The halcyon days of my simply getting into bed, plonking my head on the pillow and falling asleep without incident felt like a distant memory. Insomnia in perimenopause crept up on me – and made me utterly miserable.

It started with moderate tossing and turning. Then the itchy skin started. And geyser-like boob sweats. I was overheating so much that even sleeping naked on top of the duvet with the fan on and windows open wasn’t helping.

Before long, I was waking up at 3am every morning with humid knockers, feral hair, and anxiety. My brain chose that hour to relive teenage embarrassments, stuff I had to do for work, assorted family dramas, friendships that needed work, WhatsApp messages I’d forgotten to reply to…

Honestly, enough already!

So, I tried out a few solutions for a better night’s sleep, especially as the warm nights weren’t helping with my general overheating. Yay climate change. Rather than reaching for the sleeping tablets, I sought out drug-free options, with varying degrees of success.

Let’s start with pillows

Martian Dreams Hybrid Bamboo Pillow (£44.99)

Being way too warm has been my biggest obstacle to getting a decent night’s sleep, so what better place to start than with a cooling pillow? The excellently named Martian Dreams Hybrid Bamboo Pillow was a hit from the first night.

I was delighted to ditch my lumpy old pillow and put my head down on this firm but forgiving alternative. As well as genuinely feeling temperate against my fiery face all night, the memory foam is really supportive and I haven’t woken up with a cricked neck since making the pillow switch.

M-Club Restful Nights Pillow Spray (£7.50)

Moving more toward products specifically designed for the menopause, I followed my nose to M-Club Restful Nights Pillow Spray. Scented with lavender and chamomile, I’ve taken to drenching my pillow with it every night and now I don’t like to go to sleep without it. The combination of the spray’s scent and the cooling pillow has worked wonders.

The only drawback is the essential oils mean I have to wash my hair more than usual, lest I start looking like unctuous Aidan from And Just Like That. I’m not digging his return to Carrie Bradshaw’s life. But I digress…

Cooling serum

With my head feeling much cooler, it was time to see what I could do about everything from the neck down. A company called Lansinoh was recommended to me. When I checked them out online, I was unsure whether this was appropriate, as it appeared to be a festival of products for pregnant women and new mothers. As someone who has well and truly missed the baby boat, I was sceptical.

But it turns out there are products that work just as well on overheating, perimenopausal women as they do on those at the other end of their reproductive life. The Cooling Serum, which I slathered liberally on my decolletage, arms and thighs before bed, felt lovely and helped me fall asleep quickly. It’s not just for baby bumps. For an extra frisson of chilliness, I blasted myself with the fan after application.

A range of scented concepts…

I then veered into aromatherapy territory. It’s something I’ve never been particularly convinced by, but Lansinoh’s Calming Bedtime Butter was like going to sleep in a lovely, fragrant hug. Scented with lavender and chamomile, it’s a super-rich shea butter-based concoction that lulled me to sleep, alleviated the itchy skin. And left me with incredibly soft arms and legs.

M-Club Restful Nights Pulse Point Roller Oil (£7.50)

M-Club’s Restful Nights Pulse Point Roller Oil made me think of something you’d put on the wheels of your skates before a roller derby. This one didn’t seem to have much impact on my sleep, but it is a nice thing to roll on your wrists when you’re feeling a bit stressed, so that one is going to live on my desk rather than in my bedroom.

M-Club Restful Nights Oral Spray (£15)

Similarly, I wasn’t convinced by M-Club’s Restful Sleep Oral Supplement Spray. It’s allegedly peppermint-flavoured, but I just found it gave me weird morning breath. It was akin to when the price of Listerine inflates to £5, so you buy the supermarket’s own brand for £1.20 instead – and regret it pretty quickly.

Let’s look at patches

Menopeace Balancing Topical Patches (£14.69)

Moving swiftly on, I decided to add further patches to my life. Despite my ravaged sleep patterns, I’ve been enjoying the benefits of HRT patches, such as no more excruciatingly sore boobs and a significant reduction in wild mood swings. Menopeace Balancing Topical Patches come with the warning that its claim to “help balance and comfort menopausal symptoms … have not been evaluated by the FDA”. Pah! Surely I’ve ingested far worse things in my time, I thought, and put myself to bed with an eight-hour patch.

It would seem that patches infused with black cohosh (isn’t that a banned weapon?), gotu kola (isn’t that one of those Coke alternatives you find on holiday?), damiana, valerian, skull cap (I’m sure I saw them open for Iron Maiden back in the day…) and oatseed do indeed help with a good night’s sleep.

The patches don’t entirely eliminate the 3am wakey-wakeys. But I wasn’t waking up and obsessing about the time my oboe reed broke right before a performance assessment in 1991. Or wondering if I should just call that person to ask why they unfriended me on Facebook. Instead, it was more of a quick glance at the time, a “Fucksake, I don’t need to be up for hours!” and a swift return to the land of nod.

But the wildest result of my great sleep experiment…

Femallay Sage Woman Tea (£11.02)

…came as a mug of herbal tea. Femally Sage Womanis a loose-leaf tea and naturally, I don’t have a teapot. So, I infused two generous teaspoons of the stuff in a mug. It was the first cup of tea I’ve ever drunk that required a toothpick at the end. My husband asked me if this brew would just cause me to go to the loo all night.

It turned out that I didn’t need to worry about wearing out the carpet between the bedroom and the bathroom. I slept like the dead. Right through the night. For about 10 hours. Around 8:30am, my eyelids creaked open like forgotten loft hatches. I wandered downstairs in a daze and have no memory of mainlining my usual morning vat of Earl Grey. My husband seemed concerned for me.

I was concerned for me. Around 9:30am, we ventured out for a walk and a coffee. It was a genuine effort to do a walk I do most days without even thinking about it. When we made it to one of our usual cafes, I had a strong coffee, which helped a bit. But for the rest of the day, I was slow off the mark. Which was a bummer, as I had a lot to do.

It was nice to have a solid block of uninterrupted sleep without boob sweats, anxiety or itchy skin, but I think I’ll save the tea for the next time I either fancy a serious weekend lie-in or I’m jetlagged and need to force myself to sleep my way back to local time.

I have no idea whether it was the red raspberry leaf, sage, lemon balm, verbena, vitex berries (what berries?!), spearmint, lemon peel or liquoriceroot that sent me into a stratospheric sleep.

So now I am armed with an anti-insomnia arsenal

I have soothing, calming, fragrant patches and potions – and a truly excellent pillow – that whilst not completely eliminating the sleep issues, have certainly made me stop dreading bedtime. And I have tea that will knock me into the Land of Nod whenever I really need it. Most of all, sleeping better has improved my mood, productivity, and anxiety, all without resorting to drugs.

That’s definitely a result.

Georgia Lewis

In a career that has spanned Australia, the Middle East and the UK, Georgia has written about all sorts of things, including sex, cars, food, oil and gas, insurance, fashion, travel, workplace safety, health, religious affairs, glass and glazing… When she’s not writing words for fun and profit, she can usually be found with a glass of something French and red in her hand.

The post Tried and tested: Remedies for insomnia in perimenopause appeared first on Silver Magazine.

There was a brief window in my late twenties when my skin was lovely. Unencumbered by zits or lines, I thought I was finally free of the acne that blighted my teens. But hormones are fickle things and joy of joys, I found my spots came back in perimenopause.

Thankfully, it’s nothing like the late ‘80s/early ‘90s burst-into-tears-in-front-of-the-bathroom-mirror era. But it was tiresome to still be reaching for the Clearasil when I had a husband and a mortgage. And burgeoning crows’ feet.

