Category Archives: Featured

Quitting My £60k Job Was the Best Decision I Ever Made. Karen Holden Interview

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businesswomen , succeeding in businessKaren Holden is one impressive woman. She was a solicitor at an international practice but saw how female colleagues were ostracised during pregnancy. It made her fear for her career.  Karen also knew that the big corporate firm, would not support her need for a healthy work/life balance and Karen is a woman who wants it all.
Taking matters into her own hands, Karen launched A City Law Firm in 2008, when the UK economy was on its knees and lived off credit cards to survive.
Despite almost going bust in the first year, Karen is now celebrating 10 years in business, has an army of high profile clients and £1m plus turnover.

What was the catalyst that made you quit your job and start your own business?

Three things

  1. I wanted a family at some point in the future and I realised that a women in this sector , having a baby and family, would be difficult. I saw women passed over and treated differently and yet I knew I could still do everything as I have now proven
  2. Clients were becoming numbers and bottom line figures , whereas I still believed in delivering personal service and results
  3. So in short I was becoming disillusioned with the industry and wanted to see if I could do it differently

How do you make it a success?

I deliver what I genuinely believe in and aim to ensure all my team are on board and do the same. We are personal, supportive, specialist and experienced, but friendly and approachable service

I embrace change, disrupt the old fashion traditions, work hard and at the same time enjoy my family time

What have you learned along the way?

To never let anyone or anything stand in your way, learn from your mistakes and be proud of your battle scars.  Having good advisors, mentors and people around you is essential to success – you can never do it alone.

What advice can you give other women?

If you work hard and pick yourself up if a door closes in your face, you can have it all and succeed.  You can earn far more, have quality family life, a nice team to work with and achievable goals if you persist.

How important do you think work/life balance is?

This is fundamental and for me there is no point doing what I do if I cant have quality time with my family and friends.

I work late some week nights, so those nights I can get home early, I spend reading to my son and weekends are precious for us spending time together. Running my own business means I am fortunate to work the hours that suit my family.  If I leave early I can always pick up the work when my son is in bed as flexible working enables me to have it all

Do you think women who want families are still discriminated against? How could we fix this?

Its actually just as bad for men, trying to take paternity leave or time off for their families – we need as a society to embrace family life far more than we currently do in the UK. Likewise though, those with children do need to prove they can work just as well as those without so they don’t put on their colleagues or disillusion employers making it harder for others next in line. Working together employer and employees can often find a good balance that energises both of you which in turn is good for business.

What is your biggest tip for becoming successful?

Never take no for an answer , find another route to where you want to get and fight onwards – BUT always know you will make mistakes and learning from them is essential

5 things that make Spain a paradise for tourists

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The beautiful European country of Spain is famous for its beaches in places like Ibiza, art and architecture in cities like Madrid and Barcelona as well as food in towns like Seville. An interesting mix of art and culture make Spain a bucket list item for so many explorers around the world. You can easily book Spain Tour Packages from USA in case you want to check out the Spanish magic for yourself.

Read on to know about five things that make Spain a heaven for tourists from all over the world. 

  1. Flamenco and other such gracious dance forms can only be witnessed in Spanish streets

One of the most sensuous and beautiful dance forms in the world – Flamenco, although known to be of Romani origin,  its sound remains authentically Spanish. A hit in the Andalusia region, this exotic dance form can be enjoyed in cafes and bars in cities like Seville. If you are a tourist, watching Flamenco artists live is one of those things that should feature on your bucket list for sure.

  1. Mouth watering food, especially tapas, does not get better than this!

Tapas originated from the country and took its place in cafes, restaurants and bars all over the world. Spread over a vast variety of food, popular tapas ingredients are Jamon iberico ham, cheese and bread. Available both in vegetarian and non vegetarian forms, tapas makes Spanish food significantly different. You can also try traditional Valencian dishes like Paella which contribute to the essence of Spain. 

  1. Art of Picasso, Dali and architecture of Gaudi

Spain is famous for its architecture and artists. Picasso, the famed artist, was born in Malaga and spent his childhood in Barcelona. Similarly, the popular surrealist painter Salvador Dali grew up in Spain. You can find both of their works in museums around Spain.

While discussing art in Spain, the most popular name is that of Gaudi, the architect whose distinct work style can be seen in numerous pieces and projects spread across Barcelona. Gaudi and his work is so iconic that some time back seven of his projects were declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

  1. Some of the best Football clubs in the world

If you are a fan of football, the European version, Spain is one of the best places in the world for you. Home to international clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona, the country is full of football fanatics. During the Spanish football league, La Liga, visiting the country and watching a match is an experience you should not miss out on. Apart from football, bullfighting too is one of the popular, but controversial, sports in the country.  

