Superdry Beauty Range | Beauty Review

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Catherine Balavage

I am a sucker for beautiful packaging and originality, and Superdry’s beauty range has both in spades. Even their lipstick (which they call lip paint) has beautiful details on the actual stick. The make up bags are clear and in bright colours, and the actual packaging just looks amazing. I don’t know who their design team is, but they deserve a medal.

I love their lip fix in peppermint. It really does stop your lips drying out. It is one of my favourite lip balms now, and smells great. Their eye liner is brilliant too. Sorry if I sound like I am fawning, they just really do the job. I love eyeliner so I am fussy about what I use. It has to be really black and have staying power.

Superdry make-up is priced between £2-20, a really good price range, especially considering the quality and design of the products.

Their eyeshadow is very cool too, it flips out sideways. I also recommend their Kabuki Brush. It is so soft I could stroke it all day.

Do you think you will be trying any of Superdry’s beauty products?

Frost Magazine Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Catherine Balavage

Marc by Marc Jacobs Henry Skeleton Watch

WatchShop.com Price: £185 and free next day delivery within the UK

A beautiful timepiece with a genuine pink leather strap with a shine. The case is rose gold plated whilst the skeleton dial is protected by mineral crystal. The watch is water resistant to 50 metres.

STORM Crystin Watch

Stockist: WatchShop.com

This ladies STORM Crystin watch has a stainless steel case and is fitted with a quartz movement. It is fastened with a silver metal bracelet and has a silver dial.

Karen Millen Watch

WatchShop.com Price: £95 and free next day delivery within the UK

This ladies’ Karen Millen watch has a stainless steel case and is powered by a quartz movement. It fastens a purple leather strap and has a purple dial

Michael Kors Camille Chronograph Watch

WatchShop.com Price: £229 and free next day delivery within the UK

This ladies’ Michael Kors Camille watch has a stainless steel case and is fitted with an analogue chronograph quartz movement. It is fitted with a two tone bracelet and has a blue dial. The watch has a date function.

Springtime Planter gift set

£25 plus delivery

The perfect Mother’s Day idea for a green-fingered recipient, the Springtime Planter is a traditional wooden planter containing colourful hyacinths, primroses, cyclamen and pansies.

Every plant is carefully gift wrapped and boxed by hand in Plants4Presents’ Sussex nursery to ensure it arrives in perfect condition. Standard delivery is just £6.50 per address. Delivery is available across the UK and Ireland. For more information visit www.plants4presents.co.uk.

We love this Royal Albert Tea For One Set, £60.00 from The House of Bath

The Kobo Mini is a great present for mother’s. (the 5” eReader easily slips into a handbag or coat pocket making it great for the mum who is either always on the go or just like things a bit more compact) Highly portable Kobo Mini holds up to 1,000 eBooks.

Price £59.99

Stockist: WHSmith and all fine electronic retailers

Fulton this Mother’s Day – from Fab Florals to spectacular Spots and Stripes – there are many new beautiful designs to choose from – many of which are part of Fulton’s soon to be launched SS13 collection.

With ‘Walking’ and ‘Folding’ umbrellas, Rain Macs, Rainboots and Rain Hats from designers such as Cath Kidston and Lulu Guinness, as well as Fulton’s stunning own range, there’s a stylish shelter for every mum out there.

I don’t know about your mother but my mother’s favourite gift is spending time with me. She also loves tea so The UK’s largest afternoon tea gift site, AfternoonTeaForTwo.co.uk is perfect for her. They have a huge range of tea experiences so you can select the perfect memorable experience for your mum. On the site, you will find hundreds of afternoon tea ideas, from glamorous London hotels to relaxing country retreats. If you’re confident you know what she’ll like, you can purchase an individual experience at the click of a button.

Celebrate Mother’s Day at one of Frost’s favourite hotels, the London Marriott Hotel County Hall

Treat your mum this Mothering Sunday with a quintessential Afternoon Tea celebration set in the beautiful library of the 5* London Marriott Hotel County Hall onLondon’s South Bank.

Start with delicious hand crafted sandwiches including roast Angus beef and horseradish, Wiltshire ham with English mustard, Burford brown egg mayonnaise with cress, Forman & Son London Cure smoked salmon with caper butter and the classic cucumber with cream cheese and chive.