I’d officially entered the glamorous wrinkles-and-pimples era

And at the age of 48 I started to wonder if it was ever going to end. I’m not bothered about the wrinkles, even if I suspect I’m the only person I know who doesn’t do Botox. But pimples? Seriously, this is ridiculous…

So, I booked an appointment with dermatology nurse practitioner Emma Coleman. The original plan was to visit her Harley Street clinic, braving the rush hour tube with no make-up on. Quelle horreur!

As I work from home, I usually wear a full face of makeup when I catch the tube, because I’m going somewhere nice, like the theatre. The thought of going into town sans slap didn’t fill me with joy. Even though I was highly unlikely to be papped for a Heat magazine “LOOK AT HOW HIDEOUS THESE CELEBS ARE WITHOUT MAKE-UP!” article.

But (fortuitously?) the winter lurgy felled me. And rather than infect my fellow passengers, we had a skin consultation by video call.

Emma quickly got down to business

She asked me about my age, HRT medication, diet, and skincare routine before I put my phone right up to my face to show her my zones of concern.

There was a zit threatening to emerge right beside my nose, presumably to keep the zit already on my nose company. On either side of the bridge of my nose, where my eye sockets begin, I’ve permanently had cystic acne for decades. They’re the annoying headless horsemen of the pimple world. At least there’s no temptation to pick or squeeze these bad boys, because they don’t develop an angry red and yellow head like garden variety spots. My forehead is home to whiteheads that come and go as they please, like presumptuous, pus-filled houseguests.

Then I showed her my bumpy, reddish chin. This has looked like a relief map of the Yorkshire Dales for decades. On the upside, my cheeks are generally smooth, clear and kissable.

So what was the verdict?

Emma diagnosed mild to moderate acne vulgaris with some post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, AKA the red marks that gave me uneven skin tone. As well as the fun bonus of acne lesions that fall into the primary and secondary categories.

But why was this happening to me at the age of 48? Why was I getting chin acne at levels last seen when John Major was still PM? The short answer is that hormones are mostly to blame, especially androgens, better known as male sex hormones.

During perimenopause, the ovaries are in their last gasp of hormonal activity and they’re still secreting androgens, as well as oestrogen. When the oestrogen falls sharply and the androgens drop gradually, a hormonal imbalance is created. And when the balance tips in favour of androgens, acne can either get worse, if it’s already a problem for you, or it makes a comeback that’s about as unwelcome as bodysuits with crotch studs. Why are they back in the shops? Is everyone too young to remember the crotch crop circle debacle of 1995? But I digress…

Or the imbalance can present as hirsutism. I’m pleased to report that I’m yet to become hairier. Although friends over 50 keep warning me that chin hairs could be just around the corner. At least for now, I can just focus on eradicating the spots on my chin and save the tweezers and electrolysis for later.

Something to look forward to

So, what can I do about all this?

As a gastritis patient, my diet is already low-acid and low-fat, which is good for keeping the spots at bay. But what about the stuff I put on my dial? As a low-maintenance woman – at least when it comes to skincare – I have a mantra. “If I can’t get it at the supermarket, I’m not interested”.

As such, I wash my face with an Asda tea tree foaming cleanser to keep the oil at bay and balance it with Simple moisturiser, another product I can buy with my groceries. Surprisingly, Emma didn’t baulk at my bargain basement routine.

I wasn’t doing horrific damage to my skin, but I could probably try something with a bit more oomph. So I swapped my supermarket buys for Emma’s Luminosity Face & Body Wash with glycolic and salicylic acids, and daily collagen-boosting SPF 50 moisturiser.

To zap existing zits, prevent new breakouts, and reduce acne scarring, Emma recommended a topical prescription called Differin, which contains retinol, a form of Vitamin A. Finally, she recommended oral probiotics, usually taken to aid digestion, as there is evidence they help acne as well.

It sounds like a lot, but this simple product-swapping didn’t add hours to my minimalist skincare routine. Plus it’s easy to just pop the probiotic at night, along with the other medication I already take.

Did it work?

In short, yes. Within a week, my skin was noticeably clearer and brighter. When I had my six-week check-up with Emma, she was pleased with the improvement, noting my skin tone is now far more even. I’m definitely more confident when I leave the house without makeup, although I still don’t enjoy catching sight of myself in a self-checkout camera. But those bloody things turn us all into Crimewatch mugshots.

Left before, right after

The three main problems – the lumpy cystic acne, the whiteheads and the relief map chin – all started to look much better. In true middle-aged style, it was in Facebook photos that I really noticed the lumps had calmed down.

Meanwhile, the Differin prescription was working wonders on the horrid little whiteheads, as well as any other errant zits. All I had to do was pop a Differin dot on a spot before bed and it’d be pretty much gone by morning. Shamefully, my main pimple eradication method previously was an insect bite relief pen. A temporarily effective trick I discovered by accident on holiday, but probably not a great long-term solution. And my chin is not looking angry and red anymore. Yorkshire Dales relief map, begone!

It might seem bombastic to say that a new skincare routine has been life-changing. But it really has improved my quality of life. The confidence boost that comes with feeling better about how you present yourself to the world is hard to put a price on. After years of going through the motions with the same old routine, I was stuck in a skincare rut. But seeing real results so quickly was a great motivator.

As well as being happier about leaving the house bare-faced, finding a good moisturiser that works well under makeup is another advantage. When your foundation goes on smoothly over a good base, you don’t end up with that cakey, craggy look.

Looking ahead

Everyone’s skin is different and I’m pleased to have found a personalised solution to tiresome middle-aged acne. I can highly recommend having a consultation with an expert. Especially as Emma didn’t berate me for my cheapskate cleanser ways. It was good to have replacement products recommended to me, rather than loads of extras. I remember the obsession with toner in the ‘90s – and I remember using gallons of toner for no discernible improvement.

As well as her own products, Emma was happy to recommend alternatives, which is always reassuring. For people who aren’t keen to use retinol products, she says to start by using them less frequently. Or seek out products with Vitamin A, E or C for similar results. Silver’s own Pro-Ageing Stem Cell Regenerator Serum is an example, with mandarin peel oil for a hit of Vitamin C. And it goes really well under makeup.

An easy-to-follow skincare routine that fits in with your lifestyle is essential to committing to change. While I’ll never look like Titanic-era Kate Winslet, who was always my absurd clear skin role model with her china teacup complexion, I’m happy to look more like Mare of Easttown Kate Winslet. With a refreshing lack of vanity, she played a woman whose personal and professional life was crumbling. And her crows’ feet were proudly on show.

I’m more than happy for the world to see where the crows have stomped around my eyes and I’m happier still that they’re no longer competing with intrusive acne vulgaris. This really is the face I have earned and I’m not going to hide it.

Find Emma Coleman here

Georgia Lewis

In a career that has spanned Australia, the Middle East and the UK, Georgia has written about all sorts of things, including sex, cars, food, oil and gas, insurance, fashion, travel, workplace safety, health, religious affairs, glass and glazing… When she’s not writing words for fun and profit, she can usually be found with a glass of something French and red in her hand.

The post Help! I’m 48 and getting spots again in perimenopause appeared first on Silver Magazine.

London’s cosy Ambassadors Theatre is home to a new take on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. If you loved the 2008 Hollywood production with Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett’s impeccable cheekbones, take note. This is an intelligent take, with a new British angle.

Jethro Compton has reworked the story by moving it to a Cornish fishing village, with much of the action taking place in the Pickled Crab pub.

Benjamin Button, played brilliantly by John Dagleish, is born a rather cantankerous old man to humble parents. And without giving too much away, he starts to age backwards, while everyone around him gets older. The passing of time cracks along nicely with the ridiculously talented cast singing, acting and playing their own instruments.

There’s no sunken orchestra pit of anonymous musicians here

Instead, everything from guitars, to a double bass, to a French horn is played live by the characters. Incredibly, a cast of 13 play thirteen different instruments.

