Based on the French blog Des Hommes et Des Chatons. The Huffington Post asked “We just have one question: Why did it take so long for someone to come up with this?” and we are wondering the same thing. It is hot men and cats in the same poses. Sigh. Out 24th September priced at £8.99, it is the perfect present. Frost Loves.
What do you think?
Many people say you should use your lunch hour productively, but the most happy workers spend an hour chilling out or having fun. Overworking will affect your health and happiness, making you less able to do your job. Gordon Gekko may think lunch is for wimps but here at Frost Magazine we know the truth: it should be spent having fun. Switching off for an hour will make the rest of the day go better as you will be happier and more relaxed. Whether you want to have a sandwich at your desk, or spend an hour in Pret on your phone, here are some suggestions.
Reading a Book
Getting lost in a book is one of life’s great pleasures. No matter what your interests are, you will find a book that you will love. We review lots of books at Frost Magazine. Books don’t need to be expensive, you can even get books from the library for free.
YouTube
Two words: cat videos. There are few things that are more worthy of your time than a cat video. If you are more of a dog person, there are videos for you too. There are also plenty of vloggers making great videos on a wide variety of subjects.
Online Games
There are many fun games online. A Frost favourite is online bingo. Many of us have played bingo with family members and it is a relaxing and fun way to spend an hour. It is very satisfying when you win a game.
A Catch Up With a Close Friend
Either meet up for lunch or a walk in the park. Alternatively, phone your most fun friend and have a good gossip. A good catch up with a friend will leave you feeling more energised and happier. Just make sure you choose a good, fun friend. You don’t want a negative person putting you on a downer for the rest of the day.
Magazines
Yes, we know we are online but we still love print. There is great satisfaction in reading a magazine from cover to cover and there are hundreds of magazines to choose from on any subject you can think of. Relaxing and fun, pop into a newsagent for some escapism. There is a magazine on everything from trains to cycling. We can generally be found in the women’s lifestyle section.
Or Read Some Amazing Articles For Free.
We love The Huffington Post, The Pool and glamour.com. Plenty of amazing writing from talented writers on each of these sites. A fun hour can easily be spent browsing high-quality content. Another great way to spend your lunch hour is to browse Frost Magazine and read our amazing articles. Yes, we know, but we had to get that in there.
So there are our ideas on spending some time out from thinking about work in your lunch hour. From reading to gaming and catching up with friends. Add your own suggestions and comments below. How do you spend your lunch hour? Let us know.
‘She is monstrous thy daughter’
As a teenager, one of the first classic books I read, incidentally, was by Oscar Wilde after a friend recommended ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’. Wilde captured the true horror of a person’s character; physically Dorian was a picture of youth and moral standing, but in the portrait that represents Dorian’s soul, his spirit is decaying and putrefying.
And princess Salomé, the daughter of Herod and Herodias is a thing of beauty where many in the kingdom are told ‘not to look at her like that’.
However, just like Dorian, her mind is full of darkness and sin and her wicked motives are reflected in the changing moon – her skin is as pale as the shining sphere in the sky and throughout the play, it turns a deeper shade of red, symbolising that blood will be spilt by sundown.
After we hear the treacherous murmurings of prophet Jokanaan from the depths of the cistern, Salomé becomes intrigued and asks her servants if she can speak with him.
Despite refusing her request, a Syrian who is so taken aback by Salomé’s beauty grants her wish.
But Jokanaan does not succumb to her charm – he won’t let her touch his skin or kiss his lips and here the play becomes slightly erotic, as Salomé caresses herself below her waist.
The scene then turns to the banquet at the palace where Herod requests Salomé to dance for him and he promises to give her anything, even half his kingdom, if she will fulfil his wish.
Salomé, played by Liza Weber, gives an empowering, potent and sensual display to the delight of Herod.
All that she requests is the head of Jokanaan in return, and despite Herod’s pleas that something bad would happen, he is a man of his word and the deed is done.
He shouts ‘she is monstrous thy daughter’ to his Herodias as Salomé can finally kiss Jokanaan’s lips and stroke his skin as she dances with his head dripping with blood.
Salomé, a production by Théâtre Libre is a departure from The Space’s usual plays.
Having been to a number of performances at the fringe theatre in the Isle of Dogs, the idea to run Salomé was a bold one.
