Twelfth Night or What You Will, by William Shakespeare

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Paloma Kubiak

Either my education’s failed me or I’ve failed my education as this is the first time I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing the great William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, or What You Will.

A production by the Pell Mell Theatre Company at The Space on the Isle of Dogs, I had no preconceptions of what the play was about, let alone how it compared to the written word or other stage adaptations.

Twelth Night came across as organised chaos – entertainers with painted faces stretched, performed, laughed and mocked the other characters and we never quite know whether they’re visible to all on stage or if they just act as a narrative device to help the audience’s understanding.

At times they were comedic in their moves, at other times they were somewhat distracting pacing about the stage while the audience tried to keep up with the main characters.

I was glad to see Shakespeare’s chief ploys of gender swapping and love triangles present.

Orsino pines for Lady Olivia, but she’s ironically hypnotised by Orsino’s page boy, Cesario, a woman who’s disguised herself as a man. And Cesario – aka Viola – is in love with Orsino.

The play is predominantly set at Lady Olivia’s home, where we meet her outspoken maid Maria, her pompous chief servant Malvolio and where her uncle, Sir Toby, roams the corridors after late night drinking sessions.

We also meet Feste, the fool who is wickedly honest and surprisingly witty and who shone through his thickly painted face.

As the love triangle heightens and madness has descended on the cast as the once disinterested Cesario has now wed Lady Olivia, is forced to fight Sir Andrew who’s also trying to win Olivia’s heart, and comes to blows with his/her master Orsino who believes he’s been betrayed, Sebastian enters.

The long lost twin brother of Cesario/Viola stands in front of the whole cast and all is now made clear. The way Sebastian was revealed and the way we saw each of the characters seem to realise the truth was a great strategy.

And though the play’s a little farcical as Lady Olivia is happy to have wed the male counterpart of Cesario, it was heart-warming to see Cesario revealed as a female – as she’s able to declare her love for her master, Orsino.

Viola, played by Ella Garland, was truly fantastic – she had the right mix of authority and playfulness for the role.

You couldn’t help but warm to Malvolio, played by Andrew Seddon, who paraded around in a grand suit before dressing in yellow stockings in the belief this would win the heart of Lady Olivia.

The actual play was simple in terms of props, and I think this was the right move, as the costumes were majestic and the lighting and music filled the stage.

Twelfth Night is showing at The Space until 8 August – tickets are available from https://space.org.uk.

Meningitis By Dr Patricia Thompson

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Frostie

A new vaccine, for Meningococcus B, will soon be available for babies. What, another vaccine? Do we really need it?

I would say – absolutely yes.

Meningococcus causes meningitis, and blood infection (septicaemia) – sometimes leading to limb amputation or brain damage. Approximately 1:10 people affected die.

As a paediatrician, I’ve seen healthy children become seriously ill within hours. Most recover, but, inexplicably, some don’t, and I’ve had to tell shocked parents that their child may not make it through the night.

Meningitis is an infection of the meninges – the thin protective layer covering the brain and spinal cord. It can affect any age, but predominantly under fives, and, particularly, under ones. Teenagers/young adults are also susceptible.

In the UK, it’s usually caused by a virus –and recover is generally complete. However bacterial meningitis is far more dangerous – and the Meningococcus bacteria, of which there are several strains, is the main culprit. It normally lives harmlessly in the nose and throat, but sometimes invades the blood, causing the illness.

The UK vaccination programme already protects against some meningitis types – the bacteria – Haemophilus, Pneumococcus, Meningococcus strain C, and the viruses – Measles and Mumps.

A new vaccine against Meningococcus A, C, W and Y will soon be offered to young adults, plus the new B vaccine for infants.

Meningococcal vaccines are between 85 -100% effective initially – much less so in young children. They are usually safe but can cause pain/redness, vomiting, headaches, drowsiness or irritability. Occasionally, allergic reactions, or, rarely, neurological problems may occur. Protection wanes over time, so teenagers are given boosters. However, vaccination reduces the number of people carrying the bacteria, thus reducing infection risk for the whole community.

If you think someone may have meningitis, look out for:

Headache, stiff neck, photophobia (dislike of bright light), vomiting, drowsiness or confusion and fever. The typical rash (called petechial) is red but doesn’t fade when pressed. It isn’t always present, but if you see it, you must seek medical help urgently.

Sometimes, particularly youngsters, are so ill, that the classic signs aren’t obvious. The child may have a temperature, but, equally, may seem cold. They make look blue, cry incessantly (often high-pitched), refuse feeds, have convulsions or become unconscious. In young babies, their fontanelle (‘soft spot’) may bulge and feel tense.

It is important to treat rapidly. Antibiotics will kill the bacteria, but, if severe, intensive care may be necessary.

