUS BRANDS.
STUDY BY MYVITAMINS.COM.

Your
beautiful
future
There’s a new longevity ingredient on
the block: NAD+. Editor-in-Chief Katy
Sunnassee takes a look at what it is
plus how to get more of it to
look younger for longer.

S

ome people go to great
lengths to look younger for
longer, externally opting for
cosmetic procedures and
internally following “clean” eating
plans to cut down on toxicity within.
Eating well, reducing stress, moving
regularly, getting enough sleep and
having meaningful relationships are
all helpful on the path to longevity.
The two-part documentary How To
Live To 100, with Jon Snow, which
aired on Channel 4 last January
(still available on channel4.com)
highlighted examples of communities
getting it right when it comes to living
long and meaningful lives.
And with the boom in longevity
supplements recently – a 2022
survey* reported that the average Brit
was spending around £15 a month on
supplements and superfoods – it’s no
wonder we can all be living longer.

NATURE’S FUEL

And now there’s a new supplement
superstar hitting the headlines.
NAD+, short for nicotinamide
adenine dinucleotide, is a coenzyme
that plays an important role in energy

metabolism and DNA repair. This
naturally occurring co-enzyme is
found in all living things; in humans
it’s present in all cells responsible
for metabolic processes. ‘NAD+ is
the fuel that every cell in your body
needs to keep functioning,’ says
Edward van Harmelen, founder of
supplement brand Youth & Earth
(youthandearth.com).
But as with many biological
processes, production of NAD+
begins to plummet after age 40. ‘By
age 50, you may have only half the
levels of NAD+ you had in your 20s,
so increasing your intake through
supplements can help rejuvenate your
cells to act younger and give you a
natural boost,’ says Max Way, founder
of Longevity Box (longevitybox.co.uk).
Nutritionist Gabriela Peacock is
also a fan of NAD+ and writes about

it in her book 2 Weeks To A Younger
You (£25, Octopus Publishing).
‘The bottom line is, NAD+ keeps us
alive. It is so crucial that without it,
we would shrivel up like a vampire
who forgot it was morning and went
out into the sun!’, she writes. ‘As we
age, NAD+ levels begin to deplete
because sirtuins [aka longevity genes]
need more and more NAD+ and this
reduction can contribute to agerelated conditions,’ she adds.

GOOD FOR YOUR SKIN

NAD+ isn’t only useful for internal
energy and vitality, it’s critical for
your skin’s DNA protection and
repair as it helps with the production
of collagen and elastin. So, it’s no
surprise to now see NAD+ cropping
up in skincare formulations. Swiss
skincare brand Intuisse (intuisse.com)

‘NAD+ keeps us alive – it is so crucial
that without it we would shrivel up’
PLATINUM 53

is one such company adding NAD+
to its products, with three pharmagrade active NAD+ formulations
that encourage the production of
collagen and elastin, while reducing
risk of skin sensitivity to UV.
‘As you age, your levels of NAD+
decline and are at 50 per cent by
the time you reach your 40s,’ says
CEO and founder of Intuisse, Isabel
Greiner. ‘NAD+ seems to turn back
the clock on our skin cells, resulting
in improved skin texture, plumpness
and tightness,’ she adds.
Sleep is also a big factor in
maintaining healthy skin, and NAD+
is key when it comes to your slumber.
‘NAD+ helps regulate our metabolism
and sleep circadian rhythms – two
important aspects of health which,
if not maintained, can lead to
further health conditions such as
diabetes and high blood pressure,’
says Amanda Azzopardi, founder
of Amanda Azzopardi Aesthetics
(amandaazzopardi.co.uk). ‘Boosting
your levels of NAD+ helps to keep
your body and skin healthy on a
cellular level, which in turn helps
reduce signs of ageing and optimises
your body’s biological age, rhythms
and internal processes,’ she says.
54 PLATINUM

‘NAD+ is the fuel that every cell in
your body needs to keep functioning’
A SUPPORTING ROLE

One way to increase your levels of
NAD+ is by increasing your intake of
something called NMN, which stands
for nicotinamide mononucleotide.
Essentially, NMN is a vitamin B3
derivative that supports energy
metabolism, insulin sensitivity and
mitochondrial function, meaning it
helps the energy levels of your cells
and helps prevent insulin resistance,
the latter of which leads to high blood
sugar and, eventually, type 2 diabetes.
NMN is a precursor to NAD+,
which means it can be converted
by your body into NAD+, thereby
increasing your overall levels.
Another way to boost NAD+ is
to supplement with nicotinamide
riboside (NR). This molecule is one
of two key building blocks for NAD+.
‘NMN and NR are both biological
precursors to NAD+, as NAD+
itself cannot be supplemented on its

own,’ says Gabriela. ‘Research has
suggested NMN and NR may boost
energy, increase insulin sensitivity,
lower inflammation and support
genome stability by repairing DNA
and boosting mitochondria.’
And while you can increase levels
of NMN through diet, as it’s found
in avocados, broccoli, cabbage and
tomatoes, it won’t be easy. ‘NMN
occurs naturally in these foods, but
the concentrations are less than 1mg
per kg,’ says Edward. ‘To significantly
boost levels of NAD+, your intake
of NMN needs to be in the hundreds
of milligrams per dose. This is way
higher than what you can get from diet
alone, no matter how much broccoli
you eat,’ he adds.
So, while it’s definitely a good thing
to eat well for a long and healthy life,
for that added cherry on top of the
(sugar-free!) cake, it might pay to
sprinkle on a supplement or two.

Beauty supplement

Your new youth boosters
These formulas will help your body stay younger for longer, inside and out.

Invity’s SuperNAD Youth Activating Facial
Sheet Mask (£59 for a pack of 5, uk.myinvity.
com) is infused with NAD and clinical plant
actives to instantly replenish, hydrate, calm, and
illuminate your skin by activating skin’s natural
cellular defence and energy system. Each sheet
mask boosts skin hydration by 194 per cent
within 15 minutes – plus they’re biodegradable as
each one is made from upcycled banana skin.

Youth & Earth
NMN (£29.99
for 60 capsules
or £42.99 for
10g sublingual
powder,
youthandearth.
com) is vegan,
soy-free, gluten
free, endotoxinfree and gastroresistant, meaning
it ensures a
much higher
bioavailability than
standard capsules. It
works best when taken first thing in
the morning on an empty stomach.

Youth & Earth
Preservage (£34.99
for 60 capsules,
youthandearth.
com) is formulated
with a selection of
polyphenols including
resveratrol, curcumin,
and quercetin to
help activate your
own sirtuin longevity
genes. Sirtuin genes
are dependent on
NAD+, so taking
this with NMN helps
double the benefits.

‘As you get der, your
NAD+ levels decline
and can be at 50 per
cent by your 40s’

INTUISSE
Active NAD+
Face Serum
(£210 for
applicator and
2 x 10ml refills,
intuisse.com)
is a light serum
containing five
per cent pharmagrade active
NAD+ liposomal
formulation
as well as
pomegranate
enzymes, marine
plankton, natural
fruit extract and
meadowfoam
seed oil to boost
your skin’s own
collagen and
elastin.

Longevity Box Pure
NMN Supplement
(£54.99 for 30g,
longevitybox.co.uk) is
a high purity sublingual
formulation that is readily
able to be absorbed by
every cell in your body for
a super-high NAD+ boost,
and supports healthy
ageing for the long term.

Longevity Box Nicotinamide
Riboside Chloride (£44.99
for 120 caps, longevitybox.
co.uk) enhances your body’s
production of NAD+. NR for
short, is fast becoming one
of the most popular longevity
supplements as it provides
one of the key building blocks
for NAD+. Lab tested, 99 per
cent pure, and GMO-free.
PLATINUM 55

Offer code: NY24PLA

HOW TO ORDER:
❍ UK – 6 months for £19.97 via Direct Debit, then £44.99
every year – saving £29.53

Hel lo!

❍ UK – 1 year (12 issues) by cheque or debit/credit card at
£49.99
For international offers, please visit:
• shop.kelsey.co.uk/NY24PLA
YOUR DETAILS
Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms Forename
Surname
Address
Postcode/Zip code
Country

Mobile

Email

IF DELIVERY ADDRESS IS DIFFERENT, COMPLETE BELOW
Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms Forename
Surname
Address
Postcode/Zip code
Country

Mobile

Email
We may wish to contact you regarding our special offers that we believe would be relevant to you.
Please tick the boxes below to tell us all the ways you would prefer to hear from us. ❏ Email ❏ Post
❏ Phone ❏ Text message. We will not pass your details on to third party companies.

Direct Debit
❍ I wish to subscribe by a Direct Debit payment of £19.97 for the

first 6 months, then continue to pay £44.99 every 12 months. I
understand that my subscription will start with the first 6
monthly payment, then continue every 12 months – unless I
write to tell you otherwise.
Instruction to your Bank or Building Society to pay by Direct Debit
Name of Bank
Address
Postcode
Account Name
Acc. no

Sort code
Signature

Date

Originator’s ID number

8 3 7 3 8 3

Direct Debits from the account detailed in this instruction
subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit
guarantee. I understand that this instruction may remain
with Kelsey Publishing Ltd and, if so, details will be passed
electronically to my Bank or Building Society.

Debit/credit card
❍ UK 1 year (12 issues) at £49.99
❍ Please debit my: ❏ Visa ❏ Visa Debit ❏ Mastercard
Card no

/

Security no
Signature

/
Valid from

/
/

Expiry date

/

Date

Cheque
❍ I enclose a cheque for 49.99 made payable to Kelsey
Publishing Limited (must be from a UK bank account. Please
write your name and address on the back of the cheque).
(UK ONLY) PLEASE SEND COMPLETED FORM TO:
FREEPOST KELSEY MEDIA
UK Direct Debit offer only. You will pay £19.97 for your first 6 months, then continue to pay £44.99 every
12 months via Direct Debit. Savings based on the standard basic rate for 6 months which includes the
cover price of £5.50 plus Kelsey Media’s standard postage and packing price per single issue. Offer ends
29th February 2024. Your subscription will start with the next available issue, and you will receive 12
issues in a year. Prices correct at time of print and subject to change. For full terms and conditions visit
shop.kelsey.co.uk/terms. Data protection: We take great care in handling your personal details and
these will only ever be used as set out in our privacy policy which can be viewed at shop.kelsey.co.uk/
privacy-policy. You may unsubscribe at any time. If you decide to cancel your subscription, we will put a
stop to any further payments being taken and will send the remaining issues that you have already paid
for.

56 PLATINUM

Want to know the secret
to living, looking and
feeling fabulous? It’s
about choosing to live
your best life.
So why not start today with a Platinum
subscription? Designed for women in the
prime of their lives, Platinum is packed
with inspiring stories of real-life health
and fitness transformations, the latest
fashions, beauty products and home
interior inspiration, plus gorgeous
recipes and expert advice on how to live
well. We aim to bring you features that
are important to you during this life
stage, such as career and retirement,
boosting your health, navigating
relationships, and much more.
Our easy subscription offer takes all
the hassle out of tracking down your
favourite magazine, meaning you can
spend more of your time relaxing and
enjoying the uplifting features. Become
a part of the Platinum tribe today!

K a ty x

Editor-in-Chief,
Platinum

INSIDE EVERY
ISSUE...
● Expert health advice
● New fashion finds
● Inspiring travel ideas
● Midlife beauty tips
● Interiors inspiration

Join us!

Live, look & feel fabulous with

And save
£29.53 in
your first
6 months*
BENEFITS OF
SUBSCRIBING:

● Never miss an issue
of your must-have
magazine
● Save £29.53 in your first
6 months
● Get each issue delivered
directly to your door in
100 per cent plastic-free
packaging

Subscribe
today!

● Ensure you never miss
an issue
● Receive the free
Platinum newsletter
every week

Don’t miss out – order today!
Order online at SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK/NY24PLA
Call now on 01959 543747 Quote ref: NY24PLA
Complete the Freepost postal coupon

HOTLINE OPEN: MONDAY-FRIDAY, 8.30AM-5.30PM. CALLS ARE CHARGED AT YOUR STANDARD NETWORK RATE

Scan me
PLATINUM 57

Readers

Get in
touch!

Were you a former Platinum ambassador?
If so, please get in touch!

I’m looking to bring back the
ambassadors’ programme and again
get readers more involved in the
magazine. I’d like to share your
stories and pictures – from snaps
of you with your latest issue of
Platinum out and about on your travels, to sharing
your favourite recipes or snaps from your latest walk,
or even your best beauty recommendations or advice.
I’ll also contact the group to get your feedback on
various parts of the magazine and what you’d like to
see more (and less!) of throughout the year.
If you were previously part of the ambassadors’
group, or would like to be a new member, please email
platinum.letters@kelsey.co.uk making sure to put
AMBASSADORS in the subject header (so they don’t get
lost among other letters and correspondence).

Katy x
58 PLATINUM

Don’t
miss the
March issue

ON SALE JANUARY 26!

Subscribe today to receive
yours before it goes on sale.
Or buy a single issue,
including back issues, at
shop.kelsey.co.uk/
platinum-magazine.

Adventure
time!

Enjoy the ultimate self-care getaway, try a
luxury stay in a converted windmill, and the
real-life story of healing with horse therapy.

P60 – Time to indulge in some
self-care with wellness retreats
at home and abroad to help you
recharge for 2024.
P66 – Writer Alison James
shares how equine therapy in
Indonesia helped her to heal
after life-changing news.
P72 – Love is in the air as
Editor-in-Chief Katy Sunnassee
enjoys a romantic break away in
a converted windmill in Suffolk.

PLATINUM 59

Time for

WORDS: LILY SMITH. IMAGES:
VARIOUS BRANDS.

Make time for self-care with our pick of the
latest wellness retreats and spa breaks.

