in magazine march 2012
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iN Magazine it's entering it's 7th year of issues. 105,000* people read iN Magazine on a monthly basis: this number is made up of a celebrity mailing list, subscribers to the hard copy, our e-zine, website and copies which are distributed in west Essex. We cover Buckhurst Hill, Loughton, Chigwell, Epping, Theydon Bois, Wanstead, Woodford, Chingford, Brentwood, Emerson Park, Hornchurch and Shenfield as well as being delivered to gated complexessuch as Repton Park.iN can also be found in the bedrooms of all major hotels, lobbies of local restaurants, cafes such as a Belgique, spas, hairdressing salons, fashion boutiques and private health and golf clubs; plus we distribute exclusively to David Lloyd, Chigwell. iN is also hand distributed on the first Tuesday of the month at Loughton Central Line Station.TRANSCRIPT
What’s On • Property • Motoring • Beauty • Fashion • Education • Reviews
MARCH 2012 W
WW.IN-MAGAZINE.COM
85
MODERNMUMMIES
Thoroughly
SPECIAL MOMENTS
SAY IT WITH FLOWERS
Precious DayYOUR
GIFT IDEASMum’s The Word
GADGETY
Membership
A MIXED BAG
FIORELLILONDON
FLORALFASHION
YOUR ESSEX
DIARY
iN SPYLOCALEVENTS& NEWS
HASKETT
Garden DESIGN
SPRING IT ON!
MUMS DATEDADS
06 What’s On GuideDates For Your March Diary
08 iN SpyLocal Events & News
12 Modern MummiesThe Ultimate Multi-Taskers
17 CompetitionMumsDateDads.co.uk
18 A Mixed BagFiorelli London
24 Floral FashionSay It With Flowers
28 Smile DirectSpeaking Directly With Gary Marks
33 Just MarriedKylie & Stuart Coker
35 Gadget Gift IdeasMummy Must Haves
37 The Only Way Is... Have You Been Snapped Out?
42 iN Motoring Nissan Juke DIG-T
44 The Grass Is GreenerGarden Design By Haskett
50 iN ProfileSophie Stern
When you have finished reading this magazine, help the environment and please recycle.
elcome to our 85th issue and myfirst month as Editor. With fourchildren (including one new born), a career, two dogs and a house to take
care of, I thought it only fitting to dedicate thismonth’s issue in praise of that most expert ofjugglers – the modern mummy.
The inspiration behind our Mother’s Day special is the icon ofmodern mummyhood - Victoria Beckham. An improbable force ofnature is Ms VB’s ability to manage her fashion label, family life, global media presence and enviable handbag collection, all whilstlooking ridiculously glamorous, this not only makes her a hero tomodern mummies the world over but also has most of asking ‘How does she do it?’
To address this question and others, on page 12 Sue Lovett gives her witty take on contemporary parenthood in her article‘Thoroughly Modern Mummies’. With thoughts of Ms. Beckham’senviable library of arm candy, this month’s fashion and cover comecourtesy of chic handbag designers Fiorelli. I want one already! On page 35 Alex Page gives us his top pick of gadget mummymust haves, all of which make for perfect gifts. And if you’re doingthe mummy thing all on your own, you can enter our competition on page 17 to win membership for the dating websiteMumsDateDads.co.uk. Because let’s be honest - who doesn’t want a chance of meeting their very own David Beckham?
Next month it is party time at iN towers as we celebrate our 7thbirthday and I would love to hear your feedback. You can email me:[email protected] or tweet me: @ZoehopkinsiNMag. Andwhilst we are thinking about things to come, watch this space aswe are in the midst of planning iN’s next charity expedition for you,our intrepid reader to raise funds for PAH NHS Trust Charity Fund. To think, it was this time last year that myself and twenty two of ourloyal readers were trekking to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Happy Mother’s Day!
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50www.facebook.com/inmagazine.essex
www.twitter.com/iNMagazineTweet
Front Cover: Courtesy of www.fiorelli.comPhotography: Theo Cohen
Our heartfelt gratitude to the wonderful and weathersavvy PR, who saved us all from frost bitten toes
with a delivery of several pairs of Puma MoondustBoots, just in time for last month’s big freeze.
Brilliantly warm, they can withstand temperatures of up to -35°C. Theyare also excellent for pretending to
be 1960’s astronauts in.
£50, www.puma.com
Having been a fan ofMary Katrantzou ever since seeing herlampshade skirts take to the catwalk back in2010, I am beyond joyous to now possess oneof the young British designer’s creations. Takenfrom her sell out collaboration with Topshop,this structural wonder is my new favouriteeverything dress.
£300, www.topshop.com
Zoe Hopkins
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4 inMAGAZINE To advertise your business call: 020 8504 7779
March 2012 - Issue 85iN Magazine
17A Raven Road, South Woodford, London E18 1HBT. 020 8504 7779
Publishing Director & EditorZoe Hopkins
[email protected]@in-magazine.com
Fashion EditorRose Keen
Art DirectorAshleigh Mandie
Advertising Account ManagerSarah Boyton
T: 07584 575 [email protected]@in-magazine.com
Advertising Sales ExecutiveEmma Morris
T:07552 545 [email protected]
Senior WriterSue Lovett
Motoring CorrespondentRussell Campbell
DesignerRob Cannell
AccountsPaul Wynn
SubscriptionsFor your free e-zine subscription please e-mail:
WordsAlex Page, Caroline Polledri,
PURE Medi-Spa, MumsDateDads.co.uk
PhotographySnappedOut, Theo Cohen, Mrs. E Photography, Jeff@Epic
www.in-magazine.comAll rights reserved. The views expressed in this publication are not
necessarily those shared with the publisher. The publisher cannot accept anyresponsibility for any errors or omissions relating to advertising or editorialand cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscriptsand photographs. No part of this publication may be reproduced without
prior written consent from the publisher.
SUE LOVETT - Freelance writer Sue Lovett isMum to two teenage boys and a twelve-year-olddaughter. A published short story author, she isstudying for an MA in Creative Writing at AngliaRuskin University and writing her first novel. Mostlyshe juggles time, being sure to fit in lunch with thegirls, or at the very least, coffee and cake.
Contributer
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To advertise your business call: 020 8504 7779
YOUR MONTHLY UPDATE TOWHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENINGIN AND AROUND ESSEX...
KINGS OAKPROPRIOTER,LINZI POLLARDREACHES 9KOF HER 10KMARATHONTARGETIn January’s issue wefeatured Linzi and hergrandson, baby Calum,who was born with the
rare condition Anopthalmia – which literally means ‘without eyes’.Linzi, set about her own challenge of not only running a marathon, but also to raise 10k for the charity MACS. MACS is a charity set upto support families with children with this rare condition. Early thismonth, Linzi reached her 12 mile milestone and is on schedule toexceed her 10k fundraising target. Linzi would like to thank all iNMagazine readers and her loyal customers for their support. You too can donate, log onto www.justgiving.com/linzi-pollardand all donations no matter how small are greatly appreciated.
