Author Archives: Catherine Balavage

Down and Out Today: Notes From The Gutter by Matthew Small Book Review

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Down and Out Today by Matthew Small Book ReviewI have always been interested in socioeconomics and poverty, and this book from Matthew Small really caught my eye. When my preview copy arrived I read it very quickly. It is a good book. It is well researched and asks important questions. The comparison between poverty in India and poverty in the UK is an interesting one. The truth is there is really no comparison, in India you have slums, in the UK you have a welfare system. The parallels are interesting. You have the Big Issue seller who doesn’t think he is poor because he has what he needs, people who work hard but life beats them down. Those in India with no safety net. Many of the stories in this book haunted me. Especially the one about a a little girl and a baby boy both sleeping on the streets at night. They were alone with no adult, the little girl asleep, using a plastic bag full of rubbish as a pillow and the baby boy, presumably her brother, wearing nothing but a ripped T shirt, bare bottom on the concrete. The baby was gurgling and laughing, playing with a piece of paper on the street, sticking it in his mouth the way babies do. Smalls says he is haunted by this and it is the worst thing he has ever seen but nothing is done. I often think of the child and infant. I have even tried to find them via the internet. I can just hope that someone took pity on them and lifted them from their plight. We live in such a sad world and I can’t help but think more can be done It made me so proud of my own country and our welfare and NHS. You cannot say we do not help the poor. Those who are homeless long term tend to have mental health issues or drug or alcohol problems. Because of this I feel that is where we should turn our efforts in the UK: to those with mental health problems or addiction. This book is a good book but also a haunting one. More importantly, if anyone could let me know what happened to those poor children I would be eternal grateful.

Down and Out Today: Notes from the Gutter is available here.

This is a topical book exploring the meaning of poverty today; questioning whether poverty is specific only to money. The book explores poverty across contemporary society and cultures specifically looking at UK poverty (in Bath) in comparison to India.

Second book from the popular ‘Notes From’ series, with the first book The Wall Between Us endorsed by Jon Snow. The book includes powerful images from Matthew’s travels.

What does poverty mean today? Writer Matthew Small seeks to answer this question and witness the similarities and differences between poverty in the UK and India.

Poverty stretches across all of humanity and by travelling East, Small encounters the raw faces of poverty in India’s slums; he works in a leprosy community, joins the Sisters of Mercy on the littered yet exhilarating streets of Kolkata. He then returns to the UK, to Bath, to see what the passing of three months means to those who are scarred by one of the most unglamorous of all humanities’ ills, being poor.

Small engages with different community members who are living with poverty, to answer these long standing questions: What’s keeping them down? What’s pushing them out? And how can we move forward?

 

 

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying By Marie Kondo Book Review

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thelifechangingmagicoftidyingDe-cluttering is very in at the moment. In fact, it is a trend that does not seem to be going away, and when you think of our consumeristic society and all of the stuff we have is it any wonder? We buy too much and have nowhere to put it. Most of us are drowning in stuff. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying By Marie Kondo is less of a book, more of a movement. People on Mumsnet rave about it and people say it has changed their life. It has 453 five star reviews on Amazon.co.uk. The hype is so high I was actually thinking about buying the book the very day it arrived to be reviewed. Happy me. I read the book quickly. We moved in to our new place in May this year and our flat is still overflowing with stuff, despite numerous trips to charity shops and selling stuff on eBay.co.uk. Can this book help? Let’s find out.

The books premise is that you should only keep things in your life if they spark joy. The KonMari method (a nickname of the authors) claims to tidy your rooms once and for all. You start with clothes, then books, then papers, miscellaneous items (like kitchen equipment) and, lastly, sentimental items. You leave sentimental things to last after your decision making skills have become better. Some of the book is great and other things seem harder. The tidying must be done all at once. Not easy when you have a baby. Whatever section you are doing must be put in a pile on the floor and then done all at once. I don’t know when I would find the time to do this. As for everything ‘sparking joy’. I have a lot of things that don’t spark joy but I need them. I am not going to get excited about my underwear or cutlery. Despite this, this is a good book. The book is not just about throwing things out, it is also about storing things, finding the place where things should go. Kondo even tells you how to fold properly (vertically, as it turns out). Some of the book is a bit hippy but Marie Kondo knows her stuff and following the method will result in a tidy and clutter free house. I will do this method fully and do a more in depth article soon. I just have to find the time. In the meantime, I like this book because it left me feeling inspired to get going and has great ideas. I have already thrown a lot of stuff out and this book even helps you make some tough decisions. Good if you want to get your life, and home, in order.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying: A simple, effective way to banish clutter forever is available here.