60 PLATINUM

Retreats round-up

A nourishing
Cornish
getaway

WHAT Restoring Ayurveda Package
at The Scarlet Hotel
WHERE Cornwall, UK
WHEN Ongoing offer
PRICE £1,980 for two people sharing
WEBSITE scarlethotel.co.uk
Nestled on the clifftops of Cornwall’s
Mawgan Porth, this restorative four-night
getaway is designed to immerse you into
a journey of self-discovery, helping you to
find complete balance and rejuvenation,
inside and out. Following an initial
consultation with an Ayurvedic specialist,
you will be provided with a bespoke
programme of treatments unique to
your wellbeing needs.
From three-course dinners and leisurely
breakfasts, complete with breathtaking
views of the Atlantic Ocean, to full use of
the spa facilities and access to daily yoga
and wellbeing classes, your programme
will be tailored to leave you feeling
nourished from head-to-toe. The package
also includes a luxurious four-hour Solo
or Couples Journey. In this tensionreleasing bathing treatment, you will
enjoy an Ayurvedic-inspired therapeutic
massage in a tented treatment room, plus
relaxation time in your choice of the clifftop hot tub, copper tub suite, hammam or
rhassoul. And... relax!
PLATINUM 61

Self-care for
mind, body
and soul

WHAT Weleda Spring Wellness Retreat
WHERE Buxton, Peak District, UK
WHEN February 23-26
PRICE From £950 per person (based on
two sharing)
WEBSITE weleda.co.uk
It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle
of everyday life and forget to make time for selfcare. Weleda Wellness Retreats are designed
to give you a safe, nurturing, supportive space
where you can step away from responsibilities
to reconnect with nature and with yourself.
Staying in a beautiful and cosy barn,
surrounded by rolling hills, you will be treated
to a deeply healing weekend of restorative yoga,
nourishing vegetarian meals, gentle walks in
nature and mindful skincare treats. Between
workshops and classes, all of which are optional,
there will also be an abundance of free time for
you to pause and reflect.
Building a sense of community with your
fellow retreaters, you will also be invited to
share in daily connection sessions throughout
your retreat. There will also be opportunities
for private consultations with your hosts, plus
you’ll receive a complimentary Weleda goody
bag filled with organic and natural skincare
products to take home.

62 PLATINUM

Retreats round-up

Detox from screens
and stress
WHAT Gavin Sisters Kickstart
2024 Retreat at The Detox Barn
WHERE Suffolk, UK
WHEN January 12-14 and 19-21
PRICE £495 per person (based
on two sharing, includes all food
and classes)
WEBSITE gavinsisters.co.uk

Staying in a large converted
barn in the picturesque Suffolk
countryside, complete with
warming fireplaces and a two-acre
garden just beyond the door, this
digital detox retreat is designed to

help you feel more grounded and
relaxed with daily yoga, nourishing
vegan meals, countryside walks
and guided meditation.
You’ll also be treated to a range
of inspiring talks and workshops,
designed to inspire you to make
healthier choices in your life –
from demonstrations on making
smoothies, juices and snacks to
talks on creating beneficial habits
that last. There will also be plenty
of free time to enjoy a massage,
explore the countryside or get cosy
by the fire with a good book.
PLATINUM 63

64 PLATINUM

Retreats round-up

Me-time in the
mountains

WHAT Engel Ayurpura Hotel
WHERE South Tyrol, Italy
WHEN Ongoing offer
PRICE Double rooms from approximately £187 per
person per night (based on two sharing, includes full
Ayurvedic board)
WEBSITE ayurpura.hotel-engel.com
Tucked away in a charming South Tyrolean village in
the Dolomites, this sunny and secluded south-facing
hotel offers the ideal setting for a dose of me-time. In
addition to 15 guest rooms, including two suites and
one loft suite, each with a freestanding bath and private
sauna, there are 12 Ayurveda treatment rooms, a yoga
shala with forest views, a cosy lounge with an open
fireplace and library, and the Atelier, where mindfulness
or health-themed lectures and a range of courses, such
as meditative painting and floristry, are held.
During your stay, you will have full access to the
new Ayurveda spa, complete with a relaxation room
and tea bar, plus a panoramic sundeck overlooking
the outdoor salt-water pool. You will also be treated
to a personalised Ayurvedic menu, tailored to your
body and needs following a private consultation with
an Ayurvedic specialist. Once you return home, you’ll
have access to an online portal for complimentary
yoga sessions, cooking classes, recipes and the latest
information on supporting your health and wellness.

PLATINUM 65

‘Swimming
with horses

HEALED
MY HEART’
After her world was rocked by news of her husband’s affair,
writer Alison James travelled to an Indonesian island to try
a unique form of equine therapy to help her heal.

66 PLATINUM

Equine therapy

A

childhood donkey ride on
a seaside beach; the odd
clumsy attempt at pony
trekking; an occasional
day at the races... I’d never had much
to do with animals of the equine kind.
They scared me to be honest – all
flying hooves, huge teeth, flaring
nostrils and unpredictability. I’d
certainly never connected horses
with any kind of healing power but
then what did I know? I’d never
expected to find myself after 30-plus
years of seemingly happy marriage,
staring into an abyss no longer
knowing what my future held.
In 2019, I discovered that my
husband and the father of our three
grown-up kids had been having
an affair for more than a year. As
infidelity goes, it was pretty standard
fare, I guess: his lover was younger,
fitter, more exotic than me. But there
was an added twist. A sting in the
spousal tail. My husband’s lover was
another man. ‘Yeah, I’m gay!’ was my
husband’s frankly flippant explanation.
‘I think I’ve been gay since I was
12 years old. I hadn’t acted on it
before. I just didn’t feel ready.’
To say I was shocked was the
ultimate understatement. My whole
world suddenly collapsed. My life
was like a demolished building, and
my once much-loved husband had
pressed the detonator.

IN NEED OF A REBOOT

IMAGE THIS PAGE: JOE KELLY.

Fast forward three-and-a-half difficult
years and the beginning of 2023 saw
me attempting to seriously move on.
I wanted to put the past behind me
and look towards the future – a future
I knew I was going to have to rebuild.
I also needed to rediscover my
identity after decades of being a wife

‘ Numbering 22 in
all, Sumba’s horses
are the heart and
soul of the island ’
PLATINUM 67

and mum, putting my own desires and
needs at the very bottom of the list.
I’d had some therapy and, although it
had helped, I’d found it to be a long,
drawn-out process. I needed a stark
reboot – a kind of caring and nurturing
short, sharp, shock treatment, if there
was such a thing. This is where the
horses came in...
A friend told me about a new
week-long equine therapy retreat
taking place on the remote
Indonesian island of Sumba.
The retreat was the brainchild
of professor Andreas Liefooghe,
a chartered psychologist and
psychotherapist of many years
standing, who is also an equine
expert. He had founded Operation
Centaur in London in 2005 after
witnessing how well soldiers with
severe PTSD responded to horses.
Now, 18 years on, he had launched
Retreat & Conquer, a holistic fiveday retreat during which horses
would play a central role.
‘When we connect with a horse,
we don’t just connect with an
incredible animal – we also connect
with a disavowed part of ourselves,’
professor Andreas has said. ‘In
traditional therapy, this can take a
very long time. Horses, however, do in
therapy what they have always done
for us: help us get there faster.’

The small group of participants gathers
for dinner on the beach each evening.

ARRIVING IN PARADISE

Having read from former participants
that just five days of equine therapy
had achieved more than several years
of weekly talking therapy, and that
there was no requirement to be an
experienced rider, I was sold. This
sounded like just what I needed. It was
time to treat myself and concentrate
wholly on me. A once-in-a lifetime
trip that would push me out of my
current, highly uncomfortable comfort
zone and hopefully enable me to start
seeing the world again in glorious,
positive technicolour.
The word “paradise” tends to be
bandied about with casual abandon,
but Sumba truly is a Garden of Eden.
Carpeted with lush rice terraces and
tropical forests, with swaying palm
trees that cast a silhouette against a
cloudless blue sky, the island is edged
with white-gold beaches that run all
68 PLATINUM

The herd on Sumba island
is made up of native horses,
former racehorses and
those that have been rescued.

Equine therapy

around it like a ribbon, inviting you
to come and explore.
The resort of Nihi Sumba, situated
on stunning Nihiwatu beach and
tagged the Edge of Wildness was
a lesson in understated luxury.
Having settled into my truly heavenly
accommodation – complete with
white-linen canopied king-size bed,
massive balcony overlooking the
Indian ocean and outdoor bathroom
– the first evening saw us sitting
in a circle with Andreas and his
fellow psychotherapist, Raul Aparici,
embarking on a session of group
therapy. Minus the two professionals,
we numbered eight and were all there
for different reasons: burn-out, grief,
the breakdown of a relationship,
depression, anxiety, exhaustion or a
combination of all. The object of the

exercise was to open up. For some,
this proved difficult but I had no
problem: think of the proverbial dam
overflowing its banks, the metaphor
being doubly apt as the tears flowed
as profusely as my words. Afterwards,
I felt a sense of relief and a letting go
of anxiety.

MAJESTIC CREATURES

The next day we encountered the
horses. Perched on a hillside above
the beach, we heard the thunder

of hooves before these magnificent
animals came into view. What a sight
they made as they all galloped, free
as the day they were born, across
the golden sands!
Sumba’s horses are the heart and
soul of the resort – and indeed the
island as a whole. Numbering 22 in
all, the herd is made up of ponies
native to the island, former racehorses
and equines that have been rescued.
After their run, the horses roamed
among us. We had been instructed to

‘Aer therapy, I could see a future
about which I felt positive and happy’

WORDS: ALISON JAMES. IMAGES: TANIA ARAUJO AND ALISON JAMES.

Alison on her favourite horse Bindi.
You don’t need any riding experience,
and there’s no obligation to ride a horse
– you can connect with the animals
in other ways.

PLATINUM 69

The retreat sits above
a sandy beach in lush
tropical forest.

The horses love to run
along the water’s edge

Alison riding Bindi in
the Indian Ocean.

“buddy-up” with the animal we felt
most connected to. For me, there
was only one contender: a beautiful,
sleek chestnut mare who went by
the name of Bindi. I approached her
and tentatively stroked her nose
and patted her neck. To my surprise,
I wasn’t scared. She towered over me,
big and beautiful – a bit like Beyoncé
in equine form – and when she looked
straight at me, it felt as if she could
see inside my soul.
Having bonded with our horses,
we took them for a walk and then a
ride along the beach. I found myself
singing to Bindi but felt far more
liberated than foolish. More therapy
followed that evening.
While some of us struggled with
the notion of what the horses were
actually doing for us in a therapeutic
70 PLATINUM

‘It felt as if Bindi
could see inside
my soul. She was
a reflection of who
I wanted to be, who
I could be. She
was confident and
wouldn’t be cowed’

sense, I instinctively felt that I “got” it.
Bindi was my mirror image – or rather
the reflection of who I wanted to be,
who I could be. She was confident
and wouldn’t be cowed. Nobody
puts Bindi in a corner!
She was just herself; there was no
other creature she could possibly be,
and that was more than good enough.
She lived in the moment. For her, the
only reality was the here and now.
I longed to be a version of Bindi
in human form. I had been once.
I was determined to be so again.
Sitting on Bindi’s back on the third
day of our retreat, as she swam in the
warm waters of the Indian Ocean,
is a memory I shall cherish forever.
It was scary, but exhilaratingly so.
I knew that if I could do that, I could
do anything.

Equine therapy

SAYING GOODBYE
TO THE PAST

That afternoon, following another
session of group therapy, we were
divided into pairs and instructed to tell
our life stories to our partner as we sat
on the beach. I was coupled up with
a girl I had not immediately bonded
with but, by the end of the session,
I felt very close to her.
As day turned to night and a
bonfire blazed on the beach, we wrote
individual postcards to ourselves,
which we then consigned to the
flames. My message said goodbye to
the old traumatised me – or at least
the one from the past three and a half
years. It was a symbolic gesture but
I could feel it working. I felt free.

A one-to-one therapy session took
place before we embarked on a couple
of days rest and relaxation. Again, the
tears flowed but these were different
to the ones at the start of the week. I
could now see a future about which I
felt positive. I felt calmer and more at
peace than I had at any time since life,
as I’d known it, had imploded. It had
only been five days but felt longer.
I am still a work in progress as I get
to grips with a life I neither chose nor
envisaged living, but I’m getting there.
That is due, in no small part, to Retreat
& Conquer and my beautiful Bindi.
Alison and staff member
James do some exercises
with the horses.

Retreat & Conquer also has venues
in South Africa, UAE and the
Caribbean; retreatandconquer.com.

Alison watches the horses
roam across the beach.

PLATINUM 71

is in the
Get ready for some quality you-and-me time with a
stay at a rather unique place in the heart of rural Suffolk.
Editor-in-Chief Katy Sunnassee reports.

On a clear night, you can see millions
of stars – and more clearly thanks to
the telescope at the windmill!

72 PLATINUM

Romantic weekend

Two luxurious double bedrooms sit on
the floors above and below the bathroom.

WORDS: KATY SUNNASSEE. IMAGES: THE WINDMILL SUFFOLK.

W

ant a secluded,
romantic getaway with
a difference? And to get
some perspective on
life while you’re at it? You’ll be able to
do both while up above the clouds –
almost! – at The Windmill Suffolk.
It was once a working windmill
but is now a converted, super-luxe
holiday destination not far from the
historic town of Lavenham in Suffolk
and makes a great location for a
Valentine’s Day getaway, birthday, or
just a romantic stay any time of year.
With a fully decked out kitchen,
cosy bedrooms, a private garden,
and a bath big enough for two, this
unique self-catering destination offers
everything you need for a relaxing,
romantic and awe-inspiring getaway.
Converted from an old windmill,
which was originally built in 1891,
the adult-only retreat is spread

The Windmill as it was back in 1922 with
cap and fantails (top); and how it was in
2009 before renovations began (above).

out over four floors, with stunning
panoramic views of the Suffolk
countryside from the top living
area – and you get to inhabit all of it!
It sleeps a maximum of four
(between two double rooms) so you
could either go away with friends,
your bestie, or your partner – either
way you get the whole place. I took
my husband there for his birthday
last year (and may again this year
as it’s a big birthday!), and gifted
a two-night stay for my parents for
Mum’s birthday last year too, as they
live in Suffolk so it wasn’t far to drive
and the novelty factor is 100 per cent!
You can’t help but be impressed as
you swing into the drive to be met by
this imposing building towering over
you, like a look-out point surveying the
Suffolk countryside. There are almost
50 steps from the ground right up to
the top level, or “pod”, which houses

‘I experienced a quiet and a peace
I’d not found anywhere else’
PLATINUM 73

You can enjoy breakfast on your
own private patio in the mornings.

the main living quarters. There, you
can relax in style on slouchy velvet
sofas and watch the 48-inch curved
TV – lots of things are curved, out of
necessity, it being a round building –
or simply sit back and enjoy the view
either from the west-facing window
(great for sunsets) or the east-facing
balcony. There’s also a decent
telescope to spot the stars at night or
the birds in the morning. A mini fridge
in the pod is ideal for keeping your
drinks cool, and saves you having to
traipse all the way back down to the
ground-floor kitchen for a refill.
Being increasingly absent-minded
these days, I would often forget
something and be walking up and
down the stairs to the bedroom,
bathroom or kitchen. But what a boost
it was to my heart health! Where else
74 PLATINUM

‘One of the nicest parts about The
Windmill is all the different views’
do you get luxury accommodation that
forces you keep fit? It’s one way to
work off all the wine and cakes upon
arrival if you’ve booked a celebratory
package (see box on page 76).
Co-owner and designer of the
interior, Natalie, who lives with her
husband in the farmhouse next door,
is super friendly and makes sure
all elements of your booking are
organised. She greets you on arrival,
shares the code to get in (there is no
key, so you can’t accidentally lose
it or lock yourself out!), and shows

you around, making sure you know
how everything works, including the
induction hob and TV, plus some tips
on filling the bath…

A TUB FOR TWO
(AT LEAST!)