NEW COMMERCIAL OPERATIONSMANAGER FOR WOOLSTON MANORSue Page joined Woolston Manor early this month to head uptheir events team and to concentrate on bringing new businessto the club. Sue brings a wealth of experience, after working asHead of Commercial Operations at West Ham United, ColchesterUnited and Southend United. Sue has also worked within eventmanagement and is sure to be an asset to the Golf and CountryClub. T. 020 8500 2549 www.woolstonmanor.co.uk
WOODFORDCOUNTY HIGHSTUDENTORGANISES ‘FACE OFF’CHARITY EVENT
On Monday 12th March, at 6.30pm, 17-year old Jourdan Hammond, a pupil at Woodford County High
will host a talent show at the school, called ’Face Off’ in aid of Cancer Research. She is hoping that this event will raiseawareness about the effects of cancer on both the patient and theirfamily. The show will include performances from a variety of talentssuch as dancers, singers, rappers and bands. O’Gradys and localshops have contributed towards food and drink for the event.Tickets cost £5. T. 020 8504 0611
NEW PHYSIOTHERAPY UNIT OPENS ATHOLLY HOUSE HOSPITAL
Holly House Hospital launchesits Physiotherapy Unit whichcontains six individual treatmentareas, as well as a gym area forpatient rehabilitation. The new unitenables Holly House Hospital tooffer superior physiotherapy,Pilates and integratedrehabilitation to a far wideraudience. T. 020 8936 1210www.hollyhouse-hospital.co.uk
SMARTNET ESSEX – 1ST ANNIVERSARYAT THE KINGS OAK, HIGH BEACH
Happy BirthdaySmartNet Essex!SmartNet Essex met atthe Kings Oak for lunchand glass of wine tocelebrate their 1stanniversary. Once amonth, they provide alively and dynamic
environment for local small business owners to network. PaulaFrancis, one of the SNE founders, said that ‘The aim of the group isto support its members whether they are start-ups or have beenestablished for 20 years’. For more information on future lunchmeetings visit www.smartnetessex.co.uk
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ICANDY STRAWBERRYNOW IN STOCK AT LITTLEPOZERS, EPPINGThe iCandy, as loved by Victoria Beckham,has now arrived at Little Pozers. TheiCandy comes in a choice of four colours and
has a new one hand STEP AND STAND FOLD™ actionand a unique iCandy MEMORY™ system which includes
an auto alignment seat unit, which clicks back in to the last usedposition when unfolded. T. 01992 576 361 www.little-pozers.co.uk
BUZZPOINT CREATE A BUZZWITH 50% OFF WEBSITEDESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
In today’s technological world, a professional website is a businessessential. But how to make sure your website stands out from theonline crowd? Abridge based web development consultancyBuzzPoint specialises in providing excellent and cost effectivesolutions for all types of websites and online applications, forbusinesses of all shapes and sizes. And this spring the techno-whiz kids at BuzzPoint have something special in store - For a limitedtime only they are offering a massive 50% off their standard CMSwebsite package exclusively for iN readers. T: 0844 567 [email protected] www.buzzpoint.co.uk
STITCH BY M. ROSENBERG & SONOPENS IN WANSTEADWanstead’s newest addition, fabricstore STITCH recently opened its
doors. STITCH is a small family run business that has been in thefabric industry for over 50 years. Offering a selection of printedcottons, silks and designer prints by the likes of Roberto Cavalli,Alexander McQueen and Oscar Del la Renta, one thing is for sure -finding your perfect fabric at STITCH will be the very opposite of finding a needle in a haystack. T: 020 8989 9970 10 Woodbine Place, Wanstead, London E11 2RH Twitter: @STITCH_IT_UP E: [email protected]
ESSEX NETWORKINGEVENT HELPS BEATRECESSIONYou may have noticed the economyhas not been all that rosy of late.And with talk of a double dip on the
horizon, one group of local entrepreneurs are taking action to helpEssex’s businesses in this troubling time by hosting a networkingevent. Speakers from LovePlayWork will be giving advice on beingself employed and running your own company. Whilst guest speakersfrom Remote Assistant (www.virtual-pa-uk.com), a company thathas grown rapidly despite having launched in the midst of arecession, will be sharing tips and hints on how to be successful,expand and overcome common obstacles. Please [email protected] if you would like to attend this event. 3rd April at 8pm at the Rose and Crown Event Room in Writtle,Essex www.eventelephant.com/essexbusinessnetworkingevent
To advertise your business call: 020 8504 7779
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MOOROS WELCOMES A NEW EVENT &MARKETING CO-ORDINATOR
Jane Meader, formally from Woolston Manor, joins the team at Mooros, to expand their event and marketing portfolio for2012. Jane will be working alongside Lisa Sharp – with some exciting events in the pipeline. Watch this space! T. 020 8559 8714 www.mooros.co.uk
SANTA FE, WANSTEAD VOTED IN THE TOP 100 FOR ‘INSPIRING INDEPENDENT MENSWEAR RETAILER’
A huge congratulations toGary Irwin and his team atSanta Fe, for being voted
by the retail fashion magazine, Drapers, one of the top 100 inspiringindependent menswear fashion retailers in the UK. Santa Fe has theirSpring/Summer12 collection now in stock, so pop down to see whatthe hype is about! 119 High Street Wanstead, Wanstead, LondonE11 2RL T. 020 8518 8922
‘NO CARBS BEFORE MARBS’LAUNCH PARTY - NU BAR, LOUGHTON‘The Only Way Is Essex’ fitness guru Ellie Redman launched her ‘No CarbsBefore Marbs’ bootcamp at Loughton’s Nu Bar. We caught up with Ellie at the VIPlaunch party, ‘I’m on a mission to make theTOWIE stars and the whole of Essex fit!’ sheenthralled. The party was attended by Lydia & Debbie Bright from the hit ITV2 show The Only Way Is Essex, as well as ImogenThomas and England and Tottenham right-backKyle Walker. For more information:www.nocarbsbeforemarbs.com
SUNSEEKER GIRLS - MOTHERS DAY 15%DONATION TO BREAST CANCERSunseeker girls, Linda Kallas, Laura Harrison & Rebecca Coxshall have teamed up withwww.the-chocolate.com. 15% of the totalvalue on all chocolate boxes bought for
Mothers Day, will be donated to breast cancer, you can evencustomise your box with Swarovski crystals. Just type SUNSEEKERin the box at the check out. The money raised, will go directly toPAH NHS Trust Charity fund, headed by Ashraf Patel, St MargaretsHospital, Epping. The PAH NHS Trust Fund uses monies raised tofund clinical trials for breast cancer in the UK. Presently, theSunseeker girls have raised 3k of their 12k target. www.the-chocolate.com
fineDining
PapillonRistorante Italiano Da Nino
13 Brook Parade, High Road, Chigwell, Essex IG7 6PF Tel: 020 8500 6080
Our congratulations to Nino, Tina and the rest of Papillonteam as the local Ristorante Italiano celebrates its firstanniversary. It has been a wonderful year for the popular local eatery. Which has won countless fans over its first yearwith its mixture of friendliness, relaxed atmosphere, everchanging seasonal specials and hearty traditional Italiancooking. A family business, Papillon offers not only greatcooking but also a warm welcome and fantastic service.
Open for both lunch and dinner, Papillon’s signature ItalianSunday roasts have become a local favourite for those lookingfor something delicious and different on the weekend. Idealfor dinner with friends, a romantic evening for two, a familymeal or that special occasion Papillon really does bring theculinary heart of Italy to Chigwell’s High Road. As long termfans of the Wanstead fine dining location we cannotrecommend their seafood pasta highly enough.
If you like Italian food, you will love Papillon.
One year on from their opening Nino & Tina would like to take this
opportunity to thank all their loyal customersfrom the last twelve months and invite thosewho are yet to try this local ristorante to come and try their menu of authentic
Italian dishes.
And don’t forget to book for Mother’s Day on the 18th March.
To advertise your business call: 020 8504 7779
inMAGAZINE 11To advertise your business call: 020 8504 7779
re you a brand new first timemum? Aah, that a special timewhen your days are filled withwatching every moment of
your newborn’s wonder: the way his tinyfists tighten as he contentedly sleeps; thelittle frown she gives just before she wakes;how struggling to lift the heavy weight of hishead, he focuses on you - his Mummy - as iftrying to burn your image into his memory.Your baby is a miracle. You dream of being the centre of her world, the one she’ll run to when she falls out with a friend, or grazesher knee.