To give some perspective – approximately 3000 people will get bacterial meningitis/septicaemia in the UK this year. The incidence has decreased due to vaccination.

Knowing the signs could save a life. Always have a low index of suspicion – an unnecessary visit to A&E is far better than delayed treatment. I myself rushed my young son there, late one night. Embarrassingly, he made a miraculous recovery a soon as the doctor (my colleague) examined him – I did eventually live it down at work.

Further Information:

http://www.meningitis.org

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Meningitis/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice

Five Simple Steps To Beat Baby Blues Naturally

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Frostie

It comes from nowhere and catches you off guard. Those feelings of being vulnerable, emotional, sad, tearful and sensitive may make it difficult to believe that it is supposed to be the happiest time of every woman’s life.

Don’t worry, you are not alone! Postnatal anxiety, also known as ‘baby blues’, affects 85% of women and may occur on the day of the birth, the day after or not at all. Despite those overwhelming feelings, remember it is a normal reaction after having a baby.

‘Crying and confusion are experienced by most women and are partly due to the hormone changes experienced during the labour and can also be connected to when the milk comes through. But for some 15% of women, this despair and tearfulness continues and develops into post-natal depression’, explains Dr Marilyn Glenville, the UK’s leading nutritionist and an author of The Nutritional Health Handbook For Women.

Before you start worrying, follow these five simple steps to beat baby blues naturally and start enjoying motherhood!

Take a break

Make sure you find time to rest. Permanent sleep deprivation is the biggest cause of anxiety and low mood. Instead of catching up on all those chores that have piled up, try to coordinate your rest periods with your baby.

‘You may need to ask for help with the housework and other chores so that you can have time to rest, sleep, eat properly and also spend time getting to know your baby. It is a good idea to get out the house on your own; it can feel quite overwhelming to suddenly have someone depending on you twenty-four hours a day. Giving birth may bring up unresolved emotional issues from the past that needs to be dealt with. Counselling may be very helpful if this has happened’, Dr Glenville suggests.

Keep your sugar levels at bay

It is important that you make sure that you are eating little and often. Keeping your blood sugar in balance is crucial for helping you through this time as it directly affects mood and energy. ‘Aim to eat complex and unrefined carbohydrates as part of your main meals – this means choosing brown instead of white (wholewheat bread, brown rice and wholemeal flour). Don’t forget about breakfast, porridge and oatmeal is a good choice. Do reduce and preferably avoid stimulants including tea, coffee, chocolate, smoking and canned drinks with caffeine’, explains Dr Glenville.

Too much copper is no good news

Mineral imbalances or deficiencies can also contribute to ‘baby blues’. One of the most important nutrients during this difficult time is zinc.

Zinc and copper are antagonists, which means that high levels of copper reduce zinc and vitamin B6. Once you are pregnant, copper levels in the blood tend to rise dramatically and remain high for up to a month after giving birth as it stimulates the uterus.* This can cause what feels like depression: extreme fears, anxiety, sleep problems, paranoia and even hallucinations. ‘High levels of copper that decrease zinc can be dangerous, especially for a new mum, as she may be already low in this mineral after giving birth. Zinc deficiency can cause stretch marks, white spots on fingernails, decreased wound healing, loss of appetite and low mood. Make sure you are taking good multivitamins and minerals, the ones you took during pregnancy are fine but add some extra zinc’ (recommended daily intake is 50mg of zinc a day), advises Dr Glenville. Try Nature’s Plus Zinc (www.nutricentre.com, £8.59).

Fatty acids

During pregnancy, women are constantly being deprived of fatty acids because of the physical demands of growing fetus. ‘Omega 3 fatty acids are proved to increase levels of serotonin so they are essential in fighting depression and anxiety. Try to include salmon, avocado and nuts in your daily diet. If you don’t like fish, choose a good quality omega-3 supplement such as Omega 3 by Quest Vitamins (www.revital.co.uk, £6.19).’ recommends Shona Wilkinson, Head Nutritionist at www.nutricentre.com.

Balance your hormones

‘Try to take milk thistle every day to support the liver and gall bladder. This powerful herb can help the liver to deal with toxins and process excess hormones from the body. In addition, it is an excellent promoter of milk production, so will help with breast-feeding as well’, says Shona.

*http://metabolichealing.com/zinc-copper-imbalances-immense-biochemical-implications/

Why a Caesarian Can be a Positive Birth Experience

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Catherine Balavage

I didn’t give enough thought to how my son would be born. I just knew it would be painful. I would put the baby clothes, we bought, to my bump and wonder at just how lucky we were to be having a child. It felt like such a happy miracle it didn’t even feel real, even as he kicked inside me. Little did I know just how hard his birth would be.