Transform your home into a permanently clear and clutter-free space with the incredible KonMari Method. Japan’s expert declutterer and professional cleaner Marie Kondo will help you tidy your rooms once and for all with her inspirational step-by-step method.

The key to successful tidying is to tackle your home in the correct order, to keep only the things you really love and to do it all at once – and quickly. After that for the rest of your life you only need to choose what to keep and what to discard.

The KonMari Method will not just transform your space. Once you have your house in order you will find that your whole life will change. You can feel more confident, you can become more successful, and you can have the energy and motivation to create the life you want. You will also have the courage to move on from the negative aspects of your life: you can recognise and finish a bad relationship; you can stop feeling anxious; you can finally lose weight.

Marie Kondo’s method is based on a ‘once-cleaned, never-messy-again’ approach. If you think that such a thing is impossible then you should definitely read this compelling book.

 

 

How To Stand Out By Dr Rob Yeung Book Review

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howtostandoutbookreviewMany self help books are dense and uninspiring. How To Stand Out has a lot going for it and is far from dense and uninspiring, it is easy to read and absorb, with pull quotes and actual quotes helping you along. Psychologist Dr Rob Yeung knows what he is talking about and covers everything from the science of standing out and tips to be more memorable. The book is full of great advice and will leave you with the ability to stand out and become someone who is not only noticed, but remembered. Good book.

How to Stand Out is written by psychologist Dr Rob Yeung and draws on extensive research and scientific studies to explore the body language and speaking techniques that help people stand out and get noticed. Whether readers want to impress a date, socialise more easily or get noticed at work, this book will help them develop skills for personal and professional success.

How to Stand Out: Proven Tactics for Getting Noticed is available here.

 

About the author

Dr Rob Yeung is an organisational psychologist at consultancy Talentspace, where he runs leadership development programmes for executives, as well as training workshops on topics such as presentation skills, confidence, teamwork and personal productivity. He has a Ph.D. in psychology from King’s College London, is a chartered psychologist and an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. He is the author of over 20 books and a familiar face to television, having appeared as an expert psychologist of programmes ranging from ITN, CNN, BBC News and Big Brother. He is a regular guest on BBC Radio 2 and has been quoted in publications ranging from the Financial Times, The Sunday Times, GQ, Men’s Health and Red.

Published by Capstone.

 

 New book by leading psychologist uncovers the science of standing out

 

What is it that makes some people stand out? That star quality that gets them promoted again and again, or asked out on date after date? What helps them get noticed at work, at a party, in life?

 

Drawing on extensive business school, university and employer research, psychologist and television expert Dr Rob Yeung explores the body language, winning words and confidence-building techniques that have been proven to help people become more successful.

 

The book provides practical advice illustrated by scientific studies and interviews with executives, entrepreneurs, TV producers and people from all walks of life who share their stories, their worries and tips for making the most of themselves.

 

How to Stand Out tackles:

 

  • The ‘confidence con’ – how people are often successful despite being afflicted by anxiety and doubt, with examples from sales professionals to singer-songwriter Adele.
  • Superstar speakers – the verbal tricks used by CEOs to prime ministers and how one badly worded email cemented the downfall of one of the most successful companies of the 21st century.
  • Persuasion through body language – the latest research on how non-verbal communication influences people’s decision-making, even who they think should run the country.
  • Creating an ‘i-deal’ job – why enjoying work is a must have for performance in work and life and a proven programme for boosting not only your enjoyment but performance.

 

Both rigorously researched (with full notes referring to original academic research) and entertaining, this book will help anyone who wants to make more impact personally or professionally by teaching them to be more engaging, entertaining and persuasive.

 

Follow Rob: @RobYeung

 

 

 

Handpicked Media Blogger Workshop No.1 – Fragrance | Events

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Very exciting news for beauty bloggers; Handpicked Media are doing a series of workshops to help you up your game. The first one is about fragrance and is well worth the money. Buy before the 5th of October and tickets are £10, after that they are only £15. What are you waiting for? Buy now. The event is held at Conde Nast College.

 

Improve your knowledge and language of fragrance with our brilliant line up of industry experts.

 

Gain confidence and skill when talking and writing about fragrance through the years of experience our experts have from all aspects of the fragrance industry. With speakers from a leading luxury brand, one of the UK’s most famous beauty journalists and one of the biggest fragrance PR’s in London.