The one who will whip him up asnack when he’s hungry, tuck him in at night and wipe away his tears.Savour these first weeks, they are aprecious bubble of time which all toosoon will burst into the real world ofmummydom. A world where you willforever worry and forever be to blame, one in which you will be the ultimatemulti-tasker. You are about to morph into
the Mother of all Jugglers.
Like all parents,my husband and Ijust do the best wecan, hold our breathand hope we’ve set asideenough money for ourkid’s therapy. Michelle Pfeiffer
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don’t know how she does it’ says the title of the film starring Sarah Jessica Parker. In it SJP plays supermum Kate Reddy, who manages to fit in a high powered finance executive career as
well as being ‘Mom’ to two small children. Sheis a perfect wife, housekeeper, breadwinner,immaculately co-ordinated, dressed to suitevery occasion, beautifully made-up andquaffed with no hint of smudged mascara ordark roots. I know exactly how she does it –with lots of assistance from an army of helpers,including a nanny. Oh – and it’s fiction. Hereon Planet Parent life is a little different – makeno mistake, behind every successful mother isa basket of dirty laundry.
Most of us in the real world can’t afford toemploy a barrage of troops to help on the frontline of kiddie-care. We rely on a close-knitcircle of friends and family to help juggle ourbusy lives. Our own Mum’s are often the firstport of call in an emergency, with friends,neighbours and the mums of our kids’ friendson hand when needed. Amidst our circus oflife we constantly strive to perfect thebalancing act. Some days we may be moresurefooted than others, but all it takes is acrying baby, a toddler in meltdown, add to thathelp with homework, lift to football practice,slapping on the odd band-aid and fixing a pit-stop snack and before long life resembles athree ring circus.
Last year Tesco Baby carried out a surveyamong 2000 mums. It found that 67 percentbelieved they wouldn’t manage without thehelp of their support network, dubbed ‘TeamMum’. The survey showed that mums typicallycalled on support from ‘Team Mum’ for tenhours every week, saving on average £140 amonth on childcare costs. That adds up to awhopping £1,680 per year. Half of thosesurveyed said they paid their helpers back infavours rather than cash.
Two thirds of those who took part in the polladmitted that their own mother was the oneperson they could not do without, with a thirdhaving her babysit the kids while they went outto work. One in ten relied on their mother-in-law’s child minding skills, while five per centeven got granddad to muck in.
In Britain 56 percent of mums who havechildren under five work. That figure rises to 71 percent for those whose youngest isbetween five and ten and 77 percent amongstthose whose youngest child is in the 11-15age range. The press of past decades wouldtell us that these mums are ‘having it all’ – nolonger compelled to choose between a careeror a family. It’s true in the past women had adilemma that no man really had. Who everheard a man say, ‘I’d like to make it to MD,unless I get married and have children.’ But,particularly in today’s cash-strapped times, forthe majority of mums there is no choice –
economically, staying at home is just not anoption.
The workplace is more suited now to theworking mum than it was fifty years ago andemployers are generally more flexible, howeverthe task of juggling junior and a job is no lesseasy. Meera Syal, comedienne, writer, andactress, who rose to prominence in the BBCcomedy show Goodness Gracious Me says:
It’s knackering, I found ittough working and being amother. Adrenaline kept megoing. The tiredness is muchharder to cope with whenyou’re older. You don’t have asmuch energy and it’s hardhaving sleepless nights whenyou’ve had years and years ofgreat sleep.Sara is a hardworking mum of two girls underten; she says ‘I had just gone back to workafter my second daughter. I remember goingto a corporate event in the City and meetingan important business contact, I suggestedwe swap details. He had no businesscards so I reached into my bag to pullout a pad and then fished for a pen. Ifound one – it was my seven-year-olds– a glittery pink pen topped with apink fluffy ostrich attached to abouncy spring!’
There are hard facts to be facedtoo. The truth is, even in thesemodern times of equality, you maynot make it to the boardroom ifyou prioritise going to the kids’end of term concert, or beinghome for dinner-time abovebusiness meetings. Even if you areblessed with a partner who takesa full share of family life, whenyou get down to the nitty-gritty,who is it that sorts thebirthday presents andparties, buys the schooluniform and arrangescover for the half-termholidays? And, on topof all that, there is theguilt. At work, you thinkof the children you have left athome. At home, you think of thework you’ve left unfinished.
Whether working or a stay-at-homemum, feeling permanently guilty is partof the job description of motherhood.You have a baby and dedicate your life toit, but at some point, usually around the
teenage years,your littledarling willblameeverythingin life, fromits crookedteeth to notbeing part ofthe in-crowd, onyou. In fact, anyonewho’s looking to point afinger will poke it your way – old ladies in thesupermarket queue, teachers, policemen, thepress, the government and particularly thosewho have never had children. ‘Blame it on theparents’ we hear them cry. Well, weren’t we allbetter parents when we didn’t have kids?
The funny thing is when junior gets somethingright, a brilliant school report, a string of A grades, principal dancer at ballet or theleading role in the drama play, it’ s all his ownwork. ‘What a clever child!’ All are quick to tellyou. A legion of grandmas, aunts and uncleswondrously declare ‘Don’t know where he gets it?’ It’s a God-given talent - obviously. Then before you can say ‘genius child’ youroffspring revert to their loud, rude, idiotic orembarrassing selves, and suddenly all whocare to express an opinion can tell you exactlywhere that behaviour came from.
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INSTRUCTIONSON PUSHCHAIR: WARNINGRemove Child Before Folding
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ive-year-old Lucy was playing withher Mum’s hair when she noticed afew strands of white. ‘Why are thesehairs a different colour, Mummy?’
she asked. ‘Because every time you dosomething naughty and make me angry, oneof my hairs turns white,’ her Mum replied.Lucy thought about this for a minute and thengasped, ‘Wow! Grandma’s hair is totallywhite. You must have been really bad whenyou were little!’
And then there are the experts. They’reeverywhere. According to the experts going towork and slinging the kids off to the childminder damages them for life. According tothe experts, staying at home makes yourprecious children clingy, dependant, less ableto cope with life – and guess what - damagesthem for eternity.
The marvellous experts who thrust forth theirwisdom - from urging us to fill our babies tinybrains with Beethoven at bedtime, to flashcarddrills before they are one. The experts tell ushow to timetable our childrens’ sleeping,walking, potty training, bathing and feeding.Ignore them at your peril for their sage advicewill save our little chicks from beingdysfunctional. Well, wouldn’t you just like toram the feeding bottle down the guru’s gullet?
Fay Weldon CBE has four children and sixgrandchildren. She is a hugely successfulnovelist who has published more than 30novels, as well as screen plays and works ofnon-fiction. As a young mother she foundwork as an advertising copywriter andsays that in those days parents werefar less anxious to propel theirchildren through the educationalmill. ‘You didn’t have the fridgeplastered with letters trying toget them to read,’ she says.‘You weren’t having toindoctrinate your children orteach them dancing or worryingabout exams.’ She says there wasalso far less focus on parenting skills.
You were conscious that youneeded to put your children inmatching socks, but it was asort of local social pressure; itdidn’t come from newspapersor television. You weren’tbombarded with messages ofwhat you should do and howyou should do it.’As if Mum’s didn’t have enough to do – todaythere is so much criticism about the way webring up our young. What we give them to
eat, what we get them to wear and what timewe spend with them. The pressure isoverwhelming – get it wrong and we arecondemning our babies to a lifetime of failureand poverty.