I went into labour with a positive mindset. I am a worrier by nature so I can’t say there were not moments when I did not contemplate the worst, but overall, I was feeling strong, happy and positive. We were so excited to finally meet our son. For such a worrier, I wasn’t that worried. The human race has survived thousands of years. Women have given birth at home, in caves and even in cars. It was going to hurt but I have always had a high pain threshold. I was confident I could manage the birth. So when I went into labour on a Sunday evening I did not think it would be long until we met our child. What followed was over 80 hours of hell followed by something glorious: a C section.

A lot of negativity is said about the C section. Some people claim it is the easy choice, it isn’t, the recovery is a bitch. Others say it isn’t natural, it may not be ‘natural’ but it has saved countless human lives so hurray for medical science. I, however, have nothing but praise. After 80 hours of labour our son was in distress, the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck twice and his heartbeat kept on dropping. I switched off and just concentrated on the best case scenario, knowing that panic would just make the situation worse.

As the surgeon who did my caesarean explained why I should have an emergency caesarian she looked almost like an angel to me. Within twenty minutes, my son was born. The obstetrician team at Kingston Hospital who did my C section were amazing. Despite being paralysed from the waist down and being naked underneath my hospital gown I felt safe. They were truly wonderful and I still think of them when I look at my little boy. My little boy who’s life they saved. The midwife even stayed with me the entire time, from the morning when my baby was in distress, until just after noon when he was born. There is an obsession with natural birth these days, and as I was wheeled into the theatre I did feel like I had failed, but the only thing that really matters about childbirth is a healthy mother and child. How that happens doesn’t matter in the end, and that is never more true than when they put the baby in your arms. My C section was not only a positive experience, it saved the life of my son. What could possibly be negative about that?

Heeltap London

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Sarah Bacchus

Perfect evenings spent outside with great food, fabulous cocktails and our trusty camera in tow. Food photography is one of my total favourite pastimes. Food reviews are even better as we actually get to eat the food after shooting it. We get to sample delicious meals so you guys know where’s hot and happening. Heeltap is a heck of a find and if you already know this place you need to revisit it as soon as possible. Once you do you will know why we are about to give it rave reviews. If you don’t then you need to seek it out. Tucked in a little corner off London Bridge you could miss it if you didn’t know it was there. Now we eat out and shoot at countless places all the time but this is in our top 10 of all time. Yes we are rating this heavenly place 10/10. They have recently revamped all the offerings at this little bar and we can say hand on heart they have got it spot on. Its buzzing and thriving, so whatever they are doing its working.

The entire evening we spent sampling their new menu and it was divine. The cocktails where superior, the staff incredible and the food was so delicious we’d happily eat there every day of the week.

We arrived and settled in our seats with a couple of cocktails. An Espresso martini for me and a Long Island iced tea for Ian. These set us up perfectly for our food.

The new menu is packed with simple and ravishingly dribblsome dishes. If you like burgers this is the place to come. Home cooked brioche buns cooked fresh using the chefs grandma’s secret recipe! Just these alone will make you want to eat here all the time.

Our dishes where served and we got stuck in straight away. If your ready for some serious foodie snaps that will make you groan with delight then here goes….Ian went for the jerk chicken burger with fries and I had the spicy option. Jalapeño and chorizo burger with sides of Parmesan, truffle oil fries and a fresh tomato and basil leaf salad. Yes my eyes are always bigger than my belly and I endeavoured to eat it all!

We washed all this down with a bottle of fizz and a side of fruit flavoured water, trying to be a little good.

The chat at this point stopped while we savoured each and every morsel. Jealous on lookers stated that the food looked spectacular and we can report it was as good as it looked.

My burger was perfectly seasoned with heavenly hot spices. It was garnished with Gherkins, tomatoes, onions, lettuce and the dressing created the most amazing kick. Simply the best burger tower know to mankind!

Ian’s burger was pretty much devotedly demolished along with satisfied mumblings! As he took bite after bite the dressing oozed out and made the ideal amount of mess. Finger licking goodness to satisfy any soul.

Now normally I’m all about the burgers but here we have a slight problem. I have a real addictive nature when it comes to Parmesan and truffle oil fries. They where definitely the best thing about the entire meal. They know me and I was allowed to order these off menu. I’m sure if you take a visit and mention this article you might just be able to get the chef to rustle you up a plate or 3!! They are simply the best.

Then…it was time for pudding….Not just any old pudding either!

Now at this stage we where really rather full….But pudding, you guys need to know what to expect don’t you…We do what we do for you. Remember that if you ever see us out stuffing our faces! And the fact that you can’t not have a sticky toffee Sunday when it’s up for grabs. An odd mix but by gosh was it good. Custard is a thing of the past my friends. Velvety ice cream is the only thing to serve with toffee these days!