Théâtre Libre attempted to approach the little-known play by Wilde from a modern, feminist angle, exploring the objectification of women and how the gaze of male eyes shapes the character. This was reflected in the prolonged, sensual dance performed by Salomé showing that in order for her to get what she wants, she must display her body to please the powerful male ruler of the kingdom.
Produced by Oran Doyle, and directed by Kaitlin Argeaux who founded Théâtre Libre, at times the audience was exposed to uncomfortable and graphic scenes – quite rightly so – and this highlights the great performance by the actors with particular applaud going to Liza Weber and Christopher Slater (Herod).
Both were impassioned and true to their characters, and Herodias, Cheska Hill-Wood, came into her own as a mother defending the actions of her daughter and defending her honour against the ramblings of the prophet Jokanaan.
The stage set-up and lighting for the production of Salomé was of particular importance, especially with all the references to the colour of the moon and this was executed well throughout the play.
Salomé is showing at The Space until 19 September, tickets cost from £10.
The theatre-goers were ushered up the stairs to collect their tickets for the show, or so we thought.
In fact, we were handed tickets to the carousel, where we were greeted with candyfloss, ball games and a photographer to capture the moment.
Once seated, it seemed the fun and games were over as the madam of the carousel takes a disliking to one of the riders, servant girl Julie, believing she’s flirting with her star worker, Liliom.
He can pick and choose any girl he wants, but he’s captured by Julie’s innocence and openness.
The pair start courting and Julie’s friend, Marie, imparts her knowledge on flirting while maintaining a lady’s virtue within the realms of the early 1900s in Budapest, Hungary.
We couldn’t help but giggle when Marie said a real sign of passion between her and her soldier boyfriend, Wolf, is when they swing hands. She can’t contain her happiness as her friend Julie now has a sweetheart of her own; they can both share in the delight of what love is and the effect it can have on a person’s soul.
But Liliom is a bad man. He goes out drinking, gambling and even strikes Julie.
Even when Julie tells him he will be a father, the audience deeply hopes he will change his ways. But for Liliom, the news leads him to score one last big hit to provide for his growing family.
He conjures up a plan with his good-for-nothing friend Fiscur to carry out an attack on the guard to steal his money. But as they wait for the guard to arrive, he manages to gamble away his half of the money in desperation.
The plan is foiled and the guard laughs in their faces as the money has already been banked; Fiscur and Liliom are shown as pathetic, stupid and hopeless.
Knowing he’ll be sent to prison, Liliom stabs himself in the chest.
His grieving wife Julie tends to her dying husband. Her love is pure and eternal, but deep down she knows Liliom is, and always was, a bad man.
Julie, played by Daniela Ologeanu, gives a sterling performance here – we feel she is truly mourning the death of a loved-one – she shook with fear, with dismay, with hate and with passion. But Liliom’s soul must now be judged at a higher level.
The poignant words from earlier echo out to the audience – no matter what you do or what you say, it will be remembered.
And in the presence of the magistrate, Liliom is asked what good he performed on earth and whether there is a final task he must perform before being sent away for eternity.
He’s given one last chance to show his softer, caring side – when his daughter reaches 16 years of age, he will be sent back to earth to perform one single act of kindness.
A task so simple it seems, but he manages to mess this up and even strikes his daughter.
Written by Hungarian playwright Ferenc Molnar, adapted by Mark Jackson and directed by Mark Modzelewski, Liliom was performed well within the confines of The Bread and Roses Theatre. Indeed there was no separate stage area and poor Julie must contend with some pretty quick costume changes in the curtains behind the audience.
But I feel this adds to the play – the audience were immersed from the start and we feel a part of the set and a part of the production.
It tackles domestic abuse, against the backdrop of the great carousel which is synonymous with laughter and fun.
And the plays shows how two opposites can attract to each other – one pure and one selfish. However, inherently, it seems people can’t change, no matter if they’re given stable surroundings, love or even a child.
Liliom, performed by Torchlight Collective in cooperation with East 15 Acting School, explored dark and light, comedy and death and the audience felt they were taking a ride on an emotional rollercoaster.
My only criticism? This production was only on for a week.
Pity the poor director who raises his head above the parapet and publicly proclaims ‘Is there anyone interested in playing Nora?’