But, we don’t always help ourselves. Hilarywas sick of the other mums at the toddlergroup showing off about how clever their kidswere. At one gathering, the most annoying ofthe other mums started asking her one-year-old to point to various parts of the body.‘Where’s your knee?’ she asked, and the littleboy duly pointed. ‘Where’s your head?’she continued and again he obliged. Hilary hatched a plan. During the followingweek, she trained her own little boy and thenext time the annoying mum started showingoff her son, Hilary went one better. ‘George,’she sweetly asked, ‘where’s your larynx?’Clever George pointed to his larynx and went on to point out his vertebrae, his pelvisand his fibula.
Never admit to another mother that your childhas a penchant for Pop Tarts – that’ll have youdown as a slummy mummy before you can say ‘no artificial colours’. And never be caughtin the supermarket with a trolley load of oven chips, dinosaur chicken nuggets andmicrowave burgers. Banish the ready made to the bin and lovingly bake bread andwholesome home-made treats cunninglypacked with pureed veg and disguised asmuffins. Well, we’d all cook like AnnabelKarmel if we weren’t so busy looking after kids.
But, if you could just manage toshovel the five-a-day downthe little one’s neck,between the school run,shopping, washing,ironing, working,cleaning, you wouldsurely be an earthmummy of mammothproportions.
What’s the point thoughof taking the time to
arrange vegetables on theplate into a happy face, or make
trees out of broccoli, asparagus boats andlakes of guacamole, when every mother knowsthat kids will eat anything – snot, scabs, soil,earthworms, earwax or toenail clippings – but never sprouts, however they arecamouflaged.
Nutrition – it’s just another melon ball a mumhas to keep in the air. Remember to make itorganic if you want them to reach a ripe oldage. And if you want the earth to last longenough for them to live on it, as every goodearth mother should, make sure your shoppingis seasonal and regionally sourced. Oh andwhile you’re whizzing around Sainsbury’s,remember to replace everything you own witheco-friendly alternatives.
Motherhood is a frantic race in which we areforever two steps behind. Priorities change atthe turn at the turn of a trip to A&E with atoddler who’s swallowed a piece of Lego.Deadlines shift at a moment’s notice as junioris selected for the hockey team and needs tobe fully kitted out and delivered to the pitchwithin two hours. Your clever cherub will waituntil you’ve left the room to perform his first roll– straight off the sofa. And why do kids waituntil you’ve left the room before shouting‘Mummy!’
It’s exhausting, enough to make you ‘sleep likea baby’ – actually the most ridiculous phraseever – don’t babies wake every three hoursscreaming? In fact when you’re a mum youcan forget any ‘me’ time – sitting down andlooking comfortable is the quickest way to getyour child’s attention.
Yet we battle on regardless, like a band ofangels with worn out wings. Naturally everymum regards her children as the mostprecious and rewarding things in her life, butshe faces an ever changing parade of perilsfrom the cradle onwards. It’s the littlesurprises, those beautiful innocent momentsthat in the blink of eye erupt into a completenightmare, that challenge us the most. Thoseflabbergasting moments that spring fromnowhere like projectile vomit. But these are thetests that keep every mum on her toes and lether know that she can cope with just aboutanything. And take heart, it won’t last forever,it’s the first thirty years of being a mum that arethe hardest.
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I used to be excellent, butnow I have a baby and Icouldn’t tell you what day itis. Gwinneth Paltrow
There are only two things achild will share willingly –communicable diseases andhis mother’s age.Dr Benjamin Spock
The important things aresitting down, having dinnerwith your children andhaving a cuddle.Those arethe things that make mehappy, not reading a reviewin some paper or being on thecover of a magazine.Sadie Frost
FACT:
A US study foundthat by the time babyreaches its second
birthday, he or she willhave had 7300nappy changes.
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Words by Sue Lovett
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inCompetition
TERMS AND CONDITIONSAll entrees must be received by 25th March 2012. One entree per person. Over 18s only. Entrants must be UK residents. Winners will be notified by email after the closing date. Travel not included. Prize provided independently of iN Magazine. Entrants may be contacted by iN Magazine and selected partners. By entering the competition you agree that
should you be selected as winner that you will provide an image of yourself to be published within iN Magazine on condition of receiving the prize.
To advertise your business call: 020 8504 7779
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO SIGN UP SEE WWW.MUMSDATEDADS.CO.UK
Everybody knows that being a parent is tough, and beinga single one is even tougher. With the demands ofparenthood it can be hard, if not impossible, to balance day-to-day life with trying to find love.
Which is where ‘MumsDateDads’ comes in. The number one dating website for single parents in the UK,
MumsDateDads.co.uk specialises in helping single Mums and Dads find someone special.
To celebrate Mother’s Day iN Magazine has teamed up with ‘MumsDateDads’ to offer five lucky Mums
or Dads the chance to win three months free membership to the site.
For your chance to win simply email ‘MumsDateDads’along with your details to [email protected].
‘MumsDateDads’ is the UK’sfavourite dating site for parents.Its members are single parentsor are happy to date someonewith children.
‘MumsDateDads’ knows fromfirst hand experience that it'stricky to find love when youhave children.
It offers free registration,astrological & compatibilitymatching, users can sendwinks or virtual gifts, create andview video profiles, and there areinstant messaging and video chatservices available as well.
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yOu ON yOur tOeS ANd will leAve
yOu wANtiNg mOre.
inMAGAZINE 19
HOxtONleOpArd£69.00
20 inMAGAZINE
inMAGAZINE 21
HOxtONdeNim £69.00
22 inMAGAZINE
jeSSie SOFt HObOpytHON £59.00
www.fiorelli.com
electric AveNue OceAN greeN£59.00
Photography B
y Theo Cohen
inMAGAZINE 23
Mary Katrantzou £525
www.matchesfashion.com
say it with flowers
forget twee, florals get techno this spring.
trendsetterTURN THAT FROWN UPSIDE DOWN WITH MOI SELF’S PICK ME UP PRINTED HANKIES
Founded by best friends Tara Willis and Bianca Pal, Moi Self is all about sisters helping each other through those emotionalmoments. With five different solicitous and wise messages designed to raise a smile andthe mood, our personal favourite is the ‘He’s not that hot anyway’ hankie. Make sure youhave one handy next time your BFF needs agood weep into your shoulder pads.
Moi Self, £10.00www.my-wardrobe.com
Stella McCartney£955
www.stellamccartney.co.uk
Preen£894
www.my-wardrobe.com
Opening Ceremony£428
www.matchesfashion.com
Diane Von Furstenberg£299
www.my-wardrobe.com
Erdem£1205
www.matchesfashion.com
YSL£1285
www.yvessaintlaurent.co.uk
See By Chloé£410
www.net-a-porter.com
Lanvin£300
www.matchesfashion.com
Stolen Girlfriends Club£140
www.my-wardrobe.com
No. 21£798
www.matchesfashion.com
Givenchy£970
www.matchesfashion.com
Mary Katrantzou£525
www.matchesfashion.com
Project D£465
www.the-dressingroom.com
Editor’sPick-
24 inMAGAZINE
26 inMAGAZINE To advertise your business call: 020 8504 7779
inMAGAZINE 27To advertise your business call: 020 8504 7779To advertise your business call: 020 8504 7779
From: Susan Polledri Sent: 31st January 2012 15:28To: Polledri, Caroline: Markets Subject: Mum
I had to go out for dog food and drop off my prescription andalthough it took a lot of courage to go out without makeup (well alip gloss) I managed it & have got back. I sat down to have a cupof tea, a reward for my bravery and noticed I have actually beenout not only makeup less but with my TROUSERS INSIDE OUT.