  1. Wines and Sangria make for exquisite dinners

Spain is the third largest producer of wines in the world. The vineyards here are some of the biggest in the world. The local wines are tasty and iconic. And in case, you love a glass of sangria with food, Spain is the country of origin for that as well. So don’t hold back and enjoy some of the best drinks in the world here. 

A vacation in Spain can be all these things and much more. So plan your trip soon and enjoy the Spanish culture and food to the hilt!

 

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Exclusive Paddy Ashdown Interview ‘I Am Devoted To The Liberal Democrats’

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Here is part three of our exclusive Paddy Ashdown interview. Take a look at part one and two.

That’s a good answer. In your diaries you are clear about how close you were to Labour before and after the ’97 election, and that PR was the price of coalition. Given that the Lib Dems eventually went into coalition with the Tories, with just a promise of a referendum on AV, how do you think events would have unfolded if you’d accepted a similar deal in ’97?”

I don’t know. I mean I can’t take you through the what would have happened parts of history. I suspect the circumstances would have been very different if we also had the referendum on a sensible system rather than a lesser sensible one. I don’t think you would have had the leading party in the country at the time deliberately doing what they could at the time to destroy the motion and the national newspapers at the time supporting them. That is the ‘what would have happened’ bits of history and we could all spend hours deciding how the world would be different  if Britain hadn’t won the battle of Waterloo; It’s very interesting but it doesn’t bear much relevance.

Paddy_Ashdown_3You also said in your diaries that you were worried that the party would start with Gladstone and end with Ashdown, what do you think was your greatest achievement as the Liberal Democrat Leader?

I have never ever believed that I am a good judge of my own achievements, I leave that to others to decide on what your achievements are. I was very proud to lead the Liberal Democrats for eleven years, I loved it, I am devoted to them. I was also very proud to be the International High Representative in Bosnia for the British Government.  No doubt I made mistakes in both of those jobs, probably quite a lot of them. When you have the privilege of doing jobs like that you can use it to your advantage and I quickly realised what I was good at and what I was bad at.

What do you think will happen with the Liberal Democrats in 2015?

I actually think all the polls now are wrong. I have to rely, as I always have done, on the good judgement of the british electorate, I think we have a good story to tell, we have been in government, everyone said we couldn’t do it. I think we have been more united than the Tories, tougher than the Tories, and played a really serious role in bringing our country through a crisis. If I know the British electorate at all well, when the moment comes, I think we’ll reap the dividends of that. I also think that the British electorate probably, having had the benefit of the coalition may not be very happy returning to absolute power in anybody’s hands. Also, having a coalition of some sort forces people to work together instead of spending all their time scratching each other’s eyes out. Maybe that is a much better system than what we had in the past. Those two things will help us I think.
Who Is Your Favourite Politician?

I think as someone said to me; ‘Who is my hero?’ and I said William Wilberforce who is as unlike me as you could possibly get, apart from Gladstone of course, who is the greatest Prime Minister this country has ever had both internationally and domestically, he was a man who said, “We did not march across the law of anti-slavery, we did not march towards a monument in the distance, we gathered friends like flowers along the way.” and I think he was an extraordinary politician.

Do you think we should have intervened in Syria?

No, I don’t. I’m against intervening in Syria while the opposition is so fractured and defused. Anyways, they’re being funded by extremist elements and encouraging extremist elements so, no, I thought that would lead us towards an engagement in what I think is a widening religious war. I did however think we should intervene in defense of one of the principles pillars of international law; a prohibition on the use of chemical weapons that has stood since 1926 and strained even Hitler and Stalin, and I thought that unless we were prepared to show strength to Assad, not by intervention because we wouldn’t have done, but there was a price to pay that was painful for breaking this principle of international law, then it would only have encouraged the wider spread of chemical weapons. So, no, I don’t think we should have intervened in Syria but I do think we should defend International Law and indeed one of the most important pillars of the international law that preserves some semblance of civilised behaviour in the prosecution of wars.

You testified against Slobodan Milosevic. Was that scary?

No, it wasn’t scary. It was more scary being bombarded by his troops. I mean, I testified about being in the middle of the Albanian villages when they were being bombarded by the main battle units of his army, that was much more scary.

I can understand that. You have done a lot of different things in your life. What is your favourite?