Which brings me to the bathroom.
The stand-alone white bath is
ginormous! It takes a while to fill,
which is why Natalie advises not
attempting to have two separate baths
back-to-back as it takes too long.
It’s definitely designed for two, as if

Romantic weekend

The “pod” at the top is super cosy
and has a telescope for star gazing.

bathroom and head in the wrong
direction up or down the stairs to get
to the bedroom, forgetting which floor
we were on, so would stop for a quick
look at the views.
The bathroom is on the floor
between the two bedrooms, so if you
are staying with friends and you wake
up needing to wee in the night, do
remember which way to go! There is
also a loo on the ground level though
at the entrance, so if you arrive back
from a walk and are busting for a
wee – as I always am these days – you
needn’t climb 25 or so stairs to do so!

The spacious bathroom has a shower
and enormous tub, plus Elemis toiletries.

you’re under six foot you can’t actually
lie back without slipping down. You
need another body to prop up against
– which, after all, is probably the
whole point of it!
There is also a shower with a little
window right next to it so you can take
in the views of wheat swaying in the
breeze (dependant on the time of year
you visit, of course). Elemis toiletries

YOUR VERY OWN
PRIVATE PARADISE

are there for your convenience as
well as huge towels and a hair dryer
in both bedrooms.
Speaking of the windows, one of
the nicest parts of staying at The
Windmill Suffolk is getting to see a
different view as you climb the stairs,
looking out in various directions and
from varying heights. I did this a
fair bit as I’d often come out of the

Weather dependent, you can dine
al fresco on the patio, while the
terrace balcony on the fourth floor
is perfect for sitting and star gazing.
I regretted not sitting out there longer
– ashamedly we sat watching TV
until 10pm on the first night, when the
sky was so clear. And the silence is
almost indescribable. I literally don’t
think I’ve ever “heard” such a lack of
sounds, save for the call of the odd
PLATINUM 75

Enjoy views of the Suffolk countryside from
either the west-facing window or east-facing
fourth-floor balcony (shown here).

SAY IT WITH FLOWERS,
BALLOONS, CHOCOLATES…

Ramp up the romance even further by pre-booking
an add-on Love Is In The Air package, where your
bedroom will be filled with balloons in your choice
of colour, a dozen hand-tied red roses, and a brunch
box for two delivered on the first morning containing
croissants, fruit, nuts, Greek yoghurt, homemade
granola, smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels,
homemade banana loaf and Belgian waffles. The
package also includes a bottle of Lavenham Brook
Bacchus or Pinot Noir Rosé on arrival, two supersoft The Windmill Suffolk dressing gowns and
snuggly slippers to take away, and a welcome
hamper including essentials like bread and milk plus
locally produced items like jams and apple juice.
Bottled water and chocolates can be found by your
bed, plus Elemis toiletries in the bathroom.
There’s also a Relax and Unwind add-on package
with spa treatments for two at Heritage Spa, Bury
St Edmunds, as well as Möet Champagne, fluffy
robes, a gourmet welcome hamper plus chocolates
by the bed. The Let’s Celebrate package includes a
large balloon with flowers made to look like a hotair balloon, plus a two-tier cake in your choice of
flavour. While the Suffolk Foodie package includes
afternoon tea with cakes, sandwiches and wine. I
booked the latter for my parents, and they told me it
was so filling they hadn’t needed to go out for dinner!

76 PLATINUM

On the ground floor is a fully-fitted
kitchen, dining area and patio.

Romantic weekend

bird, and an occasional car winding
its way along the country road. It’s
incredible to rediscover something our
ancestors would probably have taken
for granted: silence. This is coming
from someone who already lives in a
quiet place: on an island off the coast
of Essex, a far cry from the centre
of a city. And yet at The Windmill
I experienced a quiet and a peace
I’d not found anywhere else.
It goes without saying that there
will be people for whom The Windmill
is not suitable: those in wheelchairs
(unfortunately there was no way to
adapt the building to include either
a stairlift or central elevator shaft),
and those perhaps with severely
limited mobility who may struggle
with all the steps. Also those with
a fear of heights might struggle

(even I felt a little uneasy on the
balcony, preferring to stay near the
windows so as not to get too close
to the handrail).
The Windmill Suffolk is incredible
and, as I said, I’ll probably book it
again either for myself or parents.
I’m lucky enough to get offered free
trips to lovely places (if I were single
and child-free, I’d be working from a
different country every month to make
the most of the press opportunities!)
but I paid to stay at here and would
again. When I come across something
– a place, a product, a service – I
think is genuinely fantastic and that
I’d choose to pay for, I like to let
others know.
The Windmill has everything you
need and the novelty factor is 10 out
of 10 – as is the element of surprise

if you can manage to a) keep it a
secret from your friend/partner, then
b) don’t miss the turning if arriving
from Lavenham way! If you do, you
have to go further on and then turn
around, by which point your other half
will be able to see the building, which
happened when I took my husband
for his surprise birthday trip. (Tip: if
approaching from Lavenham, slow
right down once you get to the small
cluster of houses on the right as the
gate is literally just past the last white
farmhouse, where the owners live.)
But from whichever direction you
approach, The Windmill Suffolk is
simply sublime, will no doubt surpass
all your expectations and will quickly
feel like your luxury home from home.
Be warned though, it books up fast so
book now for Valentine’s 2025!

TRIP NOTES
The Windmill Suffolk is
just two miles from historic
Lavenham. Prices start from
£925 for a two-night break
(minimum of two nights), with
the ability to add on bespoke
packages with extra treats.
For example, the Love Is In
The Air add-on package is
£295 and comes with balloons
and flowers in the room, plus
brunch, wine and a welcome
hamper. Other packages
include Relax and Unwind
(£345), Let’s Celebrate (£250),
and the Suffolk Foodie package
(£215), which includes the
robes as well as cream tea
for two. For more details visit
thewindmillsuffolk.com.

View the vast sky from the west-facing
top-floor window.

PLATINUM 77

SUBSCRIBE FROM £19.97 TODAY
SAVE
£26

SAVE
£26

SAVE
£29

Psychologies

Top Santé

Platinum

Psychologies is the biggest mental and emotional
wellbeing magazine in the UK. Our aim is to make
each day better by providing you with inspiration
and advice from experts in the field, to lower
stress and anxiety, and boost happiness.

Top Santé is the leading health magazine for
women over 40; packed with realistic,
life-enhancing tips on everything from health and
fitness to food and beauty. Read up on expert
advice and support every month!

Be inspired by women just like you and celebrate
your style, beauty and health with Platinum
magazine. Platinum is an essential read for women
who are in the prime of their lives and who are
interested in having the time of their lives!

SAVE
£26

SAVE
£29

SAVE
£25

Coast

Women’s Fitness

The Great Outdoors

Explore our wonderful shoreline with Coast - the
only magazine that exclusively covers the
coastline of the British Isles. Discover secret
beaches and hidden coves, the best sea view
restaurants and find some staycation inspiration!

Women’s Fitness is dedicated to helping you
become a fitter, healthier and happier you.
Subscribe today and receive expert advice on
nutrition, workouts and toning to suit your
individual lifestyle.

The UK’s longest established hillwalking
magazine is packed full of stunning photography,
top class writing and fantastic walking and
backpacking routes, along with authoritative
gear reviews and expert skills advice.

VISIT SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK/NY24H
OR CALL 01959 543747 and quote code NY24H
Hotline open: Monday – Friday, 8:30AM – 5:30PM. Calls are charged at your standard network rate

Terms & Conditions: UK Direct Debit offer only. You will pay £19.97 for your first 6 months, then continue to pay £44.99 every 12 months via Direct Debit. *Savings based on the standard
basic rate for 6 months which includes the cover price, plus Kelsey Media’s standard postage and packing price per single issue. Offer ends 31st March 2024. Your subscription will start
with the next available issue. Prices correct at time of print and subject to change. For full terms and conditions visit shop.kelsey.co.uk/terms. Data protection: We take great care in
handling your personal details and these will only ever be used as set out in our privacy policy which can be viewed at shop.kelsey.co.uk/privacy-policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
If you decide to cancel your subscription, we will put a stop to any further payments being taken and will send the remaining issues that you have already paid for.

Home
comfort

Bring joy into your home with
interiors inspiration, plus
products for clean, cosy living.

P80 – A look at the creative process behind UK brand
Ray de Soleil’s charming wallpaper prints.
P82 – Clever ideas and products to help keep your home
fresh and fabulous as well as cosy and warm.
P86 – Simple dishes from The Fast 800 Keto Recipe
Book designed to help you stay trim while feeling full.

PLATINUM 79

DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT

Fall in love with…

Ray de Soleil
Refresh your home with the bright and beautiful wallpapers and fabrics
from Ray de Soleil, designed by founder Louise Parker.

Intricate pattern
work goes into
the design
process at
Ray de Soleil.

Iping Blue
(£130 for 10m)
was inspired
by walks on
Iping Common.

Founder of Ray de
Soleil, Louise Parker.

80 PLATINUM

Design focus

I have been experimenting with
creativity since I was little. From
making short stop-motion films to
trying my hand at appliqué, I like to
try lots of things and see what sticks.
After attending a one-day printmaking
course, where I discovered woodblock
printing, learning to create patterns
with blocks became my meditation.
It continues to keep me interested
and I love experimenting with
different ways of printing.
I chose this career path because I
wanted something where I could
be constantly creative. I also didn’t
want to miss out on the opportunity
to be my own boss. Plus, the timing
felt right: I had worked with startups
for a while, and realised I probably
had the knowledge to start a business,
so I asked myself: could I run a
creative business? There was only
one way to find out.

WORDS: LILY SMITH. IMAGES: RAY DE SOLEIL.

My business name was pinched
from a French friend who said my
patterns were a ray of sunshine
[“rayeur de soleil”]. Having spent
many years living in France, what
she said resonated with my inner
“frenchy” and with what I hope I
bring into people’s homes – nature,
character, colour, pattern, joy, and
even some silliness.

The Footpath Collection was
inspired by my local footpath where
I walk the dog. Each wallpaper
design within the new collection
features a simplified element that I see
daily on the common in West Sussex
– from wild pansies to barbed wire.
My current favourite design is Trefoil
in Stone. I have it on the walls in my
bedroom and it’s very calming and
cosy. It also comes in Leaf Green.
Alongside wallpaper, I also make
printed fabrics. I particularly love to
work on old linen or cotton – it takes
ink and paint really well and is great
for upholstery or soft furnishings.

Dappled Leaves in Spring Green
(£130 for 10m).

Louise working on her designs
at her creative studio.

I have a million ideas for what I
want to make next, I just have to
find the time! I had a baby last May,
and started a house renovation in
June, so it’s full steam ahead with Ray
de Soleil now too!
l Ray de Soleil is a creative studio
producing handmade patterns and
designs for wallpaper and fabric.
See and shop the full range at
raydesoleil.com
Trefoil
Wallpaper in
Leaf Green
(£130 for 10m).

The Footpath
Collection
(£130 per 10m
roll) features
designs
inspired by the
West Sussex
countryside.

PLATINUM 81

TIME TO
SPRUCE UP
Refresh your home this winter with our pick of the latest essentials to keep everything clean and cosy.

Soak up sustainability

The absorbent and durable Seep Eco Pop-Up Sponges (£4.95 for two, theseepcompany.com) are perfect
for cleaning and wiping up a multitude of spills. Simply add water and watch as the flat, paper-like wiper
transforms into a 100 per cent compostable cellulose sponge that’s durable and reusable.
82 PLATINUM

Smart way
to tackle
mould

WORDS: LILY SMITH. IMAGES: VARIOUS BRANDS.

Drying clothes inside over
winter leads to excess moisture
in the air, creating the ideal
environment for mould and
bacteria to thrive. Costing just
7p per hour to run, the Swan
Dehumidifier (£219.99, shop.
swan-brand.co.uk) extracts up
to 20 litres of water per day to
regulate humidity and prevent
dampness. There’s even a handy
timer to control the quiet and
convenient gadget.

Cook up
some love

Made from natural materials in France,
the Peugeot For You Ceramic Heart
Dish (£32.99, uk.peugeot-saveurs.com)
is perfect for creating evenly cooked
dishes and baked goods, all served
in the shape of a heart! With
a 10-year warranty, this high-quality
dish is durable, easy-to-clean, and
suitable for ovens, microwaves,
freezers, and dishwashers. Bon appétit!
PLATINUM 83

Freshen up bedtime

The breathable, antimicrobial and thermo-regulating SilverGuard
Bed Linen (from £35, silver-guard.co.uk) combines Supima cotton
and IONIC silver thread to prevent bacteria growth and odours,
making your bed a cleaner and fresher place between washes.
Its antimicrobial technology also soothes skin irritation and
prevents acne breakouts.

Be
clean
and
green

Granddaughter
to the founder of
Dr Bronner’s soap
brand, Lisa Bronner
is a green cleaning
influencer whose new
book Soap & Soul
(£19.95, Countryman
Press Inc.) is filled
with eco-friendly and
affordable cleaning
tips. From information
on interpreting
product ingredients to
why caring for your
physical space benefits
mental and emotional
wellbeing, it’s a greener
cleaner’s best friend.
84 PLATINUM

Goodbye
germs

Perfect for cold and flu season, the
Air For Life Mini Sanifier® II
(£299.99, airforlife.co.uk) uses dual
ionisation technology to effectively
fight bacteria, viruses, and other
airborne impurities in your home,
including allergens like dust and
pollen, ensuring the air and surfaces
in your home are impeccably clean.

