Enjoy a fashion & beauty night out in Marlow on 26th September with a talk from Lucia Santa-Maria, a screening of The Devil Wears Prada, hair & make-up tips & more
September is the perfect month for new starts, so don’t miss this opportunity for some shopping style!
Krista Madden has organised an evening kicking off with a talk, 5-6pm at Court Garden House, from Lucia Santa-Maria who has been working on Marlow Murder Club this summer. She’ll talk about Building Confidence with Fashion, picking key high street pieces.
Find out about health and fitness tech at Sweaty Betty, including the next-generation Power Plate and a lymphatic drainage compression, with experts on hand, and health & make-up showcased in Jigsaw.
Nutritionist Brigette Hancock will launch her first book, Live Like a Lobster, at The Marlow Bookshop. The shops will stay open until 8pm with free drinks, special offers and lots of activities along the high street for you to enjoy. The evening will showcase local fashion, beauty and creative talent in Marlow.
Tickets to Lucia’s talk are £10pp including a drink & free for Marlow Living Loyalty App subscribers. For more details visit In Your Element Festival. Book your tickets for The Devil Wears Prada at Everyman Cinema. Follow In Your Element on Instagram for more updates!
Mark Heath invites us to enjoy the noble art of Qigoing (FYI it’s pronounced “chee-gong”), mindful flowing movements for wellbeing, with free hour-long classes in Higginson Park
In these modern times with so much pressure and stress, it is more important than ever to help ensure we maintain and protect both our physical and mental health and wellbeing.
Fortunately there is an incredible tool available to us, which has been used exactly for this across millennia. This gentle form is the practice of Qigong.
Qigong is the ancient Chinese art of mindful moving meditation, to reduce stress, increase energy, balance emotions, and benefit body, mind and spirit, significantly increasing and maintaining overall health and wellbeing.
A series of slow flowing movements build harmony and balance, and can get us back in touch with ourselves, nature and the world around us fully, in a healthy practical way.
Qigong is the parent of, and precursor to, both Tai Chi and Kung Fu and forms of Qigong have been practised for over 4,000 years.
Anyone of any age can learn Qigong and with instruction can commence a personal practise, performed standing or sitting as required.
We practise together every Wednesday and Saturday morning (rain or shine) at 10am, near the Cricket Pavilion, in Higginson Park, Marlow. All classes are free and last an hour. Many of us meet at the Court Gardens Cafe after to chat and have a cuppa, on the veranda. This free local project is all about building connection through community, with each other, ourselves and with nature.
Over the coming months we will be holding additional free classes also, for specific aliments such as lower back, improving balance, and other conditions, shorter sessions designed specifically for children, and over the winter will also be engaging in some free Qigong workshops indoors too at local venues.
We have practised together now for just over a month, and the group is growing beautifully, with all feedback incredible, everyone noticing the benefits instantly. If you would like to join us please feel free just to drop in. Children are most welcome equally (accompanied by an adult).
For more information please visit Wild Swan – Flowing River and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions through website.
We look forward to seeing you there. Peace, Love and Qigong! Mark
If James Bond can have a freaky era, so can you, says Robbie James
Daniel Craig’s recent ad campaign for Loewe’s autumn/winter collection proves that if a 56-year-old, kettlebell loving, former 007 agent can embrace his masculinity with such nonchalance, then so can a man in finance, 6’5’’, blue eyes…
We’ve all had an era. My 2005 Ashes era encompassed a need for spiky hair and a perm to emulate Shane Warne and Kevin Pietersen. My McFly era followed, in which a compromise was met with my mum – I couldn’t get my ear pierced like Tom Fletcher, but I could have a magnetic stud from Claire’s Accessories (why doesn’t everyone just do that instead of having a hole punched through their flesh?).
In the last couple of years I’ve developed a fascination for clothes. An appreciation and curiosity for the way men dress is something that I find poking my brain most days. I find myself noticing what outfits I like and, (very slowly) begin to get to grips with why I like them.
Occasionally I’ll pluck up the courage to stop a fellow manly man in the street to tell them I love their pleated trousers and ask where they found them. Often I get a response incorporating the same level of confusion and blankness as when you’re trying to explain literally anything to a dog, but not always.
During the pandemic I couldn’t be arsed to attempt a self haircut and likely leave myself with one and a half ears, so I just decided to allow my short, back, and sides (SBS) to become a long, back, and sides (LBS). I found it fun, so I kept it, and it opened my eyes to experimenting with appearance. Once we were finally free I took myself to The Hambledon in Winchester (an excellent excellent excellent independent department store – no I’ve not been paid to say that). I declared to Rob who runs the menswear department ‘’I don’t know how to dress myself’’, and he took my metaphorical hand and helped me build a few staple outfits.
