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Age Ain?t Nothing But A Number

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Age Ain?t Nothing But A Number

I?m fast approaching my 30th birthday and the only thing I?m really stressing about is the fact I haven?t found the perfect dress for my party. Whilst searching for the perfect dress in various monthly magazines, I?m looking at pictures of Kylie Minogue thinking how much better she looks now than she did 20 years ago and as I book my flights to go and see Take That in the summer I?m thinking they too look a hell of a lot hotter these days too! Loose Women is on in the background (by default by the way not because I actually want to watch it) and they are talking about women becoming mums at a certain age. Is it right? Is it wrong? And do the same judgements apply to men becoming fathers? (Don?t be silly now!

This got me thinking, should we still be following a set of rules for what we should have, should be or could be doing at a certain age? I think that too often we can let age define us and often we think about what we haven?t got, what we can?t do at the age we are and it holds us back or we feel like we haven?t achieved what we should have by a certain age.

You know, I spent my early 20s thinking I was too old to get back into the dance industry, I just flat out ruled it out and I was only 21!  So I spent the following two years thinking about dancing and how sad it was that I would never ever dance again and how my soul would fade in a movement-less existence (did I mention I was also slightly more dramatic in those days?). In 2004 I went to my first dance class in a long time fearing I was too old and too rubbish at 23, and since that fateful day I have not stopped dancing… I wasted 2 long years thinking about dancing and how it would fulfil me so much when I could have just been doing it!

The world is different now, being 50 is fabulous. My mum has been running marathons and she started running them when she was… yep, you guessed it, 50!  Kylie at 42 is a bombshell! A successful pop star, a survivor and a dignified lady.  Who says you can?t be a pop star after 25?or wear spiky silver Christian Louboutins!

And the same goes for my beloved Take That, either in their forties or fast approaching, those guys have got better with age, two of them are still break dancing and if it wasn?t weird I?d still have posters up in my room of them. So any guys reading this you can look forward to becoming the hot older guy…or member of your own man band!

Then there?s me… almost 30. I remember as a teenager I said I?d be married by 22 have my first child at 25 and then my second at 27 and by the time I was 30 I?d have my own house with a garden and a shed for my kids? bikes…  The thing is, I didn?t know as a teenager what it was like to be those ages or the other opportunities that would be available to me during those years. I?m not saying I don?t want those things ever, I still very much do, but it?s just not going to happen exactly how I imagined it. And  that actually makes it all a bit more exciting.

Many of us still hold onto the plans we made when we were 16 or the ideals of where we thought we?d be by now, rather than thinking of all the things in life we didn?t expect to happen – the travelling, the careers and businesses we?ve built and the fun-filled frolics of being young, free and single (or not so in some cases). You can?t fail at things you can?t plan.

So today forget about your age. Think about what you have achieved, the fun you are having now, the misery you missed out on because you didn?t marry the wrong guy and the possibilities that are available to you now and where it could all lead to. You are not a typical 20, 30, 40, 50 year old…you are you and fabulous and you are able to have and be whatever you want. Don?t let your age hold you back, your dreams belong to you, not how old you are.

Signing off, Nikki (almost 30)

 

Men of Leisure

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Men of Leisure

Combine a gregarious group of young men and the adventurous opportunities on offer in and around our small island and what do you get? The Men of Leisure.

These extroverts rocketed to cyber fame with the release of the popular ?Men of Leisure? video in 2010 and are a perfect example of how, with just a sprinkling of thought and imagination, you can take advantage of all the fun to be had in and around our shores.

Made up of members of the successful island rugby team and other local personalities, the Men of Leisure organise exciting group events throughout the year and then celebrate them by publishing an annual video online.  Typical events include:

– An annual tour, by sailing boat, to the renowned Coutances rugby 7?s tournament held near Carteret in France

– A quarterly fancy dress meal, held at different locations in Jersey (2009?s Morris Dancing meal in Gorey for example, and the Mime Artists meal in St Helier last year).

– Weekly barbecues at Channel Island beauty spots like the low tide sand banks at Les Ecrehous, Les Minquers and various secret spots dotting the north coast and featuring activities such as wake skating, rock jumping and the consumption of huge quantities of uncooked / overcooked meat.