Photo Marc Brenner

Of course, it’s easy to take home obvious messages from this tale, loosely based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1922 short story. Sure, it’s important to carpe the hell out of the diem. To tell someone you love them. Or that you’re sorry, or that they’re forgiven, before it’s too late. But that’s a message you can get from pretty much any given rom-com.

The message that resonated with me long after the Saturday matinee was that it’s high time we got over a few of the cliches about ageing that we often utter without really thinking about them.

Sure, it’s important to carpe the hell out of the diem… but that’s a message you can get from pretty much any given rom-com.

Anyone who has ever regretted something from their youth has likely uttered, “If I knew then what I know now…”. But when you see Benjamin Button getting to be the young man who already knows the lessons of later life, it’s an uncomfortable experience.

He may indeed have the wisdom of age in an increasingly younger man’s body. But it turns out that you still can’t change the people and events around you. The pain of this is etched on Dagleish’s face as he knows he will regress to babyhood and forgets everything he ever knew, while everyone else’s life moves ahead in the usual direction.

Read more: What it’s like doing amateur dramatics

Youth is not ‘wasted on the young’

Of course, only a rare – and probably deeply annoying – human being would look back on their life and honestly say they would have done everything exactly the same if they knew then what they know now. But equally, life is a process, a bell-shaped curve where we start out knowing nothing, we grow, we learn, we develop, we reach peaks and, if we’re lucky, we fade away at a ripe, old age.

This brings me to another tiresome cliche: “Youth is wasted on the young.” No. It absolutely is not. What better time to be silly, to make mistakes, to try new things than when you are unencumbered by cynicism or fear or second-guessing yourself? Of course, this means there is an attrition rate among the young.

There will always be a latter day Icarus who flies too close to the sun. And there will always be the heartbreaking stories of kids forced to grow up too soon because of circumstances beyond their control, such as poverty and losing parents at an early age. These themes of hard, young lives are apparent in this Benjamin Button performance, with the distinctly non-Hollywood setting of an early 20th century Cornish fishing village where few had an easy life.

But those of us who were fortunate enough to have a misspent youth, to have gotten away with the bad life choices and general idiocy, can rejoice, celebrate and look back fondly on it all. Maybe we can try and pass on the things we’ve learned to those who come after us, but we have to accept that our advice will not always be taken, just as we refused to take good advice in decades past.

In Benjamin Button, we see a man who is being chased by death in reverse

As someone born old, he is bemused by the joyous scenes in the bar of people singing, carousing and being merry. And as he gets younger, he only briefly gets to enjoy being the same age as his one true love – a rich, complex performance by Clare Foster as formidable and tragic Elowen Keen. His kids start to catch up with him in age, creating unexpected family tensions.

John Dalgleish as Benjamin Button. Photo Marc Brenner

The beauty of the performances of this latest incarnation of Benjamin Button, the deft script, the repeated song about the tide coming in, and the musicians as narrators counting away his backwards life by the years, months and days force you to confront your own mortality. Indeed, many of us will end our days in a state where our minds have rusted away, our memories gone forever, as helpless as when we were born.

But this is not to say The Curious Tale of Benjamin Button against the backdrop of a tough fishing village, a world war and family loss, is a morbid affair. Quite the opposite, in fact. By breathing a collective sigh of relief that there is sense, logic and rhythm to ageing the way we do, we can celebrate everything good about every stage of life. As a bonus, with this intimate, heartfelt performance, we can do that with a few rollicking sea shanties that had even the most cynical theatregoers clapping along by the end.

Georgia Lewis

In a career that has spanned Australia, the Middle East and the UK, Georgia has written about all sorts of things, including sex, cars, food, oil and gas, insurance, fashion, travel, workplace safety, health, religious affairs, glass and glazing… When she’s not writing words for fun and profit, she can usually be found with a glass of something French and red in her hand.

The post A new Benjamin Button in London is challenging ageist cliches appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Best for arts and crafts: Bath

Beautiful Bath is accessible by rail and road and at Christmas, the markets make the most of the city’s walkability. Bath Abbey lights up for the festive season and it’s a good excuse to tick the Roman baths off your bucket list at the same time. Rather than the stereotypical plastic Christmas tat, Bath’s markets attract lovers of handmade jewellery, high quality arts and crafts, independent retailers and good food.

Best for food and wine buffs: Colmar, France

It’s a bit of a mission to get to Colmar – a flight to Strasbourg and a 30-minute train ride is the easiest route – but you will be rewarded with a gorgeous Alsatian experience. Colmar is picture-postcard-pretty and the Christmas market is a wonderful opportunity to try local specialities. The Gourmet Market features nine chefs cooking up a storm with delicious local ingredients, whether you’re in the mood for a start, main course or dessert. Meanwhile, the Christmas cellar events offer wine tasting experiences that you’ll never get at Wetherspoon.

Best for avoiding crowds: Wroclaw, Poland

Wroclaw is an emerging Polish city break destination and it’s a lovely option if you’re not keen on braving Christmas crowds in Krakow or Warsaw. With the Christmas markets centred around the charmingly compact Market Square, as well as locations in Salt Square, Świdnicka Street and Oławska Street, it’s easy to navigate without getting overwhelmed. Get your bearings with a free walking tour in the morning. When you’ve had your fill of markets, there are plenty of reasonably priced bars and restaurants offering respite – or you can partake in the local hobby of gnome-spotting.

Best for a bit of everything: Frankfurt

Germany is a destination for Christmas market traditionalists. If you want a total sensory overload seasonal experience, Frankfurt is the place to go. Take a deep breath, brace yourself for stalls, fairground rides and Christmas trees as far as the eye can see. As well as the traditional trinkets, there is an artists’ market for unique gifts. If you can’t look at another Christmas decoration stall or imbibe another glass of mulled wine, Frankfurt puts on plenty of cultural activities to balance out the consumerism. Seek out ecumenical carol services, a sign language choir, the ringing of 50 bells across 10 churches and historic harbourside train rides.

Best for stylish Christmas fans: Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris

Trust Paris to put on a classy, cringe-free Christmas market. The chic Marché de Noël on the Boulevard Saint-Germain features tastefully decorated chalets, gourmet food aplenty and luxury gifts. There are no elves on shelves to be seen here. How gauche! Instead, you can treat yourself and your loved ones to elegant jewellery, leather goods, scented candles and subtle glass ornaments that may actually become genuine heirlooms one day.

Best for Instagrammable moments: Brussels and Vienna

Brussels and Vienna are two cities that seem to look even prettier when the snow falls. And even if climate change keeps the snow at bay this Christmas, these markets offer social media stars plenty of opportunities to show off their most fabulous winter wear against gorgeous backdrops. In Brussels, the sound and light show at the Grand-Place and the ferris wheel are great selfie spots in between checking out the 200-strong stalls. Meanwhile, in Vienna, have your phone at the ready for the entrance via a candle-festooned archway, before going snap-happy among the seriously photogenic buildings, such as Schönbrunn Palace and St Stephen’s Cathedral.

Best for a party vibe: Glasgow

Sure, Edinburgh draws the crowds because of the photogenic castle and the charms of Prince Street, but if you want some real Scottish Christmas spirit, you can’t go past a trip to Glasgow Winterfest. Centred on George Square and St Enoch Square, the focus is on fun. Thrillseekers can try plenty of ridiculous rides, including a helter skelter and an 80m drop tower. That’s probably best done before tucking into churros, crepes, Yorkshire puddings, pancakes, mac-n-cheese, waffles, Scottish pies, mulled wine, beer, wine and spirits…

Best for wholesome family fun: Copenhagen

Even the hardest of hearts can melt at the sight of a kid enjoying Christmas. If you’re looking for a family friendly market experience, it’s hard to go past Copenhagen. Tivoli Garden, believed to be the inspiration for Disneyland, is a perennial winner with children and every year, this historic theme park takes Christmas very seriously. As well as the rides, Tivoli features Santa shows, an elf train, an elf hunt and fairground games. Adults might be pleased to know there are rock concerts, jazz performances, new music shows and plenty of bars.