I think there is nothing I’ve done that will match my sense of pride of being a member of parliament for my own community of Yeovil. There is no thing you could ever do that matched being the representative in Westminster of the community you live in and love. So if somebody said you can have one line to put on your gravestone it would be ‘Member of Parliament for Yeovil’.

What was it like being an intelligence officer?

I was a perfectly ordinary diplomat

What is the best advice you have ever received?

Never stop learning.

Thank you Paddy.

 What do you think?

Exclusive: Paddy Ashdown On Clegg, The Tories, The Liberal Democrats & The NHS

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Part two of our Interview with Paddy Ashdown. Here he talks about politics. Part three will be up tomorrow. Let us know what you think. Part one, where he talks about writing and his books,  is here.

Do you mind if I ask you some political questions as well?

No, go on.

Would you prefer the Liberal Democrats to side with Labour at the next election?

That is a matter not for me or my preference but it is a matter for the British electorate voting in the ballot box.

Do you think Nick Clegg has been true to liberal values?

Absolutely. I think he is remarkable. I think he is…I am devoted to the man, I think he is one of the most brilliant politicians in Britain today. Hugely, publicly, under-rated. He’s got very, very good judgement. He’s got extraordinary courage and he is a liberal down to the marrow of his bones. So I think he’d undoubtedly make the best Prime Minister that you could have today.

He has a very hard job. Doesn’t he? 

It’s a thankless job. I did it for eleven years and let me tell you it is the most thankless job  because you represent the only philosophy: liberalism, that makes any sense.

He has it tough because generally people don’t seem to like the Tories

No they don’t like the Tories and I don’t like them either. I spent my life fighting them. If the public elects a coalition where the only coalition that can have a majority in the House of Commons inherently, mathematically, adds up to ourselves and the Tories do they really want people that don’t listen to them?, the public democratic view. And you better ask yourself what they like best. Do they really like the complete and utter corrupt mess this country was left in by Labour, which would have bankrupted young people for the next twenty years or do they like two parties that put aside their differences for the national interest and work together to get us out of the worst recession we have had since the 1930s and back on the path of growth. Which of these two would you prefer?

I agree with that, Labour left the country in a very big mess.

Absolutely. People have likes and dislikes in politics and what I’m interested in is doing what’s right for my country. That is what I have always been interested in and if the Liberal Democrats pay an electoral price for that, and I think they will by the way, if they did, if I was doing what I believed to be right for my country and helping it out of a crisis then I am proud of that and that’s what politics is for.

Do you think the Liberal Democrats made an error over tuition fees?

Yes, they made an error by promising it when it couldn’t be delivered. We’ve been in opposition for a hundred years, we haven’t been in government, so of course from time to time decisions which were driven to a certain extent by opportunism. I said at the time that we were making a promise that I didn’t think in the economic climate could be delivered. If we had been in government by ourselves I think we might have decided to sacrifice other things in order to deliver what we promised but we weren’t in government, we were in coalition. So, no, neither parties manifesto has been in operation. Both parties have had to make some compromises. I don’t call that anti-democratic. I call that the operation of democracy.

Do you think the NHS is being privatised?

What concerns me more than anything else isn’t who owns the NHS but how the public is served. How the citizen is served. For instance, even under the last government, under Mr Blair’s government, I had to have some health checks done and I went to a private organisation run under contract from the health service as an alternative means of delivering health services, that is; free at the point of delivery health services, and they did a wonderful job. Now I could have gone to a health service hospital, it’s all paid out of our taxes, it’s all paid by the national health service. One of those organisations was privately run, one was publicly run. It doesn’t matter who runs it. I don’t believe in private health but if there is a private provider providing to the health service under health service conditions and they can do it better for the costumer, then that is surely what you want. I mean I don’t believe the argument that says private/public is the necessary argument. I am strongly in favour of public services being offered free at the point of delivery and paid for on taxation, but who actually runs the organisation that delivers it is far less important to me than how well the citizen is served.

I agree with that. That is a question we get asked a lot but I got an MRI on my back and it was done through the NHS via a private company and they did an amazing job. Very professional, very quick.

Yes, that’s right. If you had a monopoly public service I don’t even think it would be a better public service. It needs competition. It makes people live up to the mark. I bet you there were more people abused and receiving bad service and ignorant service when the NHS was a public monopoly. I don’t believe in public monopoly. I believe in things being paid for either by taxation, free at the point of delivery but then who does that?, providing it is subject to inspection and national control is a matter of irrelevance.