Savour a delectable selection of pastries with green tea drizzle cake, passion fruit and coconut crown, blackberry tart and mint surprise, pineapple and vanilla compote with mascarpone cream an Valrhona Chocolate Opera.

Sweet and savoury scones complete the menu. Choose from freshly baked golden raisin scones topped with Tiptree strawberry jam and Devonshire clotted cream or Montgomery cheddar and Hampshire watercress scones with cream cheese and watercress.

Accompanied by a choice of refreshing teas all laid out to tempt, treat and delight and served with charm and a keen attention to detail.

The Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea is available on Sunday 10^th March between 2.30pm and 4.30pm, priced at £36 per person.

Groups are welcome for Afternoon Tea, however, for parties wanting a little extra privacy, a range of private dining rooms are available. Contact us on +44 (0) 207 902 8000 to find out more about private dining.

Emma Bunton reveals her most magical moment with her children for UNICEF UK’s Mother’s Day campaign to end child malnutrition

This Mother’s Day, former Spice Girl, Emma Bunton has joined forces with UNICEF, the global leader in child malnutrition, and is sharing her most magical moment in her children’s first 1,000 days of life.

The first 1,000 days are the critical window of opportunity for children to get the right nutrients they need to develop properly. Around the world a staggering one in four children are not getting the nourishing food they need to grow up healthy and reach their potential in this first critical period.

In the run up to Mother’s Day, UNICEF UK supporter Emma Bunton is asking UK mums to give children around the world the best start in life, by supporting the campaign at www.unicef.org.uk/mothersday.

Sitting in her window seat at home, Emma Bunton said, “It’s so shocking that one in four children around the world are not getting the right nutrients they need to grow up healthy and strong in their first 1,000 days of life.

“When my boys were toddlers I’d sit here and sing ‘You are my sunshine’ to them while the light streamed in on us. When they reached the stage where they could start singing along it really was a magical moment and one I’ll always remember in those first important 1,000 days.

“Every mother should be able to enjoy these precious moments in their child’s life and development. So, please, this Mother’s Day join me and go to the UNICEF UK website to help children everywhere.”

Mums visiting the website will learn how, for £3, they can help another child by buying sprinkles to ensure that children get the vitamins and nutrients they need to grow up healthy and reach their potential.

UNICEF UK is part of the Enough Food for Everyone IF campaign, a great movement of individuals and organisations united to tackle global hunger.

Mums Show Live, the new and only show for parents of 4 – 12 year olds, is offering tickets half price with the code BESTMUM.

Mums Show Live will be taking place from 16 – 19 May at Alexandra Palace, London and will be a great day out for mum, and all the family (dad and kids go free).

Parents will get the chance to enjoy a spot of shopping, with brands including Joules, Fit Flops and Micro Scooters and also join in live conversation and inspiration theatres to get answers to challenging questions. Mums, dads and kids can also get involved in a diverse range of fun games, activities and entertainment.

For more information on the show please visit www.mumshowlive.com.

BRITS LEAVE IT LATE FOR MOTHER’S DAY

30% of Mums Left Disappointed as Last Minute Shoppers Fall Short of the Mark

Research carried out by One4all Gift Card reveals that over half of all Brits leave it late to plan their Mother’s Day treats.

As many as 54% of women and 58% of men admit to failing to plan ahead for Mother’s Day, saying that they regularly forget the date. Younger sons and daughters are the worst culprits with 72% of those aged between 18 and 24 forgetting to put Mother’s Day in their diaries.

As a result we can expect many Mums to be putting on a brave face this weekend, with 30% admitting that they are left disappointed with the thought and effort shown for them on Mother’s Day.

Men are also the biggest offenders at not making an effort to see their mums on Mother’s Day, with just 28% making a special visit compared to 43% of women. For men, it seems this weekend should be renamed Mother-in-Law’s Day.

However, it’s not all bad news with some mums receiving very fancy gifts indeed. The most extravagant gifts lavished on mums for Mother’s Day includes cars, cruises and diamond necklaces!

One solution for people not planning to be quite so generous this weekend, appears to be treating mum to a shopping trip for her to choose her own present.