Healthy home

GIVE YOURSELF A BOOST
Uplift your mood and energy with these invigorating home fragrance products…
Ishga Organic
Seaweed Uplifting
Aroma Spray (£50,
uk.ishga.com)
Certified organic
and made with
99 per cent natural
ingredients, this
light and versatile
scent features
lemongrass, rose
geranium, red
mandarin, bergamot,
sandalwood and
Hebridean seaweed.

Elemental Herbology
Rejuvenate Reed Diffuser
(£44, elementalherbology.com)
Awaken your
space with the
rejuvenating
fragrance
of ginger,
lemongrass
and nutmeg.
Natural rattan
reeds gradually
diffuse the oils
for long-lasting
fragrance.

VOYA Oh So Scented
Eucalyptus, Rosemary & Lime
Candle (£34, voya.ie)
Powered by natural essential
oils, this scented candle combines
top citrus
notes with
cooling
eucalyptus
and a
calming
rosemary
base to
help you
recharge.

Keep cosy for less

The AENO Premium Eco LED Smart Heater (£259.99,
diy.com) is an energy-saving heater powered by infrared heating
technology. With low power consumption and a sleek, ultra-thin
design, the quiet and odourless heater uniformly distributes heat
without drying out the air or burning oxygen. You can easily
control the temperature using the LED panel, your phone, or
a smart home device – or alternatively, switch on the economical
SMART mode to maintain an ambient room temperature.
Available in white, black or grey, the heater can either be used
as a freestanding unit or fitted to the wall.

PLATINUM 85

Less than
300 calories
Per serving:
Calories 228
Protein 20.6g
Carbs 2.1g

Delicious low-carb,
Mediterranean-style
recipes from The Fast
800 Keto Recipe Book
by Dr Clare Bailey, who
has helped patients
lose weight, reduce
blood sugar and put
diabetes into remission.

EAT
WELL
TO
LOSE
WEIGHT!

86 PLATINUM

Low-carb recipes

BREAKFAST

Harissa
yoghurt with
so -boiled
eggs and
spinach

A quick, easy breakfast with North
African flavours. The creamy yoghurt
adds extra protein and a tangy contrast
to the crunchy seeds.
Takes 8 mins
Serves 1
l 2 medium free-range eggs
l 100g fresh spinach
l 2 tbsp Greek yoghurt
l 1 tbsp rose harissa pesto or
½ tbsp harissa paste
l Chilli flakes (optional)
l 1 tsp mixed seeds, toasted
1. Bring a small pot of water to the boil
and carefully lower in the eggs. Simmer
for 5½ minutes. Using a slotted spoon,
transfer the eggs to a bowl of iced water.
Carefully peel the eggs and slice each
one in half.
2. Remove the pan from the heat and
plunge the spinach into the hot water.
Stir for 30 seconds, then drain thoroughly
and squeeze as much liquid as possible
from the spinach.
3. Meanwhile mix the yoghurt and
harissa together in a wide bowl.
4. Mix the drained spinach into the
yoghurt. Season generously with salt
and freshly ground black pepper, then
top with the eggs, chilli flakes, if using,
and a sprinkling of mixed seeds.
TIP If you prefer less heat, substitute
sun-dried tomato pesto for the harissa.

PLATINUM 87

Less than
300 calories

WORDS: DR CLARE BAILEY.
IMAGES: THE FAST 800 KETO RECIPE BOOK.

Per serving:
Calories 253
Protein 38.3g
Carbs 0.5g

88 PLATINUM

Low-carb recipes

SOUP

Chicken
and egg
noodle soup

Few things are as comforting and
satisfying as a bowl of chicken
soup. These “egg noodles” are
made simply by cooking whisked
eggs, as you would a pancake, then
slicing them into thin noodles.
Takes 20 mins
Serves 2
l 1 chicken stock cube
l 1 garlic clove, peeled and
finely chopped
l 2 medium free-range eggs
l 1 tsp olive oil
l 30g fresh spinach or
cooked greens
l 200g cooked chicken, diced
l 10g fresh coriander or parsley,
roughly chopped
1. Place the stock cube, garlic
and 500ml water in a saucepan
and bring to the boil. Reduce the
heat to low.
2. Meanwhile, whisk the eggs and
add a pinch of salt and some freshly
ground black pepper.
3. Heat the olive oil in a non-stick
frying pan over a medium heat and
pour in the eggs. Swirl them around
to cover the bottom of the pan as
you would with a pancake, then
cook for 1–2 minutes, or until they
are set. Transfer the egg “pancake”
to a clean surface, roll up and slice
into thin noodles.
4. Add the spinach and chicken
to the stock in the saucepan and
simmer for 2–3 minutes.
5. Divide the egg “noodles”
between two bowls and pour over
the chicken broth. Garnish with
fresh coriander or parsley to serve.
TIP A few drops of sriracha
would be lovely in this broth
if you like a bit of heat.

Less than
400 calories
Per serving:
Calories 328
Protein 12.7g
Carbs 7.6g

LUNCH

French bean bowl with
feta and pine nuts
Beans are a good source of fibre
and their juicy crunch contrasts
beautifully here with the salty,
creamy feta. I try to keep a pack
of feta in the fridge – it’s great for
adding a flavourful protein boost
to salads and oven bakes.
Takes 20 mins
Serves 2
l 2 tbsp pine nuts (or other
nuts and seeds)
l 180g French beans, topped,
tailed and cut into 2cm pieces
l 1 tbsp olive oil
l 2 medium tomatoes, cut into
2cm pieces
l 1 garlic clove, peeled and
finely chopped
l 100g feta cheese, crumbled
l Pinch of chilli flakes (optional)

1. Place the pine nuts in a dry
frying pan over a medium heat
and toast for 1–2 minutes, or until
turning golden. Remove from the
pan and set aside.
2. Return the pan to the heat,
add the beans and oil, and fry
for a couple of minutes, stirring
occasionally. Stir in the tomatoes
and cook for 4 minutes. Add the
garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
Remove from the heat and scatter
the feta and pine nuts all over.
3. Allow to rest for a minute or
so, to let the feta soften, then
divide between two bowls and
season with plenty of freshly
ground pepper and a pinch of
chilli flakes, if using.
TIP This dish is perfect for
putting in your lunchbox.

PLATINUM 89

Less than
600 calories
Per serving:
Calories 525
Protein 22.7g
Carbs 15.2g

DINNER

One-pan squeezed sausage casserole
Oh, the joy of easy one-pan cooking!
Takes 20 mins
Serves 2
l 4 good-quality sausages (270g
total weight)
l 2 tbsp olive oil
l ½ onion, peeled and thinly sliced
l 200g butternut squash, peeled and
cut into 1cm dice
90 PLATINUM

l ½ tsp dried thyme
l 150g cavolo nero, central stalks
removed and leaves sliced
l 1 tbsp cider vinegar
l ½ tsp chilli flakes (optional)
1. Use a knife to split the skin on each
sausage and remove. Cut the sausage
meat into 2cm pieces.
2. Heat the oil in a large frying pan
over a high heat and add the sausage

pieces, onion and squash. Cook for
a few minutes until slightly browned.
3. Reduce the heat to medium and stir
in the thyme. Cook for 3 minutes, then
add the greens, cider vinegar and chilli.
4. Cook for a final 4 minutes to soften
the greens. Season with salt and black
pepper to taste.
TIP Delicious served with 2–3 tbsp
cooked pearl barley or quinoa.

Low-carb recipes

DESSERT

Persian love
cake

Loosely based on the classic, this
enchantingly exotic concoction lives up to
its name, with a tangy, orange-flavoured
topping and rich, nutty base. High in
protein and nutrients, it has no added
sugar and feels like a real treat. Enjoy!

Less than
300 calories
Per serving:
Calories 273
Protein 8g
Carbs 9.8g

Takes 1 hour
Serves 8
l 100g dried figs, finely chopped
l 60g coconut oil or butter
l 2 medium free-range eggs
l 60g shelled pistachio nuts,
roughly chopped
l 2 medium oranges, zested and juiced
l 100g ground almonds
l 1 tsp ground cinnamon
l 1 tsp ground cardamom
l 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
l 2 tbsp freeze-dried raspberries
l 1 tbsp cider vinegar
For the icing:
l 60g cream cheese
l 1 tsp honey
l 1 tsp lemon zest
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/Fan 160°C/
gas 4. Line the base of a 20cm x 10cm loaf
tin with parchment paper.
2. Place the figs, coconut oil and eggs in
a bowl and blitz with a stick blender for
about 1 minute, until creamy but retaining
some texture.
3. Stir in 40g of the pistachios, the
orange juice, half the orange zest, the
ground almonds, cinnamon, cardamom,
bicarbonate of soda, half the dried
raspberries and a generous pinch of salt.
Mix well, then add the cider vinegar and
mix again.
4. Pour the mixture into the loaf tin and
bake for about 30 minutes, until cooked
through and a skewer inserted into the
centre comes out clean. Turn out of the
tin and leave to cool on a wire rack.
5. To make the topping, mix the remaining
orange zest with the cream cheese, honey
and lemon zest in a small bowl. Spread
it onto the cooled cake, then sprinkle the
remaining chopped pistachios and dried
raspberries on top.

The Fast 800 Keto Recipe Book
by Dr Clare Bailey, with foreword
by Dr Michael Mosley (£18.99,
Short Books) is out now.

PLATINUM 91

Missed an issue?
Complete your collection

ORDER
TODAY

January 2024

December 2023

November 2023

October 2023

COVER STAR Kate Humble on
seeking adventure. Plus fashion,
finding joy and boosting health.

COVER STAR Dame Joan
Collins, plus a bumper Christmas
special filled with festive fashion.

COVER STAR Penelope Wilton
on grief. There’s also active travel,
ways to save and beauty tips.

COVER STAR Anthea Turner
on family, plus collagen boosters,
boutique buys and a digital detox.

September 2023

August 2023

July 2023

June 2023

COVER STAR Vanessa Feltz on
working hard. With luxe travel
and ways to find your purpose.

COVER STAR Louise Minchin
on role models, plus vibrant style
and how to embrace ageing.

COVER STAR Mariella Frostrup
on hitting 60. Don’t miss our proageing section and expert tips.

COVER STAR Lorraine Kelly.
Plus summer style, recipes and
a special wellbeing section.

May 2023

April 2023

March 2023

February 2023

COVER STAR Jane McDonald
on loving her 60s, plus spring
fashion and skincare tips.

COVER STAR Nadia Sawalha.
We’ve also got ageless style and
beauty, travel and real-life stories.

COVER STAR Viola Davis,
plus real-life stories of divorce
and midlife clubbing – yes, really!

COVER STAR Susannah Constantine.
Don’t miss bold style, skincare
tips, and inspiration to age well.

VISIT: shop.kelsey.co.uk/PLBACK
CALL THE HOTLINE: 01959 543 747*
* Hotline open Mon – Fri 8.30am to 5.30pm. Calls charged at your standard network rate.

Work
& finance

Find out how one woman went from a job
in HR to one as a PT, how another remote
worked across the world, and how to plan
financially to live to 100!

P94 – ‘I switched from HR to PT!’ One woman’s story
of changing her career, and her life, after 50.
P98 – Find out how to make your money go further with
tips to manage your financial security to 100, and beyond!
P102 – Read author Janet Rouss’s inspiring story about
remote working in different locations around the world.

PLATINUM 93

My new chapter
‘I switched
from HR
to PT!’
T

hree years ago, Kate
Oakley was a global
HR Director, routinely
travelling to such exciting
destinations as New York, San
Francisco and Mexico City. Always
immaculately turned out, she worked
long hours, gave everything her best
and demanded the best from those
around her. ‘I was Mrs. Corporate.
I was a little bit intimidating to be
honest,’ she says.
She absolutely loved her job and
is keen to stress that, ‘My story is not
“I was miserable, I made a change”.
I did love my former work and
enjoyed what I was doing, but
after a while I started to fall out
of love with it.’
The schedule seemed relentless.
Up every morning at 6.30am to give
herself enough time to make sure
she was well presented – hair and
make-up done, outfit picked out and
perfect – then kids woken up and
given breakfast, dropped off at kids’
club or school. First one in the office
at 8.30am. Last one out. Running to
the tube, in heels, running from the
tube to the kids’ club. Last one there.

94 PLATINUM

Kids sitting with their coats on, bags
on their laps, eager to go.
After 25 years of such a fast-paced,
stressful role, Kate became aware that
something had to shift in the balance
between home and work life. As she
recalls: ‘My stress levels were 10
out of 10. No question. And I’d had
IBS for years.’
The real catalyst came from one
of her children, who was deeply
unhappy at school. So Kate and her
husband made the decision that she
would step back. Her husband’s
career was taking off after years of
supporting her career, and the pace
of life was getting overwhelming.

TIME OUT TO
REASSESS

At this point Kate was in her 40s.
She went on a yoga retreat in a bid
to find some clarity and to decide
how she could make real change.
She had always been keen on fitness,
and she found herself jotting down
on a notepad her desire to retrain as
a personal trainer. Yet she shared
this idea with no-one. ‘I only thought
it to myself, quietly, because it was

WORDS: ELIZABETH JOSEPH. IMAGES: NICOLE AT HEY TUESDAY.

Kate Oakley, 53, from London, decided to retrain as a
fitness instructor to inspire midlife women to stay fit
and prioritise their health for the future. She speaks
to Elizabeth Joseph about how she did it.

Career change

PLATINUM 95

ridiculous. Ridiculous. I just thought
I was too old, I thought that ship
had sailed. There’s no way you can
become a personal trainer in your
forties, surely? Who would want to
work with someone that old!’ We both
pause during our interview to have
a good laugh at that.
Ultimately, she thought it more
sensible to stick with HR but go
freelance. She was immediately
successful, and yet when she won a
highly lucrative contract, rather than
go out and celebrate, she just felt flat,
‘which was a real lightbulb moment
for me. I began thinking about this
whole next chapter in my life, and
the thought of it being in HR just made
my heart sink. I still had a passion
to learn something new,’ she says.