 

Meet Camille Goutal & Isabelle Doyen and hear about their fascinating story that takes them from Paris to NYC. Take part in a workshop with Jo Fairley, co- founder of The Perfume Society that focuses on finding out more about scent and how you can express fragrance in an engaging way to your audience. Hear from Nicola de Burlet on how to build a good relationship with a PR.

 

All attendees will receive a year’s subscription to The Perfume Society (worth £25) and a fragrance to take home.

 

When: 6:30pm – 8:30pm Wednesday 21st October 2015

*Please arrive for 6pm

Where: Condé Nast College, Soho, London

Price: £15 per person

Early Bird discount: book before October 5th for £10 tickets

 

The Experts:

joalanstrutt

Jo Fairley, The Perfume Society

A former magazine editor (Honey, Look Now) and journalist for a wide range of publications, Jo has always had a particular passion for writing about fragrance, and is twice winner of a Jasmine Award, the ‘Oscars’ of the perfume-writing world.  Jo remains a Contributing Editor to the Mail on Sunday’s YOU magazine, The Telegraph online and writes extensively for other monthly and weekly magazines.

Jo is co-founder of The Perfume Society alongside Lorna McKay, and edits The Scented Letter, the beautiful Jasmine award winning subscriber magazine of The Perfume Society.

 

Camille Goutal & Isabelle Doyen

Camille Goutal & Isabelle Doyen

Pianist, then fashion model, Annick Goutal discovered she had a genuine gift for creating perfumes and in 1981, opened her first shop in Paris. In her workshop, she pursued her love for beautiful raw materials and soon made a name for herself thanks to the originality of her creations such as Eau d’Hadrien and Petite Cherie, which are still best sellers to this day.

Annick Goutal bequeathed her love of perfume to her daughter Camille and her lifelong colleague Isabelle Doyen, who since have become the House’s perfumers.

 

Nicola de Burlet, Kenneth Green Associates

Nicola is the head of press at KGA, with many years of experience working with perfume. Founded in 1990, by Kenneth Green, KGA is one of the largest distributors of cosmetics and luxury fragrances in the UK, representing over 25 brands and has won many fragrance industry awards.

 

 Krista Madden, Handpicked Media

Beauty industry expert and MD of Handpicked Media, Krista Madden has owned a successful hair and make-up agency, and is the founder of www.beautyandthedirt.com, one of the most successful independent women’s websites of the last 15 years.

 

 

Aperol Spritz Review & Recipe

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Aperolaperol spritz

It may be October but the weather is still sunny outside. What better excuse to have an Aperol Spritz? Aperol Spritz is undoubtedly the most widespread and commonly drunk aperitif in Italy and is now hugely popular over here. Bright orange in colour, it has a unique taste, thanks to the secret recipe, which has never been changed, with infusions of selected ingredients including bitter and sweet oranges and many other herbs (including rhubarb) and roots in perfect proportions. It is low in alcohol at 11% and has a dry and bitter taste. Perfect for those who have savoury tastes.

To make an Aperol Spritz you just mix 3 parts Prosecco, 2 parts Aperol and a dash of soda. Add a slice of orange and there you have it: an Aperol Spritz. Best served in a tumbler or large balloon glass.

Will you be enjoying an Aperol Spritz?

Bright Stars by Sophie Duffy Book Review

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I have read all of Sophie Duffy’s books and it is fair to say that I am a fan. Duffy is an exceptionally talented writer and Bright Stars is another jewel in her crown. The story of a group of university friends and the night that tore them apart, Bright Sparks is a well written novel on the bonds of friendship and love. How one little mistake in life can have devastating effects for decades after. Duffy captures the different periods, switching between the past and the present brilliantly. Bright Stars is another great novel from Duffy. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. Hugely enjoyable.

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Cameron Spark’s life is falling apart. He is separated from his wife, and awaiting a disciplinary following an incident in the underground vaults of Edinburgh where he works as a Ghost Tour guide. On the day he moves back home to live with his widowed dad, he receives a letter from Canada. It is from Christie.

Twenty-five years earlier, Cameron attends Lancaster University and despite his crippling shyness, makes three unlikely friends: Christie, the rich Canadian, Tommo, the wannabe rock star and Bex, the Feminist activist who has his heart. In a whirlwind of alcohol, music and late night fox raids, Cameron feels as though he’s finally living.

