Welcome to our new website. It’s been a while, but I think you’ll agree, it’s much more fun to visit our website now. You can see our July stories by county or town, or just by subject only.
While you are here, why not enter our July competitions or take part in our poll or test your knowledge with our footie quiz?
We would love to know what you think, so go ahead, enter your comments below.
England has reached the final quarter final. Calm your footie nerves with a little FIFA World Cup general knowledge?
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It was all kissing-off this Sunday, as Love Island ITV2 got a little too hot for comfort. Do you care about the waves of emotion or do you really hate this type of programme?
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Are you “summer ready”? Well, we know that means many things to many people and we are not about to make any imperious statements on how to look – on the beach or anywhere!
Some of us are in the low-maintenance camp when it comes to primping and preening, but we all want to feel our best selves, especially when the sun shines. And applying a lovely moisturiser, fresh from the fridge (expert tip) is one of those small joys that make life just a little sunnier.
Whether you’re lucky enough to be jetting off towards somewhere exotic, have been invited to a wedding or just want some sparkle, the good news is that there are so many new easy-to-use products and treatments for all pockets, including travel versions (100ml or less). Happy holidays!
Protecting your skin doesn’t have to be a faff. What’s more, experts at the British Skin Foundation say own-brand products are not necessarily less effective than pricier options. However, dermatologists rave about La Roche Posay’s Anthelios range which sinks in superbly and offers SPF 50 (the factor recommended for face and hands, which show damage soonest, whatever the weather). Another beauty insider fave is Institute Esthederm’s Adaptasun. If you do get slightly too much sun, or are flying, try this aloe vera sheet mask by Masque Bar.
Cult beauty fans: Huda Beauty’s Summer Solstice Highlighter Palette boasts four sunny colours to exaggerate cheekbones, brow bones and collarbones… don’t be alarmed – they work on all age ranges and skin tones! Helen Mirren recently waxed lyrical about microblading (the semi-permanent eyebrow tattoo) which has helped frame her face. Check it out at your nearest salon as well as Urban Decay’s brow range. Every handbag needs a YSL Touch Eclat (check out the limited edition stars design). And NARS does peerless bronzers such as this in Sun Wash. Check out Cult Beauty, Birch Box and Beauty Pie for bargains.
Some people seem to “glow” effortlessly and one of them is Tamara Ecclestone whose new range called Show, especially the Shimmer Body Oil (£35) is adding a classy occasion-ready shimmer to our skin here at R&A Towers (and looks pretty on your
dressing table); www.harveynichols.co.uk We’re also enamoured with NKD SKN pre-shower gradual tan lotion; www.nkdskn.com. If you do want to eschew the slap-on-at-home route, the Tanning Shop team can help you tan as safely as possible courtesy of their spray tan and sunbed options – visit www.thetanningshop.co.uk
Protecting your hair from UV damage is just as important as protecting your skin if you want to have healthy hair. Check out our helpful tips (see right) for sleek summer hair and Label M products such as its Protein Spray which can be spritzed on before and after going in the water and in the sun. Another hair product insiders are raving about is Matrix Biology Advanced Keratindose Pro-Keratin Renewal Spray (£12.35, www.lookfantastic.com). And be prepared to swoon when you sniff Diptyque’s heavenly Eau des Sens range, which includes a hair mist we didn’t know we couldn’t live without until now! www.diptyqueparis.co.uk
For perfect pins, FFS (it stands for Friction Free Shaving, people!) has come to the rescue with a deluxe “shaviour” range! This includes a rose gold or silvia engraved German-designed razor, made to handle women’s curves, refills and add-on products, with subscription packages from just £9 a month… Just hide your box of goodies from housemates/ family! For a truly sleek finish, waxing has come a long way, with the best practitioners (such as Pure Beauty in Fulham) using only the finest resins, natural ingredients and aromatherapy oils – good practitioners can remove some hair as short as 1mm.
Beauty editors and the glossy posse have been glowing about the bespoke hyaluronic acid injections courtesy of Chelsea’s Lovely Clinic; www.thelovelyclinic.co.uk
We don’t approve of “anti-ageing” as such but if you want a beauty boost, Harley Street dreamboat Dr Dirk Kremer (Google him!) has form when it comes to skin rejuvenation. Regularly named one of the world’s top plastic surgeons, he spent years working in an intensive care burns unit and recently launched his own peptide-driven SkinDoc range. www.skindocformula.com. And we’re swooning over the new flavours of Purple Tree Skincare’s Miracle Balms. Made from naturally derived ingredients, these handbag must-haves are cruelty- free and vegan friendly for multiple uses.