I just hope no one spotted me xxxxx
Love from Mum
Welcome to iN’s society column, ‘Girl About Town’ where socialiteCaroline Polledri gives her ownhilarious take on being out andabout in Essex and beyond.
here have been many timesthroughout my working
career when I’ve been stuck inthe middle of something thatrequires a lot of concentration,
something that has caused me to frownand scratch my head is confusion. At times, I have even been know toutter the odd swear word or moanand murmur under my breath abouthow life isn’t fair, frustrated withthe task in hand. And then, asother emails and requests comeflooding in side tracking mefrom my initial task, disturbingmy concentration I feel asudden urge to pick up mybag, slam down my keyboardand go home - that is until I spotan email entitled ‘Mum’ amongst myoutlook bombardment. This is my Mother’sway of passing on a message to me viathe magic of her Intel Pentium processorthat is no doubt propped upon her retiredknee whilst watching the Channel 5afternoon movie, after returning fromwhat is usually quite an eventful day inthe world of ‘moot’ (Mum).
I’m not sure if she realises that I can see heremail address and therefore know it’s from her, without her putting‘mum’ in the subject box but then I’ve never told actually told herthis. Because as soon as one of those particular emails land in my inbox it makes me smile, no matter how I’d been feeling twoseconds before. I know along what lines this text is going to readand no matter how busy or stuck in the middle of something I am, I open it anyway and below is a prime example of the kind of thingI often learn form the daily emails titled ‘mum’.
P.S I love you Mum. Don’t ever change.
“
“
SpeakiNg Directly...WITH Smile Direct
HiS moNtH, iN magaziNe’S HeaD
of aDvertiSiNg, SaraH BoytoN,
HeaDeD out to BuckHurSt Hill
iN orDer to meet DeNtal tecHNiciaN
gary markS of Smile Direct.
Sarah: ‘As i started my journey to visit Gary from Smile Direct, I didhave to smile. I have been told many a time that ‘Smile’ and ‘Direct’could be my middle names. I had googled ‘dental technician’ priorto my visit as to be honest, I wasnt totally ofay with what dentaltechnicians actually do. They are not a dentist, so what are they?Dental Technicians are responsible for the production of dentalcrowns and veneers. As we sat down for a cup of tea Garyexplained everything.”
‘It is rare for a patient to actually meet theirtechnician’ ‘though I do see patients for a shadetake.’
A ‘shade take’ is the process of matching veneers or crowns to the colour and texture of the adjacent teeth. As I speak to Gary it is clear how passionate he is about his work.
Gary decided to set up Smile Direct in light of the changes inattitudes towards dental design, he tells me:
‘Today’s patients are more demanding than everand rightly so. Now most Dentists will not sendtheir patients to see a Technician as they do not seeit as a necessity - particularly if the crown is for theback of the mouth and is not immediately obviousbut as anyone who has ever spotted an oddly whitecrown or a veneer that stands out for all the wrongreasons knows – a good colour match is essential toa happy, smiling customer.’
Sadly I am not alone in my lack of knowledge about the major roleplayed by a Dental Technician in the creation of a perfect smile.This is something Gary Marks plans to change with Smile Direct.The Buckhurst Hill resident tells me:
‘I have been a Dental Technician for nearly thirtyyears, the first twenty of which I spent in London’sHarley Street. I work with the majority of Dentistsin the area and have since launched Smile Direct. A unique service where patients wishing toengage in state-of-the art dentistry can comesee me before they visit their dentist in orderto discuss, in depth, what they would liketo achieve for their smile, all in a relaxedenvironment.’
With this Gary hopes to avoid the sort of breakdown incommunication which can result in unhappy patients.
‘Before any treatment takes place time should be spent with a patient. Though I am not a Dentistand so cannot plan any course of treatment or care,what I offer is a lengthy and detailed discussion ofwhat the patient wants. This is then shared withtheir appointed Dentist in order to ensure the resultsof any work is something worth smiling about.’
Then with a big flash of his own smile, we say our goodbyes. As Ileave I realise at its heart, Smile Direct is about communication,putting the patient first and after all isn’t that what the mouth is allabout?
Smile Direct: 91 HigH roaD,
BuckHurSt Hill, eSSex ig9 5SN
telepHoNe: 020 8505 0359
ADVERTORIAL
inMAGAZINE 29
PURE Medi-Spa, 9 Chigwell Road, South Woodford, E18 1LRwww.puremedispa.co.ukT. 020 8989 1822
To advertise your business call: 020 8504 7779
PURE OXYGENFACIALIN MAGAZINE: Help Shazia, ourfaces are starting to look so dulland tired, we need some T. L. C.
What can we do to brighten the skinon our face ready for Spring?
DR SHAZIA SIDDIQI: Recent cold weather paired with central heatingand numerous cups of tea and coffee can often result in the skinbeginning to look tired, aged and lined. Early nights and drinking plenty ofwater can make a marked difference however you may need an extrahelping hand.
The PURE OXYGEN FACIAL is a quick fix solution, and would fit nicelyinto any lunch break and is suitable for all skin types. The first stepinvolves micro-dermabrasion, which is the use of tiny aluminum oxidecrystals. This strips the top layer of dead skin cells, leaving a smoothersurface underneath, helps to reduce blocked pores and the appearanceof pigmentation and scarring.
Following this, the therapist will then apply a vitamin based serum whichhelps with both the repair of the skin and also to increase the amount ofcollagen and elastin formed in the skin, to help stop sagging. To help theserum absorb, the therapist will infuse oxygen under the skin, to boostblood flow to the area. This allows the cells to regenerate which makesthe skin look brighter, more healthy and revitalized.
Oxygen is suggested to strengthen skin’s elasticity and help eliminateacne-causing bacteria, as well as reduce fine lines and wrinkles, even outskin tone and diminish blocked pores.
Many people who experience the non-surgical oxygen facial treatment seean immediate change in their appearance. Effects of oxygen facials aresaid to last about a week but for best results, we recommend a series ofsix treatments followed by monthly touch-up visits.
PURE OXYGEN FACIAL now only £49 when you mention iN Magazine (normally £95), or purchase a course of 6 for £285 (normally £570) for the month of March.
inBeauty
iN MAGAZINE CAUGHT UP WITH PURE MEDI-SPA TO DISCUSS BEAUTY TIPS.
30 inMAGAZINE
inMAGAZINE 31
inGreat Shape holly house hospital
NEW physioThErapyuNiT opENs aT holly housE hospiTal
The physiotherapy team at Holly House Hospitalcelebrate as the first phaseof the private hospital’s £20 million redevelopmentand expansion projectopens this month.
The new unit, in BuckhurstHill, contains six individualtreatment areas as well as a larger gym area for patientrehabilitation, enabling theunit to offer superior
physiotherapy and integrated rehabilitation to a far wider audience. New services being introduced include rehabilitative Pilates sessions and stress management courses incorporating yoga, cranial/sacraltherapy, visualisation techniques and cognitive behavioural therapy.
Gill Southall, Physiotherapy Superintendent at Holly House Hospital, said:‘we are delighted to open the doors of our newphysiotherapy department to our patients – and to be thefirst department to move into the new build. it really is asuperb facility and being centrally located within the hospital
as part of a new dedicated outpatient facility means patientswill soon be able to access consultations, diagnostic imagingand physiotherapy all under one roof. this investment in thephysiotherapy unit will enable us to maintain the high qualityof care we provide to the local community including manylocal professional sportsmen and women.’
