WHOLEFOODS WALKABOUT

I've been up all night. Just back from my first yoga retreat which I think went really well. Catching up with admin.

Tom and I are blessed.  We live in a lovely location in France which has wonderful energy so whether you're doing downward dogs or backward bends or just sipping a kir, (although hopefully the yoga adds considerably to the experience).  The sun shone (although I'm told it did here too) and Arsenal won so Tom is a very happy chap.

Before I left for France I met Danielle de Winter (beauty shot and skinologie) - this time in person.  She does not have a wrinkle on her face (no botox) so a brilliant exponent of what she sells and tells.  

We happened to meet at the Wholefoods shop thats in Richmond.   I admit, I go there when there's a sale on.   Danielle remarked on the prices noting that 'it's cheaper in Monte Carlo than it is here," looking at the nuts.

There's a brand of food called Paleo which focuses on the ingredients we used to eat when we were hunting for our own food (so raw mostly and grain based - unless we caught the live food).   There was some 'Paleo' food in the shop but she noticed that it had been roasted so wasn't strictly part of that diet.  I admit I've never heard of it, but she recommends it, as she does walnuts (brain food, they look like brains after all) and almonds (appetite suppressants as well as full of good stuff).

We went to the fish and meat counter.  The guy knew where everything was sourced, didn't expand or exaggerate on how good or bad anything was, and told us why cold smoking is better than hot smoking (choose cold never hot).    Mackerel is usually hot smoked, salmon can be both.    Most salmon is farmed, don't touch it.  Ditto trout.   If you saw how it was farmed you wouldn't go near it.   And ask about the various standards of 'eco' when you buy chicken and fish at any shop - actually try to go somewhere where you can ask.  

And I'm even starting to learn my lesson with protecting myself from the sun. I wore a hat. I never wear a hat.  Horse bolted and all that, but at least I'm trying.....

THE BIG SLEEP

In order of importance at a hotel. what does the customer value of most importance?   The comfort of the bed. The efficiency of the shower.  The variety and qualify of breakfast.   Everything else is cherry. These three are the cake.

Admittedly the bed may not be for sleeping in, the shower for washing in and the breakfast for eating but they didn't ask this question of those vox popped.

And so to sleep.   I attended the wonderful London Corinthia Hotel where films on sleep had been commissioned.   I  met with the good and great - through the rain and dared to pose with a super model.   I left my hat on.  Two films entered fort the British Film Festival were shown. Dark and romantic, The problem of insomnia and the fine line between dream and reality.   Reminded me a bit of the film in Mr Beans Holiday - waiting for Rowan Atkinson to suddenly appear with a prawn up his nose.  He didn't (although they did on the nibble plates handed round), but both films were stylish and beautifully presented.    Like those who attended... Daisy, Zauwe and me...

IN A TRANCE - FEAR OF ANYTHING - HYPNOTHERAPY WORKS

check out Ailsa Franks www.hypnobalance.co.uk.      And these minute long and 20 long videos on tips and how to self hypnotize.    More details in Richmond magazine and Radio Gorgeous.

HENLEY ARTS TRAIL - SIMON KEELEY - WONDERFUL SCULPTOR - CHECK OUT HIS WORK

Simon and his friendly dragon.  

OF MICE AND MEN, AND WOMEN TOO

Interesting week.

First the gerbil died.

RIP Flapjack. You were the sweetie, loved sitting on the aquarium plug which vibrated and got hot.

Secondly my ex told me (or rather he told our son) he had quit his job at RBS, worked there for 15 years and didn't ask for redundancy because wanted to live, I mean leave, on good terms.   Right.

Next, Tom's parents evening.    Extremely intimidating for Tom as he has to sit in between his parents who would not choose to be on the same planet as each other let alone the same room, but it was OK.  All teachers fine, some great, with us learning more about them than we learnt about Tom (its in the delivery) especially with one teacher who (as if it wasn't intimidating enough for Tom) started with.

"So what do you think I'm going to tell your parents now Tom, huh?  Huh? What would you say about you if you were me?"  Pointing finger the lot.    Tom looked stumped.   I so wanted to say something.

I kept my mouth shut.  

