The Queen owns no property outside Britain.- She owns at least 30 furs. They are worth a reported £1 million. There is a refrigerated fur store at Buckingham Palace.
- Her estimated worth is more than £100 million.
- Her investments are held by a company called Bank Of England Nominees. It allows heads of states to buy shares anonymously.
- Under the ancient law of Bona Vacantia, The Queen is entitled to the property of those who die without heirs within the Duchy’s realm, the Country Palatine. The Queen still gets this money but apparently gives it to charity.
- She earns at least £1 million a month minimum.
- The Sovereign Grant, the amount of money the Queen gets from the government, was £31 million in 2012/13.
- The Royal Collection consists of 7,000 paintings, 40,000 watercolours and drawing and 150,000 Old Masters prints.
- The royal cars at Sandringham are worth an estimated £7.1 million
- She doesn’t need a passport and is the only person in the United Kingdom who is not required to have a driving licence in order to drive. She also does not require number plates on any of her cars. The official website of the British monarchy says, “As a British passport is issued in the name of Her Majesty, it is unnecessary for The Queen to possess one.”
- William and Harry just call her ‘granny’
- No alarm clock: she wakes to the sound of her personal bagpiper every morning.
- Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms.
- She met Prince Phillip when she was just 13.
Author Archives: Frostie
I Heart Studios Unveil Ben Sherman Collaboration
I Heart Studios unveil their next collaboration for Week Two of their Shoreditch Art Wall Takeover
Kicking off week two of I Heart Studios’ takeover of the Shoreditch Art Wall, is British heritage brand – Ben Sherman.
From January 29th, the 60 square metre space will showcase the Ben Sherman S/S14 Parachute Collection as portrayed by the creative and conceptual photography of I Heart Studios.
The East London street canvas exhibits the experimental use of product photography that enhances the geometric fabrics and prints used throughout the Ben Sherman Parachute Collection. I Heart Studios have showcased the lightweight and transparent style of the fabric to create an abstract quality to the product range.
I Heart Studios Creative Director Martin Winslade comments:- “We’re always inspired by the way product photography can be highly conceptual and experimental so it tells an interesting brand story. We loved the Ben Sherman Parachute collection because of the way it was inspired by fabric and geometric pattern, so we wanted to create images that represented the essence of the product and embodied the contemporary feel of this collection”
Following on from the Spitfire Sunglasses collaboration, which showcased their new S/S 2014 collection, I Heart Studios will continue to display their curated selection of collaborations until February 19th 2014 with Underated London and Fault Magazine.
The collaborations not only illustrate the strong brand relationships held by I Heart Studios, but also the diversity of what the Studios offer. From conceptual and creative product shots to lifestyle and studio based editorial photography, I Heart Studios are pioneers of digital visual content with an instinctive understanding of the market and the rich variety of brands within it.
Celia Birtwell Portraits By David Hockney On Display
Portraits of textile designer Celia Birtwell will be on display during Dulwich Picture Gallery’s major exhibition ‘Hockney, Printmaker’ (5 February- 11 May 2013). The show is timed to coincide with the 60th anniversary of David Hockney’s first print, and will provide an instructive and entertaining overview of the artist’s career as printmaker. Grouped by theme and technique in a series of displays, the exhibition featuring over 100 works will include eight portraits of Celia created between 1973 and 1998.
Celia first saw Hockney in 1968 in Portobello Road, and later met him again through Ossie Clark who was friends with Hockney at the Royal College of Art. After this time she became a regular presence in the artist’s work, including his prints; of which she features in approximately 30, constituting about a quarter of his total printed portrait oeuvre. A shared interest in aesthetics and a fascination with each other’s work and style have drawn them together. Hockney said “She’s playful, funny. When I first met her, I was attracted to the fact that she could make me laugh, and that’s a very big appeal to me”
Hockney’s depictions of her show his attitude towards portraiture in general, that it should be based on a psychological insight into his sitters’ lives, hence his aversion to commissioned portraits. Hockney believes that you can only draw someone when you know them and the closer the relationship the better the portrait.
Many of the Celia portraits reference the private, domestic scenes of Matisse and late 19th century artists such as Degas, depicting women engaged in routine activities, dreaming or sunk in thought. The portraits of her included in the show span a quarter of a century, and we can see that as Hockney grew in confidence, they became increasingly vibrant, energetic and bold, such as An Image of Celia, State II (1984-86). He created his larger lithographs, such as Big Celia Print #2, using long-handled brushes and dilute lithographic inks. The drips and splashes attest to the speed with which the prints were executed; a refreshing contrast to traditional lithographic portraits, which often took days to complete.