Managing Director of One4all UK, Declan Byrne said, “We’ve seen our sales up 40% ahead of this weekend which is partly explained by people looking for last minute inspiration and deciding that perhaps mother knows best.

“The One4all gift card enables mum to choose a gift from 17,000 stores nationwide, so it takes the pressure off gift shopping and ensures mum gets a great gift, which she actually wants.”

If you need a last minute gift, you can purchase the One4all Gift Card from any of the 11,500 Post Office branches nationwide and at www.one4all.co.uk.

A gift card can be loaded with any amount from £10 to £400 and can be spent at 17,000 different retailer outlets nationwide including mum-favourites, House of Fraser, Debenhams and Boots.

Other points from the One4all research:

35% of our mothers rarely treat themselves

30% of mums out there still treat their grown-up kids, now full-grown adults, on a regular basis

Mums are best friends to over 30% of us

A quarter of us say our Mum is still the one person who can reduce us to feeling like a child with one look or one word

Say happy Mother’s Day on Sunday 10th March with a limited edition Emma Bridgewater bag for life, designed for this year’s Red Nose Day, available now from TK Maxx stores throughout the UK.

British pottery maker Emma Bridgewater has created the stylish bag to encourage the great British public to ‘Do Something Funny For Money’. The money donated from sales of the products will be spent by Comic Relief to help people living incredibly tough lives across Africa and here in the UK.

The bag features a specially designed feathered ‘snitch’ nose and costs £9.99 with at least £4.00 going to Comic Relief.

Red Nose Day 2013 is heading your way on Friday 15th March.

Here is a brilliant infographic of the cost of celebrating Mother’s Day from Baines & Ernst.

View full image

Drayton Manor offers the perfect gift for Mother’s Day

Every year the time comes to buy a present for Mother’s Day – but what about the Mum that has got everything? This year, give Mum the perfect gift of a fun day out to remember with the family to Drayton Manor Theme Park.

Family day pass

By purchasing a family pass, it will provide a far more exciting alternative to the usual flowers and chocolates, and instead, will offer a great day out to one of the UK’s most popular family attractions.

With Mother’s Day taking place on Sunday 10^th March, it means there is only a five day wait to celebrate this special day with Mum at the park when it opens on Friday 15^th March.

A family pass for four costs £108. However, tickets for the park are also available online at www.draytonmanor.co.uk for a reduced rate, providing a real value for money treat for the family and a well-deserved day off for Mum!

Win a Box Full of Divine Chocolate In Time For Easter. Two To Giveaway

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Frostie

Get your eggs at the ready it’s time to have a Divine Easter

Frost magazine has teamed up with Easter Divine to give you the opportunity to win a box full of chocolate. Easter Divine have created a chocolate ‘egg-stravaganza’! Divine are spoiling chocolate lovers everywhere by adding delicious new products to their Easter range including dark, white and milk chocolate eggs delicately wrapped in gold as well as chocolate praline chickens and eggs and the sweetest chocolate bees with an irresistible honeycomb crunch.

One of the ‘egg-cellent’ qualities about Divine Chocolate is that they are 100% Fairtrade and the company is owned by cocoa farmers in Ghana. If you are on the ‘hunt’ to get your hands on some delicious Divine chocolate then look no further – we have a fabulous Easter gift pack to give away.

Divine is offering you the chance to win a luxury box of chocolaty treats based around its newly extended Easter range. The mouth-watering prize, worth £35, includes mini eggs, milk bees and a mixture of 10 delicious Divine chocolate bars.

For your chance to win simply answer this question and comment below:

What delicious filling are Divine’s chocolate bees filled with?

A. Honeycomb

B. Caramel

C. Fudge

If you want to be in with even more of a chance then follow @Frostmag on Twitter and Tweet, ‘I want to win Divine chocolate with @Frostmag’ or like us on Facebook. Alternatively, sign up to our newsletter.

The competition is open to UK residents only and ends on the 28th of March. Divine chocolate would like your email to send you more competition offers and information, please say if you would like to opt out. Thank you and good luck.