– Daily journeys to piers and rocks in search of ?back-rollable? jumps and scenic backdrops.

Check out their 2010 video at vimeo.com/user4742811/channels or find out more about Men of Leisure on their Facebook page. Interested in sponsoring or helping to get sponsorship for the 2011 video?  Get in touch with Richard Stevens: riccardo_10@hotmail.com.

 

Men of Leisure were fuelled by Relentless.

Sunglasses supplied by Baines & Band

 

Absolute power dressing

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Absolute power dressing

Fashion is revolutionary by nature, embracing change and thriving on reinvention. However, there are trends that have a different kind of staying power, and the continuing presence of military chic shows that certain styles won?t be toppled so easily. Sometimes you have to lead so that others can follow, so let?s celebrate those fashion icons who have always refused to tolerate any sartorial opposition: the dictators.

The true fashionista always wants to make a statement, political or otherwise. There?s no better way to guarantee that attention is on you than by ensuring absolute power over your audience – you?ll simply never be out of the style pages, unless the editors want to be buried alive in the desert!  Vogue is so last-season; the new bible of the fashion forward is the CIA World Factbook.  Forget about the return of grunge, because it?s rockets and guns that will be taking command of the catwalk this season.

I?m seeing some fabulous guerrilla wardrobes and a range of covetable statement pieces like grenade belts and and vintage revolvers, not to mention the type of power dressing epitomised by Imelda Marcos, Benito Mussolini and the Czechoslovakian secret police.  The military strongman look screams out ?I?m purging my wardrobe of any undesirables? and if style is a general election, who wouldn?t want to win 98% of the vote?
Read on to discover who?s hot and who?s not in dictator style because, let?s face it, nobody wants to turn up at a party looking like Kim Jong Il or the president of Iran.

Libyan Chic

It?s the man of the moment, that flamboyant peacock of the Libyan sands: Colonel Muammar Al-Gaddafi.  C-Gad is a leader that confounds expectations at every turn, sporting outfits so bold they cause walkouts at the UN and showing that he simply doesn?t understand the meaning of the word ?compromise,? whether we?re talking about haute couture or about the mercilessly oppressed subjects of this stylistic general.

The fashion world doesn?t know what to predict from the dapper desert-dweller with a face like Mickey Rourke on hormone replacement therapy.  Will he be smooth in silks, bling it out with more medals than an Olympic podium, or assault our eyes with an outfit that looks like Vivienne Westwood fell into the laundry cupboard of a tandoori restaurant?  The Gaddafi philosophy: always expect the unexpected.

Hot like salsa

From the contemporary to a true classic.  He?s the life and soul of the (communist) party, because under Fidel Castro the Cuban revolution is ready for any crisis – no trade embargo can leave a crease on his enduring range of Latin ensembles.  Like a little black dress, olive green fatigues are a perennial wardrobe essential for the Central American strongman, but Castro is also bold enough to showcase street style with a bespoke range of tracksuits that simply dares dissidents to demand freedom from being outclassed.  Absolutely smoking.

The African dictator look

Forget Kate Middleton, the royals who are really ruling the fashion kingdom are too hot for the European circuit.  There are some places where bling will never go out of style, so you?d better be ready to go gaga for gold if you want to be noticed at the African Leaders? Summit.  You might think that colour blocking is a fierce trend, but top African despots are prepared to dazzle with enough sparkle to make John Galliano look underdressed.  It?s hard to pick one man to single out, but no dictatorphile can ignore the influence of Idi Amin (renowned cannibal and Notorious BIG lookalike) and of course Jean-Bedel Bokassa, who crowned himself emperor in a ceremony so golden that even Elton John would have considered it over the top.

Operation Desert Storm

Some say that Saddam Hussein was a genocidal dictator who held his people hostage, allowing millions to starve whilst he creamed off billions from his country?s oil wealth. However those party-poopers should remember that fashion is about sartorial rather than moral judgement, so raise your glasses to the elegant gentleman of Baghdad, a man who never let sanctions change his stylistic regime.