Best for history buffs: Strasbourg

Strasbourg’s Christmas markets date back to 1570, making it the oldest in France and one of the oldest in Europe. As a result, they’ve had a good four centuries to get it right. You can expect all the Christmas classics – spectacular lights, a sky-high Christmas tree, carol singers galore and a market infused with the scent of spices. With 300 stalls, there’s plenty for the seasonal shopaholics, along with quaint streets for winter wandering, lashings of warming mulled wine and bredele, which are delicious little butter biscuits that are a local Christmas tradition.

Best for festive winter sun: Malaga

If you want to escape the miserable British winter, but you don’t want to miss out on the yuletide fun, you can combine sunshine and Christmas markets in Malaga. With an average top temperature of 18°C, it’s not quite bikini weather, but you probably won’t need the big coat either. Christmas markets with palm trees give a summer holiday vibe, while the stunning lights, stylish stalls and plenty of delicious food and drink options mean you can be festive without freezing your baubles off.

Best for extreme Christmassing: Prague

Good King Wenceslas set things in motion for Prague as a Christmas destination back in the 10th century when he looked out on the feast of Stephen amid snow that was apparently deep and crisp and even. While he apparently gave out alms to the poor, rather than tucking into mulled wine and gingerbread, the ensuing Christmas carol does rather inspire one to jump on a cheap flight to the Czech Republic. Prague takes this tradition seriously with the main markets in Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square, along with five smaller markets all within walking distance of the city centre. Expect to sample plenty of hearty Czech food and beer.

Best for traditions: Stockholm

Christmas is not just about endless excuses to part with your money. In Stockholm, the Christmas market vibe is definitely more subdued than many other destinations, but it’s no less special. The markets themselves are cosy, rather than ostentatious, with a focus on local artisans. But Stockholm stands out for its cultural experience. A series of performances of A Christmas Carol has become an annual tradition and the Berwaldhallen Christmas Concerts uplift the spirits with music from the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra ranging from Bach to modern favourites.

Best for romance: Bruges

Bruges is good for a romantic getaway at any time of year, but if you want to feel like you’re on the set of a cheesy Christmas rom-com, it’s pretty unbeatable. Bruges’s annual Christmas programme is known as Winter Glow, which sounds like it might go pretty well with your own afterglow if you can drag yourselves out of your hotel room. Every year, two Christmas markets are set up in the compact city square. Retailers at the Simon Stevin Square market sell short chain and craft products, rather than hard-to-recycle rubbish. For smug shopping and smug selfies, Bruges is a great choice for cute couples.

Best on a budget: Deptford Market Yard, London

If you prefer a more down-to-earth Christmas market – or the European flights and hotels are beyond your budget or your carbon footprint conscience – hotfoot it down to East London’s Deptford Market Yard. You’ll have to be quick as the markets only run from 1-2 December, but it’s a great example of a sustainable, community-based Christmas event. Along with Deptford’s regular market traders getting into festive spirit, Santa’s grotto and the arts and crafts activities are free and there will be plenty of music, carolling and street food stalls. It’s a London Christmas outing that won’t leave you out of pocket.

Read more – How to deal with Christmas

Georgia Lewis

In a career that has spanned Australia, the Middle East and the UK, Georgia has written about all sorts of things, including sex, cars, food, oil and gas, insurance, fashion, travel, workplace safety, health, religious affairs, glass and glazing… When she’s not writing words for fun and profit, she can usually be found with a glass of something French and red in her hand.

The post The ultimate Christmas market guide appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Two experts on how to find and where to buy sustainable fish and seafood, whether eating out or cooking at home. Having a little fishy on a little dishy isn’t necessarily as simple as seeing what’s on offer when the boat comes in.

Knowing how to find and eat sustainable fish isn’t always straightforward. You want to eat fish that isn’t appallingly farmed, or fished to extinction, but maybe you’re not sure how to verify that.

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an international non-profit organisation supporting sustainable fishing and fish stocks. Seeing an MSC label on your food is a very good place to start.

But the latest MSC consumer insights survey asked 4,000 people about their fish consumption, and found that people over 45 are eating more fish, but that awareness about the organisation’s eco-label is low.

Loren Hiller, commercial manager at the MSC, and specialist chef ‘Tom the Fish’, who has been running The Salutation Inn, a seafood hotel and restaurant in Devon for more than 10 years, have some useful tips for filling your dishy with fishies – with a clean conscience.

Love cooking fishy recipes? Try this zingy shrimp and turmeric soup

What are you putting in your trolley?

“The easiest way for a consumer to be assured that their seafood has been sustainably sourced is to look for the blue MSC eco-label,” says Loren. “This can be found on over 1,500 products across 53 species in UK supermarkets in the frozen and fresh sections. And even on pet food and supplements.

Look for the MSC label on all fishy products

“Essentially, that means you’re buying fish and seafood that has been sustainably sourced from a well-managed fishery. So that’s good for you and the ocean too, because these fisheries make sure the stocks are healthy.”

MSC-certified fisheries have a “minimal impact on the ecosystem and other endangered, threatened and protected species,” says Loren. Chef Tom is also a keen advocate of the MSC eco-label and urges responsibility on the part of supermarkets and shoppers.

“Most fish from supermarkets is farmed and imported. In 2022, the UK exported £1.7bn of fish and imported £3.7bn of fish. And we still import Russian cod to the UK via China, for instance,” he says. “But we live on an island so there’s a responsibility for supermarkets to sell local products. And there’s a responsibility to customers just to look at the labels and ask if it’s wild, how is it caught and where is it caught? Is it local or imported?”

Tom adds that it is important to consider how far a fish has travelled before it ends up in your trolley. “If fish has travelled across the continent, how have they been processed within the factory environment to make it still good to eat?

“There aren’t many fish counters left – Tesco has closed all of their fish counters now, so you can’t ask these questions directly from the fish-mongers – which is unhelpful,” Tom says. “And most people in this busy world don’t read the packaging – fish is convenient to buy in plastic, but, of course, it’s not great for the environment – so there are a lot of questions and choices for consumers to consider how ethical the fish is that they’re purchasing.”

So, which is better? Wild or farmed?

There’s no simple answer to this question, apart from “it depends”. While it’s common to assume that fish caught in the wild are automatically more sustainable than farmed fish, this might not always be the case. If the fish are wild-caught in an area that has been overfished, is unregulated, or uses unsustainable practices, such as drift net fishing, which can scoop up endangered marine life along with the more plentiful species, it won’t be a responsible consumer choice.

While it’s common to assume that fish caught in the wild are automatically more sustainable than farmed fish, this might not always be the case

The US-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) makes it clear that wild and farmed fish can both be part of the solution. NOAA defines sustainable seafood as “wild-caught or farmed seafood that is harvested or produced in ways that protect the long-term health of species populations and ecosystems.”

The UN Food and Agricultural Organization’s guidelines for assessing what they call “marine capture fisheries” include transparency, consultation processes involving all stakeholders, robust objection procedures and standards based on “sustainability of target species, ecosystems and management practices.” MSC adheres to these guidelines when certifying wild fishing operations.

Fishmongers and fish markets

To reassure consumers buying from fishmongers and markets, Loren says to look out for the blue MSC label, which shows they meet chain of custody standards.