MAKING THE LEAP

It was at that point she revisited her
“crazy” idea from the yoga retreat.
‘By then I was doing a lot more
exercise because I could, because
I was working for myself. I was also
perimenopausal and I’d started to
learn a bit more about how important
strength training was and the pieces
all just came together.’
Crucially, Kate’s attitude to how
others might view such a move had
also changed. ‘I thought there might
be some people who don’t take me
seriously at 50, but I believe midlife
women will take me seriously.’
Kate is also aware of how fortunate
she was to be able to take the financial
risk, too. ‘I am very conscious of what
a privileged position I was in to be
able to make that change. If you’re a
single mum and you’ve got three jobs
and you hear someone telling you to
“just give it a go”, that’s aggravating!
I know it’s not always possible.’
Kate made the leap during the
Covid lockdowns and started her
PT qualifications. ‘I loved it and the
move felt right, yet I initially struggled
to get going. I wasn’t sure if I should
start with retreats or run PT sessions
on Zoom. Or perhaps learn how to
navigate Instagram. But then I realised
I didn’t need to have all my ducks in
a row. I just needed to get going.’
Three years on, she runs a
successful business offering one-toone PT sessions, a 12-week Forever
96 PLATINUM

Career change

Make a go of it!

Kate’s top three tips for anyone thinking of retraining or
setting up a new venture.

1

THINK POSITIVE
THOUGHTS
Was it easy to make the leap?
No. I could easily have let
imposter syndrome take over, worry
I was too old, become anxious that
no-one would want a PT in her 50s.
But I kept this question on repeat in
my head: “What’s the best that can
happen?” And it has!

2

JUMP OUT OF BED
Always make sure you
enjoy what you do. If you
don’t get that joy at jumping

out of bed in the morning, then
it’s time to make a change. Life is
too short. You never know what’s
around the corner.

3

JUST DO IT
We often think everything
needs to be worked out
perfectly before we make
the leap. We tell ourselves “I need
to do this first, or learn that first.
I must have a business plan, a
marketing plan”. But the key is
to just start. You’ll work it out as
you go along.

Skills programme (which includes
dedicated workouts, progress
tracking, four-week reviews and a
food diary), technique masterclasses,
and group sessions via Zoom. She
also runs menopause retreats.
In terms of how her life is different
now, she answers with such passion
that her voice shakes slightly: ‘I
honestly thank my lucky stars every
single day that I am not expected to be
in an office for a set time or to log on
at a set hour. I have freedom. I have
choice. I decide what happens with
my time. It’s liberating. The stress
is now a three out of 10. The day I
resigned from my HR work, my IBS
cleared up. I think that says it all.’
But, just for good measure she adds
one last thought. ‘I’ve softened a lot to
be honest. I prefer myself now.’
Find out more about Kate Oakley
at yourfuturefit.com and at
instagram.com/yourfuturefit.

‘I thank my lucky
stars every day.
I have freedom
and choice’
PLATINUM 97

Are you
financially
prepared to
live to 100?

WORDS: KATY SUNNASSEE. IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK.

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!

98 PLATINUM

Financial planning

W

ith demographers predicting that
today’s five-year-olds have a
better chance than ever of living
to be centenarians, it is crucial to
be prepared for a potentially longer lifespan by
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.
Moneyfarm estimates that the average person
will need a retirement pot of £650,000 – in
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
at Moneyfarm says: ‘From a financial perspective
it is now almost prudent to assume you will reach

100, but in order to accommodate this, the
old financial playbook possibly needs rewriting
for a new era.
‘Getting the risk levels right by not necessarily
following the old norms that dictate people
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,
so make sure your money continues to grow at
a rate to match those ambitions. Slowing down
is not the answer, so don’t forget about “future
you”,’ adds Chris.

SAVINGS & PENSIONS

The thing to remember is that, hopefully, you will
be living in retirement for a long time, and you
want to be living comfortably. That might sound

PLATINUM 99

fairly obvious, but if you are going to live until
100, you are going to need to make your savings
and pension pot last from your late 60s into your
70s, 80s and 90s – that’s nearly four decades
that need to be planned for! It’s not that much
short of the length of time you actually spent in
the workforce.
So you should proactively manage and take
an active interest in your pensions and savings
to ensure you keep topping them up even after
retirement and that they are at the right risk
level for you. Most policies within the pension
business have assumptions automatically baked
into them, which may not be conducive if you
are to live to 100. For instance, many plans
default to a de-risking strategy once you
approach 65 years old, but times have changed
and that is potentially way too early if you need
100 PLATINUM

your money to continue to grow for another
30-plus years.
‘Let your money flourish whilst you’re still
flourishing by taking control,’ advises Chris.
‘Chances are you have a pension scheme that is
taking you to an end date at age 65 in terms of
risk. But life doesn’t end at 65, in some ways it’s
just beginning, so take control to allow yourself
to set the money you need for both the short and
long term and balance your correct investments
for the correct time of your life. You shouldn’t
just cash it all into low-risk bonds at 65 and then
let it sit there festering for the next 35 years.’

INHERITANCE

Obviously, the longer you live, the more money
you will be spending, therefore the chances are
there will be less to pass down after you’ve gone.

Financial planning

So if this is something that is important for you to
do, you might have to factor this in and consider
working longer or spending less in retirement.
Gifting money in the form of a “living
inheritance” while you’re still around is
a popular financial strategy that allows people
to share their wealth with loved ones and
manage potential tax implications proactively.
Up to £3,000 can be gifted tax free if you live
for another seven years.
‘It is your money that you have earned so
you should be able to spend it how you would
like in your golden years,’ says Chris. ‘But if you
do want to leave something behind, make sure
that figure is built into your plan. And if
you want to reap the benefits of seeing your
loved ones enjoying your “living inheritance”,
it would be prudent to gift early to avoid the
tax implications.’

TAX PLANNING

You need to make sure you balance your savings
vehicles, such as an ISA and pension, going into
retirement; because if you get the correct income
balance between them all, you can try and fit
below the various tax allowances. For instance,
income paid out of your ISA is tax free, whereas
any income from your pension could be charged
income tax, although you can take 25 per cent
tax free. So if you take your full retirement
income from your pension, you’re going to

be paying more income tax than if you were
balancing income coming out of the ISA.
‘You need to find a balance between all the
products you are using,’ cautions Chris. ‘Make
sure you are building through as many financial
vehicles as you can because that will help you
manage your tax burden in retirement.’

CARE COSTS

While we’re living in rude health for longer, both
home care or residential care costs can be one of
the biggest expenses for people in retirement, so
ensuring you have made appropriate provision
would be the sensible thing.
‘Care for the elderly certainly isn’t cheap. So
whilst you could find you have a lot of money
going into retirement, if you are not careful, a
large chunk of it could go on healthcare, so make
adequate provisions’ he says.
‘Retirement is a marathon not a sprint. Your
money needs to last a long time and by planning
well, these could be the best years of your life.’

Moneyfarm is a UK-based, awardwinning digital wealth manager with
more than 100,000 active investors.
It is designed to make personal
investing simple and accessible.
Find out more at moneyfarm.com.

PLATINUM 101

‘I worked across
the world
for a year!’
Janet Rouss, 64, from Canada, joined a group of mostly 20-somethings
to spend a year as a remote worker, visiting 22 countries and
running her business while ticking off bucket-list destinations.
She shares some of her story…

102 PLATINUM

business?’. I just looked at him and
replied, ‘All I really want to do is
work and travel’.
His response was quick and struck
my wanderlust nerve with precision.
‘Have you heard about Remote Year?’
My eyebrows shot through the roof.
Our conversation started a domino
effect and the next day, Majid had
forwarded the Remote Year link (see
far right) to me. Within two weeks
I had applied, been interviewed and
offered a spot on the Ikigai itinerary
leaving at the end of July – in just
three months!

MAKING THE LEAP

“How irresponsible! What if you lose
your clients? What about your son and
parents?” All these questions raced
through my head. But there were only
two spots left on the Ikigai itinerary,
which had most of my bucket list
places, so I summoned up the courage
and charged the non-refundable US
$5,000 deposit to my credit card.
The day after making that
courageous financial commitment,
I had a meeting with my main client
who explained to me that their nonessential budgets were now being

EXTRACT FROM COURAGE, FREEDOM,
HAPPINESS. IMAGES: LEE WAGNER,
JANET ROUSS, AND SHUTTERSTOCK.

‘H

ow are you going
to top that one?’,
asked my friend
Harry, after I had just
returned from a month working as a
marketing director in Saudi Arabia in
2015. At the time I had no idea.
By mid-April the following year,
I was speaking on a panel at a
professional speakers’ association
in Ottawa, when at lunch something
magical happened. I was chatting with
Majid, the MC for the day, and in the
middle of our casual conversation
he asked, ‘So what do you do in your

Remote working

WHAT IS
REMOTE YEAR?

This travel concierge service leads
small groups of digital nomads to
a new city each month. It charges a
monthly fee that covers the cost of all
accommodation, workspaces, local
experiences and group travel between
each city. You just take your own work,
an open mind and a desire to see the
world! Want to be a digital nomad
with Remote Year? Visit
remoteyear.com
/referrals/5128184.

reallocated and they would no longer
need my services. It was in that
moment, I realised that courage was
not about the decision to go away,
it was about the decision to go after
this financial setback. It was then that
three of my main needs came to the
fore: the need for courage, freedom
and happiness. An opportunity was
opening here: freedom was banging
my door down. All I needed was my
own permission to start checking
things off my bucket list.
Arriving at Lisbon airport to start
my year in August 2016, I was met by

our Remote Year programme leader,
Claire, who would travel with us for
the entire year. I loved her the minute
I met her, and the warmth of her
welcome immediately confirmed that
I had done the right thing.
We were whisked away to our
accommodation, which for me was
a student dorm called uHub, where
I had a private room with my own
balcony and kitchenette.
The orientation day at the coworking space was a great way
to get to know the other Remote
participants, most of whom were

in their mid-20s. There was a wide
spectrum of work styles and ethics
amongst my fellow Remotes. Some
had dedicated nine-to-five jobs,
working diligently to prove to their
employers they had made the right
decision by letting them take this
year to travel and work. Others
were clinging half-heartedly to jobs
they hated, hoping the year would
re-inspire them or help them find
a new direction.
I partied hard in that first month and
did as much sightseeing as I could. It
was tough to work with the allure of
PLATINUM 103

Remote working

local destinations and the expanding
splinter-group side trips. But I needed
to make some headway with new
business development to replace the
income I had lost with my main client.
I probably spent more time than I
should have on social media, posting
pictures and stories of my first month’s
escapades. But then something
miraculous happened: referrals came
pouring in. Business owners wanted
to work with me because they aspired
to this remote working lifestyle.
Securing those September starts
gave me the freedom to explore
more of Portugal and check off a
few more bucket-list places.

FINDING MY STRIDE

Living for one month in each city is
intense. Keeping on top of client work
while settling into a new location
every time had its challenges. I
developed my own general rules for
arrival in each new city. The first
being to get my SIM card as soon as
possible, that way I could spend the
first week getting my bearings. The
middle two weeks would be jammed
with events juggled with business
obligations. By the last week, I would
just be getting comfortable, and then
it was time to leave. When it was time
to get away from work, I would head
to an RY event, wander through the
city or join others on day trips.
My month in Lisbon felt like a
lifetime, but it was just the beginning
of an amazing year ahead. Next month
was Morocco, then Bulgaria, Croatia,
and on to Prague for December. It
Getting the steps in
looked a bit different
in Colombia!

104 PLATINUM

Making a detour to
the Galápagos.

Visitng the
Blue City,
Chefchaouen,
Morocco.

was very special experiencing a
traditional European holiday season.
I arranged a small group side-trip
to Amsterdam and got to spend
Christmas with my family in The
Netherlands, before rejoining the
group in Valencia, Spain, for New
Year’s Eve. The ultimate freedom!
January, like September, gets busy
with new projects. My clients had big
plans and I was working long hours.
Plus the previous five months of travel
were catching up with me.
It’s easy to start feeling immobilised
when the sedentary work life sets in,
making it even more difficult to drum
up the energy to add tourism and
events to the schedule. But we were
fortunate to have the Central Market
and the UNESCO World Heritage Old
Town right across the street from our
apartment in Valencia.

TIME FLIES

We moved continents at the end of
January, flying to Mexico City for
the month of February. Then down
to Colombia. We started with a
side trip organised by one of our
RY citizens to her home town of
Barranquilla for a carnival celebration
second in size only to Rio de Janeiro.
What a blessing it was to have such
diverse and interesting people in our
group. We spent March in Bogotá and
April in Medellín.
While the group moved to Lima,
Peru for the month of May, I took the
opportunity to explore The Galápagos,
Machu Picchu, the Amazon and
Bolivia. Not much work was done
that month and my bank account was
feeling it. There was still time to make

Darwin’s theory at work
in the Galápagos.

Traditional cable car
in Jardín, Colombia.

up for lost revenues in Argentina
where we lived in Córdoba for June
and finished up our Remote Year
experience in Buenos Aires in July.
I powered through so much work in
the last few weeks of my year away.
And when I wasn’t holed up
in my room attached to my computer,
I tracked 10,000 steps a day around
the city. I pushed myself so hard, I
was hit hard with a cold. It sucked to
miss the last weeks of bonding and
bars, but I was content that I had
done as much as I could do. But even
with that raging head cold, I did force
myself to attend our last supper!
We all stood in a circle before
dinner and went around one-by-one
sharing what we learned, how we

After the hike down to
Machu Picchu from the
Sun Gate entrance.

Janet’s top
work hacks

1

Paragliding over
Medellín, Colombia.

‘It’s tough to work
with the allure of
local destinations
to explore’

TIMING IS EVERYTHING
When planning your remote
work itinerary, be sure to
consider the time difference at
your destinations and how it will
affect your ability to connect
with work back home. Be
mindful that in the unpredictable
world of business you may still
have to be part of meetings at
3am Asia time.

2

FIND YOUR TRIBE
Running an online business
from abroad is tough, but if you
have the right team and support
systems in place, it can be a lot
easier. It was a blessing to have
digital experts on hand in our
group — it was like traveling
with my own IT department!
If you are solo you can always
find people through networking
or the growing number of online
resource sites.

3
Looking down over
Machu Picchu from
the Sun Gate.

grew, what changed, what stayed the
same. I realised that I hadn’t really
changed very much over the year. I
was content to have had the courage,
experienced the freedom and called
on happiness no matter where I went
or what I did. It was a powerful way
for us to close the group by honouring
each other’s journey.

for me to see and I’m not done yet! As
a Remote Year citizen I can join any
of the groups in any of the cities – if
there’s room – so I will definitely be
doing that sometime soon. They also
have four-month programmes you
can join. So there are lots of options
to take your work, and your thirst for
adventure, on an amazing journey!