There’s something appealing about the experience of visiting a menswear store; the independent ones are often small and intimate. Other than hearing Craig Charles’ segue between Fontaines DC and Idles on Radio 6 Music (the coolest of all the radio stations), there’s a comforting peacefulness within them. The judgement that men are often confronted with when it comes to style and clothing doesn’t exist in these basements or units. Naturally, the business model of independent stores results in items from the upper price limits. You don’t need to buy your socks from these places, but pushing the boat out on something fun once in a while can be rewarding.
Like most things that you don’t understand, the thought of learning that thing can feel overwhelming. I still don’t understand fashion, but I have learnt (reassuringly) it can be made simple. You don’t have to ‘Lewis Hamilton it’ and be wearing a new colour, shape, and texture Monday to Sunday. In fact, definitely don’t do that. You’ll need about 12 credit cards. Having clothes that actually fit make an ordinary outfit look just a bit more ‘’oh, they look good’’. I’m bored of seeing men wearing t-shirts that are too tight. Or actually, anything that is too tight. It’s like every inch of your skin has a need to be touched all day long (sounded better in my head).
We need to stop making fun of what other men are wearing if they turn up to the pub in anything that isn’t a white t-shirt and black jeans (both of which do have their place). It’s a cheap shot intended to make the perpetrator more comfortable.
I presented football coverage last season in a cream cardigan and, when I tell you I’ve never seen so many people telling someone they’ve stolen their Granny’s clothes…I’ve never seen so many people telling someone they’ve stolen their Granny’s clothes. Some of the most boring tweets I’ve ever received, and a reminder as to why so many men don’t feel like they can throw on a nice knit or some wide leg trousers.
Lots of men aren’t conditioned to allow themselves to feel sexy or take care with how they present, and complimenting each other is something that takes us a while to get to grips with. It’s easy to forget that looking after your appearance is part of looking after you. So now you’ve read this, throw on a face mask (but don’t leave it on for three times the length of time recommended on the pot resulting in what can only be described as a face made out of rock, no idea who’d do that), and find a local menswear store to plod around in.
Padel is a fun and exciting sport that’s rapidly gaining popularity around the world, with stars such as Antonio Banderas, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams all fans. Want to join them?
Padel’s an innovative form of tennis that’s fun, easy to learn and extremely sociable. Played on an enclosed court about a third the size of a tennis court, groups of mixed ages and abilities can play together.
Padel is a sport for anyone and everyone – it’s easy to pick up and once you get started, you’ll find it difficult to stop!
There are more than 450 padel courts in Britain ready and waiting for you, with even more on the way. There are also padel clubs across the country that you can join as a member. You don’t have to have played tennis – or any other sport before – just grab a bat, a doubles partner, and away you go!
One of the newest kids on the block is PadelStars, Bracknell which is due to open very soon!
Faringdon-based Farcycles are getting ready to stage their 11th Le Tour de Farcycles on Saturday, 13th July
Take part in a sublime blend of BREW-tiful Cotswold countryside and three deliciously smooth MOCHA-me-happy rides depending on how far you want to push yourself.
We’re famous for the delicious homemade fare at the well-stocked feed stations, and the hot lunch at the finish!
All funds raised by the Sportive go towards local cycling projects including supporting the Cycle Park, teaching and commissioning infrastructure projects such as cycle repair stations, and road safety signs.
Primo-30 (the FLAT WHITE): 30 miles of rolling Cotswold countryside that is just enough to stretch someone looking for a first event. It is also the choice for regular cyclists to have a social meander through some of the region’s prettiest villages. The route is also perfect for families who would like to cycle together.
Medio-50 (the FRAPPUCHINO): 50 miles taking in some of our favourite country lanes. This is the perfect ride for cyclists who want to try a longer distance for the first time or who want a longer ride while still having enough energy for lunch afterwards.
Massimo-80 (the MACHO-ATTO): 80 miles taking in some hillier terrain that will stretch regular cyclists with a big hill or two, while still enjoying the archetypal Cotswold scenery. Back in time for lunch to relive your epic ride with your cycling buddies.
In a bid to enhance girls’ participation in cricket, three clubs in the Thames Valley have joined forces to establish a new girls’ cricket team, Thames Fusion. Ally Holloway shares the news
The collaboration with Wargrave, Sonning and Reading Cricket Clubs aims to provide girls of all ages with meaningful opportunities to engage in competitive hardball cricket, and so far the results have brought a wave of energy to girls’ cricket at all three clubs.