Not just for human fishy products either

“Every time you see the blue label, you can be confident that it’s come from a certified fishery [and] been handled by a supply chain where everyone has that chain of custody certification – they have been independently assessed – there’s no mixing of MSC and non-MSC fish.”

“And it’s just great to have that conversation at the fishmonger or fish market,” she continues. “Just find out a bit more because they really like having those conversations as well.”

Tom agrees that asking questions and learning from the expertise of fishmongers is important. He advises asking where the fish is from and how it was caught, as well as asking for cooking tips to “mix up the selection of fish you consume.”

“Waiter! Is this fish sustainable?”

Loren says the MSC eco-label can be found in many restaurants and fish and chip shops across the UK: “We work with a wide variety of food service outlets and it’s still growing.”

Perhaps surprisingly, McDonalds, JD Wetherspoons and Oaxaca are among the companies that work with MSC. So you can have that Filet-O-Fish with confidence. Or you can simply have a conversation with restaurant staff if the provenance of the fish is not made clear on the menu or you can’t see the eco-label anywhere.

Don’t be afraid to ask your server if the fish is MSC approved

“The origin of where the fish comes from should be displayed on the menu and if it isn’t, then just ask your server,” says Tom.

Loren says asking if they know where the fish has been sourced and what type of gear is used by the fisheries can be instructive. Generally, pole-and-line fishing has a lower impact on ecosystems, but if hundreds of boats are using this method, it can make fish stock vulnerable. Big trawlers, such as those used in the North Sea, are sustainable if the fish stock is healthy and plentiful.

Having that conversation in a restaurant may mean the manager gets involved. Or, if you’re eating in a restaurant that’s part of a group or chain, emailing head office to ask about their fish sourcing or checking the website can be useful.

Loren says that starting these important conversations with consumers is “the way to drive improvements [and] create a culture where people think, why wouldn’t you buy sustainable fish”.

Getting certified

MSC is an independent non-profit organisation that sets globally recognised standards for sustainable fishing and seafood traceability, with its certification programme for sustainable fishing practices. To obtain this certification, fisheries are independently assessed based on three main principles. These are the health of the stock, whether there are enough fish for the fishery to operate indefinitely, and the impact on the ecosystem.

“We look at what type of gear they are using. What impact does that gear have on the surrounding ecosystem? How do they interact with endangered, threatened and protected species – these are the ones they’re not directly trying to catch.”

Additionally, fishery management is scrutinised by MSC, such as complying with relevant laws and adapting to new information, according to scientific research. For example, well-managed fisheries will change the gear they use if new information shows that they need to use something better suited to the ecosystem where they operate.

MSC allows all gear types in its programme, apart from explosives.

The certification process can take 12 to 18 months, with certification lasting five years, albeit with regular checks each year.

Local fish for local people

Keeping your fish consumption as local as possible is one of the best ways to be an ethical, sustainable diner or cook.

“I believe that localism is the way forward with fish – it has been spoiled with factory fish farming, which can be far from ethically produced,” says Tom. “We have a fantastic wild bass season at this moment [Summer 2024] – it’s a few quid more, but it’s so worth it. And hasn’t travelled 2,500 miles.”

As a bonus, localism can help the UK’s fishing industry, which has taken a – pardon the pun – battering in recent years, with winners and losers emerging since Brexit.

“The UK has amazingly rich fishing grounds with conservation areas within the waters and I think it’s much better for the environment if we buy locally, buy seasonally, and don’t travel fish around,” Tom concludes. “If we kept the fish we exported and ate them too, it would be such a positive for the fishing industry, I believe.”

Check out the MSC website.

Georgia Lewis

In a career that has spanned Australia, the Middle East and the UK, Georgia has written about all sorts of things, including sex, cars, food, oil and gas, insurance, fashion, travel, workplace safety, health, religious affairs, glass and glazing… When she’s not writing words for fun and profit, she can usually be found with a glass of something French and red in her hand.

The post How to find and where to buy sustainable fish appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Tina Fey’s sharp script from 2004 still holds up pretty well 20 years later. Mean Girls was one of those films that entered our vocabulary. “You can’t sit with us!” is a way to perkily exclude someone. “Stop trying to make fetch happen!” has been used countless times when someone tries to start a lame trend. And when someone is described as a “mean girl” – even if that person is well and truly into adulthood — the meaning is automatically understood.   

From screen to theatre, what are the differences?

Damian and Janis played by Tom Xander and Elena Skye. Photo: Brinkhoff/Moegenburg

Now Mean Girls has come to the stage at London’s Savoy theatre as a musical. There have been a few tweaks to the script because the world has changed and changed again in the past two decades. There are references to Ozempic, air fryers and smartphone filters. But perhaps the most significant change is making Damian and Janis, the two gay characters, the narrators. They replace Cady, the lead character and narrator played pitch-perfectly by Lindsay Lohan in the original film.  

It would be lazy and asinine to roll one’s eyes and scream “WOKE GONE MAD!” while waving a rolled-up copy of the Express at a cloud because of the new narrators. Bringing Damian and Janis to the fore is a great way to update the script. This doesn’t take anything away from a storyline that still resonates with pretty much anyone who went to high school.  

The prominence of Damian and Janis, performed excellently by Tom Xander and Elena Skye, modernises the show. It is a wonderful way to show how society has grown up and moved forward in the past 20 years. The script has come of age, along with wider society. Xander and Skye’s presence, peppered with dry humour and camp fun, is important for gay teenagers who will see this show.  

Changing times

That there hasn’t been an outcry over this change speaks volumes. No hysterical newspaper columns. No homophobic Twitter storm following the reviews. Good. While we are seeing a lot of increasingly angry, divisive and often toxic debate on LGBTQ+ issues, the elevation – without controversy – of two gloriously gay characters is a joyous, positive thing. It is a theatrical moment to be proud of.    

Regina George and Regina’s Mum. Played by Georgina Castle and Zoe Rainey.
Photo: Brinkhoff/Moegenburg

As for the story itself, fans of the film will be pleased to know it still follows the same 2004 arc.

The easy – some would say cheap – laughs are still there. Regina George still gains weight by accidentally devouring what she thinks is a diet supplement. Karen is still almost irredeemably stupid. Regina’s mother is still the tracksuit-wearing lush who wants to be her daughter’s best mate, rather than a parent.   

Would the script feel more 2024 if Regina became accidentally addicted to Botox and fillers? Maybe, although I’m not sure how that could be shoehorned seamlessly into the script.   

Was Karen’s idiocy laid on a bit too thickly? Maybe, although most of us can recall laughing at something daft someone said in class many moons ago. I remember one of my school friends responding to the history teacher asking, “What happened to Schleswig-Holstein after WWII?” She said, “he was shot.” I’m still a history nerd and that 33-year-old incident still cracks me up

As for Mrs George as the perma-drunk matey mum, I remember this genre of parent in 1980s and ‘90s rural Australia. I’m sure they still exist in the UK and beyond in 2024. They’re a fair target for parody. She (or he) could be reading this very article now.  

While this latest incarnation of Mean Girls has come of age, along with the rest of us, it’s not a classic coming-of-age tale. But it doesn’t have to be an earnest Dead Poets Society-style show. The universal themes of bullying, of wanting to fit in, of doing terrible things to each other all resonate way beyond our school days. In Mean Girls at the Savoy, they’re told with a lively script, a dizzyingly bright set and bouncy tunes.   

Another article you might like:Midlife Coming of Age

We are all Mean Girls deep down

Georgia Lewis and Sangeeta Pillai

My hot date for press night was the amazing Sangeeta Pillai, who runs an award-winning sex-positive podcast for South Asian women. Our school days were worlds apart. Mumbai and the Australian towns of Wagga Wagga and Bathurst might not have much in common at first glance, but we both went to school with people who are reflected in Mean Girls. Kids can treat each other abominably, no matter where you go.  