Celia Birtwell said:
“We have always felt completely comfortable in each other’s company. We amused each other. I found posing for him to be a very intimate, and silent, affair…Before commencing we have a conversation about how he wants me to look. I could look left or right. He may say, ‘Move your arm.’ ‘Sit further back.’ ‘Look out of the window.’ then comes the moment when he suddenly says, ‘I like that.’ whilst he’s drawing me I can see the intensity, struggle and concentration on his face. The intensity is extraordinary. After an hour or so he’ll say, ‘do you want to take a break, luvvie?’ Sometimes I take a peek at the portrait, other times I prefer to wait until it’s finished. He always says he doesn’t appeal to vanity. Whatever my feelings are, they are always amazing.”
‘Hockney, Printmaker’ is curated by Richard Lloyd, International Head of the Print Department at Christie’s. Loans have been secured from key lenders including Salt’s Mill, Saltaire, David Hockney Inc., David Hockney Foundation, National Gallery of Art, Washington, National Gallery of Art, Canberra, Bradford Museums and Galleries, Tate and Private Collections. A fully illustrated colour catalogue published by Scala accompanies the exhibition and features an illuminating text by Celia Birtwell. It will explore the key themes in the exhibition in the context of the artist’s biography, together with texts from contributors such as Marco Livingstone, John Kasmin, Peter Tatchell and Martin Gayford.
Image: Celia Birtwell sitting for Hockney as he draws Celia with Wind and Snow from his Weather series and Chair – ,- The Colony, Malibu pinned to wall. Gemini G.E.L., artist’s studio, Los Angleles, California. National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, gift of Kenneth Tyler 2001.
Cara And Girlfriend ‘Dial-A-Dracula Drip’ In Quest For Vitamin Boost
Also known as The Party Girl Drip, this intravenous vitamin infusion claims to boost energy levels, the immune system and cure hangovers. Adopted by hard partying A-listers from Rhianna, Rosie Huntington-Whitely and Simon Cowell, this 40 minute invasive procedure can be ‘delivered’ to private addresses for around £400.
What’s actually is the ‘Dial-A-Dracula Drip’ ?
The IV drip, is a vitamin cocktail containing vitamins B and C, and minerals, magnesium and calcium which claims to boost energy levels and increase immunity.
Not a fan of needles?
Sharon Morey from Quest Vitamins gives us her expert advice ‘We mere mortals can easily gain similar benefit from adding a multi-nutrient or B complex supplement to your regular supplement regime, the B vitamins, including B12, vitamin C and magnesium help to reduce tiredness and fatigue, deficiency of B12 and folic acid in particular can result in tiredness and a lack of energy’
Sharon advises ‘Aim for a good all round Multi B complex with vitamin C to help give you that A-list boost of energy the painless way.’ Try Quest Vitamins new Multi B Complex, £5.60 from questexcellence.com
Want are the down sides of an IV vitamin drip?
Side effects can include fever, dizziness, inflammation of the vein, infection, and in some cases anaphylactic shock. Critics say a lot of the feel-good factor stars claim to experience afterwards is more likely to be from a Placebo affect than the result of the IV itself.
A Man Is Not A Financial Plan – New Book Aims To Help Women Take Control
‘The Wealthy Woman – a man is not a financial plan’ is published January 2014.
Mary Waring has worked with 100s of women helping them take control of their finances.
Far too many women find ‘dealing with the money’ a daunting task and leave it in the hands of their partners. However, this can leave them with little control over their own financial lives and sadly, if they then get divorced or are widowed, they are left floundering with little understanding of how much money they have, or don’t have, and what this means to their lifestyle.
By understanding your finances and taking control you can make your money work for you. That’s the message in Mary Waring’s new book ‘The Wealthy Woman: A Man is Not a Financial Plan: A Woman’s Guide to Achieving Financial Security’ published January 2014.
“Many women tell me that they simply don’t do maths – and this mental block seems to be an epidemic among women everywhere. However, these are often admirable women with high-level jobs. My message is simple – you are more than able to handle all of your finances,” says Mary Waring.
So, do you want to be more confident about your finances? Do you want to be a wealthy woman?
“Wealthy” will mean different things to different women. It doesn’t necessarily mean “rolling in it” and having so much money that you’ll enter The Times ‘rich list’. It may simply mean you feel confident you will have enough money to do the things that you plan to do in the future, no matter how lavish or frugal a lifestyle you lead.