Skincare
Fade Out’s vitamin-enriched formulations harness natural active ingredients to even skin tone and reduce hyperpigmentation caused by sun exposure, ageing and hormonal changes in less than four weeks, thanks to vederine and kahai oil; www.fadeout.com. We’re also big fans of the Origins x Madeleine Shaw range, full of natural goodies, including the Glow-Co-Nuts face mask; www.origins.co.uk. And check out Yardley London’s summer range www.yardleylondon.co.uk
Ever wondered why, during summer, your hair becomes extra damaged? It might feel particularly dry and brittle. This is because UV rays burn the inside and outside layers of the hair follicles. Just like unprotected skin, the hair can get sunburnt, too. So, just as you would apply sun cream to your skin on a sunny day, you should think about protecting or covering your hair or maybe covering it up with a hat. Your hair has the same pH level as your skin, so it needs just as much protection. You need to consider your scalp, too, which will become sensitive, dry, and flaky if it burns. When your hair gets burnt, it becomes more fragile and likely to break. It will also increase colour fade, making your hair look dull and lifeless. You can prevent this damage by using a UV protector. The pick of the best are Mythic Oil, Intense Repair by Shu Uemura, and Nutrifier by L’Oréal. The mask will smooth out sun-exposed hair, recover softness and help to clear up any flakiness on your scalp.
Follow all these tips, and you will be beach ready in no time!
Attention! Learn about what life is like as a soldier, now and historically at The National Army Museum. There are plenty of exhibitions and workshops to visit, and to follow are just a few highlights of what has been curated…
Special Forces: In the Shadows is a major exhibition presenting ideas of security and secrecy through the lens of British Special Forces. Discover who these elite soldiers are, the training and skills they need and some of the operations they’ve undertaken around the world over the past 70 years. Exhibiting from now until November.
Learn about the forgotten fronts of the First World War with 20-minute object handling of artefacts from the Indian Army collection, on Wednesday, 4th July, between 11am and 2.30pm.
Behind the scenes: Artists Rifles on Wednesday, 4th July, 6.30-8pm, Is a talk about Artists Rifles, a regiment formed in 1860 by a group of painters, architects, poets, sculptors, musicians and actors concerned about a possible French invasion. Notable members included William Morris, Frederick Leighton and Noël Coward.
Bluebirds of War: Canadian nurses in the First World War, is on Friday, 6th July, 11.30am. Dr Andrea McKenzie discusses the experiences on the Western Front, and how, through shot and shell, bombs and torpedoes, 3,000 miles from their homes, the nurses cared for the casualties of war.
Security and the army tour on Saturday, 7th July, 2pm, will explore the topic of security and the army, in 2018.
Operation Husky, 1943 is on Friday, 13th July, 11.30am, where Will Fowler discusses the amphibious and airborne assault on Sicily, that was a major campaign of the Second World War.
Remembering Australians in the First World War
is on Friday, 20th July, 11.30am, with Dr Jenny Macleod exploring Australia’s pride in its military role in the First World War and how this has been used as the basis of its national identity.
Parachute Summer, from Saturday, 21st July until Sunday, 2nd September. Just pick up a ticket from the Welcome Desk. Make a parachute and see how well it works at this free workshop.
The National Army Museum is in Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, SW3 4HT. Call 020 7730 0717 to find out more about the talks and workshops or book online at www.nam.ac.uk
We live in a world that is literally awash with a concoction of untested chemicals. They are in soaps, detergents, cleaning products, furniture, cars, trains, planes, till receipts, plastics, paints, carpets, clothes, cosmetics, drinking water and food… and this is not an exhaustive list! Not only have about 80,000 chemicals been released into the environment since 1945, the majority have never been fully tested. Studies suggest you do not have to be exposed to a high dose to experience harmful effects. We are only now just beginning to see the results of this “experiment”…
Some have been classified as “hormone disruptors”, meaning they interfere with the intricate balance of hormones in humans and wildlife, potentially leading to developmental and reproductive problems. There is concern over the rising number of hormone-related disorders in both humans and wildlife and the results of recent scientific research include thyroid disease, hormonally driven cancers, early puberty, obesity and type 2 diabetes.
The United Nations and the World Health Organisation have jointly published a report calling for more research to understand the link. It is unfortunately now impossible to escape being exposed to some extent to toxins, but you can dramatically reduce the total toxic load you are under, by making sensible lifestyle choices when it comes to what you eat, drink, wear and use. For example avoid consuming plastic bottled water (especially carbonated), filter your drinking and bathing water, eat organic foods, buy environmentally friendly/or make your own household detergents/dishwashing/cleaning and laundry products, stop using a fabric conditioner, think carefully about the use of garden chemicals/lawn treatments, use natural soaps/shampoos and reduce the use of personal care products and cosmetics/seek out natural alternatives. Consuming a nutrient-dense diet as well as directly supporting optimal liver and gut health are also key.