To find out more about Divine’s products visit www.divinechocolate.com

Haizhen Wang | London Fashion Week 2013

Posted on March 2, 2013 by Catherine Balavage

The debut collection from last year’s Fashion Fringe winner saw eye shades, leather, slimline trousers, full-length cloaks and peplum jackets. Haizhen Wang had an air of futuristic Gothic surrounding his collection. The show was attended by so many people that Frost was ushered into a screening to watch it instead, (hence the photos) it was like a little fashion cinema as Terri, Keshini and I watched the collection. We loved it: A true talent that is set for big things.

What do you think?

Launch Party For Russian Week in London 2013

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Catherine Balavage

The Russian Week in London, Festival Maslenitsa

Frost went along to the amazing restaurant Mari Vanna to celebrate the opening of the Maslenitsa Festival, Russia’s cultural welcome to spring and celebration of pancakes. We greatly enjoyed the canapes and the drinks, including vodka infused strawberry juice. We enjoyed the presentation and talks about the up-coming Russian festival and were told to ‘drink in moderation’ by Boris Johnson. All in all, we had a great time and will be popping down to the Russian Festival. See you there.

The Russian Week in London, Festival Maslenitsa

FREE entry, 13:30–18:30, Saturday 16 March 2013
Trafalgar Square, London, UK

Zdravstvuj! (Hello!) What better way to welcome spring and banish winter than Maslenitsa, the Russian Sun
Festival. This Shrovetide feast before Lent is celebrated the world over with traditional Russian arts and
culture events and, of course, delicious Russian cuisine – including the iconic and delectable blini (pancake).

Organised by Ensemble Productions, London’s Maslenitsa festival has the backing of the Mayor of London
and Natalia Vodianova’s Naked Heart Foundation as official charity partner, and is the largest Russian
celebration of culture, art, music and food outside of Russia. The free event returns for its fifth year on
Saturday 16 March in Trafalgar Square from 13:30-18:30. Coinciding with Maslenitsa celebrations across
Russia, a live satellite link will allow audiences to share in the authentic festival atmosphere and exchange
cultural dialogue as well as highlight important links between the UK and Russia, with a particular emphasis
on the Olympic years of London 2012 and Sochi 2014.

Comments the Mayor of London Boris Johnson:

“I am delighted to give my backing to London’s Maslenitsa celebrations, a sure sign that spring is on its way. London has a large Russian population and this popular event is an opportunity to become immersed in the rich traditions and heritage of that great country. It also offers a taster ahead of Sochi 2014, which is now just a year away and I am sure will be a huge success. Int he meantime, whether you try a delicious blini, pirogi or chebureki, to our friends in Moscow and Russians everywhere have a fantastic Maslenitsa! Maslenitsa gulyaet – vesnu vstrechaet, zimu provoshaet!*”

The popular festival features a variety of activities for all ages including musical performances by Russia’s
leading musical talent, a children’s marquee with songs, competitions and games, and a bustling bazaar
organised by the Russian National Arts and Crafts organisation, with original Russian art, handicrafts and
souvenirs for sale.

Maslenitsa is also known as Pancake Week and there will be plenty of authentic Russian dishes to sample. In
addition to blini there will be other traditional staples such as beef stroganoff and borscht (beetroot soup)
as well as delicacies such as pelmeni (Russian-style pasta).

Maslenitsa 2013 will include, among others, a special visit by Eurovision Contest 2012 stars the Buranovskie
Babushki (Singing Grannies); performances by celebrated folk diva Nadezhda Babkina with her
contemporary take on traditional Russian sounds; young folk group Rodnaya Storonka who cover multiple
genres; the legendary State Academic Ensemble Berezka; the award-winning and innovative Bis-Quit
Quartet; charismatic and much-loved soul Russian artist Petr Nalich accompanied by his band; national
treasure Oleg Gazmanov and one of the most famous Russian rock bands of all time, Smyslovye Galuzinazii.

The festival comes at the culmination of the Russian Maslenitsa Week which includes satellite events across
the city of London. These include the exhibition Treasures of the Royal Courts: Tudors, Stuarts and the
Russian Tsars at the V&A, a culinary evening at Russian restaurant Mari Vanna, a Russia Literary Evening at
Waterstones and a performance by the vivacious Theatre Praktika. This year’s Maslenitsa festival will also see
the first winner of the Maslenitsa Prize for Song and Dance take to stage to entertain the crowds at
Trafalgar Square.