 

Exclusive Paddy Ashdown Interview: On His Books

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Paddy Ashdown has been a Royal Marine, the leader of the Liberal Democrats for eleven years, High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and is a life peer in the House of Lords. On top of that he has written 8 books, with the 8th coming out on the 5th of June. I can’t wait as I have loved all of his other books. I interviewed him about his books and politics. Here is part one.

Did you get the idea for A Brilliant Little Operation: The Cockleshell Heroes and the Most Courageous Raid of World War 2 while you were a member of the Royal Marines elite Special Boot Squadron?

No, my publisher approached me and said ‘it’s the 70th anniversary how about writing the book’. Which is my seventh book. I am just about to produce my 8th so it was a natural subject really.

What is your 8th book about?

The 8th book is about the largest resistance battle with the Germans in the Second World War. It is called A Terrible Victory, about the Vercors plateau on June 1944 and it was the biggest resistance German battle in Western Europe. [Learn more about the book here. It is about the chronicle of the French Resistance during World War Two]

That sounds fascinating. You have written quite a lot of books. Do you have a favourite?

I think the one I am working on now is always my favourite. I love writing books and whatever you’re working on consumes your mind so it is always the one you are most thinking about.

You’re books are very good. They are always very factual and have lots of history in them. How do you go about writing them. What is your writing schedule?

Writing The Brilliant Little Operation, and the one I am going to produce, Harper Collins will publish it on the 5th of June, takes me about three years of research. I mean, I start writing before then and overall I don’t like writing unless I have all of the research it is possible to get. Normally the whole process will take my three and a half to four years. Of which three years is spent on research. Going to the wonderful archive museum in Britain, the National Archives in Britain. In the case of both of my most recent books, to the Château de Vincennes in Paris, In France there are three key archives you have to go to. And also the Bauhaus-Archiv in Germany.

I spend a lot of time in archives. In writing my present book I have read sixty other books on the subject, all of them in French. In writing a Brilliant Little Operation I have read four books before and a lot of research. So research is very important.

You can really tell that when you read your books.

Thank you, that’s kind. That’s very generous.

Tomorrow: The Liberal Democrats, the Conservatives, Nick Clegg, Labour and the NHS: Exclusive interview.

 

Jackson Hole: A Ski Lover’s Paradise

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Author Enricokamasa Source: Wikipedia

Are you crazy about skiing and want to ski your way out this winter? Jackson Hole is the ‘it’ destination. Book your tickets to Jackson Hole this winter for one hell of a skiing experience. Jackson Hole with its entirety is known for skiing. The area around Teton mountains serves as a paradise for skiers. Till the mid of 1980’s Jackson Hole as a cult skiing area remained undiscovered for millions. Situated in the top-left corner of Wyoming, with a backdrop of mountain ranges, Jackson Hole is a hub for passionate skiers. Be it with your family or friends, Jackson Hole will not let you down when it comes to skiing.  Also, if you are visiting Jackson Hole solely for skiing, choose your rental homes accordingly. To make things simpler here’s a quick know-how about skiing in Jackson Hole.

Book one of the beautiful rental homes:

Now if you have planned a skiing vacation along with your family in this gorgeous destination, it’s better to book one of the beautiful rental home in Jackson Hole. There would be a myriad of options available and you can book the most convenient rental home in town. Plus, there’s buzzing marketplace and quite a few restaurants which offer really good food. And you want to go for skiing you can go to the mountains via public bus service or shuttle service. In case you have come down to Jackson Hole with your pack of friends, just for skiing, then put up somewhere in Teton village, which is located at the base of Jackson Hole. You can easily avail the tram even before the snowboarders and downtown-based skiers.

Go skiing

Many a time, individuals get confused as to whether the Aerial Tram is just for professional skiers. To clear the air, it’s not. Even an intermediate level skier can avail the tram. Post that you can traverse down the Rendezvous Trails which is fine for intermediate level skiers. Now if you find it difficult down the Rendezvous Trail, you can make your way to relatively less steep areas on the mountain such as Casper, Apres Vous, Thunder etc. However, it all depends on your comfort level. At first, you need to check whether you are comfortable with the terrain and weather and decide for yourself accordingly. Winter is the best time for skiing in Jackson Hole. So, if you are planning a trip to the place primarily for skiing, make sure you set your eyes on winter. Starting from the month of December snowfall continues till March. So anywhere between December and March is suitable for skiing. Though towards the end of January and beginning of February, it starts getting warmer. But if you are lucky enough, you will have one hell of a time while skiing during this period. Also, November end isn’t a bad deal. To cut it short, November end and the entire month of December is tailor-made for skiers. So, before the month of December ends, pack your bags and get set ski peeps. 