Call Mark BSc (Hons) BA (Hons) mBANT CNHC on 0118 321 9533 or visit www.entirewellbeing.com
The Natural History Museum takes visitors from tree-tops to sea beds to celebrate biodiversity and the amazing power of nature, with it latest family-friendly display. From fish to foxes, bats to boas, visitors can get up-close to a huge variety of elusive creatures, in its latest exhibition: Life In The Dark.
Professor Geoff Boxshall, science lead, explains: “At any one time, half the world is in darkness, and no sunlight ever reaches the deep sea or underground caves. Yet the night-time world is teeming with life and both the deep sea and caves are inhabited by a myriad of species. Even in the absence of light, life has found a way.”
This family-friendly exhibition delves into the darkest corners of earth to reveal a vibrant ecosystem as rich and diverse as any in sunlight. Utilising the latest advances, the museum has researched a huge variety of specimens and species in previously inaccessible and challenging places.
As well as coming face-to-face with some of the planet’s most elusive animals, visitors will can enjoy immersive installations, transporting them from the chaos of a bat-filled cave past live specimens and on to the spectacular luminescence of a deep sea light show. You’ll be among the first to see recently identified specimens, entirely new to science.
Be enlightened by the darkness at this summer’s most fascinating exploration, and discover that when the lights go out, the action begins.
Free late event on Friday, 27th July, 6-10pm, visit www.nhm.ac.uk
We’re spoilt for choice with fantastic British seasonal produce and cooking light, speedy food is key to feeling good, inside and out! Recipes created by Katie Kingsley.
I love making French toast with slightly stale challah bread. The sweet, gutsy slices offset the sharpness of the compote making it a nicely balanced dish that we often eat as a late summer brunch. Almost any fruit works nicely cooked in this fashion, just by adding a little citrus juice, sugar and cooking down until it reaches a jammy consistency.
First pit 600g of cherries then add to a pan with 100g of caster sugar and the juice from an orange. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until thick and syrupy. Transfer to a bowl and leave to cool. Using a spatula, mix together 250g of mascarpone with 150g of crème fraiche, 40g of sieved icing sugar, ¼ tsp of vanilla extract and the seeds from one vanilla pod then leave in the fridge until serving. Heat 500ml of full-fat milk in a pan with 2 tbsp of caster sugar and the seeds from another vanilla pod, stirring occasionally with a whisk. As soon as it comes to a boil, remove from heat and transfer to a shallow dish. When cooled, add three whisked eggs, whisking to combine. Thickly slice a challah or brioche loaf and saturate in your milk mix while you heat a knob of unsalted butter in a frying pan.
Use tongs to remove slices from the milk mix and fry gently on each side until golden brown and crisp. Serve with a dollop of vanilla mascarpone, cherry compote and dusting of icing sugar.
A perfect way of using up leftover compote, simply layer in glasses or jam jars with plain yoghurt and fresh fruit if you wish then top with granola and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup.
What makes this special is the homemade mayonnaise. I highly recommend making your own with fresh herbs; well worth the minimal effort!
To make the mayonnaise, add two egg yolks, 1 tsp of Dijon mustard, the juice from half a lemon and pinch of salt to the small bowl of a food processor. With the motor running, very slowly and steadily pour in 100ml of rapeseed oil in a thin stream until the mayonnaise emulsifies. Add a small handful of fresh tarragon and chives then blitz again until the herbs are finely chopped and mixed into the mayo. Ideally, use about 300g of fresh white crab meat, but a mix of white and brown will do almost as well with as much mayonnaise as you like. Check seasoning and adjust salt then add white pepper to taste. Serve on toasted brown buttered bread with lemon wedges.
This feels fresh but substantial and goes well with barbecued meat or fish. If you can’t get fregola, use orzo or Israeli couscous.
Slice about 10 baby courgettes into 1cm rounds, season with salt and fry in a hot pan with a little rapeseed oil until nicely charred on both sides then leave to cool. Cook 1 cup of fregola in salted water according to the packet then drain and mix through 1-2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil and the juice from a lemon. Take a chunk of pecorino and use a vegetable peeler to shave the cheese until you have a large handful of shavings. Add the cooled fregola to a large serving bowl and mix through the pecorino, 150g of fresh ricotta in chunks, a handful of fresh torn basil leaves, a few handfuls of black olives and the courgettes. Adjust the seasoning and lemon juice and olive oil, too. When happy with the flavour serve with more pecorino shavings and basil leaves.