Until a horrific accident shatters their friendship and alters their futures forever.

Christie’s letter offers them a reunion after all these years. But has enough time passed to recover from the lies, the guilt and the mistakes made on that tragic night? Or is this one ghost too many for Cameron?

Bright Stars is available here.

 

 

Anne Hathaway Losing Roles To Younger Actresses At Grand Age of 32

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AnneHathawayAAFeb09Being an actor is hard and being an actress even more so. An actresses career used to be over by the time she was 40. Thankfully, there are still some roles for actresses in their 40s now, but it seems that ageing is still a disadvantage for a woman in film. Women have always had a tough time in film but recently more actresses have been speaking out about sexism and ageism. Sometimes with depressing results. In this months Glamour magazine, cover girl Anne Hathaway said that she was already losing roles to younger actresses. “I can’t complain about it because I benefitted from it, When I was in my early twenties, parts would be written for women in their fifties and I would get them. And now I’m in my early thirties and I’m like, ‘Why did that 24-year-old get that part? I was that 24 year old once. I can’t be upset about it, that’s just the way things are.” She admitted.

Anne also says “…there are fewer roles [for women] and the competition is just as fierce as ever. I look around at my peers and I’m so blown away by their talent…and we’re all trying to get the same parts.” She had to audition for her role in The Intern. In the great interview she also says she doesn’t beat herself up as much anymore. Buy this months Glamour and have a read.

 

 

Interview With a Refugee. Destination: Freedom Author Lily Amis Tells All

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lily amis, author, refugee

Author Lily Amis

What inspired you to write the book?

When I went through difficult times as a teenager in my early years in Switzerland, I always knew that I would someday share my story with others. I just felt that what my mom and I were experiencing as war-refugees was beyond normal and that I had to become the voice for other silent suffers like us. I felt it was my duty to share our story.

Also as a teenager drawing and painting was my way of self-therapy. But through long-term unemployment the older I got the more writing became my way of self-therapy.

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You experienced many setbacks. Some were because of war, bureaucracy and  medical reasons. What was the hardest and what did you learn from it?

The hardest setbacks were and still are dealing with bureaucracy. As a kid I was an outsider as a refugee. Than the older I got I felt unwanted as a foreigner. And today as an adult I still feel unwanted and not integrated because of stupid bureaucracy.

That’s why I always say once a refugee, always a refugee. Once a foreigner, always a foreigner. The problem is that I feel homeless and lost. Even though I speak fluent German, Swiss German, English and Farsi where ever I go, I feel invisible, like nobody takes notice of me.

I learned from early years on to fight for my right and this hasn’t stopped until now and yet. I’m still fighting for my right, for my freedom and my acceptance!

refugee

You use Asiacity and EUcity instead of the names of the countries. Why is this?

I used Asiacity for Iran because unfortunately I feel specially these days when you say you’re Iranian you have to deal with injustice and discrimination. People have a negative view on my birth country. They believe what they see and hear by the Media and think my country is evil.

To be honest I was afraid that readers wouldn’t show interest in my story because they don’t like my country. Which is a shame, because my birth city Tehran is actually a great city and Iranian people are the most loving, friendly and helpful people.

I used EUcity for Swiss because I didn’t want to point my fingers out on Swiss and blame them for what the refugee law has done to us. Because the law is similar in most European countries and our suffer could have happen anywhere else to. And we see that now more than ever daily on the news.

What do you think of the current migrant crisis?

There are no words to describe my feelings. I have mixed feelings. I watch the news daily and it breaks my heart to see so many desperate people, young, old, families, children coming to Europe with completely false hopes and expectations. They have NO idea that becoming a refugee basically means giving up on your life, your future, hopes, dreams and goals. You leave your identity, pride and dignity behind for NOTHING in return.

It is also the prove of Karma. Twenty-eight years ago my mom and I left our home because of war. And nobody showed any compassion. Instead we were punished with bureaucracy.

Today Millions of refugees are coming from all kinds of countries and finally EU has to act and the Refugee Law has to change. The governments finally realize that the Refugee law as it was until now can’t function any longer. They have to find a fast and human solution to integrate these people in EU ASAP. That was what I always wanted to achieve with my story: Change the Refugee law which is now happening by a higher power.

Should people use the term refugee rather than migrant?

I don’t understand why people make such a big issue out of these two words. For me a refugee is someone who’s fled from war to stay alive. For me these people are war-refugees who have lost everything they have because of war.

