Innehållsförteckning för August 2023 från Platinum

‘We all need heroes who we can relate to, because that inspires us to go on and do our own things,’ says the brilliant Louise Minchin in our cover interview this month. I agree with her 100 per cent, so we’ve packed this issue full of stories from inspiring women, explaining how they are making the most of midlife and enjoying every minute of it. Kicking off with Louise herself (page 10), she tells of the challenges she has faced and overcome, from her battle for equal pay and equal access to reading the headlines on the BBC Breakfast sofa, through to her adventures deep-cave diving and ice swimming for her new book. We meet three amazing women from the world of fashion, who have all gone on to forge…

Why do we all stress about what to pack for a summer beach holiday? It should be so simple. You don’t require much when the temperature's balmy, after all. So, this year, keep your packing to a minimum, and ensure that everything you pack deserves its place. Because those sun-filled days should be filled with far more important decisions – like which taverna to visit for dinner. For me, this is one occasion when I leave fashionable foibles behind (unless I’m travelling to a glam hotspot where the only purpose is to see and be seen!) So, what are my holiday essentials? First up is my collection of floaty midi and maxi dresses – the perfect balance between relaxed and polished, they require few finishing touches – followed closely by…

At first thought, the summer months are associated with carefree behaviour — breezy beach days, shady hikes, and exciting holidays. But balancing our already busy lives with new social commitments, time off work, and the simple pressure to have fun can leave many of us feeling exhausted, overstretched and overwhelmed – in fact, burnt out. Back in 2019, burnout was thought to be purely work based, being described by the World Health Organization as an ‘occupational phenomenon’, as a result of chronic workplace stress. However, the incredible pressures of the past three years have shown us that work isn’t the only cause. Selina Barker, a life design and career change coach, and the author of Burnt Out: The Exhausted Person’s Six-Step Guide To Thriving In A Fast-Paced World (Octopus, £14.99),…

“It is part of the same world; it comes from the same source of creativity” When we reach midlife, there’s a temptation to question where we’ve been and where we’re going. Author, researcher and storyteller Brené Brown often refers to this as a period of ‘unravelling’ rather than a crisis, and claims it’s a wake-up call that life isn’t messing around; there’s no dress rehearsal! So it comes as no surprise that, for some of us, we might look at the careers we’ve had and seek to find purpose in other places. In fact, no matter how successful you’ve been in the first part of your life, these later years have the potential to be even more fulfilling. That’s exactly what happened for former fashion designers and firm friends Lucille…

Buckwheat shortstack ‘Pancakes served American-style. Known as shortstacks, they are quite a bit thicker than the crêpes you find in Europe and nicely soak up the syrup and juice from the berries. If you prefer the thinner variety, just add a bit more milk to your batter.’ Serves 2–3 (makes about 6 large pancakes) For the batter: ● 150g buckwheat flour or 150g plain wholemeal flour● 2 tsp golden caster sugar or white caster sugar● 1 tsp baking powder● 1 small pear or apple, cored and grated (optional)● 250ml milk (dairy or plant-based), at room temperature● 2 eggs, separated● About 1 tbsp butter, for frying To serve: ● 1 tbsp date syrup, honey, maple syrup or sweetener of your choice● 2–3 tbsp Greek-style yoghurt (dairy or plant-based)● 1 x 150g…

Immerse yourself in Ayurveda WHAT: Lhasa Ayurveda & Wellness Resort WHERE: Kerala, India PRICE: From £283 for a three-day package (longer stays available) Lhasa is the only Ayurvedic wellness resort in the heart of Kochi, a major port city on the Malabar Coast in India. It has 11 beautifully furnished suites, complete with stunning views of either the lush gardens or the serene river. Guests can choose to spend their days lying by the pool, exploring the grounds, or meditating in a sacred grove called the Sarpa Kavu. With a focus on holistic wellbeing and Ayurvedic principles, the resort also offers a range of different wellness treatments and yoga classes. The food served at the resort follows the sattvic diet, based on yogic-inspired clean eating. It is entirely vegetarian, seasonal,…

‘I was like a fish out of water in the city. And after 10 years of being in London, I had a creeping realisation that I was just in the wrong habitat. I was like a squirrel without a tree. ‘I counteracted it by trying to get away every weekend to the countryside. I’d go anywhere. We had some friends who rented a cottage in Oxfordshire, and when they went away on business for six months, they said we could use it. And we did, all the time. ‘It just got to a point where I thought “I can’t live in London anymore”. And so we started asking questions of ourselves: could we do the kind of weekend place? Could we rent a bolthole for us to use permanently? And…