While each club will maintain its individual girls’ cricket teams, this joint effort has led to the formation of a new team called Thames Fusion, with an emphasis on playing hardball cricket.
Wargrave CC was a driving force behind the initiative. Chairman Andy Meader said: “Whilst we have offered girls cricket for many years, there have not always been sufficient numbers to play as many fixtures as we’d ideally like. We were aware that other clubs have been similarly challenged so we were delighted that Sonning CC and Reading CC saw the benefit in pooling resources. The launch of Thames Fusion is an exciting development, and the combination of players, coaches, and facilities from all three clubs promises an outstanding summer of cricket for the girls (and anyone interested in joining us)!”
Nalin Rupasinha of Reading CC added: “Thames Fusion is now able to offer girls at Reading CC the right level of competition and development. This collaborative effort is paving the way for a sustainable and thriving future for girls’ cricket in the region. Long may it continue!”
Throughout June and July, girls aged U11 to U15 will have the opportunity to participate in over 25 cricket games and festivals. This significant increase from previous seasons ensures girls gain valuable experience to further enhance their cricket skills and will have the chance to play just as much cricket as boys their age.
Tim Murphy, Chair of Sonning Cricket Club’s Junior section, said: “The club is delighted to be part of this partnership. The girls have thoroughly enjoyed playing at U11, U13, and U15 levels, with many expressing happiness in playing all-girls cricket due to our combined strength in depth. The positive feedback from the girls underscores the success of this initiative.”
Two Berkshire-based companies have generously offered their support by providing playing kit for the new team. Ally Holloway, the women and girls’ representative at Wargrave CC thanked Goodall-Smith Wealth Management and Wise Owls Childcare. “This sponsorship has enabled the purchase of branded kit for the girls without any additional cost to them. It was a key priority for us when setting this team up, that Thames Fusion was bonus without requiring players to make any further financial commitment beyond their club membership.”
For further information about Thames Fusion, please email [email protected]
Liz Nicholls visits fully revamped B Spa at Brooklands Hotel in Weybridge where you can enjoy the benefits of sunshine on a deluxe indoor beach
Hello… summer? Are you there!? It looks as though British summertime might have stood us up 🙁 (except for the mini heatwave last week).
But the newly revamped B Spa is here to save your summer!
If we’re honest, going on holiday somewhere scorchio (taking the obligatory sausage leg pic to post on the ‘gram) is radically boosted by knowing it’s soggy back home in Blighty. Right?!
So, picture the scene: you’re lying on your own comfy beach chair, cocktail in hand, soaking up the sunshine like a lizard in front of a sugar-sand beach paradise… while the storm clouds gather outside and rain lashes against the window.
This is exactly what you can enjoy at BSpa which boasts a Sunlight Therapy Room using 100% safe ‘sunlight simulators’ to fully replicate natural sunlight. These generate full-spectrum sunlight with reduced UVA and UVB, full spectrum visible light and infrared heat. Benefits include a boost in Vitamin D and energy, reducing the nasty effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder, a stronger immune system, better circulation, eased muscles and a better metabolism…
Which is perfect because the 1907 beach bar will serve you cocktails (thanks Rhys!) & light snacks. Downstairs in the swanky hotel itself the award-winning 1907 restaurant, bar & grill (named after the year the world-famous Brooklands racetrack opened), in a setting inspired by the 1920s & ’30s, the team serve up a mean afternoon tea. They have also earned two AA Rosettes for their hearty breakfasts, Sunday lunches and more, including incredible burners. The windows in both the spa beach, pedicure room and the restaurant face out on to the drivers doing doughnuts on the Mercedes-Benz World track.
But back to the spa which has been lavished in love to provide you with treatments and TLC. Spa experiences start from £49pp (the Spa & Dine package includes use of the spa facilities for three hours and either lunch, afternoon tea or dinner which is phenomenal value). The facilities include: a Himalayan salt room, Finnish & infra-red saunas, steam room, ice fountain and hydrotherapy hot tub with Venturi jets.
On one particularly frazzled and dreary Wednesday my skin and muscles were thoroughly spoilt with a Comfort Zone Aromasoul ritual massage which helped work away all that tension. Other fabulous treatments on offer (maybe book your other half for one?) include a Himalayan salt or cranial massage, plus there are wonderful facials to plump up tired and thirsty skin, using products from the deluxe Italian skincare brand Comfort Zone. No wonder the spa is loved by many pamper-seekers, including Chelsea FC players.
Just to add to the relaxation and ensure it lasts beyond your visit, spend some time floating in the Tranquillity Meditation Room…
All in all, a fantastic way to beat the summer blues and top up that mojo without getting on a plane! I’ll see you there – mine’s the middle beach chair!