On Saturday I went to the anti ageing fair at Olympia. There I met

Antonia Mariconda (the cosmetic coach).     Bright, beautiful lady who adds integrity to the beauty industry showing its not skin deep.  Met Debbie Arnold, the face of fabyouless card and Lorna Bowes of Aesthetic Source who was recommending product (NeoStrata) which everyone seems to have heard of - but me. There are a lot of 'secrets' out there women keep to themselves or perhaps I've hidden away for such a long time I've missed all this.   Any way, dermatologists recommend it.   (www.neostrata.co.uk).   I saw Linda Lusardi's mum - who looked like her daughter but slightly older (I think it was her any way), and Sharon Davies, although she didn't look like Sharon Davies but it was Sharon Davies. There were a lot of women walking about who looked very surprised. They could have been genuinely surprised of course, like me (see pix), but I'm not sure. I stalked a few and they looked surprised for five minutes continuously.

I met Dr Vincent (dermaroller) who looks younger every time I see him. He will look like an embryo one day which may not be a good thing. Debbie Arnold always looks phenomenal (just off plane from NY), ditto Antonia.    I had to dash back for the fair to meet Tom in Richmond only to realise it was the fair in Barnes he was at.

But I didn't stress. Kept saying 'its amazing, its amazing'.

Next day, I had Edward de Bono round to lunch.  As one does.  Now that IS amazing. And he IS amazing. Wonderful man. The men who talk about themselves the least have the most to say.  

Now must dash. Got essay to write on social and biological influences on psychological development.    All I can say I hope Edward has a greater impact on Tom than some of the other 'social' influences in his life.

A BIT OF PRADA AND CAVIAR AT HEATHROW TERMINAL TOO

you put the caviar on the back of your hand. eat it. then smell the hand. it shouldn't smell of anything as it should be fresh.     other than Chanel I suppose.

glasses by Prada. hiding the bags....

WRINKLY OF RICHMOND - FAST FOOD TO MAKE YOU FABULOUS

Interviewing sculptor tomorrow and chipping stone, as one does on a Friday, today I interviewed Danielle De Winter who invented Beauty Shots and Skinergie, power houses of the most potent ingredients I've learnt over the past six months that are either superfoods or super supplements that are great for inside and outside.   Fascinating chat unravelling the confusion of what is good for you and what isn't.   She's made it simple. The equivalent of fast beauty food.

The anti ageing world is full of so much product, so much advice and information, often half picked up and incorrectly reported by journalists (according to the experts), its good to meet someone like Danielle, who has the pedigree but doesn't talk jargon.

Inflamation, be aware of it.   Ageing starts with inflamation.    She wrote her first book at fifteen, her second book 'Eat Yourself Beautiful' was a bestseller (she wrote at 21).    She's the daughter of a pioneering cancer specialist Dr Jan de Winter, and worked with her father in cancer prevention, focusing on the lifestyle choices people can adapt to reduce thir risk of contracting the disease.  She believes health and beauty are inseparable.  So do I, although I do feel some people strive for beauty and youth so much it makes them mentally ill/unstable/obsessive.   That I feel is more to do with the media than the experts or the punters.    I'm not a beauty journalist, I came in as a punter who was told she had wrinkly skin, but I don't actually think its the beauty journalists, I think its the mainstream journos who pick up on the latest research and pick a strap line.   Like sugar is bad for you.   Its not that simple as Danielle explained.   The sugar substitute is worse.   I don't think the papers have mentioned this.

Choose organic everything.  Non organic is full of antibiotics and hormones (which I sort of knew, but not the full implications).  Danielle told me.  So I went out to Tesco and bought chicken for £8 instead of £4.   I'm going to go vegetarian.   But the chicken tasted wonderful. Like erm..chicken.

Anything green eat unless its mold I presume. Kale, broccoli, anything green, eat it. EPA and DHA (keep wanting to write DHL) omega oils.  The beauty industry loves three letter abbreviations.   Algae is good for you, not from the swimming pool.

Other things - hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.   And don't stress.   Don't eat calcium supplements, actually don't ever eat calcium supplements.     You can eat a healthy diet but if you don't have the correct supplements you won't absorb the goodness.  So that means you can live off kale but if you don't have the right supplements to help your gut absorb the goodness you might as well be eating rubbish.

Beauty Shots and Skinergie also something you can take with you on your travels. Very handbag friendly.   I like this product.  It's simple stupid.   Quick and with her pedigree, should work.   Going to see if it works over next few months but I liked the lady and what she said.