GAIL ROLFE STYLE Fashion expert Gail shows you how to pack the ultimate holiday wardrobe DR DAWN HARPER HEALTH & WELLBEING GP Dr Dawn shares good news for cancer screening, and her top tips for quitting smoking DOTTIE MONAGHAN BEAUTY Get a sin-free sun-kissed look with beauty expert Dottie’s foolproof guide to faking a tan JANE MOORE LIFE & TIMES Jane takes stock of her ‘stuff’ and clears the clutter, to make way for what really matters ANNABEL STREETS HEALTH & WELLBEING Author and walking enthusiast Annabel shows you how to give your next walk a mental-wellbeing boost AYESHA OFORI LIFE & TIMES Investment expert Ayesha shares her tips and tricks to help you find financial freedom in midlife ADELE PARKS MBE BOOKS Adele rounds up the latest and greatest…

This year, Fiona Lambert turned 60. But the fashion expert – who was previously MD of Jaeger, and launched George at Asda – made an important observation in the run up to this milestone: ‘I’d never overtly said my age before. People have often told me that I don’t look 60, but it made me wonder: what should a 60-year-old look or behave like?’ So, on 1 January, nine weeks before her big birthday, Lambert set herself a challenge to get into the best shape of her life. ‘I’d always thrown myself into keeping fit wholeheartedly, and I must confess, I am a goal-oriented person. But it was my personal trainer, Joss, who threw down the gauntlet and suggested I set myself the challenge ahead of my 60th birthday. ‘I…

More than three quarters of Platinum readers enjoy walking – we know, because we asked you! Our recent survey showed it was by far the most popular activity to get the heart rate pumping. There’s no wonder really: it’s free, easy, and has incredible benefits, from the obvious physical ones to more hard-to-see boosts, such as increasing blood flow to your brain, which lifts your mood. It also provides you with a bit of time and space to free your mind and focus on your surroundings. Walking is also an effective form of mindfulness, which allows you to park your worries and lower stress. Plus, there’s an abundance of evidence that shows that walking with worries can be a lot easier than sitting with them, because, as we walk, the…

Leading a full life bustling with business creativity, whilst juggling an active teenage family, Louise Ingram finds balance by making the most of her home by the coast – from downtime recharging in the sea to seeking inspiration from the land and seascapes for her interior design business. With a shared family passion for surfing and swimming, as well as paddleboarding, the Ingrams’ lives revolve around their love of the ocean, with their stylish home offering the perfect viewpoint to check out the swell. Inspired by her surroundings, and alongside her business partner Caroline Saulsbury, Louise created Mint House – an interior design studio and online store – which is known for it signature luxe-laidback style. The design principles and aesthetics championed by this talented duo are perfectly illustrated in…

CODEWORD Each letter of the alphabet has been replaced by the same number throughout this grid. Use the decoded letters given to work out the identity of other letters and fill in the grid. The alphabet list and reference grid will help you to keep track of the letters you’ve decoded. WORDWHEEL You have ten minutes to find as many words as possible using the letters in the wheel. Each word must be three letters or more and contain the central letter. Use each letter once, and no plurals, foreign words or proper nouns are allowed. There is at least one nine-letter word. AVERAGE: 10 wordsGOOD: 14 wordsEXCELLENT: 16 words CELL BLOCK Fill the grid by drawing blocks along the gridlines. Each block must contain the number of squares indicated…

Lung cancer claims 35,000 British lives each year, more than breast, prostate and pancreatic cancer combined. It is the third most common cancer in the UK and, sadly, the biggest cancer killer. Lung cancer currently has one of the lowest survival rates of all cancers, mainly because it tends to be diagnosed at a later stage – but this could be about to change. In June, the government announced that it will be implementing a lung cancer screening programme to include 325,000 new patients identified as being at risk. It will cost £270 million a year, and is expected to detect as many as 9,000 people with lung cancer at an earlier stage. Like all cancers, the earlier lung cancer is diagnosed, the better the prognosis, so this initiative really…

When Lisa Gregory from Swansea saw a mug in a charity shop with her son-in-law’s name on it, she bought it as a surprise gift – not realising that it was him who donated it in the first place. It reminds me of the time I ordered a cup of tea in a local cafe and it was handed to me in a mug with a photo of my kids on the front and the words ‘Happy Xmas Nana’. Baffled, I asked the owner where he’d got it from, and he pointed to the charity shop across the road. Turns out that my mother – for whom I’d gone to the trouble of having it made – had donated it. Worse, when I asked for it back, the cafe owner…

Our very own Adele Parks MBE is the author of 22 bestselling novels, including the recent Sunday Times and ebook number-one hit One Last Secret (Harper Collins, £8.99). She’s currently excitedly preparing for the launch of her 24th book in August, a psychological thriller Just Between Us (Harper Collins, £14.99), available to pre-order now. Follow her on Twitter @adeleparks, and on Instagram @adele_parks You Were Always Mine by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza (HarperCollins, £16.99) I’m always fascinated by writing duos, and these two friends impress me with their unique, considered and thought-provoking storylines, plus their complex, cliché-defying characters. Cinnamon Haynes has worked and fought for everything she has – her marriage, a decent job, and a home of her own. Despite her tough childhood, she has gone on to…