Liz Nicholls chats to Sharron Davies MBE as she looks forward to The Olympic Games – her 13th – starting later this month in Paris
Watch & listen to Liz Nicholls catch up with Sharron Davies on our podcast, Spotlight: The Diary for the South East, OUT NOW on YouTube.
Q. Hello Sharron! Who are your Team GB ones to watch? “Well they’ve got a tall order because Tokyo was the most successful Olympic games for the British swimming team for 100 years. So it’s going to be very tough for them to be as successful but I expect them to be very close to it because they’ve got a very strong team, particularly the men. Adam Peaty seems to be back on track which is good news for the British team because what happens on day one sets the tone. We also have Tom Dean and Duncan Scott. Daniel Wiffen stands a very good chance in the 200m – we like to see the Irish doing well, too, don’t we? The girls are going to have it a little bit tougher. They had good trials and we have a couple of world champions going into this with Laura Stevens and Freya Colbert. But I think the Canadians, Americans and Australians will bring another level.”
Q. Will you be in Paris for the whole games? “Yes, I’ll be poolside covering the swimming throughout and then I’ve wangled a couple of days at the end to see a bit of track and field with my 17-year-old. This will be my 13th Olympic Games! I entered my first junior international a 11 and my first Olympics at 13.”
Q. You were great as Amazon on Gladiators! Do you watch much TV? “I do: mostly live sport and Netflix. And, most people don’t know this about me but I’m a big Star Trek fan! I love anything that depicts us living in harmony, all shapes and sizes from all sorts of places. I love the idea we might be able to do this one day.”
Q. Who were your heroes growing up? “The Mirror used to fly in swimming superstars. I met Johnny Weissmuller & Shane Gould. And I remember watching Mark Spitz with his famous moustache & seven medals. Also David Wilkie, who sadly died recently, was a great inspiration to me and, later, a friend. I have many female heroes. We appear to be living in a much more misogynistic world right now & those pushing back for fair & equal opportunities for our girls I admire on a daily basis. I can’t say I even thought of myself as a feminist until recently, but regressive stereotypes & social media are making life much harder for young females.”
Q. Where do you like to swim? “Aha, well I don’t swim often these days because swimming has ruined my shoulders! Swimming wears your rotator cuffs out – that’s our injury. If I’m on holiday and I’m on a beach and it’s lovely, I’m in the water but I don’t use swimming to keep fit. I’m cycling or in the gym four times a week.”
Q. What tips would you give anyone who wants to get fit & healthy? “It’s never too late! You can make a radical difference with tweaks. It’s all about consistency, mobility, your core. We need to put a little stress on our joints as well, particularly as women, to avoid osteoporosis. Silly stuff like climbing stairs instead of escalators or lifts. Just do all of those things automatically. My dad is 88 and I always say to him, whether you’re getting on and off your sofa to do two squats every single time. And when you’re there making your cup of tea, stand on one leg. Obviously hold on to something supportive if you need but balance as we age is really important because once you start to get into your 80s, if you fall over and break a hip, it’s massive. And that’s all down to core stability and balance and we don’t tend to look after that. What’s really interesting is that Japanese people have hardly any of the hip issues we have because they’re constantly getting up and down off the floor so their core stability is so much better than ours.”
Q. What about eating, Sharron? Is there anything you do or don’t eat? “There’s nothing that’s off the agenda, I just tend not to eat unhealthily regularly and I would say little tips like making sure you eat colourful food works really well. Nearly all beige and bland food isn’t good for us. Processed sugar is the devil and it creeps into everything these days, especially ready meals! I don’t drink very much, never have. I’ve never smoked. I’m a morning person so I go to bed reasonably early and like to be up and get going – I think that’s a knock-on of having to get up at 5am for training from such a young age! Alcohol has hidden calories which are easy to forget about. And try not to eat really late as well. It’s slowing your metabolism down filling your belly and going to bed is not good for your digestive system.”
Q. Do you still love dogs? “Yes, we’ve got two: Flash the blind Basset Hound is very unflash; my son named him! And Ed the dachshund.”
Q. You’re a grandmother now aren’t you? “I am – that’s who I’m out with today. I’ve got a granddaughter who’s four and a grandson who’s four months. It’s a cliché but it’s so much easier than being a mum because you can just hand them back. I love it! I often have Ariya on a Friday and it’s my favourite day of the week. We live in a very fast world and we often don’t live in the moment. When I’m with my granddaughter I have to live in the moment. She wants me to draw pictures with her and throw a ball and do all sorts of innocent things. You have to put your mobile down and turn the TV off and give them a bit of time and effort – that’s really all they want.”