“Due to high interest from the public, the Maslenitsa Festival remains an extremely important cultural event
not just in the UK, but in Europe,” comments Olga Balakleets of Ensemble Productions. “Each year the
festival grows, allowing more and more people to learn about the modern face of Russian culture as well as
its rich cultural heritage.”

Maslenitsa also serves as a platform that fosters business and cultural links between the UK and Russia.
Commented Vitaly Nesis, CEO of Polymetal International, one of Maslenitsa’s event sponsors:

“We are delighted to be supporting the Maslenitsa Festival in London and providing the opportunity for more
people in the United Kingdom to see and experience a range of exciting Russian culture and social events.
As a company that has most of its operations in Russia and many of its shareholders in UK, we are keen to
see the relationship between the two nations prosper backed by thriving business and cultural cooperation.”
Added Dmitry Mints, Chairman of the Management Board of fellow sponsors, O1 Properties, “The
Maslenitsa festival offers audiences in the UK the unique chance to take part in this ancient Russian tradition,
and O1 properties is happy to support this cheerful event.”

A special VIP Gala Dinner will take place on 15 March at the Royal Courts of Justice. Tickets are available for
purchase from Ensemble Productions.

Russian Week in London, Festival Maslenitsa: Line Up

Tuesday 12 March
Culinary Evening
Mari Vanna
Situated in the heart of Knightsbridge, foodies have the chance to sample some of Russia’s spectacular
culinary delicacies, with a special menu curated by celebrity chef Alexander Rappoport.

Wednesday 13 March
Russian Literary Evening
Waterstones, Piccadilly
Book and culture lovers unite in Piccadilly’s iconic bookshop to immerse themselves in the English versions
of Russian best sellers, including a special theatrical performance.

Thursday 14 March
Craft Fair
Russian Culture Centre (Rossotrudnichestvo)
The Kensington High Street-based culture centre will host two sessions – a master class and children’s class
– to introduce DIY lovers to authentic Russian crafts.

Friday 15 March
Talk and tour of Treasures of the Royal Courts
V&A
Art and history fans can explore over 150 objects from Henry VIII to the early Romanovs, including royal
portraits, jewellery and luxury goods, as well as processional armour and heraldry, chronicling the close
relationship between the English monarchy and the Russian Tsars.

Saturday 16 March
Maslenitsa Festival
Trafalgar Square
A day of pancakes, music, art and live performances, this free fun-filled family day brings together people
from all walks of life in a celebration of the coming of spring and the wonderful cultural offerings of Russia.

Sunday 17 March
Edward Boyakov’s Theatre Praktika
Duke of York Theatre
Praktika’s mission is to reflect modern reality in all its complexity and address questions that are of burning
importance to contemporary society – hold onto your hats for the company’s iconic new theatre style and
vibrant energy.

Further information on venue details and event timings will be announced in due course. Updates, along
with a list of performances to take place on the main stage are available on the Maslenitsa Festival website
http://maslenitsa.co.uk/

For more information or to book tickets, call +44 (0) 20 8832 7424

The Russian Week in London, Festival Maslenitsa

Trafalgar Square, London
13:30–18:30
Free
Dates: 11 March 2013 – 17 March 2013

Naked Heart Foundation

Mayor of London, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Embassy of
the Russian Federation in London, Federal Agency Rossotrudnichestvo, Russky Mir Foundation,
Polymetal International, ICT Group, O1 Properties, Lycamobile

About the Naked Heart Foundation

It was the Beslan school siege in 2004 that motivated international model Natalia Vodianova to set up the Naked Heart Foundation. Desperate to do something to help, she had a simple idea – if the young survivors could be distracted by play for at least five minutes each day, it would help them to heal. Providing them with safe outdoor play facilities would redefine their city landscape and act as a form of therapy. The Naked Heart Foundation was set up in the same year, and in 2006 it completed its first play park, five minutes from where Vodianova grew up in Nizhny Novgorod. In 2009, 40 play parks and 30 Russian cities later, Vodianova had fulfilled her dream of giving the children of Beslan their very own Naked Heart play park. To date the charity has built 90 play parks and playgrounds and is now creating a network of family support centres to care for families raising children with disabilities. It also provides funding for dozens of Russian NGOs working in the field and holds an annual international Forum for child development specialists. In 2013 it will open its 100th site. For more information visit www.nakedheart.org or www.facebook.com/NHFcharity