PREPARATION IS KEY
Be prepared for potential
fraud alerts from your bank
or surprise credit card
cancellations if you are doing
business abroad. Even though
some banks don’t require you to
advise them of your travel plans,
it’s wise to do so. If you plan to
make any large online purchases,
then definitely call ahead.

4

STAY SAFE ONLINE
Make sure your wifi
connection is secure. Using
your mobile phone as a hot
spot provides a more secure
connection than any wifi that
is shared with other users.

REFLECTION

I’m deeply grateful for the experiences
I had and the people I met along the
way. I’m thrilled that I had the courage
to take a leap of faith and do this crazy
thing. Would I do it again? Absolutely!
But probably not in the same way.
I know I will always be a traveller.
There is still a lot more of the world

COURAGE

reedom

Happiness
Life Hacks from
a Digital Nomad

JANET ROUSS

Janet Rouss is the author of Courage, Freedom,
Happiness: Life Hacks From A Digital Nomad (£7,
Innovation Network Inc.), which won Best Business
Travel book on Amazon when it was launched in
February 2018. The book is available in print and ebook
format from amazon.co.uk.

Foreword by Greg Caplan, Founder of Remote Year

PLATINUM 105

Advertising promotion

Protect against
midlife leaks

Bladder weakness is a common issue and affects
one in four women at some point in their lives.
Organyc Moderate Bladder Control Pads (£8.45 for
12, organyc.uk) offer a discreet and secure helping
hand and completely protect you from wetness,
odour and irritation. The ultra-soft pads are made
with organic cotton and contain a cotton-balanced,
super-absorbent layer inside the pad that quickly pulls
away wetness to keep you dry. They are anatomically
shaped and designed for women with sensitive
bladders, they fit discreetly and comfortably, and
provide protection to give you all-day confidence.

First for
female health

‘During menopause women are at risk of frequent
UTIs, even if receiving HRT,’ says Dr Gemma
Newman, GP, author and broadcaster.
URALIX (£55,
bluegreenhealthy.co.uk)
is a new patented UK
botanical complex
designed to improve
and protect urinary
health. ‘Preventing
UTIs and avoiding
antibiotic overuse is
best for our health,’ says
Dr Newman. Try the
anti-inflammatory and
anti-microbial benefit
of URALIX herbal
complex today.

Happy, healthy you!
Try these health boosters to support your wellbeing through
the changing seasons.

Boost your
wellbeing

Omega-3 is probably the single most important
supplement you can take. Research shows that a diet
rich in a high-quality omega-3 may protect the brain
from ageing. Paradox
Omega 3, 6 & 9 Fish
Oil capsules (£9.99,
paradoxomegaoils.
com) bring together
the well-documented
health benefits of both
the Mediterranean
and Arctic diets
in one stabilised,
high-strength omega
supplement, to
maintain a healthy
brain and boost
general wellbeing.
106 PLATINUM

Give hyaluronic
a shot

Revitalise
your skincare
routine with
the innovative
New Nordic
Hyaluronic
Shot™ (£33.95,
newnordic.
co.uk or 0800
3891255),
specially crafted
to enhance your
skin’s natural
beauty and hydration. Hyaluronic Shot
is a potent combination of hyaluronic acid, collagen,
and sea buckthorn extract and is the UK’s first
hyaluronic shot in a sachet.

Your
healthy life!

Find out who’s who at your GP surgery, plus tips
on how to recharge your battery, manage pain in
menopause, walk away weight gain, and more.

P108 – Dr Dawn
lists the experts to
look out for at your
local GP surgery.
P110 – Meet the
photographer who’s
redefining ageing.
P114 – Life coach
Suzy Glaskie offers
tips on how to avoid
running on empty.
P116 – Find out why
life is good when you
prioritise pleasure.
P120 – Three simple
ways to support your
heart health.
P122 – Elizabeth
Joseph’s tips for
niggly midlife aches.
P124 – Puzzles to
boost brain health.
P128 – Walk away
weight gain with
Joanna Hall’s tips.
P130 – Louise
Minchin’s fearless
free-diving journey!

PLATINUM 107

DR DAWN HARPER ’S

We all want to know how to live not only longer but better. This month, Dr Harper
explains all the different people you might encounter at the doctor’s office
and who can help you best support your health.

W

hen I first started in general practice almost
30 years ago, life was very simple. Patients
phoned the surgery and booked to see the
GP and we sometimes asked them to make
appointments to see the nurse for blood tests and the like.
Things look very different in GP surgeries up and down the
country today. As part of the NHS GP access campaign,
the NHS has recruited more than 31,000 additional staff
into healthcare roles in general practices since 2019,
meaning there is greater choice for patients as to who they
see. But with choice can come confusion.
In my surgery, our receptionists ask patients to give them
an idea of the problem. Our reception team are trained
to know who is best to see with any particular problem
and can help you navigate the best path for you through
the various services available today. I know that may
sometimes feel a little intrusive, but all our clinical and
non-clinical staff are bound by the same rules of
confidentiality. They don’t need to know details, but a
brief description can really help to ensure you see the right
person and make the practice run efficiently and smoothly.
This month, I thought it might be useful to go through
some of the additional staff you might meet in your GP
surgery. As you can see, there a lot more healthcare
professionals working in primary care than when I joined
general practice all those years ago. Not all surgeries will
have all these people, but the best people to know what is
on offer are the reception team, so please don’t be worried
about telling them what it is you are calling about.

108 PLATINUM

CARE COORDINATORS

Acting as a central point of contact for those who may
need extra support, care coordinators can help you
navigate what has become a broader, but sometimes
confusing, primary care system.

CLINICAL PHARMACISTS

Highly trained experts in medicines, clinical
pharmacists are particularly useful to people with
long-term health conditions and those on multiple
medications as they can review repeat prescriptions
to optimise treatment.

PHARMACY TECHNICIANS

Working alongside clinical pharmacists, pharmacy
technicians update medication records and help
patients to get the most out of their medicines.

NURSING ASSOCIATES

Working under the guidance of the practice nurses,
nursing associates help with routine health checks and
wound care. They are a good source of general health
and wellbeing advice.

PHYSIOTHERAPISTS

They do exactly what you would expect from a
hospital-based physio. They are excellent for
problems with muscles, bones and joints and can give
advice on rehab following surgery or a major illness.

Doctor’s advice

PARAMEDIC

When you encounter paramedics working in general
practice, they are different from ambulance paramedics.
They are not there to take patients to hospital, but can visit
patients who can’t get to the surgery. They can perform
health checks and take tests, and can respond quickly to
people who have fallen at home.

SOCIAL PRESCRIBER LINK WORKER

WORDS: DR DAWN HARPER.
IMAGES: SHUTTERTSTOCK.

Increasingly we are aware of the impact lifestyle can
have on physical and mental ill health. Social prescriber
link workers are perfectly placed to connect people with

‘ There are now more than
31,000 additional healthcare
res in GP surgeries today’

practical, emotional and social support, which could include
activities such as exercise or dance classes, art groups
or nature-based activities. They can also advise on broader
issues that might affect an individual’s wellbeing, such
as housing and debt.

MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER

Operating as part of the team supporting patients with
mental health needs, mental health practitioners help with
anything from a mental health crisis to supporting those
learning how to cope with long term conditions that impact
their mental health.

Dr Dawn Harper is author of
Live Well To 101: A Practical Guide
To Achieving A Long And Healthy
Life (£10.99, Headline).

PLATINUM 109

British athlete Anne Dockery (facing camera)
congratulates Angela Copson on winning
the 400m (70-74 group) at the 2018 World
Masters Athletics Championships in Malaga.

‘I’m
redef ining
ageing’
Alex Rotas, 74, from Bristol, set herself the
task of finding and then photographing
inspirational older athletes from around
the world to help change the
definition of ageing.

I
Inspired by the athletes she photographs,
Alex, then 68, entered, and completed,
the Bristol 10K in May 2017.

110 PLATINUM

’m an avid tennis player and
when I was 60, I was thinking
about the different ways male
and female tennis players are
portrayed in popular culture. This
led me to ask myself: “how are older
sportspeople portrayed?”
I typed “older sportsmen and
women” into Google. The results were
depressing and shocking. “Older”
overrode “sport”, with moribund
images of elderly people slumped in
chairs. Who’d want to get old if they
thought this picture was what lay
ahead? I felt sure that positive imagery
would help people look forward to
getting older, rather than dread it.
I didn’t own a camera and knew
nothing about photography then,

so I found a tutor, Rachel, who met
me at a camera shop to help me buy
my first camera.
After a year of tuition with Rachel,
I attended the Masters Games in
Italy, where older athletes competed
in judo, swimming, beach tennis
and polo – but it was the athletics
that captivated me. Track and field
athletes can’t rely on racquet or ball
skills, and I liked that they wore the
same skimpy kit as younger athletes.
Capturing their strong muscles with
their visibly ageing skin throws into
question the assumption that you can’t
stay strong and be old. The ageing
athlete embodies both, because they
are strong and old, which wonderfully
opposes the notion that the only way

Real life

Alex hopes her passion
for photographing older
athletes helps redefine
the way we view ageing.

WWORDS: KIM WILLIS. IMAGES OF ATHLETES: ALEX ROTAS.
IMAGE OF ALEX: SEAN MAYLON.

‘ The ageing
athlete
embodies both
being strong
and d ’

to look great as you age is to defy the
ageing process. These athletes look
their age and they look wonderful, too.

INSPIRING IMAGES

I started attending international
athletics competitions and
photographed people in their 60s,
70s, 80s and 90s who recalibrated
my sense of what the ageing
body is capable of. Everyone I’ve
photographed is inspiring, but I loved
the late, great Canadian Olga Kotelko.
She was in her 90s when I met her,
smashing track and field world
records for her age group. I asked
whether she’d been an athlete all her
life and she replied, ‘Heavens no,
honey. I took this up when I was 77’.

We are living longer and longer lives
so there’s plenty of time to keep trying
new things. Olga died in her sleep
when she was 95, after enjoying
almost 20 years of competition.
In 2019, I photographed World
Masters Indoor Athletics competitor
Barbara Tukendorf. She was in
her late 60s and ran the 3000m
very slowly. She came last by 11
minutes, running an empty track,
her competitors long finished.
Everyone cheered as she finally
crossed the finish line. Her arms went
up in the air, her smile radiant. She
hadn’t broken a world record but
there was a reason she was so
jubilant. Barbara showed me the
scars of heart and leg surgery.

Hardev Singh of India races to gold in the
men’s 80m hurdles final at the 2018 World
Masters Athletics Championships.

PLATINUM 111

Brita Kiesheyer, 77, Germany (left)
and Ireland’s Dorothy McLennan, 79,
await their turn at the European
Masters Athletics Champtionships
pentathlon in Turkey, 2014.

This was her first event after illness
and she was happy just to be there.

CAPTURING TRUE
SPORTING SPIRIT

In 2020, many events were postponed
and cancelled because of lockdowns,
but in August 2021 I got to photograph
athletes at the British Masters
Championships. At the finish line of
the women’s 300m hurdles, Susan
Frisby, then 60, and Jane Horder,
then 64, collapsed on the track in
each other’s arms. These women train
together and compete against each
other, embodying the competitiveness
and deep friendship I’ve witnessed
many times over the years.
Every older athlete has a story.
I have one too – I don’t enter events
because I wouldn’t have time to
compete and take photos, but I swim,
lift weights and run, even after a hip
replacement in 2020. I don’t describe
myself as young at heart – I’m 74 at
heart and living a joyful life. I hope
that’s the spirit I capture in my photos.
Things have changed in the years
since I started my project and I hope
I’ve contributed to that change. At one
of my exhibitions, an eight-year-old
girl turned to her grandmother and
said: “These photos show me I don’t
have to be an old person like an old
person!” So it seems that getting older
is getting better all the time.

112 PLATINUM

Poland’s Barbara Tukendorf, 67,
shows her joy on completing her
first 3000m race after illness.

The late, great Olga Kotelko,
from Canada, who competed
up to the age of 95!

Real life

GB’s Jane Horder, 64 (left),
and Susan Frisby, 60,
congratulate each other
after the 300m women’s
hurdles at the 2021 British
Masters Athletics Federation
Championships.

‘ Every der athlete has a
story. I hope that’s the spirit
I capture in my photos’

Alex contributed to the book
Running Stories: By Runners of
All Ages, Speeds & Backgrounds
(£8.99, Nielsen) a collection of
tales from every type of runner.
All proceeds go to The Running
Charity. To see more of her work,
visit alexrotasphotography.co.uk
and find her at instagram.com/
alexrotasphotography.

PLATINUM 113

The
Coach
Do you constantly find yourself chasing your tail, trying
to do too much on too little energy? Health coach
Suzy Glaskie shares why you need to step back
and focus on filling your own energy bank.

W

e’re ever mindful of
the little battery sign
on our smartphone.
Running low makes
us anxious and we go to great lengths
to make sure we recharge our device.
But how many of us head out the door
with our own battery languishing on
20 per cent – or even less?
It’s hard for us to focus on
“reading” our own energy, because
we weren’t taught self-care at school
or the importance of prioritising our
wellbeing. That’s how we’ve ended up
in a place where many women admit
to me that they would actually love to
get Covid, purely for an excuse to be
able to step out of their busy lives and
take a break for a week. It should raise
an alarm if women are wishing to get
ill just so they have a reason to rest!

RUNNING ON EMPTY

Back when I worked in PR, I never
stopped to tune into my energy levels;
I would simply crack on. I’d leave the
office feeling like a rung-out dishcloth
and head straight to the shop next
door, where I’d treat myself to a
114 PLATINUM

packet of liquorice before rushing
home to sort out my three kids.
For me, that liquorice treat was
the equivalent of someone else taking
a drag on a cigarette to de-stress.
My sweets became my reward for
getting through another day (right up
until the point where I found myself
having to have root canal treatment).
For you, a daily reward might be
opening a bottle of wine, reaching
for the biscuits, or munching on junk
food. It’s so much easier to slip into
self-numbing habits to take the edge
off our stress – but they harm
us in the long-term.

78%

My advice is to obsess less about
the state of your iPhone and focus
more on the state of yourself. How
much energy is leaching out of you?
And how much energy are you
putting back in from food and drink;
your quality of sleep; the people you
see (and how they make you feel
emotionally and energetically);
and the movement you do.

of women put off
making a doctor’s
appointment for themselves because
they’re too busy taking care of others

Health coaching

Suzy’s 5 tips
to recharge
body, mind
and soul

1

Get your groove on
Having a quick dance in the
morning is a sure-fire way to
start the day energised and
with a smile on your face. Stick
your favourite song on and have
a boogie around your bedroom or
bathroom as you get ready.