If you’ve read my previous articles about the process of staging A Doll’s House, you’ll know it’s audition time. The chosen poster used to represent the internal struggle within the protagonist’s mind …
… but now represents the director’s (Kevin Russell’s) horror as the emails began to arrive. The number soon reached 200. How do you find the Special One amongst all those? Stories abound of some producers and directors abhorring hotmail email addresses, detesting specific drama schools or, even, flinching at the names of rivals on CVs. One famous director is known for whittling the list down by deleting every third email and removing every third application from his pile.
Ask any HR Manager attempting to fill a vacancy in a company – it’s a nightmare .So can it all be that random, relying so heavily on luck?
Ohhhh, yes.
Kevin told me that ‘it’s so silly what goes through my mind when looking at headshot after headshot. Whether they can act or not seems irrelevant. The first time acting gets involved is at the audition itself, but that seems so far away.’
He does, though, admit other skills are required. For him – and this is just Kevin, no one else (before someone complains that’s not how it’s done) – Kevin wants a clear CV, a photo that shows a certain attitude and a covering letter that indicates a little thought has gone into the application. The rest is gut instinct on his part.
Gradually, the audition list was reduced until sixteen actresses were invited to the venue, Barons Court Theatre. Then I joined him in the process, as a guide, a shoulder to cry on and the-fella-that-reads-along-with-the-auditionees.
The pressure is on them: 1 – to turn up on time; 2 – to resemble the person in the photograph (you’d be amazed how many don’t); 3 – to enjoy themselves. We assist with the last part, aiming to create a jovial and inspirational atmosphere.
So – the big news … Drum roll … An actress has been chosen and she did say ‘Yes.’ Her name is Alexa Matthews. When asked she said, ‘I have always wanted to play the role of Nora and as soon as I saw there was an opportunity to do so I applied immediately. She’s a complex character and makes such an interesting journey though the play and one that as an actor you can really challenge yourself with, this really excites me.
Alexa Matthews – Photo by Michael Shelford
‘The audition was lots of fun and Kevin and Paul have a way of naturally making you feeling at ease. What I loved was that Kevin directed me in some of the chosen scenes with Paul and we got it up on its feet. Auditions can be a really surreal environment but instead of sitting behind a desk Kevin and Paul were much more involved.’
Where was she when she heard she had been offered the part? ‘I had just boarded the plane to France for a friend’s wedding with my boyfriend and received the email just before taking off. I was so excited to hear the news and couldn’t wait to get back to discuss the play further.’
The whole production rests on Alexa’s shoulders – so no pressure there. It’s such a famous role, it is natural to feel nervous about the months ahead. Alexa said, ‘I really hope that I do the play justice and that the audience come away feeling like they have seen a great version of the play. I hope that they are tickled with its lightness but also come away with an understanding of the fresh and relevant messages it has to convey. Importantly I hope they have a great evening out and that as a company we also have lots of fun.’
What Alexa may not realise at the moment, though, is just how many macaroons she will have to consume during the run. I think I may keep count… but more on that later.
A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen will be performed from November 3rd to 22nd at Barons Court Theatre, west London. Tickets are selling fast, so if you fancy stopping by call the box office direct on 020 8932 4747 or email londontheatre@gmail.com to reserve seats.
Facebook: New Dreams Theatre
Twitter @KevinNewdreams
On Sunday 23rd August 2015, Casamigos Tequila Founders Rande Gerber, George Clooney and Mike Meldman, along with their wives Cindy Crawford and Amal Clooney, attended the official launch of Casamigos Tequila in Spain at UP!, Ibiza Sky Society, the rooftop bar at Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel.
“Brought To You By Those Who Drink It”, the best-tasting, smoothest tequila was shared and enjoyed with friends of the Founders and movers and shakers of Ibiza at UP!, Ibiza Sky Society magnificent rooftop at Ushuaia Ibiza Beach Hotel, flagship hotel of the Palladium Hotel Group.
The private event for 120 people saw guests enjoy Ushuaïa’s signature cocktails, the ‘Unexpected Casamigos’ and the ‘Espresso Casamigos’ as well as the founders favourite Casamigos Reposado on the rocks.
In true Ibiza style the founders kept it casual with linen shirts and jeans whilst the leading ladies dazzled, Amal Clooney in a magnificent gold metallic Vionnet dress and shoes by Dior, and Cindy Crawford in a Botegga Venetta black dress paired with Alaïa heels.