Than we have economic-refugees. For example people from East Europe. They have not much and wish to have a better life and future. Which is absolute legitimate. After all we all are just short visitors on planet earth and should have the same rights for a happy life.

For me Migrants are people who have a life. But for whatever reason they decide to leave their home country and start a new life in another place. They do it legally with Visas by Embassies.

So in other words all the people that we see now coming are Refugees and not Immigrants. Why? Because they have lost their existence and have no place to go back to.

What got you through the tough times?

My mums devoted Love, support, care and believe. She’s an incredibly strong woman. I admire her strength and trust in God. Also my art work was a big help. Drawing and painting was my way of getting through tough times.

I have two examples that I like to share with you. Both were done in 1996, the original size is 50X70 cm. One is expressing that my only hope to ever feel Freedom is death! And the other one is expressing how I felt as a Refugee in Switzerland.

What can be done to help refugees?

I waited for this question for twenty-eight years. The refugee law must be updated ASAP. It can’t go on like this anymore. Toying with peoples destinies must take an end. The whole process of taking or not taking refugees in must be handled faster and fair. And finding a human solution is easier than the EU believes.

Depending on the country the people are coming from and why the decision whether to take them in or not can be done in a short matter of time. It shouldn’t take fifteen years to get a proper residence permit like in our case. It shouldn’t be necessary to get married without Love just to be able to have rights.

And when the EU countries accept these people they should give them a fair chance for a normal life and future. First of all treat them with respect and not like a disease. Understanding, caring, compassion and support MUST be the main priority.

Secondly when they start a life in a new country, they should have all the possibilities that are the fundament for an independent and fearless Life. Such as education and work opportunity.

Because Education means independence and independence means liberty.

Let them become the next Albert Einstein, Freddy Mercury, Bob Marley, Billy Wilder, Marlene Dietrich or Sigmund Freud. Don’t stop them from improving just because of stupid laws and injustice.

But the best HELP of all would be to STOP the War & Weapon business by reach and greedy countries. Than we wouldn’t have any refugees at all. Every human being could stay at home and live a fearless, normal life without suffer and pain.

You returned to your home country. How did that feel?

The title of my book is “Destination: Freedom”. When you read the book you assume that I found my freedom in EUcity (Switzerland) by leaving my hometown Asiacity (Iran). But actually the opposite was the case. When I returned to my hometown Tehran after fifteen years I felt Freedom for the first time in my entire Life. Even though the circumstances were terrible and sad, I was happy and free. I felt welcomed and not like an outsider anymore.

When will the other books be out and what can we expect?

The second book “Definition of Freedom” will be out soon. It is ready for print in English and in German. I think the readers of my first book “Destination: Freedom” will be very surprised to read how my life continued as a former-refugee.

“Definition of Freedom” is a cry for help and the perfect example of how the future of a refugee kid will look like if EU don’t put an end to the refugee system and change the rights of Refugees. Otherwise the future of innocent refugee kids like me are damaged forever and filled with personal and professional setbacks.

Would you believe me if I tell you that it took me twenty-seven years to be finally a naturalized “Swiss”? And that nothing has changed and I’m still desperately looking for Freedom? A place where I feel home, welcome, accepted and integrated? Would you believe me if I tell you that I’m still struggling and fighting for a “normal” life? Well these are just a few topics that I’m sharing with my readers in the second book of the trilogy.

What is next for you?

I’m hoping to find Freedom in a country where I feel welcome.

I’m praying to be able to breathe and live an independent life without fear of existence and the future.

I wish to continue my writing and use my voice for the voiceless. I want to help other sufferers specially Woman who have to deal with issues such as long-term-Unemployment, fear of existence, bullying, emotional and sexual harassment, burn out, depression, social isolation, loneliness etc. which are the topics of “Definition of Freedom” and my third book “Definition of Love” which I’m working on right now.

Interview With a Refugee Destination- Freedom Author Lily Amis Tells All book review

Destination: Freedom is a warts and all book which tells the brutal truth about being a refugee. Lily Amis does not censor herself at all. You learn about her frustration as bureaucracy stops Lily and her mother integrating into their new environment. They escape unimaginable horrors and are held back instead of being helped. If they were helped and given visas they could work and pay tax in the country they arrived in (Switzerland). I hope people in power read this book and some changes are made. This book is timely with the current refugee crisis the world is currently facing. An interesting read from a brutally honest writer.

Destination: Freedom is available here.