Saddam proved that his outfits could be deployed against hostile powers in 45 minutes or less, turning heads with both the quintessential military dictator uniform and a range of vintage, masculine menswear in fine Italian wools.  Above all, this was a man who knew how to accessorise.  Western leaders may have earned a democratic mandate from their people, but style-wise Saddam left them in the dust with a range of bespoke firearms that complemented his timeless morning suits and menacing televised show trials.

Like many a fashion icon, Saddam knew how to save the best for last.  Whatever you thought of his policies, it was impossible not to be swayed by the confidence of a man who appeared at his war crimes tribunal in one elegant suit after another, eschewing ties and allowing crisp white collars to show off a patrician combination of dyed hair / greying beard.  Needless to say, the defendant was found guilty – of looking fabulous.

 

bad taste.

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bad taste.

Last month a journalist from the Guardian was invited over by Genuine Jersey to experience the food of our fair Isle. You can read it here. It turns out there was little but prior critical media coverage of Jersey that impressed Oliver Thring. Here was our response;

Before I cast judgement on this antagonistic, poorly researched and altogether naive article I thought it only fair to read back and familiarise myself with Mr Thring’s previous work.

It appears that grasping at disparaging whisps of popular culture in order to beef up a hollow and empty supposed editorial on food seems to be a new foray for the strong jawed young author. The lion’s share of Oliver’s body of work for the Guardian seems to be the ‘consider’ series of features that entice us to ‘consider the egg‘, ‘consider baked beans’, ‘consider lard‘ and, most recently ‘consider the hot cross bun’. I mean, what DO you make of the chocolate chip variety?!

It comes as no surprise that when Oli was invited to Jersey, a contentious hot Jersey Royal potato of economic, political and tabloid unrest he felt the need to vent his thesaurus. In doing so he seems to have overlooked what is, in fact, a fantastic foodie Island with a great deal to offer.

I consider myself amongst the most cynical and critical of island residents. I’ve not been here long but besides it’s nepotistic shortcomings, the standard to which most things are done in Jersey is far superior to any comparatively sized town or tourist destination in the UK or beyond. The variety and standard of food offerings, both through the farm shop network that Oliver seems to overlooked or missed during the taxi ride around Haut de la Garenne and through it’s throng of varied and generally pleasing restaurants. It’s ironic that his food review got so distracted by the press field day that resulted in the discovery of a coconut shard.

Yes, the seafood is largely shellfish based but I would happily do the Pepsi challenge with a Northern French Fruit de Mer. We’re not on the Cape or watching the fishermen in Natal provide straight to plate catches but, as far as British seafood goes, Jersey fairs well. With a declining tourism industry I can’t see Jamie opening a restaurant and Rick Stein doesn’t live here but, to be honest, the property is expensive enough already.

I hope that the critical tastebuds with which Oliver degraded the local offering were honed in his wide experience of seafood. It is a shame then that despite cutting his teeth ‘considering’ the culinary masterpieces; mustard, scotch eggs, the biscuit, the 99 flake, ice lollies (the list goes on) that the only seafood related subject matter Oliver has covered in his whole visible Guardian editorial career was the seminal ‘consider the anchovy’ back in January. We all know that L’andoners love their cockles and mussels. With such a scathing review of what is essentially fresh seafood from the English Channel you would hope that his backcatalogue would in some way reassure. Sampling Lobster as a child is simply not enough.

Oliver’s obviously a bright chap but I can’t help feeling he got lost with this one. All those adjectives, all that prose, all that negativity. Perhaps the ‘consider’ series is coming to an end and he hopes for a move to a more incisive editorial arena. That would explain basing a food review on a veiled, bigoted bambasting of an Island constructed largely on hearsay during a fleeting PR freebee. A political poet lost in food reviewer’s brogues, an Oxford Liberal lost scrabbling to the left at the Guardian, casting out with a Gill-esque critique he hopes will be noticed and guffawed over.

There are many bad things about the Island of Jersey, thankfully outweighed by the good. Sure, you wont find as many wood burning ovens per capita as a South West London Suburb or pubs selling ironic British menus full of corn fed jellied eels. You can’t go out at midnight for baklava either. However, if you judge either the food or the Island on Oliver’s review you’re missing something.