As Sangeeta and I discussed after the show, it is not uncommon to come across people in our adult lives who don’t seem to have evolved from when they were at school. Jacob Rees-Mogg, 55, is way too obsessed with where people went to school and what that supposedly says about them, for example. I can think of plenty of prominent people who make a fine living out of embarrassing attention-seeking. The other day, LinkedIn suggested I connect with a former boss who was – and for all I know and care, still is – the epitome of an overgrown mean girl.  

Schoolyard behaviour doesn’t necessarily end for everyone when they leave school. But the one thing we can control is our reaction to adult Mean Girls behaviour. The Mean Girls characters come of age and become better people before our very eyes on stage. And there’s no reason why we can’t go through this process multiple times when we’re adults.    

The Plastics. Played by Georgina Castle, Charlie Burns, Elena Gyasi and Grace Mouat
Photo: Brinkhoff/Moegenburg

Without giving too much away, there is an inevitable resolution at the end of Mean Girls. And in midlife, many of us come to our own realisations and resolutions about how we treat other people – and how we expect to be treated by others. It’s a bonus coming of age. My latest coming of age process has been about setting boundaries and not being afraid to cut out toxic people.   

There is plenty for grown-ups to relate to in the Mean Girls musical, whether it’s teenage characters who give you schoolyard flashbacks, teenage characters whose behaviour is reflected in adults, or adult characters who make you feel seen.

Above all, Mean Girls is a lot of fun. The main reason to go along is to have a good laugh. But only the most sheltered theatregoer will leave without having a few thoughts provoked by Tina Fey’s fantastic writing.    

Book tickets here: Mean Girls Stage Show

Georgia Lewis

In a career that has spanned Australia, the Middle East and the UK, Georgia has written about all sorts of things, including sex, cars, food, oil and gas, insurance, fashion, travel, workplace safety, health, religious affairs, glass and glazing… When she’s not writing words for fun and profit, she can usually be found with a glass of something French and red in her hand.

The post Mean Girls stage show – our review appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Stereotypes abound of lazy millennials and Gen Zs who are too scared to make a phone call, when they’re not busy being triggered by full stops. At the other end of the age spectrum, “OK, boomer” has become a widespread response to anything anyone over 70 says. Especially if it involves the alleged good old days. In the middle, Gen X is probably, I dunno, thinking ‘meh, whevs’ and listening to Absolute Radio 90s… But none of this beefing across the decades is particularly edifying or constructive – or even accurate in many cases. Which brings me nicely to my Red Pitch review, about a wonderful coming-of-age play.

The play centres on three 16-year-old black aspiring footballers, Bilal, Joey, and Omz. They live on the same inner London estate. And they are all hoping to impress the scouts at try-outs for QPR.

That might not sound like the premise for a relatable night at the theatre for anyone older than about 21. Or anyone who doesn’t care about or can’t play football. But it is definitely worth the pleasingly affordable ticket price. For all three, the chance to play for QPR represents a chance to be successful, help their families and overcome unfairly low expectations.

Emeka Sesay as Joey, Kedar Williams-Stirling as Bilal, and Francis Lovehall as Omz, photo by Helen Murray

The play doesn’t descend into tired stereotypes about gangs, drugs, or knife crime

Instead, it is a powerful state-of-the-nation wake-up call in a country. Where people are still judged by the colour of their skin, and their age.

As the surface is scratched, it soon becomes clear that Red Pitch is not just about three lads kicking a ball around and arguing over Twix bars, chips, and chicken wings.

Omz is a young carer for his 81-year-old grandfather. Bilal is living in the shadow of a tough father with impossible standards. Joey is the most privileged of the three friends, but he is full of righteous anger about those who are being left behind by the gentrification of their estate.

For anyone who was 16 many moons ago, there is a lot to learn from the fast-talking, wisecracking trio. When we – and our parents and grandparents – get older, caring responsibilities cast shadows over our lives.

The characters are hugely relatable

As much as anyone might want to be stoic and dutiful when it comes to caring for ageing relatives, it was easy to relate to Omz’s constant worrying about his grandfather. It is an act of love that will always be tempered by stress, heartache and glimpses of our collective mortality. It was tempting to rush onstage and give outwardly brazen but inwardly fragile Omz a hug. Especially as Soho Place’s in-the-round setting means you can almost touch the actors from the stalls.

Read more: behind the scenes of a small theatre company

With Bilal’s story, the pressure placed on him by his unseen but exacting father must have revived memories for many of the adults in the teen-heavy audience. Parental pressure to succeed – but only in certain fields – and dealing with teenage disappointment that lingers into adulthood, are themes that don’t stop being relatable as we age.

Then there’s Joey, who aspires to be a lawyer and a footballer. It might sound incongruous for a 16-year-old to be full of rage about the changes coming to their rundown but beloved estate. But the deft script means he doesn’t sound like London’s youngest pub bore. It is clearly a reflection of the displacement of social housing tenants that has happened at Elephant and Castle.

The neighbourhood has become shinier at the expense of soul and of the security of longstanding communities.  This is a big message for a play about three teenagers, but it is important and thought-provoking. It can be easy to forget how young people need that sense of belonging that is imparted by strong communities. Even if the buildings are unpretty.

Delving into nostalgia

For me, the play was enhanced by the fact I was surrounded by teenagers and young adults. The smell of Skittles, Doritos and teenage deodorants reminded me of high school in Australia. That era’s aromas were tuckshop food, Rexona Sport and Body Shop White Musk. I’m sure the scents have changed, but it is a universal and constant truth that rooms populated mostly by teenagers tend to smell like junk food and cheap fragrances.

When the initial feelings of nasal assault were replaced by nostalgia, it provided a sense of comfort. This amid a play that is designed to make people feel uncomfortable. As I left the theatre, I overheard an elderly gentleman confess that he only understood about 50 percent of the dialogue. But I hope that even if he was confounded by the fam-laden script, he was able to see that young people are facing challenges that are simultaneously unique to their generation, while being common to us all. We can and should do better to understand each other, rather than resorting to cheap stereotypes that reduce us all.

• Red Pitch runs until 4 May 2024 at Soho Place theatre, London

Georgia Lewis

In a career that has spanned Australia, the Middle East and the UK, Georgia has written about all sorts of things, including sex, cars, food, oil and gas, insurance, fashion, travel, workplace safety, health, religious affairs, glass and glazing… When she’s not writing words for fun and profit, she can usually be found with a glass of something French and red in her hand.

The post Red Pitch review: exploring cross-generational challenges appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Apart from a lovely Quaker family in the Australian town where I was born, I didn’t really meet any vegetarians, let alone vegans, until I started university. A long way from being vegan-curious in those days.

Even then, I was an embarrassing, confused country bumpkin who was amazed that vegetarians couldn’t even eat chicken. On Mum’s side of the family, they farmed sheep for meat and wool. Going meat-free was never a consideration.

But in recent months, while I haven’t entirely quit eating food with a face, I have definitely become veggie-curious. There was never a moment of realisation. I didn’t have a big epiphany after watching a PETA video or driving past a field of frolicking lambs. It’s just something that has crept up on me after experiencing some out-of-character digestive issues. Glamorous, I know…

What’s up, doc?

For the past three months or so, I’ve been feeling full really quickly, my appetite has declined, and I’ve been getting uncomfortable upper abdominal pains. Cue the start of a medical mystery. I’ve lost count of the vials of blood that have been extracted from my arm.

I’ve had abdominal and pelvic ultrasounds, I’ve learned that my symptoms are consistent with gynaecological cancers. I’m on medication that, annoyingly, is taken half an hour before I can eat any breakfast.