As the sun began to dip and the night began to cool, guests feasted on sumptuous canapés created by the hotel’s Head Chef as they watched the sun set over the mountains from the rooftop while listening to Balearic beats. Fire-breathers, acrobats and dancers wowed the founders and other guests, circling around the tables and providing mesmerizing entertainment for the night providing the perfect intro to the nights later festivities. Old friends Rande Gerber and James Blunt – a local Ibiza resident, caught up over a few tequilas whilst Cindy was ensconced in a fashion royalty conversation with Sam Knight and Mario Testino. Amal caught up with friend, another Ibiza resident, Charlotte Tilbury as they reunited after Charlotte did the make-up for Amal on her wedding day. Surround by their Ibiza House of Friends, at 10pm the party drew to a close and the group moved down to the VIP table to watch superstar DJ AVICII play his resident Sunday night set. Surrounded by Casmigos Tequila, the owners decided to open up their ‘House of Friends’ by sending all other VIP tables a bottle of the award winning Casamigos Tequila to enjoy the show.
The VIP attendees included:
George Clooney, Rande Gerber, Mike Meldman, Cindy Crawford, Amal Clooney,
James Blunt & Sophia Wellesley, Charlotte Tilbury, Mario Testino, Sam McKnight, Taio Cruz, Karmen Pedaru, Marpessa Hennik
The guests enjoyed cocktails
featuring the Casamigos brand:
‘Casamigos Espresso’
‘Unexpected Casamigos’
Casamigos Reposado on the Rocks
Chefs prepared accompaniments, showing their culinary skills using the elegant tequila…
* Grill loin rib marinated with tequila Casamigos Añejo
* Foie Mid-cuit over brioche and jelly tequila Casamigos Reposado
* Cube Lamb confit with tequila Casamigos Añejo, cinnamon and yuzu sauce
* Hamachi ceviche with lemongrass and white Tequila Casamigos · Passion fruit gazpacho with white tequila Casamigos foam
* Osmosis cherry rested white tequila Casamigos style, covered with sanguine orange snow
About Casamigos Tequila…
Brought To You By Those Who Drink It. Privately owned by George Clooney and longtime friend, bar and restaurant mogul Rande Gerber, and Discovery Land Company CEO & founder Michael Meldman, tequila-filled nights with friends is how Casamigos was born. Launched in the UK in March 2015, these small batch, ultra-premium tequilas are made from the finest hand-selected 100% Blue Weber agaves grown in the rich red clay soil and cool climate of Mexico’s Jalisco Highlands for a minimum of seven years. Casamigos Blanco is crisp and clear, with subtle hints of vanilla and a smooth finish, Casamigos Reposado is smooth and clean with hints of caramel. Casamigos Añejo is aged 14 months and has a beautifully pure and refined complex aroma, with soft caramel and vanilla notes.
Casamigos is available in the United States, Bahamas, Canada, Hong Kong, and the UK, and has garnered the highest accolades from the spirit industry’s most well respected authority figures. Awards and ratings include the highest rated gold medals from Los Angeles International Spirits Competition, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, The Beverage Testing Institute, The New York World Wine & Spirits Competition, The Spirits of Mexico Tasting Competition and many more. Additionally, Casamigos was rated “Excellent, Highly Recommend” by The Ultimate Spirits Challenge, received the coveted 5 star rating from BevX Magazine, “A perfect tequila,” A rating, from Good Spirit News, named “Best Tequila in the World” by Men’s Journal magazine and Oprah Winfrey lists Casamigos as “The Smoothest, The Best.”
In the UK the brand can be found at top establishments like Nobu, Zuma, Groucho Club, Soho House, 5 Hertford St, Chiltern Firehouse and the Maybourne Group, to name but a few.
Casamigos Tequila is available to purchase at Selfridges and online at www.selfridges.com from £62.99
About Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel…
Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel is a luxurious 417-room hotel comprised of two buildings: The Ushuaïa Club, featuring an amazing poolside stage, and The Ushuaïa Tower, offering breathtaking views of the Mediterranean. Ushuaïa is dedicated to providing the best outdoor entertainment venue coupled with a modern, cutting-edge hotel experience, designed for the discerning traveller seeking the fun and entertainment associated with Ibiza.