Don’t suffer in silence, EarLab can help get you enjoying life again
It can be difficult to tell someone you think they need to get their hearing checked. Even for older people, the stigma of hearing loss and hearing aids leads many to ignore the problem for years.
Hearing loss can be frustrating but also socially isolating, meaning people withdraw from busy environments or background noise.
Even from the age of 40, without ear disease, we start to lose our ability to hear high pitched sounds. Some, with a family history of hearing loss or with ear disease, will lose hearing more appreciably at a faster rate. Hearing loss in this respect is due to inner ear loss (sensorineural) and not usually reversible.
Some hearing loss, however, is conductive. This means sound cannot get to the inner ear due to obstruction in the canal (wax, infection, abnormalities) or problems with the ear drum and bones of hearing.
I would encourage patients with hearing loss to get checked out by a professional. A good start is to have the ears checked and cleared of wax at which point a proper assessment of the ear health can be made. After this hearing tests and occasionally referral to an ENT clinic may be advised.
l Mr David Walker MBChB FRCS (ORL-HNS) MSc Consultant ENT Surgeon, EarLab, Haslemere
Ear wax removal and specialist advice £85 for both ears
We’ve teamed up with Adam Henson to invite you to send us pictures of the wildlife in your garden – or local park – and win seeds to help improve biodiversity
One of the UK’s best-known farmers and TV presenter Adam Henson has launched a range of British Wildflower Seeds, the first product line to launch from his new online store, Wildscape.
Developed in collaboration with leading experts in ecology and sustainable agriculture, Wildscape promise to create beautiful spaces, bringing joy to all those who experience them and creating essential habitats to foster biodiversity.
“I believe everyone should consider growing wildflowers,” says Adam, “not only are they beautiful native British blooms, but they also support local biodiversity. No matter if it’s a small pot in an urban setting or large garden, wildflowers create a mini ecosystem right outside your window, attracting a variety of birds, insects, and other delightful creatures.”
Someone who is doing their bit for nature and enjoying it is Chris Waymouth who has shared some pictures of some creatures in his Buckinghamshire garden.
“I was brought up in a small village in Northamptonshire and my father was a lover of wildlife and the outdoors,” Chris tells us. “I used to roam the fields beside the River Nene, absorbing all that the countryside had to offer.
“I used to roam the fields beside the River Nene, absorbing all that the countryside had to offer.”
“As a youngster I wasn’t allowed to touch my father’s prized Rolleiflex camera. I had to make do with a Kodak Brownie, until I was given a simple Agfa for my 21st birthday and this really kickstarted my lifelong interest in photography.
“When I met my wife she had some pro-quality Canon kit and this took me to another level. Digital cameras arrived on the scene and this was another step forward. Finally, three or four years ago, I became pretty serious about my hobby and invested in a mirrorless camera with extremely high resolution and I’ve expanded my range of lenses to seven. These include macro for close-ups of insects and flowers etc, and very long telephoto lenses for bird and wildlife shots.
“My garden in Jordans backs on to beech woods. It is not a showpiece; I prefer a more natural look including a wild area at the back. It is through here that my four-legged visitors arrive: muntjac, roe deer, fox, badger, hedgehog, not to mention the two or three rabbits who are usually trimming my lawn when I pull back the curtains in the morning. Plus, of course, the squirrels. I enjoy stretching my longest lenses to maximum reach to get full-face shots of all of these.
“Then there are the birds. Lots of them! I have half a dozen feeders in the front garden and a couple at the back and clearly the word is out among our feathered friends that this place is good for a meal or two. The list of regulars include all the usual garden birds: robin, blackbird, song thrush, chaffinch, bullfinch, blue tit, great tit, long-tailed tit, dunnock, wren, jay, green and great spotted woodpeckers and just recently a brambling, not to mention the ever-present woodpigeon, collar dove, magpie, jackdaw, crow, green parakeet and the red kite circling majestically overhead.
“Although I do not have a huge array of flowers, there are plenty to attract bees and a variety of bugs and this is where the macro lens comes into its own, capturing the subject at 1.4x life size. With the high resolution of the camera (a Canon EOS R5) I can then “crop” (zoom into) the photo once it is on my computer and end up with some highly detailed, sharp images.
“I have something like 35,000 photos on my computer – here are just a few for you to enjoy.”
To enter, upload your pictures to Instagram or Facebook and tag @roundandaboutmag with the hashtag #RAphotocompetition to be involved and we’ll choose a winner to receive the seeds. The competition ends June 1st.
