Innehållsförteckning för February 2024 från Platinum

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…

Upcoming events LONDON ART FAIR 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. 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! CELTIC CONNECTIONS FESTIVAL JANUARY 18 – FEBRUARY 4, GLASGOW (celticconnections.com) Held at the Glasgow…

Nick 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…

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…

CACI 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…

Three 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…

When 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…

What 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…

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: 18 wordsGOOD: 21 wordsEXCELLENT: 24 words CELL BLOCK Fill the grid by drawing blocks along the gridlines. Each block must contain the number of squares indicated…

GAIL ROLFE Fashion expert Gail showcases three capsule-wardrobe looks that offer stand-out style. ADELE PARKS MBE Bestselling author Adele rounds up her six favourite new reads for us this month. DOTTIE MONAGHAN Platinum’s resident make-up artist Dottie shows us how to go clean with our make-up routine. DR DAWN HARPER The author and GP gives the full lowdown of who’s who at your local GP surgery. JANE MOORE The Loose Women presenter is comtemplating a new move where peace is a must! SUZY GLASKIE Health coach Suzy shows you how to recharge your battery with renewed purpose. HEATHER JACKSON Menopause champ Heather on why your best years are ahead of you. LOUISE MINCHIN The TV presenter and author shares her journey to qualified free diver. ELIZABETH JOSEPH Our ‘Menopause Guineapig’…

Now 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…

Cougar. 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 empowers singles to be confident daters. ‘You can be…

Imagine 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…

I’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…

One 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 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…

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 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…

There’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…

Whether 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. Zerowaste 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…

Youth & Earth NMN (£29.99 for 60 capsules or £42.99 for 10g sublingual powder, youthandearth.com) is vegan, soy-free, gluten free, endotoxin-free and gastro-resistant, 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 older, 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…

Want 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…

We’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…

Columnist Do 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…