BURANOVSKIE BABUSHKI (SINGING GRANNIES)

Buranovskie Babushki visit The Russian Week in London,

Festival Maslenitsa, 14 & 15 March

Translated as ‘The Grannies from Buranovo’ – or better known to us as the ‘Singing Grannies’ – Buranovskie
Babushki is an ethno-pop band comprising eight elderly, yet sprightly, women. After finishing second in the
2012 Eurovision Song Contest for Russia, the Grannies became an Internet sensation with more than 30,000
hits in less than a week. They will be visiting London in support of the Festival Maslenitsa and will be
attending the British Russian Gala on 15 March at the Royal Courts of Justice as part of the Maslenitsa Week.

The Grannies sing in their native Udmurt, and often surprise audiences by singing covers of Tsoi,
Grebenshchikov and The Beatles. The grannies are currently using their Eurovision money to help rebuild a
local church from their home town Buranovo.

Festival Maslenitsa: FREE entry, 13:30–18:30, Saturday 16 March 2013
Trafalgar Square, London, UK

Festival supported by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson
Official charity partner, Naked Heart Foundation, founded by model Natalia Vodianova
Free entry, family-oriented day of fun and special children’s marquee
Live satellite link between Moscow’s Red Square and London’s Trafalgar Square during festival
Bazaar featuring Russian culinary delicacies and traditional arts and crafts
Tickets to VIP gala reception available through organisers Ensemble Productions
Week of events preceding Maslenitsa Festival includes a literary salon at Waterstones and Russian
delicacies at Mari Vanna restaurant in Knightsbridge

Can Regenovex Stop You Doing a Lady Gaga?

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Frostie

For people with injuries or arthritis the cold weather can really hurt joints. No matter what your age, as the health problems of Lady Gaga show. So when Frost got sent some Regenovex to review we send it to some writers with joint problems. Here is what they thought.

Regenovex® Capsules. An advanced formulation designed for daily joint health, one-a-day Regenovex® Capsules are very small and easy to swallow.

Regenovex® Gel is for targeted application on individual joints. Easy to use Regenovex® Gel is dispensed via a pump and can be rubbed on the joint up to 3 times per day.

Our writer said:

It said on the pack that you could take two for the first 10 days and I wanted quick results so I did this. I have had a dodgy knee for a while. It even hurts when I go up and down stairs. I started taking these but t o be honest I did not expect results.

I also put the gel on my knee three times a day when I remember. Which is not all the time. To be honest, the gel does not smell nice, but it is not too bad.

I use both the pills and the gel. The pills until they run out, and the gel even until this day. Is there a difference? Absolutely. The pills and gel worked so much that I did not even notice. I was just walking up some stairs and I realised that my knee had stopped hurting. I had not had a pang of pain for ages. I am going to continue to use the products. I am very impressed.

· Regenovex® Patch is flexible and can be worn for up to 12 hours, making it ideal for day and night use.

Our writer said:

I have shoulder pain. It is a sport injury and it really bloody hurts. I think I have probably just worn my joint away. Which is a nice thought! I use the patch for the full 12 hours. It is easy to use. You can just cut it down to any size you want. Do I think it works? Yes. It does bring relief. I reckon I will be investing in some more.

Regenovex® Unveils How Cold, Damp, British Weather Can Really Affect Our Joints

The link between bad weather and an increase in discomfort from joint problems has been revealed in groundbreaking new research.

In the UK, about 10 million people suffer from osteoarthritis (OA) and many more have undiagnosed joint stiffness. The prevalence of osteoarthritis increases with age and is greater in women than in men. About 20% of adults aged 45-64 years and 35% of women aged 75 years or over have osteoarthritis in the knee while about 25% of adults over 50 report disability from severe knee discomfort. All too often, the early warning signs and symptoms of joint problems are ignored or just put down to old age, until they become serious and potentially crippling.

People with joint health issues often complain that the weather and climate can badly affect their health. However, scientists have struggled to prove the association and doctors can assume the perception of increased discomfort is in a patient’s mind.