2

Stop procrastinating
Grab a piece of paper and
ask yourself: “what would
I regret not doing if I didn’t
start it this month?” Once you’re
clear on that, decide on one little
thing that gets you moving along
the path to that goal. And do it!

3
WORDS: SUZY GLASKIE. IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK AND
KAREN STANILAND-PLATT FOR IMAGE OF SUZY.

TIME TO RECHARGE

I hope you’ll excuse the pun, but the
only person who can take charge of
your own battery charge is you. It’s
you who decides which inputs you put
into your body and what you fill up
on. Don’t make the mistake of letting
yourself run flat before you decide
to invest any time or energy in your
wellbeing. That way lies burnout and
a slippery slope to chronic ill health.
So, next time you check your
phone’s battery before running out
the door, take a moment to stop
and consider your own battery, too.

Close your eyes, ask yourself what
charge you’re currently on and see
what number floats to the front of
your consciousness. If it’s lower than
you’d like, ask yourself what input
you need to ramp it up. Do you need
to sit down and eat a delicious,
nutrition-packed meal? Or get to bed
earlier? Take a few deep breaths?
Stretch your tensed body? Perhaps
get out in nature? Or spend some time
with treasured friends?
Whatever it is your internal gauge
is showing, pay attention. It’s smarter
than any smartphone.

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
on instagram.com/peppermintwellness.

Go herbal
Get yourself a couple
of potted herb plants
and keep them on your
windowsill. Rub their leaves
and inhale their uplifting aroma.
Snip off leaves to add to your
cooking for a hit of flavour – and
to supercharge the health benefits
of your food.

4

Appreciate your body
Rub your favourite body
oil mindfully all over your
body, thanking each part
as you go along. It’s a powerful
way to reconnect with your body
and focus on the positives, rather
than ruminating on what you see
as imperfections.

5

Make your bathroom
a sanctuary
Treat yourself to a
welcoming, tidy, nurturing
space in your bathroom and make
it your sanctuary. Light a candle
and indulge in a calming facial
using your favourite products. It’s a
lovely way to de-stress before bed.

PLATINUM 115

Time to
take your
vitamin P!
Author Kate Codrington shares why life can be better
with a healthy dose of pleasure at any age – but
especially from your mid-50s onwards.

116 PLATINUM

Pleasure

W

hat if I told you there was a magic pill that
could improve every area of your health
and even make you live longer? I call this
pill Vitamin P. It’s free, has only beneficial
side effects, has no environmental impact and is accessible
to you right now. The P is for pleasure, and refers to
simple, mindful moments you can give yourself every day
to counteract the stresses of life and improve your health.
Focusing only on problems as we get older can end up
becoming a negative mental spiral. For although we live in
ageing bodies, choosing to live with a youthful mindset and
in a way that increases the pleasure we experience will help
us all to be healthier and happier.
Our culture tends to value women who look after others
and are productive, so it can be hard to put yourself first.
But if you don’t, you’re missing out on a host of benefits,
and won’t be able to help your loved ones as well as you’d
like. It’s good from time to time to remember the saying,
“You can’t fill from an empty cup”.
Imagine you were to stop working through your to-do
list and go find something pleasurable to do right now.
How does that thought make you feel? Does it spark tension
or unease? Feelings of guilt or shame? Perhaps thoughts
arise such as: “I’m too old, too tired, have no time, not
enough money,” etc. These thoughts and feelings usually
originate from childhood experiences but may no longer
be relevant or helpful for you.
Another misconception is that pleasure should be
expensive, which is far from the truth. Being present in the
moment and fully engaging your senses brings about so
many possibilities, such as admiring a newly opened flower
– go seek snowdrops as they’ll soon be emerging – feeling
the sun or a breeze on your skin, or laughing at a funny film,
all of which count as pleasure.

WORDS: KATE CODRINGTON. IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK.

GOOD FOR YOUR HORMONES

In terms of how pleasure works to improve health,
it reduces the stress hormone cortisol and activates
the “rest and digest” part of your nervous system.
These stress-reducing benefits not only help reduce
anxiety and depression, but also help improve your
heart health, bone health and your capacity to heal
from operations and wounds, and support your immune
system, making you more resistant to viruses. In other
words, all the stuff women tend to worry about as they
grow older and pass menopausal age.
Remember though, it can take seven years after your
last period for your hormones to settle again, and pleasure
will help with this process. Pleasurable experiences trigger
oxytocin, known as the “love hormone”, which promotes
connection and bonding. Pleasure can also increase
endorphins, your natural painkillers.
While you may not be able to control the stress going
on around you, you can take control of your internal world
and prioritise pleasure. Life is too short to deprive yourself
of the things you love, so think about how you can boost
your intake of vitamin P today – you’ll be glad you did!
Try some of my ideas to get you going…

1

Eating more slowly while enjoying the flavour
of every mouthful increases both the feel-good
hormone dopamine as well as endorphins. You
can also get an oxytocin boost if you share good
food with friends or a loved one.

2

A massage
is great for some
pampering, but you
can also get similar benefits
with a bit of DIY touch therapy.
Getting someone to comb your hair
can be super-relaxing, and even
putting on hand-cream, if done
in long, slow strokes, can help
you de-stress. Stroking a pet
or cuddling your partner
generates oxytocin, too.

PLATINUM 117

3

Instead of doing exercise
resentfully, move in a way that
makes you feel good. Ask yourself
what your body craves rather than what
you think you ought to do. How about
dancing around to your favourite tunes?

4

Why not try
some new
things in the
kitchen using
your favourite
ingredients?
Food, after all, is
strongly linked to
pleasure, especially
gooey, indulgent
chocolate!

118 PLATINUM

5

Feeling part of a
community, especially
as a volunteer, has
been shown to improve
heart health, mental health
and even Alzheimer’s, and
brings you pleasure from
helping others.

Pleasure

6

Looking at something you find
beautiful soothes your nervous
system, reduces stress, and
can even alter your experience of
time. Just let your eyes rest on
something that pleases you
and notice the effect
in your body.

8

Laughing is magical; the stress-reducing benefits
lower the risk of heart attacks, increase pain
tolerance, and decrease inflammation. When you’re
feeling low, even faking a smile can make a difference, and
watching a funny movie can get you giggling.

9

Connecting with nature offers
endless benefits for mental
and physical wellbeing – even
caring for a houseplant or looking
at an image of nature relaxes
your brain, reduces stress
hormones and improves
heart health.

7

Get curious about what is pleasurable for you
when it comes to sex. Experiment on your own
and be curious about what feels nice, then
perhaps share that with a partner if you have one.
An orgasm will offer better sleep and less stress too!

Kate Codrington is the author
of Second Spring: The Self-Care
Guide To Menopause (£14.99,
HarperCollins). You’ll also find
free resources to help you relax
at katecodrington.co.uk and
can find her at instagram.com/
kate_codrington.

PLATINUM 119

3 ways
to protect
your ticker
With February being the month of love, as well as British Heart
Foundation’s awareness month, we look at some simple ways
to help you keep your heart in good shape.

1

HYDRATE
REGULARLY

Drinking plenty of water every day
could lower your chances of heart failure,
especially if you’re over the age of 65. Researchers
at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in the
US concluded that women should be drinking up to two
litres of liquids a day to reduce the risk of heart problems and
heart failure. The researchers say they found a link between
dehydration and cardiac fibrosis, which is a hardening of the
heart muscles. They tracked the heart health and hydration levels
of almost 12,000 people, of which around 1,400 developed heart
failure over the course of the 25-year study. The researchers say
they could tell how well participants were staying hydrated by
the levels of serum sodium in the blood, which is a predictor
of heart failure. People with levels on the high end of normal
by middle age were 39 per cent more likely to have heart
failure. In a separate analysis of nearly 5,000
70-90 year-olds, those with high-normal sodium
at middle age had a 54 per cent increased
risk of heart failure compared to those
with low-normal levels.

120 PLATINUM

Heart health

43%

…is the
reduction
in risk of heart disease
if you do four hours
of chores compared to
those who are less active.

3
2

WORDS: KATY SUNNASSEE.
IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK.

ENJOY
DOING THE
HOUSEWORK!

AN EGG A DAY
KEEPS THE
DOCTOR AWAY!

Once touted as a major cause of heart disease,
eggs are now known to be good for you – they
even protect your heart by increasing levels of what’s
called “good” cholesterol, i.e. high-density lipoprotein
(HDL). Researchers at Peking University and Oxford
University discovered that people who regularly eat
eggs are far less likely to get heart disease or a stroke
because they have higher levels of a protein that builds
HDL cholesterol. They analysed blood samples from
almost 5,000 participants, with around 3,500 having
cardiovascular disease. Those who ate eggs in
moderation had high levels of apolipoprotein
A1 (APOA1), which is a building block
for “good” HDL cholesterol.

This may not sound like much fun, however,
doing daily chores will help your heart in the
long run and keep you living longer. A 2022 study at
University of California, San Diego, found that people who
are active around the house for four hours every day are 62 per
cent less likely to experience a fatal heart attack. They also have
a 43 per cent lower risk of heart disease compared to people who
are less active. Most things count, such as cleaning, vacuuming, doing
laundry or ironing, cooking or gardening. The main thing is to be on
your feet for at least four hours every day – those who only spent two
hours being active didn’t experience a reduction in risk.
This regular activity is just as beneficial as more strenuous exercise,
such as running or brisk walking, according to the researchers who
measured the daily activity levels of almost 5,500 healthy women
aged 63-97. They found those doing household chores every
day were less likely to experience cardiovascular disease,
coronary heart disease or stroke. So remember, it’s not
only intense exercise that keeps you well – plenty of
dusting and pottering is just as good when it
comes to matters of the heart!

PLATINUM 121

The
Menopause
Guineapig

Amazing Jane Activewear
Marie Tie Back Active Tank,
£29.95, and Rise Leggings,
£43, amazingjane.com.

This month, Elizabeth Joseph tries to rid herself of niggly midlife aches
and pains. Follow her at instagram.com/themenopauseguineapig.

D

o you have more aches
and pains than usual?
Does everything seem
just that little bit stiffer?
Tennis elbow? Frozen shoulder?
Sciatica? Me too. Muscle and joint
pain were my first perimenopause
symptoms. I ached everywhere,
constantly. Never one to suffer
in silence, I went to see a doctor,
two sports massage therapists, a
chiropractor, a musculoskeletal
specialist and a rheumatologist.
Seriously! Not one of them could give
me any answers and, in the end, it got
put down to stress. Which was, quite
frankly, somewhat stressful.
I had to find answers by myself.
I had to learn that oestrogen helps
to calm and lubricate the body.
It protects our joints and helps to
reduce inflammation. As our levels of
oestrogen decline, our muscles tighten
and tire more easily and our joints can
become inflamed and less flexible.
So how can we help ourselves?
How about Pilates? It’s a low-impact

exercise that strengthens the whole
body with emphasis on core strength,
postural alignment, balance, and
flexibility. I was 46 when I first took
up Pilates and I was the youngest
person in the class by quite some
way. My classmates all assured me it
had done wonders for their joint pain
and mobility, and they wished they’d
started it in their 40s.

STRENGTH IS KEY

Our risk of osteoporosis – a condition
that causes bones to weaken –
becomes very real in midlife and
beyond as oestrogen is essential for
healthy bones. So my next experiment
was with strength training as it helps
to build bone and increase muscle
strength. But don’t worry, you needn’t
rush out and purchase a unitard,
chunky belt and bag of chalk! Start
by using hand-held weights and
resistance bands at home or brave
the weight machines at the gym. I am
not a fan of the gym, so I plumped for
using resistance bands and hand-

‘As our levels of oestrogen decline,
muscles tighten and tire and
joints can become inflamed’
122 PLATINUM

A sturdy tin of beans
will do nicely for
strength training
if you’ve not got
dumbbells.
GOPO Joint Health,
£21.99,
hollandandbarrett.com.

The Modere Liquid Biocell
range, from £69.96,
modere.co.uk.

Columnist

held weights at home. I would still
recommend getting some professional
input first though. I joined an online
coaching course to make sure that I
was learning the correct technique for
planks, squats, weights and so on. The
ladies taking part online were mostly
based in the US and were all kitted out
with dumbbells and kettlebells, while
a lovely lady from Wales and I were
using tins of beans! There is also a
plethora of personal trainers available
out there, especially on Instagram. My
personal favourite being Kate Oakley
of @YourFutureFit (read more about
her story on page 94).

WORDS: ELIZABETH JOSEPH.
IMAGES: DARREN KILBURN,
SOL STOCK AND ASHLEIGH CRAGGS.

TRY A SUPPLEMENT

Elizabeth uses
resistance bands to
help improve muscle
tone and joint health.

You may be happy to learn that my
next adventure involved a lot less
effort. I took collagen, specifically
Modere collagen, which contains
liquid BioCell – an award-winning,
patented ingredient that features
a unique type-II collagen matrix. I
would love to claim I understand
what that means but I believe the
idea is that it helps not only your
skin but also your joints. There is
much hype surrounding collagen but
disappointingly few studies to back it
up. Modere, however, seem to have
carried out more research than most.
I have been told by numerous
women that taking collagen has
lessened their joint pain, although
equal numbers have failed to notice
a difference. I only tried Modere for
a month and whereas I didn’t notice a
difference to my joints it had a very
positive impact on my digestion!
My most recent adventure is with
GOPO Joint Health, a supplement that
contains rosehip for relief from joint
pain. My grandmother always swore
by rosehip syrup as a natural antiinflammatory from her arthritis, so
I am hopeful I will see a difference
soon with my aches and pains.
So, there you have it. You can
choose to try a supplement, collagen
or get your Lycra on and get active
– or all of the above! And if the word
Lycra just made you shudder, may
I recommend you check out Amazing
Jane Activewear designed specifically
with our changing bodies in mind? I
wouldn’t mind being seen in the gym
in their flattering clothing!
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.

L
D
CELL BLOCK

U P

A
N N

N
E

AVERAGE: 18 words
GOOD: 21 words
EXCELLENT: 24 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
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11
12

13

14

15

16

17

18
19

20

21

22

23
24

25

26

27

28
29

30

31

32

33

34

35
36

37

38

39

40

41
42

43

44
45

46

47

48

49

50
51

54

52

55

53

56

SUDOKU
Fill in the blank squares
with the numbers 1 to 9,
so that each row, each
column and each 3x3
block contains all the
numbers from 1 to 9.

SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 126

ACROSS
1 Very bad (7)
5 Way a page is arranged (6)
9 List of duties (4)
12 New Zealander (4)
13 Time free from work (7)
14 Henry the ___, six-times married
king (6)
15 Shaky because of fear (4-5)
16 Requisite (4)
17 ___ Wide Shut, Cruise/Kidman
film (4)
19 Felicitously (11)
21 Area of an aircraft occupied
by the pilot (7)
24 Simple song (5)
25 Now broadcasting (2,3)
26 Nevertheless (6)
29 Troublesome thing (4)
31 Grotesque (4)
32 Suggestion, proposition (4)
33 Shall we? Why don’t we? (4)
36 Onto the beach (6)
38 The ___ in the Stone,
Disney film (5)
39 Drink or eat noisily (5)
42 (Of an illness) recur
unexpectedly (5,2)
44 Member of a plot (11)
46 Second-hand (4)
47 Put in order (4)
48 Literary ledge? (9)
51 Larva’s sheath (6)
52 Small vicious South American
fish (7)
53 Horse feed cereal (4)
54 Breeding establishment (4)
55 Careless writing (6)
56 Grow, advance (7)
DOWN
2 Card-table covering (5)
3 Persevere with a task (5,2,2)
4 Single-piece garment (3-2-3)
6 Be next to, border (4)
7 First batter (6)
8 Berwick’s river (5)
9 Students’ fun period (3,4)
10 Laughing furtively (9)
11 Having no aims or purpose (13)
18 Make a noise like a sheep (5)
20 Shade of dull yellowish-green (5)
22 Bandit (6)
23 Money off from a wholesaler (5,8)
27 Lubricant (3)
28 Desk or office (6)
30 Couple (3)
34 Trunk of the body (5)
35 Engine (5)
37 Spend a lot of money (6,3)
40 Abhorrent (9)
41 Pseudonym (8)
43 Coastal Californian tree (7)
45 Haberdasher (6)
47 Nasal passage (5)
49 Numbers game (5)
50 People working on a ship (4)
PLATINUM 125

Puzzles

FITWORD
3 letters

5 letters

7 letters

EAU

COMIC

ALGEBRA

MAR

HAIKU

BRADAWL

PEN

PLUMP

CHICORY

UNI

UNCUT

COLOGNE

4 letters

6 letters

HAKA

FIANCE

ITEM

IMPACT

LOBE

PRAYER

RULE

REBUFF

SARI

SLALOM

TSAR

UNCORK

CREEPER
ORATORY
REUNITE
STARCHY
STRETCH
SURPLUS

How long will it take you to correctly fit
these words into the grid?

SOLUTIONS
CODEWORD

AB Y SM
A
T
K I W I
Z
C
WE AKK
A
F OR T U
L
I
D I T T Y
V
P E S T
W
A S HOR
P
F L AR E
A
E
U S E D
H W
COCOO
U O
S T UD

SUDOKU

FITWORD

CROSSWORD
A
L
L
I
N
O
N
E

L
E
E
A

B
UG
R
E
A
U P
SO
I
N
U
S C

CELL BLOCK

L A Y
D
B
I S UR
R
T
E D
N
C
B
T E L Y
I
E
ONA I
N
T
L Y
I
E M
SWO R
S
T
CON
D
R
R T
B
A
C
P I RA
E
E
R AWL

OU T
RO T
P W A
I
E
E I GH T
N
E W T
E E D
E Y E
R
E
R
COC K P I
T
U
N
R
T HOUG
A
L
I
D E A
L E T
E W
O
D
S L UR
I
N O
S
S P I RA T O
C
C
T
OOK S H E L
U
N
S
O
NHA OA T
T
M M
T
D E V E L O

A
H
S
T
H
S
P
R
F
S
P

S UR P
C
N
L
HA I K U
I
M
CR E E P
O
A
R E BU F
Y
R
I
HAKA
T
D
N
S T ARC
A W E
RU L E

L U
N
C
O
E R
K
F
P
R
A
H Y
E
OR

S

S AR I
S
L
T
O L OGN E
A
E M
L OB E
O R
S
I MP AC T
E
R
E UN I T E
N
T
COM I C
U
A
H
A T OR Y

WORDWHEEL
The nine-letter word is
UNPLANNED.

All puzzles © Puzzler Media Ltd www.puzzler.com

126 PLATINUM

Coming
up in
the next
issue…

● Beat the winter blues
● 9 ways to wind down
● Boost your wellness with creativity
● Set better relationship boundaries
● Delicious healthy recipes

…Plus lots more!

NEXT
ISSUE
The March issue
goes on sale
January 26

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 56 for details.

WALK AWAY YOUR…

weight
gain
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.

Walking can play a huge part in any
fitness routine you’re planning for the
new year. While research has shown
that walking is not that powerful for
shifting excessive amounts of weight,
where walking really comes into
its own is in its ability to help you
keep the weight off in the long term.
I consistently see clients’ shapes
change, specifically around the
waistline, abdominals and hips, when
following my WalkActive guides.
So this issue, I’m sharing my
tried-and-tested tips to improve your
shape and trim your torso, so you can
achieve, and more importantly sustain,
a healthy weight. And remember,
good technique, added to increased
steps, plus increased pace, equals
a fitter you! Happy walking,

Joanna x
128 PLATINUM

IMPROVE TECHNIQUE

Don’t fall into the trap of only chasing
quantity of steps – it’s far better to
address the quality of your walking
and technique at first. Your posture
will improve and your breath will feel
more comfortable, which is important
as you up the intensity and boost your
cardiovascular system to support your
efforts – and your joints will thank
you, too. Remember to walk “out of”
your space to stimulate the posterior
glute muscles and hamstrings,
improve your pace and safeguard
your joints, as opposed to walking
“in to” each step, which triggers you
to use your hip flexors and quads.

INCREASE STEPS

I advocate a daily step count of 7,500.
The key thing here is consistency, but
if you are nowhere near that target
right now, no problem. Establish

what your baseline is: if you have a
smart watch, look at your total over
three days and then divide by three.
Whatever your average is, add 500–
1,000 steps to this for the next week.
On day eight, add another 500 steps.
Do this consistently until you reach
a daily goal of 7,500. This approach
helps build consistency, which,
together with your improved walking
technique, can be the foundation to
your success.

SET THE PACE

The right pace will help you achieve
specific health, shape change and
cardiovascular benefits. Don’t panic,
I’m not suggesting you walk at a
frantic pace or go super-fast all the
time. But to boost energy expenditure,
you should walk at a pace that
gets you slightly out of breath and
increases your body temperature.

Walking

Meet your accelerators!
Your body has three natural accelerators, which can all help to
increase your walking speed.

FEET

l Push off from your toes. Envision
trying to push off with even
pressure from your big, middle
and little toes simultaneously.
l Keep your trailing foot on the
ground for longer. The more contact
there is between your foot and
the ground, the more power you
generate to propel yourself forward.
Imagine having Post-it notes on
the soles of your feet and you need
someone behind you to be able to
read them – so you peel your feet
off and keep the toes in touch with
the ground as long as you can.

HIPS

WORDS: JOANNA HALL. IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK AND JOANNA HALL.

l Achieve hip stability with
rigidity. A stable pelvis gives your
muscles something to push against.
Imagine a swimmer pushing off the
swimming pool wall; if you have

something stable to push against (in
this case your hips and the ground),
you’ll generate more power.
l Maintain space in your hips. If
your hips are lifted (as opposed to
being slumped) you can move more
freely. This allows the thigh of your
trailing leg to extend further behind
you with each stride, propelling you
forward more powerfully.

ARMS

l Swing your arms naturally from
their shoulder girdles. You’ll be
opening shortened chest muscles,
which can contribute to less
efficient breathing. All important
when you want to walk fitter,
further and faster!
l Emphasise the back swing rather
than the front swing. The more your
arms come back, the more your
body will move forwards.

If you struggle to keep walking at a
consistent pace, try listening to music
with 100-125 beats per minute; match
your feet to the beat.
To improve your pace without
compromising form, you need to make
friends with your accelerators (see
right). We all have these and getting
familiar with them, and using them,
will significantly increase your speed
without jarring your joints. Aim to do
four increased-pace walks per week.
l TIP Time short? As a rough
guide, a five-minute out-and-back
route (total 10 minutes walking time)
should give you at least 1,000 steps.
Focus on your quality of movement
though and walk tall – your chest and
shoulders should be up, not slumped,
which helps with posture and deeper
breathing, plus that all-important
mental wellbeing boost!

Walk fitter, healthier, happier and trimmer with
the WalkActive app, Joanna Hall’s scientifically
proven walking technique to help you walk better.
Platinum readers can download and subscribe
to the WalkActive app today to start a 7-Day
all-access free trial. Simply scan the QR code
or find out more at walkactive.com.

PLATINUM 129

Final thoughts

Fit & fearless!
Endurance athlete and former BBC Breakfast presenter, Louise Minchin, shares
her story of going from swimming enthusiast to qualified free diver.

love scuba-diving, so it seemed like
a perfect mix. It wasn’t until I clicked
on the link to check out where we
were going to try it that my heart
sank. My first free dive outside of
a pool was going to be in a frozen
lake, under ice, in Finland. Utterly
terrifying, but I was intrigued.
Given the lethal nature of the sport,
I couldn’t just turn up and have a go.
Before I could consider dipping my
toe in the freezing cold water, I had
to qualify as a free diver, where you
learn about breath control, for one.
The three most important things
I learnt on my course were that:
free diving is VERY dangerous; you
ONLY do it if you are a qualified free
diver; you only ever do it under the
supervision of another free diver.

DIVING RIGHT IN

Course done and with Cath as my
buddy, we headed off to Finland.
To say it was daunting walking across
the ice dressed head to toe in the
thickest wet-suit I could find would be
a massive understatement. Because
Cath is an ice-swimmer and better in
the cold, she went first. When she
slipped under the water for the
first time, I genuinely thought
she had taken her last breath.
I was utterly terrified, but to
my huge relief she surfaced
about 25 long seconds later.
When it was my turn, I did
what I had been taught: I took
a deep breath and held it
with my lungs full before
pulling myself under.

Louise prepares for her first
free dive under ice in Finland.

NO GOING BACK

What happened next blew my mind.
I was so buoyant I found myself
pressed up against the underside of
the ice sheet, unable to swim at all.
I panicked, but in the panic, worked
out if I pressed one hand up against
it, I could swim on my back. After the
initial fright, I felt extraordinarily calm
as if I was floating peacefully in outer
space. That was quickly followed by
utter terror that I was never going to
find the exit! But when I did, I was
laughing my head off.
After 54 years on the planet, I had
found my ultimate sport, and this year
Cath and I are going to do it all over
again. For me, there is nothing more
life-affirming and exhilarating than
free diving. If you want to try it, I urge
you give it a go, but remember you
must go on a course before you do so.

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.

130 PLATINUM

WORDS: LOUISE MINCHIN. PORTRAIT OF LOUISE: RACHEL JOSEPH.

O

ne of my favourite films is
The Big Blue. Even though
the story is heartbreaking,
the underwater shots are
mesmerisingly beautiful. It was while
watching them that I fell in love with
free diving, but until two years ago
had never tried it. That changed when
Cath Pendleton, who has a Guinness
World Record for swimming the
southernmost ice mile in the Antarctic
Circle, persuaded me it would be a
good idea to try it for a chapter in
my book, Fearless: Adventures with
Extraordinary Women.
When she first asked me, I thought,
“Why not?”. I love swimming, and I

Floradix

®

Immune Support

• Contains vitamins and minerals

to support the normal function of
the immune system; D, C, B12, B6,
selenium and zinc.

• Based on a herbal extract from plants
and Echinacea.

• Contains fruit concentrates for a
great taste.

• Free from alcohol, preservatives,

colourings and artificial flavourings.

• Free from gluten and lactose.
• Suitable for vegetarians & vegans.
Available from selected
independent health stores

www.floradix.co.uk

ONLINE BOOKSHOP

OVER 100
EMOTIONAL
WELLBEING
BOOKS TO
CHOOSE
FROM
ORDER TODAY

SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK/PSYBOOKS

BOOKSHOP

OVER 100
BOOKS TO
CHOOSE
FROM

CLICK OR TAP YOUR CHOSEN BOOK

BUY ONLINE AT:
SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK/PSYBOOKS
To browse all books, click the link above or scan the QR code

Books subject to availability
Prices may vary

BOOKSHOP

CHOSEN BY THE
PUBLISHERS OF
PSYCHOLOGIES
MAGAZINE

CLICK OR TAP YOUR CHOSEN BOOK

BUY ONLINE AT:
SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK/PSYBOOKS
To browse all books, click the link above or scan the QR code

Books subject to availability
Prices may vary

BOOKSHOP

ORDER
TODAY!

CLICK OR TAP YOUR CHOSEN BOOK

BUY ONLINE AT:
SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK/PSYBOOKS
To browse all books, click the link above or scan the QR code

Books subject to availability
Prices may vary

BOOKSHOP

CHOSEN BY THE
PUBLISHERS OF
PSYCHOLOGIES
MAGAZINE

CLICK OR TAP YOUR CHOSEN BOOK

BUY ONLINE AT:
SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK/PSYBOOKS
To browse all books, click the link above or scan the QR code

Books subject to availability
Prices may vary

BOOKSHOP

ORDER
TODAY!

CLICK OR TAP YOUR CHOSEN BOOK

BUY ONLINE AT:
SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK/PSYBOOKS
To browse all books, click the link above or scan the QR code

Books subject to availability
Prices may vary

BOOKSHOP

OVER 100
BOOKS TO
CHOOSE
FROM

CLICK OR TAP YOUR CHOSEN BOOK

BUY ONLINE AT:
SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK/PSYBOOKS
To browse all books, click the link above or scan the QR code

Books subject to availability
Prices may vary

BOOKSHOP

CHOSEN BY THE
PUBLISHERS OF
PSYCHOLOGIES
MAGAZINE

CLICK OR TAP YOUR CHOSEN BOOK

BUY ONLINE AT:
SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK/PSYBOOKS
To browse all books, click the link above or scan the QR code

Books subject to availability
Prices may vary

Available at Tesco, Waitrose & Ocado. Subject to availability. Serving suggestion.