Mary’s book will guide you on your journey to become a wealthy woman by showing you how taking small steps on a regular basis can lead to a significant increase in your wealth.
If you currently have such a lack of control over your finances that you are too afraid to open your credit card statement at the end of the month, this book will show you how to take control.
“The Wealthy Woman” will encourage you to think about your attitude towards money and your relationship with it.
As Mary says; “It’s easy to be wealthy just as it’s easy to be poor. There’s very little difference in the way you can become either. You are in a position where you can improve your wealth. Whatever your dreams and aspirations around money there is nothing to stop you moving towards those dreams.”
Mary Waring is an independent financial adviser and the founder of Wealth For Women, specialising in financial advice to women going through divorce. She is both a Chartered Financial Planner and a Chartered Accountant, being one of only a handful of advisers in the whole of the UK with this high level of qualification.
Mary is passionate about changing the way women think about finance. Too many women stick their head in the sand and ignore it. Or…rely on a man to sort it for them.
‘The Wealthy Woman: A Man is Not a Financial Plan: A Woman’s Guide to Achieving Financial Security’ is published in January 2014 and is available from Amazon
How to Quit Sugar in 12 Steps
Sugar makes our food tastier, gives us a quick boost of energy, and leaves us feeling great, at least temporarily. But it’s also a highly addictive substance and, when consumed frequently, can have negative effects on our health and well-being, with symptoms ranging from energy dips, a ‘sluggish’ feeling and poor skin, to more severe health problems including obesity, diabetes, premature aging, and many other chronic health conditions. Fat was traditionally blamed for many of these problems, but sugar is now shown to be far more harmful than fat! For this reason, and simply to feel or look healthier, many of us are taking the positive decision to cut out or drastically reduce the amount of sugar in our diets.
We enlist the help of Nutritional Therapist, Cassandra Barns, at nutricentre.com to give us The Ultimate 12 Step Sugar-Free programme.
Portion Control
Cassandra advises, ‘Aim for foods that have a low glycaemic load, as their impact on blood sugar level is minimal and you’ll be less likely to experience blood glucose highs and lows that will have you reaching for the cookie jar. Make sure each meal includes protein, non-starchy vegetables and unrefined carbohydrates. Limit sweet tasting veg (parsnips, potato and carrots) and opt for green veg like broccoli and spinach, ideally making up half your plate. Good protein (lean turkey, eggs, fish, beans) are digested slowly and make you feel fuller for longer, carbs should be wholegrain varieties for the same reason.’’
I must not skip breakfast
According to Cassandra, ‘’If we don’t have breakfast, often by 11 am or midday, we become hungry and crave sugar, as our blood sugar levels drop too low. Try two poached eggs on a slice of wholemeal bread with some rocket leaves or a pot of sugar-free yoghurt with nuts and berries.’’
Quit sugar, not snacks
‘’A healthy snack between meals can help while you’re giving up sugar, as it stops your sugar levels dropping too low, which can cause sweet cravings. Good examples include: two oatcakes topped with a tablespoon of humus or guacamole or cottage cheese and half an avocado. Avoid bananas and grapes and opt for berries as they are naturally low in sugar.’’ Cassandra warns.
Limit alcohol
‘’Alcohol raises blood sugar, but being a liquid, it is even more quickly absorbed into the bloodstream than sugar. Alcohol also contains more calories than sugar: 7 calories per gram versus 4 calories per gram! Alcohol binges are a classic way to set up a cycle of cravings for sugary, stodgy foods the day after. Stick to one small to medium glass of wine with a meal once or twice a week’’, advises Cassandra.
Look after your gut
Cassandra explains ‘’Overgrowth of unhelpful yeasts in the gut, such as candida, can contribute to, or exacerbate sugar cravings. Ironically, eating sugar and high-starch foods makes the candida overgrowth worse, so we become stuck in a catch-22 situation. To help solve this, try taking a high-strength, good quality probiotic supplement such as ProVen’s ‘Adult Probiotic 25 Billion’ £12.95 from www.provenprobiotics.co.uk , loaded with friendly bacteria.’’
Go easy on the tea and coffee
Caffeine is a stimulant that causes our body’s stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline to be released, which in turn cause a cycle of energy dips and peaks, and make you more likely to crave sugar later on. Decaffeinated coffee and tea contains other stimulants, so try better options such as naturally caffeine free rooibos tea or grain based coffee alternatives.