Now new research from the makers of Regenovex® – a pioneering formulation backed by research to help maintain the health of joints – has shone light on the relationship between changes in weather and an increase in joint health problems such as stiffness. Four out of 10 respondents have even considered moving from the UK to a warmer country because of their joint problems. One in nine (11%) are actively contemplating relocation. Containing two functional ingredients from natural sources – a marine oil and hyaluronic acid – Regenovex® Capsules, from the smart technology experts at Mentholatum, is specifically formulated to help keep joints healthy. The Regenovex® range includes one-a-day capsules, a gel and a patch, all containing a marine oil.

Weather misery…

Adults aged 35 to 75 – with an average age of 50 – who suffer from joint health problems or stiffness were questioned about their experiences with weather-related joint issues.

· More than half (55%) said it was during cold periods, followed by damp weather (45%), wet weather (38%) and frosty weather (19%). Just 4% thought hot weather could trigger joint problems.

· A staggering 72% of respondents agreed that they suffered more from joint problems such as discomfort and stiffness because of the weather.

The biggest joint problem symptoms triggered by weather were:

· Discomfort (63%)

· Stiffness (56%)

· Difficulty getting up when seated (30%)

· Difficulty going up or down stairs (24%)

· Difficulty moving (23%).

Other problems included getting out of bed (20%), bending down (17%) and exercising (15%).

When it comes to the areas of the body that are most affected by stiffness, respondents from the Regenovex® survey cited knees as the worst by more than half (56%), followed by the back (39%), the fingers (26%), hips (25%), hands and neck (both 20%).

Reactions to stiffness triggered by the weather varied:

· A third (32%) said they just put up with it and don’t take any further action

· One in seven would take over the counter painkillers (14%)

· 12% would opt for a hot bath

· Other coping strategies included using a hot water bottle (7%) and seeing a GP or pharmacist (5%).

Physiotherapist, Paul Hobrough says, “Joint discomfort and joint health issues are a huge problem in the UK, with millions of diagnosed sufferers and many others who struggle on in silence. Joints that are stiff or cause discomfort can badly affect quality of life, with many activities we take for granted proving difficult or even impossible, including the health benefits of taking regular exercise.

“I see a large number of patients in my clinics nationally, that report bad weather or the cold and damp as a trigger for their joint aches or make them worse. For a long time these people have been told that it is in their mind however I was delighted to read the latest research from Regenovex, building on a growing body of evidence, that supports the association between weather – especially temperature and air pressure – and increased levels of joint discomfort and stiffness. The Regenovex survey found nearly three quarters of those questioned said the weather could be a joint health trigger, with cold and damp conditions blamed the most and Scientists are now investigating the mechanisms behind this phenomenon.”

Paul adds, “Regenovex is a new generation of joint care preparation, with a unique formulation that helps to support joint health, backed by extensive scientific research. The key ingredients are Bionovex Oil, a marine oil derived from New Zealand green lipped mussels and hyaluronic acid. The Bionovex Oil has a proven anti-inflammatory effect which could relieve the pressure build up in the joint, while hyaluronic acid acts to lubricate and cushion your joints. Regenovex could be a major help in treating joint health problems. It not only helps tackle inflammation along a range of pathways, but it may also improve and maintain the synovial fluid in joints. No other product works this way.”

“I am thankful to Regenovex for providing a possible answer to scores of patients who have until now, found themselves suffering without a solution. Only time will tell the extent to which Regenovex will help these people but vast progress has been made and people feel like they are finally being listened to by the healthcare industry.”

Regenovex is available from Amazon UK and Ebay. Prices include:

· Regenovex® Capsules, pack of 30 capsules: RSP £23.99.

· Regenovex® Gel, 40ml: RSP £11.29.

· Regenovex® Patch, single patch: RSP £2.49.