So the verdicts in….We give Heeltap one of the biggest thumbs up for excellence, staff attentiveness, friendliness and a double thumbs up for the fabulous food!

Find them on Twitter here and now dash off to see them near London Bridge. Get those taste buds working over time as your in for one gastronomic ride of your life! They are just opposite Borough market and down a little side ally. Worth a little wander we think.

Holborn Dining Room

Posted on July 25, 2015 by Sarah Bacchus

The Holborn Dining Room is a beautiful classy and chilled establishment. The interior is splendid but isn’t as impressive as the outside area in when the sun is shining. We headed out for a wander mid afternoon to grab a few drinks and stumbled upon this place. The menu was basic, delicious, and very impressive. We plumped for good old fish finger sandwich and a classic chicken and bacon salad. Washed down with a few Gin cocktails.

With seasonal, locally sourced British cuisine on the menu this place will go down very well when needing to impress a lady or friends. Grab yourself a pint of local lager a burger or a glass of fizz and a pint of prawns. Fine wines are on offer at this renowned restaurant.

Holborn Dining Room is a welcome find for us. London life is so very grand when you find places just like this to share with all of you. It’s possibly one of the nicest bars on the scene in the city.

The first cocktails we tested where the Hendricks and the G Vine. The G Vine was simply amazing flavoured with elderflower tonic and garnished with grapes. I happily sat and sipped while we waited for the food to arrive. This place is where you need to chill and soak up the amazing atmosphere. Their is no rush, just take your time to relax.

Another cocktail before we ate… This one was the Smooth Amber, garnished with cinnamon and orange zest. Pocky and pretty darn good. Ian went for a more simple one. The sipsmith, flavoured with juniper, lemon and orange. Both had us feeling chilled in a matter of moments! Ready for some food by this point and we where not disappointed. Out came our dishes served by a lovely waitress. We chatted for a few moments about how grand it would be to stay in one of the many rooms on offer. You can actually rent an entire floor in the hotel, POA of course! Other rooms start from around £250 per night if you are tempted.

Who would have thought a simple chicken and bacon salad could look this divine and taste so utterly wonderful. A side of chips as thats just how we like to roll! Ian’s fish finger sandwich was severed on sourdough bread. A little fiddly to eat but impressive none the less. It was garnished with horseradish and by all accounts was really rather a good choice. The menu is made up of simple dishes with a twist. All the other dishes being served to various tables looked and smelt divine. This is most certainly one place we need to come back to review the evenings offerings.

Well worth a little trip very soon if your in the area. The prices reflect the area and the quality of the food. Not an everyday treat for some but possibly the nicest of afternoons you could have. We spent the rest of the day wandering back home with full bellies and happy smiles.

Find them at NO 252 HIGH HOLBORN, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM WC1V 7EN

NSpa Mum To Be Nourishing Stretchmark Oil Review

Posted on July 25, 2015 by Amy Voce

nspa is an exclusive skincare brand available at Asda.com. They have a Mum To Be range which includes a Nourishing Stretch Mark Oil. It retails at £6 and it’s enriched with sweet almond and jojoba to moisturise and nourish. I have had some stretchmarks for a while now and they really annoy me. I used nspa Nourishing Stretch Mark Oil twice a day. In a few months they do fade. The oil absorbs well and I really like the smell. Overall I am impressed and would continue to use it.

I would buy nspa Nourishing Stretch Mark Oil. It is only £6 and works well.

Holiday Style

Posted on July 24, 2015 by Sarah Bacchus

This perfect holiday style maxi dress is the ultimate item for the Summer season. With its V-shaped neckline that helps to flatter all bust sizes It creates curves in all the right places. This is one item to throw in the suitcase for a few weeks in the sun or little mini breaks. It can be dressed up or down with heels to gladiator sandals. Its a rather amazing festival outfit, just grab your favourite leather jacket add tons of bangles and beads. Add a waist belt if your a pear shaped girl to accentuate that tiny waist. This dress is a must if you are fairly straight up and down like myself as it pulls you in at the waist creating those lovely curves. It hides a multitude of sins. Flattering and stylish at the same time. The fabric is delicate and drapes beautifully making it a joy to wear. This dress would also lend itself to weddings or even a balmy evening BBQ. Versatile in so many ways its a real must have item this season ladies.

Holiday Style Outfit Details

I styled this Maxi dress (co) Closet Clothing London with Zara shoes (old) ASOS Linen jacket, Vintage Gucci sunglasses, Jimmy Choo bag, a bright red lip and shellac nails in Salmon Run.

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