For more information, visit www.ushuaiabeachhotel.com.
About Bedrinks…
Bedrinks is a new brand of Zumos Naturales S.A., a company with over 45 years of history on the island of Ibiza that began by producing shakes, juices and soft drinks, and currently distributes some of the most important national and international beverage brands.
Casamigos is distributed exclusively in Spain by Bedrinks.
Author and Frost contributor Jane Cable shares the second in a series of blogs about organising a charity litfest in aid of Words for the Wounded. Last month the all-important dates and speakers were organised (17-18th October, Elizabeth Buchan and Margaret Graham) but what about venues… and sponsors… and publicity…
Christopher Joyce, chief Chindi and my co-conspirator in this crazy venture, has gone into overdrive with his contact book. Not a native of Chichester by any means, in the relatively short time he’s lived in the area I think he must have met – and charmed – everyone. And as a result he has three venues for three events sorted.
The one that I was supposed to organise fell flat on its face. Chichester Library, normally our best venue for anything and biggest supporter all around, was unable to host the planned bookish treasure hunt because it’s in aid of charity. West Sussex County Council policy. So we’ve quietly let that one drop.
In the meantime Chris has persuaded Woodies Brasserie in the city centre to close its restaurant to the paying public on a Saturday lunchtime, no less, and put on a special buffet at a cost which allows a generous £7 donation out of each £25 ticket sold. Luckily I have been able to contribute something as their wine merchants, Mason & Mason, are good friends of mine and they are donating a glass of something deliciously organic for every guest.
Chris has also been twisting arms at his local, The Park Tavern, and they’ve given us the run of the place on Saturday evening to shake buckets and sell raffle tickets. And the raffle prizes… so far our top catches are a £60 voucher for a tasting from Hampshire Wine School, a £150 voucher from author Claire Dyer for her Fresh Eyes manuscript review service and a hair cut from Benjamin James Hair Vision. Recovery on Sunday morning is being hosted by Carluccios who again are giving us a fixed price package for our bookswap breakfast which allows a £5 donation from each £15 ticket.
Last but not least Chris has twisted arms at Chichester Design to put together a wonderful leaflet. I’ve been able to get a decent price for the printing but we still need a sponsor so if anyone has a spare £90…? Please…?
But at the end of the day it isn’t entirely down to Chris’s charm and advanced persuasion techniques that businesses have been so generous – it’s a great deal to do with the charity. People simply want to help those who’ve suffered through putting their lives on the line in the name of duty. I had a sharp reminder of some of the issues recently when, as part of my research for the novel I’m currently writing, I met an ex-serviceman who’d served in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. I wanted to know what combat was really like from someone who’d been there. I wish I hadn’t had to ask. We don’t know what those brave men and women have gone through; we can’t even begin to imagine it. All we can hope to do is help.
Learn more about…
Words for the Wounded: www.wordsforthewounded.co.uk
Chindi Authors: www.chindi-authors.co.uk
Woodies Brasserie: www.woodiesbrasserie.com
The Park Tavern: www.parktavernchichester.co.uk
Carluccios Chichester: www.carluccios.com/restaurants/chichester
Chichester Design: www.chichesterdesign.co.uk
Christopher Joyce: www.creaturesofchichester.com
Jane Cable: www.janecable.com
As you all may know I’m a Professional Photographer and work with my husband at 2 Boxes Photography. Well we went to Holi One 2015 recently and here are a selection of our favourite shots from the day. We partied and painted Wembley arena all shades of the rainbow.
Holy One is a festival of colour that celebrates each and every one of us as equals. By the time you leave this amazing festival you will be the same skin colour as everyone else. Its quite frankly one if the best days out you could possibly imagine. Messy but serious fun.
If you are a fellow partier please remember that your camera could be a little stressed out by the end of the day. We took our Canon 1D bad boy with us. He’s a tough cookie and water, dust, bomb and Holi One proof!! If you do decide to take some snaps make sure you wrap your camera securely in a clear plastic bag before you enter.
Here is an idea of what a day at Holi One is like in pictures. We feel that sometimes (nearly all the time) images speak louder than words!
For more information regarding our photography services from Weddings, portraits or events please visit www.2boxes.co.uk, email contact@2boxes.co.uk or call 07792852233.