What to pack for skiing:

 

Temperature fluctuation is pretty banal in this region, so before you make your way be prepared for the most critical situation. If you are skiing make sure you wear underpants, followed with a second layer of underpants. Now the second layer of underpants can be of wool or even silk, something that keeps you warm when you are off for skiing and also doesn’t restrict your flexibility. After the two layers wear an athletic pant which would make your skiing easy. Make sure that the athletic pants are the ones which dry up fast. 

Now comes the jacket.  Make sure you wear a jacket which is either insulated or has a wind-blocking shell. Many a time, the normal woollen jackets might give you the warmth but once you are skiing, the keeping-warm business goes for a toss. Also, don’t forget to carry a pair of high-quality socks, socks that would wick water off your feet. Good quality socks will keep your warm feet and avoid your feet from blisters. Talking of socks that you should wear while skiing, try picking socks that will make you feel comfortable in your boots. Last but not least, avoid wearing two pairs of socks as it causes blisters. 

 

Gloves, mittens and buffs are the other important which you should carry while you are packing your bag. To keep your hands really warm wear a pair of thin glove liners and then slid your hands into the glove. You can do the same while wearing mittens. Ensure that your gloves aren’t too tight because that will make your skiing uncomfortable and will make you feel colder. What else you ask? Well, a helmet, sunscreen, snow goggles, lip balm, and poles are among the other things which you shouldn’t miss out on. Also, do not forget to carry a small backpack while skiing. You might need to keep some extra pairs of gloves or socks, goggles etc. So do carry one to keep your essentials. 

Now that you know the basics of skiing in Jackson Hole, it wouldn’t be a problem for you to plan your itinerary. This winter, set your eyes on the pristine Jackson Hole make the most of its lovely atmosphere. Also, do not forget to carry the essentials for a fun-filled skiing jaunt. So folks, paint the town red this Christmas in Jackson Hole skiing your way to glory. 

 

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MumsThread On The Kindness of Strangers

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baby, shared parental leave, feminism, equality, childcare, leave, maternal, work, working mothers, lean inMy last few pieces have been quite negative so I thought I would share something positive today: just how kind people can be when you have a child. That knowing look that other parents give you, that it-is-going-to-be-okay smile that complete stranger do to make you feel better. I remember trying to get into my flat once and struggling to get the pram through the heavy door, a man in a van stopped and asked if I needed help, followed by two other people. That was three people in a row. I was really touched and it made my day. I didn’t want to put any of them out- the pram just needed an extra push at that point- but when you are a parent, especially one with a baby, any kindness really does make your day.

I have had people come up to me in restaurants and tell them how beautiful my son is (I know, proud mum alert). Babies and toddlers are social lubricant. I have talked to more people since I had my son than I had in years. It does feel like when you have a child you enter some kind of club. Not in a bad way, just in a way that other parents will usually strike up a conversation or try to help if they can. Having a child opens up an entire new world. I took my son to Baby Ballet recently, and it was so sweet seeing him with all of the other children, but it was also great being surrounded by other parents. Having a child can be an isolating experience, any kindness you can get, any human contact at all can make or break a day. I am grateful to every single person who took their time. Even if it was just a smile.

What are your experiences of parenting? Share them with us by emailing frostmagazine@gmail.com, comment below or tweet us at @frostmag

 

As the Sun Breaks Through By Ellie Dean | Recommended Reads

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ellie dean as the sun breaks throughTHE FIFTEENTH CLIFFEHAVEN NOVEL BY SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR ELLIE DEAN

Cliffehaven, June 1944

As the planes continue to circle over Cliffehaven, Peggy Reilly’s sister Doris must seek refuge after a V-1 blast destroys her home. Rita, Sarah and the other residents at Beach View Boarding House quickly find their peace disturbed and it’s not long before even Peggy loses her patience. But with more bad news to come, will Doris finally be forced to swallow her pride?

Meanwhile Peggy’s father-in-law Ron Reilly is delighted when his sweetheart Rosie returns home. Until a heart-breaking confession suggests things may never be the same between them.

With loved ones scattered far and wide across the globe, and tensions running high, the end of the war feels somehow further than ever. And yet with the long-awaited Allied invasion in sight, a glimmer of light is starting to break through…

A fabulous, heart-warming Second World War novel in Ellie Dean’s bestselling Cliffehaven series (previously called the Beach View Boarding House series).