Finally, the horror show of an endoscopy without sedation revealed that I have gastritis. Now I’m waiting on biopsy results to hopefully tell me why I can add this condition to the laundry list of things that have gone wrong with my body. But since all this gastrointestinal nonsense started, I have been making dietary changes in an attempt to feel a bit less foul.

Less fried food

Fried food has become heinous to me. I’ve pretty much cut out anything creamy or buttery. I haven’t made my ridiculous ice cream in ages. Red meat, ham and bacon are gone! I am still eating chicken and fish, but not in the same quantities as before.

If there was any turning point, it probably came when I went to a vegan dessert event. It was hosted by Danielle Maupertuis, a vegan executive pastry chef who has written a marvellous cookbook called Vegans Deserve Better Than A Fruit Salad. Chocolate mousse, cheesecake, delightful berry explosions, all made without bothering any animals. It was a revelation. I plan to fool carnivorous houseguests with Danielle’s desserts.

Need a cheesy fix? Try this vegan cheese recipe with herby hedgehog

The rise of the plant-based diet

Vegan and vegetarian food has definitely improved in the past decade. The options on menus are no longer unimaginative piles of lawn clippings and leaves. I am not the only meat eater who has eaten the meatless option by choice. Indeed, I had a delicious veggie burger at the BFI Cafe the other day and did not feel as if I was missing out.

I have started haunting the vegan section at Asda, discovering a delicious pumpkin and red chilli pesto that is great on crackers and a smoky bean and chipotle cooking sauce that is ideal for an easy dinner on a can’t-be-arsed night.

But before I get too carried away with my plant-based shenanigans, I asked a couple of doctors about how to go vegan without depriving yourself of vital nutrients.

Plant protein

Dr Sarah Bonza, of Bonza Health, where she specialises in perimenopausal and menopausal healthcare, reassured me that there is no need to worry, especially when it comes to getting enough protein. She suggests eating more legumes, nuts, seeds, soy products, such as tofu, and supplementing with plant-based protein powders.

“I also advise ‘plant protein pairing’, which essentially means that you pair up different plant sources to ensure you complete the necessary amino acids for your body, which are the building blocks of protein,” she says.

As we get older, our protein requirements increase

Examples of plant protein pairing include combining soy, with its nine essential amino acids, with legumes, which are healthy, but low in the amino acid, methionine. Legumes can be boosted by being paired with grains, which are higher in methionine.

As we get older, Dr Shireen Kassam, founder of Plant Based Health Professionals, cautions that our protein requirements increase. As well as eating more legumes, nuts, seeds and soy products, Dr Kassam says that some of the newer plant-based meat alternatives, such as Quorn, can be useful sources of protein.

“Including fortified soya foods such as calcium-set tofu and soya milk is a great way to get calcium and protein, plus all the additional benefits that soya provides in the diet,” Dr Kassam advises. “Aim for two portions of soya a day.”

Dr Kassam advises vegetarians and vegans over 50 to take a daily or weekly Vitamin B12 supplement, as well as including a source of omega-3 fats every day, such as flaxseeds, walnuts, hemp seeds and chia seeds.

“Older adults on a plant-based diet may want to consider an algae-based source of long chain omega-3 fats, such as DHA and EPA, as there is some evidence that these fats support better brain health,” she says.

Is a plant-based diet the way forward?

It’s a lot to take in. I’ve been cooking proper meals since I was 12 years old. Mum would leave meat out to defrost before she went to work. I’d come home from school and have to do something with it, like a daily MasterChef challenge. In that time, I’ve developed obsessions with so many cuisines and ingredients that are no good for gastritis. But I’ve definitely become less confused and more respectful of meat-free and vegan diets.

I’m not sure I’d ever go fully animal-free. But after three months of being a medical mystery with a digestive system akin to a blocked sink, I’m prepared to explore more genuinely yummy vegetarian and vegan options. Kate Moss may have said nothing tastes as good as skinny feels. I say I’d rather eat food that tastes good and makes me feel less like hot garbage. And if that food is plant-based, then bring it on.

Georgia Lewis

In a career that has spanned Australia, the Middle East and the UK, Georgia has written about all sorts of things, including sex, cars, food, oil and gas, insurance, fashion, travel, workplace safety, health, religious affairs, glass and glazing… When she’s not writing words for fun and profit, she can usually be found with a glass of something French and red in her hand.

The post Vegan-curious. Am I becoming a vegan by accident? appeared first on Silver Magazine.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has issued guidance so that employers cannot simply dismiss the experiences of menopause in the workplace. Thankfully, it’s no longer to be viewed as a minor inconvenience, but something that has an impact on around 50 per cent of the workforce.

This is a much-needed clarification of the Equality Act 2010 by the EHRC. Which ruled that failure to make “reasonable adjustment” amounts to disability discrimination if – and here’s the important detail – the symptoms have a “long-term and substantial impact” on an employee’s ability to carry out their usual day-to-day activities.

It is rare to experience menopause, or indeed perimenopause, without any symptoms that make a “long-term and substantial impact.” And perimenopause, which can start as early as the late thirties, is often the worst part.

Hot flushes, night sweats, fatigue, brain fog, disturbed sleep, painful breasts, debilitatingly heavy periods and unexpected periods that feel like a hellish farewell-to-fertility concert. It’s an onerous list of symptoms that can last a decade. On top of all that, the risk factor for ovarian and uterine cancer increase. As does the risk of endometriosis and its lesser-known evil sister, adenomyosis.

Symptoms can be debilitating

Sam Harrington-Lowe, Silver’s editor-in-chief, recalls her own experiences of the menopause, especially the brain fog, poor sleep and painful periods: “My sleep patterns were all over the place, my periods were both agonising and biblical in output, I couldn’t risk leaving the house some days. But perhaps the worst thing was the brain fog. My mind, normally the thing I’m most proud of, just stopped working properly – it was actually quite frightening.”

Read more: Menopause and brain fog, will I ever think clearly again?

Over on Twitter (or X or whatever it’s called these days…), the response has been largely positive to this news. That said, @AudreySuffolk makes an important point about the use of disability language by the EHRC. “A lot of social media discussion about women experiencing menopause being disabled under the Equality Act demonstrate some worrying thinking about acceptance of negative attitudes to disability and work. Disability isn’t and shouldn’t be a slur.”

A lot of social media discussion about women experiencing menopause being disabled under Equality Act demonstrate some worrying thinking about acceptance of negative attitudes to disability and work. Disability isn’t and shouldn’t be a slur

— Audrey Ludwig (@AudreySuffolk) February 22, 2024

This is an important and powerful reminder. After all, if a colleague is in a wheelchair and needs reasonable adjustments, such as a ramp to access a building, this is considered a positive thing. Equally, we need to look at making reasonable adjustments for the menopause as a positive way to improve the lives of our colleagues and productivity overall.

This should be a time to shine

The menopausal decade should be one of our most productive times. We have experience and knowledge to impart, no matter what we do for a living. We are assets to any organisation and it is outrageous that menopausal symptoms can cut us down when we should be in our prime.

However, in the real world, there is still a long way to go, even in workplaces that are not horrific sweatshops. @sambakey tweeted that her male supervisor is “lovely and I can talk to him.” But that it’s “impossible to find anything regarding menopause on our intranet” in regard to workplace health.

I can’t say too much on here because of who I work for. My male supervisor is lovely & I can talk to him. However, it’s impossible to find anything regarding menopause on our intranet, nothing under workplace health dept https://t.co/kkzsOwvDf2

— Sam Clark (@sambakey) February 22, 2024

Then we had the unedifying spectacle of Quentin Letts on Good Morning Britain making light of menopause in response to the EHRC announcement. He likened menopausal symptoms to older men suffering from dodgy knees or needing to take a nap after wine at lunch. The last thing anyone in the grip of a particularly ferocious hot flush or a wild menopausal mood swing needs is unhelpful mansplaining of menopause on the telly.