All of the physiotherapists at Holly House Hospital are experiencedchartered physiotherapists who offer a combination of the latesttreatment techniques, sports injury treatments, exercise and advice to treat patients. They treat people of all ages with physical problemscaused by illness, accident or ageing including back, neck and shoulderpain, upper and lower limb conditions, sports injuries, post-operativerehabilitation and posture-related problems. The unit also provides anumber of specialist services including acupuncture, electrotherapy,biofeedback to identify muscle imbalance, phototherapy for thetreatment of a variety of skin conditions, and stress incontinence or pelvic floor dysfunction
The redevelopment and expansion project, overall, remains on schedule with works progressing and the new building framework nowconstructed. The new purpose-built facility, located at the rear of theexisting hospital and expected to open this autumn, will house majorityof the hospital’s outpatient services including consultation rooms,pharmacy, a minor treatment unit, oral surgery suite and pathologylaboratory. This will enable additional inpatient bedrooms to be createdwithin the current building. The hospital continues to run as normalduring construction.
www.hollyhouse-hospital.co.uk
Tel: 020 8936 1210
To advertise your business call: 020 8504 7779
ADVERTORIAL
32 inMAGAZINE To advertise your business call: 020 8504 7779
Loughton residents, Kylie and Stuart Coker found loveon an internet dating sight mysinglefriend.com.
We loved how you created your wedding with atraditional twist...Kylie: I had really strong ideas from the start, other than thebridesmaid dresses which I spotted in a bridal magazine, theother ideas were pieced together until the whole day becamea perfect story.
Who’s idea was Gaynes Park Estate?Kylie:We had seen a few other venues but nothing gave methat ‘this is it’ feeling as Gaynes Park. I had that very samefeeling with my wedding dress, after trying on over 15different ones. That’s when you know ‘this really is it!’Stuart: We booked Theydon Garnons Church after bookingGaynes Park, it worked perfectly for us.
So the day itself…?Stuart: We had a church ceremony, with a choir and weddingbells. Our readings were from Corinthians, read by my UncleDavid, and a poem called The One read by my Mum. Webought pocket watches for myself, our ushers and the bestman, mine had the date of the wedding engraved on it, theothers had ‘Thank You’ engraved on them.Kylie: My Mum gave me away. I was driven to the church in a1937 Roll Royce Phantom III, and the guests arrived in aroute master red bus. My nerves totally disappeared when Isaw Stuart as I walked down the aisle; this was my bestmemory of the day.Stuart: Likewise, Kylie looked beautiful. At the reception Iwas so glad that I had practiced my speech to a level where I didn’t need prompt cards. Kylie: That was one of my best moments; I am so proud ofhim. He had practiced for ages and did it all from memory - itwas brilliant, heartwarming and funny and obviously the thingshe said about me were beautiful and very emotional.
Let’s talk about the quirky bits…Stuart:We had Heart of England sausages, creamed mashand roast onion gravy, basically bangers and mash for thewedding breakfast.Kylie: For the favours we gave white chocolate lollypops witheach of our guests’ names piped in icing - they went down atreat and it was a little different from the norm. I had largeletters of Mr & Mrs and K & S made, also a white wishing wellfor the cards to go in. Stuart:We organised our own sweetie table withpersonalised stickers saying ‘Enjoy’ from Kylie and Stuart. Kylie: We also put a basket of flip flops in the ladies toiletswith a framed poem:
‘Bought new shoes to match your dress and now your feet are sore,
Please help yourself to a pair of flip flops so you can dance some more.
Compliments of Mr & Mrs Coker.’
And your honeymoon?Stuart: I whisked Kylie to Dubai. Kylie: Our day, the honeymoon, it was all wonderful; if Icould do it all again I wouldn’t change a thing.
Venue: www.gaynespark.co.uk. Bride’s Dress: www.graceandlace.co.uk. Groom’s Suit: www.jackbunneys.co.uk. Bridesmaid’s Dresses:www.awhiteweddingshop.co.uk. Wedding Cake: www.angelcakes.moonfruit.com.Cars: www.aristocars.co.uk. Invitations: www.hiptwist.co.uk. Photographer:www.mrsephotography.co.uk. Entertainment: www.dominickaye.co.uk. WeddingFavours: www.roccococoa.com. Toastmaster: www.toastmaster-tedprior.com.Videographer: www.treasured-moments-dvd.co.uk. Route Master Bus:www.ensignbus.com. Hairdresser: Georgina Walker - 07963 405 213. Make-upArtist: Julia Camileri - 07958 682 267. Flowers: Nicola Ferrari - 07955 815 380.
Kylie & Stuart CokerJust Married
inMAGAZINE 33
1. DINNER SPINNER APPIf your mum is up-to-date, she might already have the latest smart phone. But she might not have grasped the enormous library of applications available. Introduce her to Dinner Spinner, the app that goes some way to answering the never-ending question of‘What’s for dinner?’ It allows you accesto over 40000 recipes, courtesy of allrecipes.com, and you can browse them by nutritional value. If Mum’s struggling to use up leftover ingredients, she can even type them into the app and receive a recipe that includes all of them. £1.85, www.allrecipes.com
2. LG COOKIE KP501If your Mum is anything like mine, she’ll be struggling along with a phone that’s ten years out of date, unable to see things on a dark screen which can’t display more than three colours. The LG Cookie KP501 is a good phone to introduce her into the touch-screen generation. While the Cookie itself is compact, the touch screen is enormous, ensuring that Mum will have no trouble pressing the virtual buttons. Most importantly, it’s easy and fun to use. Whether Mum’s a techno-geek or a techno-terror, she’s sure to love this phone. £79.99, www.amazon.co.uk
3. HOMEDICS SHIATSU FOOT MASSAGER (FM-TS9)Shiatsu massage is a traditional Japanese deep massage technique. Having organised the kids/school run/weekly food shop (delete as appropriate) around her working day, Mum’s feet are probably aching. This deluxe foot massager can help her feel like a Geisha again, at the end of a long day of running around. A state-of-the-art mechanism eases away the aches and pains with rotating nodes,and it’s also heated to ease muscle tension and stiffness. It even caters for all, as you can adjust the angle of the massager to suit. £71.49, www.boots.com
4. PANASONIC SD-501WXC BREAD MAKERIf Mum is into making packed lunches for the family, she’ll adore this bread maker. Not only does warm fresh bread taste amazing, it also fills the house with a gorgeous homely smell. This Panasonic model includes modes for crust control and loaf size, and it’s even capable of producing bread for those on a gluten-free diet. Mum will want to spend hoursmessing around creating her perfect loaf from a variety of options, and the beauty of it is thatthis bread maker ensures a perfect loaf every time. £139.99, www.currys.co.uk
5. SONY DSCW530BDigital cameras can be tricky. Get it right, and Mum’s got a friend for the next decade. Get it wrong and she’ll be forever mashing buttons or turning the camera off when she’s trying to take a photo. This little Sony model is perfect. Not only is it light and compact, it’s also intuitive and easy to use. The face detection software is really useful for capturing large groups of people at family get-togethers, and it’s even got a handy video mode – perfect for making sure Mum captures that all-important goal at Saturday football practice. And in case you were wondering, yes, it does come in pink. £97, www.prcdirect.co.uk
6. CHAMPNEYS CHMAN-200-GB COMPACT MANICURE SETLuckily, you can give Mum all the attention she– and her nails – need on Mothering Sunday with this compact manicure set. It’s super-simple to use, and comes with 12 all-importantmanicure attachments, including shaping discs, skin remover and an automatic cuticle lifter. It also comes with a built-in multi-directional nail dryer, so whatever you’re doing to your nails you really should be using this little wonder. All you have to do now is find some handsome hunk to give Mum a massage, and her home spa day is complete. £30, www.very.co.uk
Words by Alex Page
THE WORD
GADGETY GIFTS FORMOTHER’S DAY
inMAGAZINE 35
36 inMAGAZINE To advertise your business call: 020 8504 7779
hat have Jodie Marsh, Jack Tweed, N-Dubs and Professor Green all got incommon? They have all been guests ofcelebrity hotspot FACES HODDESDON.