Consider natural sugar alternatives
Xylitol is a naturally sweet substance found in many plants. In commercial preparations, it is found in granules and looks and tastes like sugar, although slightly less sweet. Stevia is a substance extracted from the leaf of the stevia plant. It is an intensely sweet substance and very little is needed to give a sweet taste – it has very few calories and minimal impact on blood glucose.
Treat yourself
Three squares of good quality dark chocolate (minimum 70% cocoa): this amount will only contain a relatively small amount of sugar, and there is also evidence that dark chocolate has health benefits or try a small pot of sugar-free plain yoghurt, with a teaspoon of pure cocoa or raw cacao powder
Chromium to control cravings
‘Chromium, this trace mineral has a vital role in supporting normal blood glucose levels, and therefore helping to prevent the dips that cause us to crave sugary foods. Try Quest Vitamin’s ‘Chromium Picolinate’ £4.04 from www.questexcellence.com. Take one tablet a day, preferably with breakfast. This supplement also contains vitamin B3, which works closely together with chromium. Chromium can take a month or longer to have its full effect, so persevere or start taking chromium before attempting to give up sugar.’ Cassandra advises
Exercise!
Cassandra stresses ‘’Moderate exercise helps us to feel energised, less sluggish, and healthier. It can help to control stress levels and also support blood sugar control to avoid dips that will induce cravings.’’
Reduce your stress
‘Stress is one of the primary triggers for sugar cravings, as our body is being prepared for physical action (the ‘fight or flight’ syndrome). So try in any way you can to reduce stress, whether it is by delegating or reducing your workload, taking some gentle exercise, or practising yoga or meditation to help you relax. Reduced stress will often mean better sleep as well, which will mean better energy levels the next day.’ explains Cassandra.
Energising vitamins and minerals
According to Cassandra ‘Most of us can benefit from extra support, to prevent tiredness triggering those pesky sugar cravings. B vitamins, vitamin C and the mineral magnesium are particularly important nutrients that are needed to produce energy from the foods that we eat; and we can struggle to get enough of them, even in a healthy diet.’
All supplements mentioned can be found at nutricentre.com. Want to give up sugar for 2014? Got a question that isn’t covered here? NutriCentre offers a free Nutritional Advice helpline manned by a team of highly qualified nutritionists, like Cassandra, ready to answer any natural health questions you may have. Advice line: 0207 436 5122, open Mon-Sat
Simple Flower Arranging: Step-By-Step Designs & Techniques Book Review
Although this is in the wedding section the book works well for every day and every occasion. Simple Flower Arranging: Step-By-Step Designs & Techniques by Mark Welford & Stephen Wicks is a money-saving book, but also one with hours of funfor the creative and people who love flowers. Written by ex-Royal Ballet dancers and the owners of the award-winning destination florist
Bloomsbury Flowers in Covent Garden, Mark Welford & Stephen Wicks have written a book to let blooming florists make amazing arrangements.
The book guides you through designs and techniques. There are over 60 different projects and the book teaches you to bring the professional touch to your arrangements. There are a lot of insider tips and it is very easy to read and understand.
The book also lets you take things around the home and use them to create great arrangements. The getting started section leaves you with a lot of knowledge; going through colour palette, vases, flower shapes, foliage and basic equipment. There is also chapters on maintence and tips.
The pictures and illustrations in the book are not only beautiful, but also make it easy to follow, along with the step-by-step guide. This is a very good book which allows you to make beautiful arrangements for every occasion.
B.K.S Iyengar Yoga The Path To Holistic Health Book Review
It is a book review special on Frost today and next up; time to get your yoga on.
B.K.S Iyengar is one of the greatest yoga teachers in the world and Iyengar Yoga is one of the most practiced yoga systems globally. Very impressive indeed.
This book gives you a lot of bang for your buck. The book is suitable for every age and ability and contains specially developed yoga sequences to alleviate over 80 ailments, ranging from IBS, asthma, arthritis and diabetes. I really liked that section. It takes each ailment and then there is step-by-step pictures of each sequence, along with a reference at the bottom to know which page to go to for a more in-depth guide to the move. There is also a 20-week course for beginners that is very handy. Each section is well-illustrated with lots of pictures.
There is also a celebration of B.K.S Iyengar life in his own words. Perfect whether a fan or a beginner wanting to know more. I find a lot of the quotes inspirational, as is B.K.S Iyengar’s life. This is a great in-depth book, full of inspiration and knowledge. Great for yoga lovers and beginners alike.