Endearing Eccentricity or Annoying Habit: The best bits and worst bits about our other halves

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Frostie

Wouldn’t it be nice if your partner was an ideal package with every bit about them just perfect? Nice yes, but it wouldn’t be much fun, because life isn’t perfect and sometimes it’s the quirks and idiosyncrasies that make us who we are. So eHarmony.co.uk has set about finding out what are couples’ niggling little habits and endearing special quirks by asking over 2000 married Brits to disclose the best and worst bits about living with their other half. Here’s what they say:

Results from men

Loves		Annoyances
They put up with my moods	42%	They take too long getting ready	28%
They are affectionate when we are alone and in public	21%	They are a back seat driver	21%
They’re always interested in my day	17%	They worry too much about money	16%

Results from women

Loves		Annoyances
They make me laugh	38%	They can never find anything	30%
They’re happy to do household chores	29%	They are messy	20%
They listen to me when I rant	21%	They control the TV remote	18%

So women take too long to get ready and men can never find anything, but women put up with their husband’s moods and men make women laugh. Men are messy and women are back seat drivers, men are happy to do household chores and women take interest in their partner’s day. And maybe men do control the TV remote and women do worry too much about money but hey, men listen to their ranting wives and women are just plain affectionate.

Relationship advice expert for eHarmony Jenni Trent Hughes comments on the survey and says:

“It is really interesting to see the difference between genders when it comes to the things they love and what annoys them about their partner. The little niggles tend to come out further into the relationship, however it’s when a couple is truly compatibly that they find a balance between the good and the bad habits. It is really important to communicate with one another when a niggle becomes more testing, to try and find a common ground and agree, this will help eliminate future arguments over the little things and leave more time for the things they love about one another .”

Theatre Review: This House

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Karl O'Doherty

This House.

Olivier Theatre at the National Theatre, Southbank

Playwright: James Graham

Director: Jeremy Herrin

Designer: Rae Smith

Lighting Design: Paul Anderson

Music: Stephen Warbeck

Anybody unfamiliar with political theatre may be a little apprehensive when staring down the barrel of a play centred on the machinations of political insiders during the first coalition government in the 70’s. It’s perfectly understandable. But what the writer James Graham delivers in this near three hour (including interval) story is a nuanced and effective study of characters with the politics of the day standing in as an interesting backdrop to men and women with whip smart quips, sharp wits and, sometimes, thoroughly endearing frailties.

With the help of some intelligent set and lighting design the action takes place in the Westminster offices of the Whips for both the Labour party and the Tory party as well as in the halls, the clock tower, the crypts, the underground rifle range (yeah, they have one) a member’s bar, a closet and a few other places. We are getting a snapshot of how the Whips offices, the “engine rooms of parliament”, operated in the four and a half years of the Labour government with a minuscule majority from 1974 to 1979. Running frantically around the stage trying to marshal their MPs and the Independents into the lobby to vote on a bill, the Whips are the focus of this piece though the traditions and stories of Westminster Palace itself play a large part.

With only the barest mention of the politics and bills in question this political play is an odd one when considered in the larger canon. Politics is at its heart, but the play deals in characters and relationships. The antagonism and open warfare between the two sides of the house, along with a healthy amount of respect, is shown through the various whips with the Labour chief (an excellent Phil Daniels in the first, and former deputy Vincent Franklin in the second, half) and the Tory’s men (Julian Wadham and Charles Edwards shine) tearing lumps out of each other verbally with a great deal of charm. There are moments of real tenderness in the story as well as the political gazumping and chicanery, with the deaths of the various MPs during the time covered by the play handled excellently.

Graham is quite clearly highly skilled at sharp dialogue and the research he completed into the politics at the time, as well as the English political system in general, shows through in a very entertaining way. Although because the characters are based on real people, it is hard to tell if the way they come across as caricatures of Labour and Tory politicians is his doing or if they were actually like that.

The music is well performed by Acoustic Jim and The Wires, though at times feels a little incongruous and unexpected, and there may be a little too much talk and too many characters to keep track of for some members of the audience. Overall, however, this is a superb play with many different levels and facets, each of which have been fine tuned and presented with polish.

There may have been some questions over how This House would transfer from the intimate Cottesloe to the 1200 seater Olivier for this production, but this cast and crew answer with enjoyable aplomb.

4/5 Stars

This House runs from now until the 15th of May.

(Image from the National Theatre showing Vincent Franklin, Philip Glenister and Lauren O’Neil. Click the link for dates and availability. )

Frost Magazine

Books and Lifestyle

Category Archives: Life & Style