@Holly_Pocketses tweeted: “Quentin Letts ill-advised input into a discussion about the menopause was disgraceful. Comparing the condition to his own ailments – having ‘hurty’ knees and needing a nap after wine at lunch was insulting to say the least.”

I’ve had to turn you off this morning. Quentin Letts ill-advised input into a discussion about the menopause was disgraceful. Comparing the condition to his own ailments – having ‘hurty’ knees and needing a nap after wine at lunch was insulting to say the least.

— Holly Pocket (@Holly_Pocketses) February 22, 2024

Cautiously positive

Hopefully, today’s news will be the catalyst for employers everywhere to make sure they introduce solid menopause policies. Everyone should feel comfortable talking about menopause at work and be understanding when a colleague needs to be accommodated because of menopause symptoms.

Sam Harrington-Lowe sums up what the new guidance should mean for so many women – and what more needs to be done. “I cannot imagine how horrific it would have been to deal with menopause in a 9-5 work structure. The time at work, the commuting, having to deal with people. Thank goodness we finally have some safeguards in place to support women dealing with this, although frankly, I’d like to see some support given to women having periods every month as this can also be debilitating.”

Georgia Lewis

In a career that has spanned Australia, the Middle East and the UK, Georgia has written about all sorts of things, including sex, cars, food, oil and gas, insurance, fashion, travel, workplace safety, health, religious affairs, glass and glazing… When she’s not writing words for fun and profit, she can usually be found with a glass of something French and red in her hand.

The post Good news for women going through menopause in the workplace appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Despite a few po-faced reviews, Plaza Suite is a hoot. Georgia Lewis fights back with her Plaza Suite review. All photos Marc Brenner.

Theatre reviews can be a useful guide to spending your entertainment budget. Especially when ticket prices can set you back the equivalent of a weekend away in Paris. But a large grain of salt should be kept handy. This is the case with reviews of Plaza Suite, starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick. Who make the most of the chemistry and familiarity that comes with being married for 27 years.

The Daily Mail gave it a nostalgia-infused five stars, the Evening Standard gave it four stars and described it as “sensational”, while The Telegraph’s four-star review punnily opined that it “hits the suite spot.”

…they fizz with fun, physical comedy and farce…

But the Guardian’s Arifa Akbar gave it a miserable two stars, describing it as “dated”, and “flat and forgettable, not testing either actor’s seasoned skills on the boards.”

Never mind that Parker and Broderick are on stage for the entire three-vignette play, each playing three different roles. They alternate between comedy and tragedy for the first vignette that depicts a marriage where hitherto unspoken tensions bubble to the surface within an hour. Then they fizz with fun, physical comedy and farce amid assorted marital home truths for the second and third vignettes.

In his three-star review for Time Out, Andrzej Lukowski agrees that Plaza Suite is “dated”. And feels it would have been better if “a modern sensibility” was applied. Sam Marlowe for The Stage gives it two stars, declaring it a “mechanical museum piece”.

“Dated” is a weird description for a play written by a heterosexual man in 1968 about heterosexual relationships in 1968. And, frankly, there is nothing wrong with a period piece play shining a light on a bygone era.

Setting the scene; the first vignette

Broderick and Parker as Sam and Karen Nash. Photo: Marc Brenner

Of course, if it was written today, the luxury hotel room where all the action takes place would be sleek and minimalist with a Nespresso machine and Netflix on the telly. Instead, the set is a plush beige and gold Room 719 that would have represented the height of sophistication at the time.

The set provides a window on the play’s relationship stories. Hotel rooms are both intimate and impersonal. This is why the suite is the perfect backdrop to efficiently tell three very different stories. The slate is wiped clean for each new tale, as if room service has come by.

And if it was written today, there would probably be at least one same-sex relationship among the three mini-plays. Indeed, there is ample opportunity for an enterprising playwright to try their hand at a modernised adaptation. The trust issues of Sam and Karen Nash, the couple trying and failing to celebrate their 23rd (or possibly 24th…) anniversary in the first vignette, are not exclusive to straight couples.

Read more : Fancy a break away off grid in Wales?

In the second vignette…

Broderick as Jesse Kiplinger. Photo: Marc Brenner

Broderick plays thrice-divorced Hollywood producer Jesse Kiplinger meeting his high school sweetheart, Muriel Tate, who is now a star-struck New Jersey housewife. Parker definitely channels Carrie Bradshaw’s dippier moments for this one. Meanwhile, Broderick is a bitter Austin Powers – and possibly Ferris Bueller’s final form. Jesse and Muriel’s reunion keeps you guessing as to whether they will move from the suite’s living room to the bedroom. It is a light palate cleanser after the escalating seriousness of Sam and Karen’s arguments.

If Jesse and Muriel were gay high school sweethearts, that would certainly add a poignant twist to the lightest of the three stories. It’s easy to imagine them reuniting after a secretive teenage romance. Especially if it took place in less enlightened times – and it would be sadder still if, as adults, the characters were trapped in heterosexual marriages. Again, this is something an enterprising playwright could test at the keyboard.

Marianka Swain’s largely positive four-star review for London Theatre makes the curious criticism that Jesse referring to his ex-wives as “bitches” is jarring. No, it’s realistic. It’s not pleasant language, but it’s not even exclusive to 1968. You’d have to have led a pretty sheltered life if you’d never heard someone refer to their ex as a bitch. Or indeed a bastard. It’s how real people talk, whether it’s 1968 or 2024. If Jesse, a classic Hollywood arsehole, referred to his ex-wives as “horrid”, THAT would be jarring.

The third vignette…

Parker and Broderick as Norma and Roy Hubley. Photo: Marc Brenner

Where high farce and physical comedy are ramped up to Mach 5, centres on Roy and Norma Hubley. A long-married couple desperately trying to coax their daughter Mimsey out of the bathroom on her wedding day. Anyone who has been involved in wedding dramas will relate. Especially if you have ever said, “Well, they’ll have to go through with it now. Too much money has been spent already!”

My imagined enterprising playwright might want to make the family non-white. Perhaps with a deft touch to avoid cheap stereotypes about weddings in different cultures. Or perhaps Mimsey has cold feet about marrying her bride, while the hapless Roy and the magnificently-hatted Norma are desperate to show the world how open-minded they are.

I would pay good money to see a modernised adaptation of Plaza Suite

But equally, on my visit, the diverse London audience related to the universal themes of distrust, jealousy, desperation, wondering what might have been, social climbing, uncertainty, temptation, and familiarity breeding contempt. Universality is why the plays of Shakespeare still resonate, whether performed traditionally or given modern updates.

Universality is why the plays of Shakespeare still resonate…

Above all, I recommend Parker and Broderick’s Plaza Suite because it is a lot of fun. Not everything needs to make a big political point. Their performances bounce around the stage like exuberant pinballs, the costumes and wigs are almost characters in their own right. And even if the beige and gold hotel room isn’t to your taste, you might just enjoy the two leads throwing themselves into their roles with the full force of their true star power.

At the end of the day, showbusiness is still a business. The proof of the pudding is in bums on seats – and Plaza Suite run has been extended. The people and their wallets have spoken.

Book Plaza Suite tickets here

Georgia Lewis

In a career that has spanned Australia, the Middle East and the UK, Georgia has written about all sorts of things, including sex, cars, food, oil and gas, insurance, fashion, travel, workplace safety, health, religious affairs, glass and glazing… When she’s not writing words for fun and profit, she can usually be found with a glass of something French and red in her hand.

The post Plaza Suite review: A fun period piece with star power appeared first on Silver Magazine.