Alongside the wealth ofcelebrities on their guest list,the Hertfordshire night clubhas something else tocelebrate. Following a fullrefurbishment, not only is the night spot moreglamorous than everbefore, but the new VIP lounge is also now
available. With de rigueurpersonal waitressing and star treatment,
the newly opened lounge is bound to be a favouritefor red carpet regulars, birthdays and those just wanting a taste
of the VIP lifestyle.
The people behind thesuccess of FacesHoddesdon are partyorganisers Crystal Parties.Having taken over the nightclub late last year, the clubpromoters have used theirexpertise in exclusiveparties to make FacesHoddesdon one of thearea’s most glittering
venues for a night out. Since then Faces Hoddesdon has become a
regular destination for glamour models, footballers, thecast of TOWIE and Geordie Shore, R’n’B superstars and hotstylish things from the local area alike.
The place to show your face? Most definitely.
FOR GUEST LIST, TABLE ENQUIRIES AND BIRTHDAYS OR FOR MOREINFORMATION PLEASE CALL:T. 01992 451000 OR VISIT
WWW.CRYSTALPARTIES.COM
BREWERY ROAD, HODDESDONHERTFORDSHIRE EN11 8HF
38 inMAGAZINE
Stepping Out
Mark Cleary, owner of celebrityhotspot, Faces Hoddesdon recentlycelebrated his birthday in true
Faces's VIP style. He was joined for his celebrations by ‘Take Me Out’'s
Toni Anwyll.
Faces Hoddesdon has fast become the place to be and is frequented by many global celebrities, footballers and glamour models looking to enjoy a night out in a modern and stylish
establishment.
If you want to party like a celebrity or it's your birthday, a VIP booking isessential. As a VIP you will receive a personal waitress throughout the
night providing you with impeccable service.
FOR GUESTLIST, TABLEENQUIRIES & BIRTHDAYBOOKINGS PLEASE CALL
T. 01992 451 000
MARK CLEARY, OWNER OF FACES HODDESDON
CELEBRATES HIS BIRTHDAY
inMAGAZINE 39
in
Nissan offers a car for all occasionsou would think the car market was already saturated with a car for every occasion:
coupes that look good, estates for lugging loads, 4x4s for no roads, supercars forgood roads, superminis for towns, Mini’s for cool people in town, and large saloons
for getting out of town. But, what if you want something with cool, coupe-like looks, a raised driving position, but with no 4-wheel drive, and performance to match a hot-hatch? It is a specific brief, but one Nissan has given us an answer to with theircrossover – the Juke DIG-T.
Whether the looks are indeed cool is something that’s up for debate, and it’s a debate most people seem happy to enter into on their first introduction. There’sswooshes and creases everywhere,angular lights at the front, with foglights that are in fact headlights.The Juke’s five-door status isn’timmediately obvious, thanks tohidden door handles at therear. What we would sayis that it is colourspecific, withdarker shadessuiting thecar’s stealthylooks.
The high-end model weborrowed comes wellequipped with the usual suspects ofleather, air-con’, heated seats and cruise control.Navigation and entertainment comes in the form of Nissan’s excellent N-Tec system. It’s simple to use, mates easily with an iPhone via Bluetooth, and allowsyou to stream music wirelessly, too. Nissan cuts down on button-clutter using their Dynamic ControlSystem (DCS), which gives buttons dual roles, for both ventilation and car setup. More on that later…
The cabin itself could well be an acquired taste with lashing of body-coloured plastic round the transmission tunnel, demonstrating the Juke is aimed squarely at the young to middling affluent ‘yoof’. The central console is more mainstream, but the graphics of both the sat-nav and the DCS add a technological twist.
42 inMAGAZINE
inMAGAZINE 43Words by Russell Campbell
The ‘boom’ days may seem long gone, but, in automotive terms, thesuccess of BMW’s 3-Series represented a change of attitudes for theBritish consumer, when badge kudos became king, and many of usbecame picky. Sadly, now it’s all about the bust, but UK motorists neednot pull the emergency cord (in the form of Fords and Vauxhalls) just yet;BMW’s launched this – the new 320d Sport.
It offers everything we would expect of a BMW: Class-leading handlingand dynamics, sophisticated looks and a classy cabin. It also offersunbelievable MPG figures, tree-loving CO2 emissions and impressiveperformance to boot.
The exterior is obviously a BMW 3-Series, because there’s a strongsense of the old 3-Series about it. There’s BMW’s familiar ‘kidney’ grille,but with more modern lighting and sharper lines. Inside, the same is truewith a quality cabin, with flashes of colour that stop it from looking tooTeutonic; but is clearly well nailed together.
Economy of 60mpg used to be the preserve of small city cars, but the320d combines this with 181bhp and 280lb ft of torque. Performance ishot-hatch fast, with a top speed 146mph and 0-60mph in 7.5 seconds.In short, this car gives you the very best of both worlds.
As does the chassis, which is rear wheel of course, so suffers from none of the problems that front-wheel drivers are afflicted with, facedwith trying to put power through the steering wheels. The Sport’ssteering is fluid, devoid of torque steer and the chassis’s sharp. We’re told it even rides well.
It may not be cheap, at £29,080, but its mix of performance andhandling dynamics, not to mention quality of construction, make this320d Sport the class leader. Meanwhile the strong residuals and thatMPG figure, mark it as a genuine money saver.
New 320d SportofferS faultleSS
frugality
Believe it or not, removing the Juke’s trendy skin wouldreveal the under-pinning’s of the humble Micra. It’s fair tosay, then, that this is not the most capacious of vehicles,but it does have double the boot space of a MiniCooper with the back seats up and also theconvenience of five doors.
Putting the ‘T’ in DIG-T is the turbo bolted to the Juke’sengine; it gives the 1.6-litre small capacity 4 – cylinder187bhp and 177lb ft of torque. Without a heavy, andpower sucking four-wheel drive system, the DIG-T isquicker than you would expect and, delivering around40mpg, more economical too. We took it on an A-roadjaunt to Brighton, where its upright driving position gavegood visibility for overtaking, and the torquey powerdelivery made such manoeuvres commendably brief.That’s not to say it’s a one trick pony, though. Cornering,the Juke is composed and grippy. Setting the DCS tosport weighs up the steering, although it’s artificial feelremains, and sharpens the throttle, leaving us surprisedat quite how much fun the Juke could be.
Arriving in Brighton, we switched DCS to its normalsetting (which lightens the steering and calms thethrottle response), complementing the Juke’s excellentvisibility and ability to soak up potholes, speed humpsand everything else our lovely roads threw at it. The rearparking camera with parking guide makes parking easytoo.
Having loaded some ‘precious cargo’ – in the form of fashion guru and esteemed Editor, Rose Keen – we set off back up the motorway bothered only bynoticeable road and wind noise, and the reasonablesound system’s ability to deliver a hammer blow toconversation.
So does the Juke make sense? Yes would be the simpleanswer. It’s got all the attributes you would expect of a normal hatch, with good handling and impressiveperformance, combined with the advantage of a jacked-up driving position. If you like (or can live with) theattention-grabbing looks, £18,000 seems like a fair dealfor a car that can fulfil so many purposes so well.
BMW's 3-series
here’s a fresh feel to the air and the cold wind has definitely gone. Winter is behind us and summer is on its way – fantastic news for those who enjoy spending the weekend in the garden, gently roasting beneath the sweltering sun.Or more realistically, trying to develop a tan underneath a cloudy sky. This is England after all!
But with that in mind, you’ll need to ensure that your garden is in an attractive state,especially if it becomes a place to invite your friends for barbeques and sun-lounging overthe summer. No garden looks its best in winter, however, as maintenance takes a backseatdue to the cold. Yours might resemble something out of a Wilfred Owen poem – includingthe barbed wire if you’re taking drastic measures to keep next door’s cat at bay. But thereare things which can be done to transform the average warzone into your own little piece of paradise for the summer.
Experts in landscaping and garden design Haskett are the people to call for such miracles.Based in Fyfield, Essex, they employ an experienced and professional team, who know all about crafting summer utopias. “So what can Haskett do for me?” we hear you cry,because we at iN have very good hearing. The answer is practically everything. Haskettbelieve with a passion that landscaping should involve every aspect of the great outdoors.From plants and ponds, decking and driveways, Haskett can improve the whole exterior of your house, which means minimal fuss and bother on your part, once you’ve decided on what needs to be achieved.
Looking out at your garden, you might be thinking, “There’s not much that Haskett can do with that”. Not so. Haskett cater for absolutely everybody. Whether you’ve got a tinypostage-stamp-sized garden, or several acres of land, Haskett are happy to offer the advice, the planning and the service, all at top-notch quality from their experts. They treattheir smaller projects with exactly the same level of dedication and care as their largercommissions. So even if you have a tiny garden, don’t underestimate what can be achieved.
Haskett also make a point of creating their designs for your garden based around yourindividual household requirements. Do your flowerbeds need to be child and dog-proof? No problem. Perhaps you don’t have a lot of time to maintain your plants? Easily dealt with.Of course, this means that an aptitude for exploiting the available space is crucial. BecauseHaskett deal in every aspect of the garden, they know how to take advantage of everycentimetre. So if your feel that your garden is suited to a water feature, they’re capable ofdesigning and installing one to suit you. Or if your garden isn’t the roomiest, perhaps youfeel that exterior lighting may lend itself to giving it a little impact. The possibilities are wideand varied, but Haskett can offer suggestions and advice to suit your needs and budget.
Speaking of the financial side, you’re probably wondering whether you should be diggingmoney out of your bank account and burying it into your garden, seeing as we’re goingthrough the harshest recession in living memory. But it’s actually a brilliant investment inyour property, particularly in the spring-time. After all, if you’re spending a bit more timeoutdoors, pottering around the beds or playing with the dog, it’s so much more satisfying if your garden looks attractive – something which Haskett can make happen all year round.But aside from the satisfaction factor, buyers always prefer a house with a garden, sokeeping it tidy and welcoming can have a huge impact on their decision if you’re looking tosell. Haskett have a range of services to help here too. Buyers usually prefer an easymaintenance garden, so an automatic irrigation system could be something to consider.
THE GrASS ISGrEEnEr...
WITH HASKETT
So if this article has got you interested but you still needconvincing, check out Haskett’s website - www.haskett.co.ukto get a better idea of what they can do. If you’re itching to getstarted on that summer paradise then don’t delay – give them acall on: T. 01277 899325 and let them demonstrate theirpassion for crafting an attractive outdoors.
44 inMAGAZINE
in’s
Property Guide
WWW.SAVILLS.COM
SPONSORED BY
WOODFORD GREEN GUIDE £1,050,000
46 inMAGAZINE
48 inMAGAZINE To advertise your business call: 020 8504 7779
inMAGAZINE 49
inFLORIST & GIFTS
MOBILE BEAUTY COMPUTER SERVICES
CLEANING SERVICES
To advertise your business in the Classified section call: 020 8504 7779 or email: [email protected]
inProfileThe Thing ThaT amazes me mosT abouT well
esTablish enTrepreneur, sophie sTern is her
abiliTy To presenT herself as a highly
respecTed business woman, wiThouT losing
her creaTive flair and quirky personaliTy.
or over a decade it seems that all ventures Miss Stern has put her mind too have become a success,but rather than rest on her laurels and take time out
to sit back and admire what she’s achieved, Sophie is now onto to the next venture ‘Precious Day’.
Essex born and bred, Sophie started her career as a freelancephotographer and GCSE Media Studies teacher. Throughout the years her work has been featured in magazines such as Vogue and iN Magazine. Sophie has photographed high end fashion for LibertyLondon. She has also worked with other clients such as L’Oreal,Budweiser, MTV, various national newspapers and many local business, such as the Duke of Essex Polo Event.
Sophie came up with the idea of ‘Snapped Out’ event photographyduring her clubbing days. Believing there was a market for taking photosof clubbers on their nights out, which they could then purchase and viewonline. With this idea, Sophie approached Faces Nightclub where shewas appointed as their ‘in house’ photographer. ‘Snapped Out’ wasgrowing successfully, with its services in demand from other club and barowners who wanted to be part of the 'Snapped Out' phenomenon; thisled to a team of 'Snapped Out' fully trained photographers which werebooked with the same objective - to record great nights out on onecentral website.
Soon Sophie had a vast amount of bars and club contracts, with manyadvertising their nights on the 'Snapped Out' website. A website that shebuilt and designed herself was receiving 26,000 monthly visits with18,000 verified members and analytic's which were growing daily.
With ‘Snapped Out’ firmly on track, it gave Sophie the time to focus on her next venture. Sophie's attention was spent on building'Sophie Stern Photography' which focused on wedding and studiophotography with a Sophie twist. As 'Sophie Stern Photography' grew, sodid Sophie's portfolio, with her studio booked most days midweek andweekends, both in the UK and abroad. She decided that she would pay more attention to marriage, babies and family orientatedpeople, leaving the youth to enjoy ‘Snapped Out.
'I realised that Snapped Out was a business that I had set up inmy twenties, I wanted to emulate the idea but target an overthirties market.'
Sophie has now set up ‘Precious Day’, a new business venture thatprovides a personal photography service for weddings, birthdays,celebrations and studio portraiture of children and families online. A hubwhereby her clients could view the photographs of their precious daysand also find a directory of local businesses in order to plan a preciousday of their own.
‘It’s an online place that houses all thephotographs of real people, celebratingtheir love, happiness and life journeys.Everyone is interested in people andwhat they are up to in their lives. PreciousDay is a place for people of all ages to visit,treasure and share their special moments in life.’
There are many success stories when it comes to business woman of ourtime, but with Sophie there is something different. She has built up acompany from scratch with no backing and worked very hard doing whatshe loves most.
‘I think that if you have an idea that you truly believe in, don’trun before you can walk. When you have the foundations inplace take it slow, work hard and never give up. If you getknocked down, use it positively. It’s the hard times and therejections that will make you succeed and push your business to a higher level!’
So what will happen when Sophie has two successful businesses underher belt? Is another venture on the horizon?
‘I think it will be about time to think about starting a family of my own; I’ve photographed enough beautiful weddings and children in my time to realise, that’s actually what I amready for now.’
And if she puts as much effort into finding a husband as she has in all her other ventures, we’re sure that it won’t be long before she’swalking down aisle.
Currently, Snapped Out has 36,000 growing members, 26,000 monthlyhits with 60% average new visitors. Sophie would like to thank her highlymotivated, innovative and committed PA, Nicola; as without her this allwould have been a lot harder to achieve.
For bookings & more information, please contactSophie: 020 8502 9922 / 07958 229910
www.preciousday.co.ukwww.sophiestern.com
50 inMAGAZINE Words by Caroline Polledri