Jersey has a disproportionately good variety of eateries, whether sublime seafood at the Oysterbox or Sumas, homemade pasta at La Cantina, characterful Pacific rim inspired dishes at Danny’s, Amuse bouches that entertain and impress at one of the excellent Michelin starred restaurants, Bohemia or Ocean. If you heed Oliver’s warnings and stay clear of the seafood then you could try the great Portuguese restaurants that caters to Jersey’s 10% Portuguese population, not to mention the bizarre trend for beachside thai BYOs that somehow befit many a relaxing Jersey sunset, just 45 minutes from London.

If only Oliver had gone beyond the petty Jersey bashing and dedicated more of his time sampling the local offering and more of his column inches to the subject at hand then maybe both he and the reader would have enjoyed more than his hilarious homecoming jam on toast finale.

 

Edito: Revolution

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Edito: Revolution

Our theme this month is ?revolution?. Nothing has revolted me more today than the bambasting some jumped up juvenile Guardian hack has just given the Island. It?s one thing to provide critical commentary but it?s quite another to propose that ?only weirdos and the Barclay brothers roam the Channel Islands?. You can read our response to the author, a one Oliver Thring here

I realise that it?s a dog eat dog world climbing the ladder as a journo hacks, regardless of the middle class nature of your vocabulary but managing to completely lose the point of a food article trying to berate the Island and all who live here using ill considered 80s stereotypes derived from a fictitious detective show is a little weak. Sure, you and I both know what we?d rather drown in the Bollinger that flows from our Clive Christian taps than the water 20 feet down from the fly deck of our 58ft motor cruiser. We know that the Island is full of prostitutes of both the sexual and financial variety and child and coconut molesters abound. Perhaps we don?t notice them as we walk around firmly fixated on counting the wads of cash in our greasy little palms. No, hang on…wait, I?ve slipped into Oliver?s fantasy Jersey.

Recent times have seen many an aspiring journalist trying to mimic the zeitgeist of journalistic strategy, the Clarkson / Gill school of critique and deviance from the subject in hand. Oliver seemed to completely miss the positives of both the Island and its food and slip comfortably into the editorial lowest common denominator like an Oxford grad slipping his pedicured feet into some custom fitted loafers.

It?s easy to pick on something. Friends of mine used to ?race? snails with the assistance of a lighter. I would imagine that someone who defines his life by words of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam would never dream of doing such a thing. Perhaps he should therefore have put down the lighter when it came to Jersey and concentrated on the Escargot at hand.

I?m not even from Jersey (shock horror!) but I?m pretty passionate about the positives of our golden cage. Sure, it needs a revolution in some areas, some of which are discussed over the coming pages. However, when it comes to food, I?d challenge Mr Thrings to find a comparatively sized town in the UK that offers the standard of both local produce and quality restaurants found in Jersey. We just missed Oliver as our Appetite eating guide came out just as he left. Perhaps we?ll send him one and invite him back. Golden pitchforks at the ready everyone….

Jersey?s first ever Charity Awards

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Jersey?s first ever Charity Awards

Jersey Charity Awards LogoJersey?s first ever Charity Awards are being launched to recognise and celebrate local charities? achievements. The awards, supported by The Association of Jersey Charities (AJC) are to highlight local excellence within the charitable sector thus raising the profile of charity and voluntary activity in Jersey.

To apply, charities to need submit a 1,000 word typed entry describing their achievements over the last twelve months. There are three award categories as follows and £5,000 will be awarded to the winner of each:
Small charity of the year (less than 15 staff/volunteers)
Medium charity of the year (between 16 to 35 staff/volunteers)
Large charity of the year (more than 36 staff/volunteers)

The Awards are open to all Jersey charities; applicants don?t have to be a member of the Association of Jersey Charities but they must be registered as a non-profit making organisation with the Jersey Financial Services Commission.
The Awards judges include States of Jersey Senator, Francis Le Gresley; Principle Aide-de Camp to Jersey?s Lieutenant-Governor, Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Woodrow; Arclight Solutions Ltd Senior Consultant (Consultancy and Training services for charities), Jane Galloway and Chairman of the Association of Jersey Charities, Liz Le Poidevin.
The Jersey Charity Awards ceremony will take place at 2.30pm on Sunday 4 September 2011 at Radier Manor. All entrants will be invited, free of charge and approximately 150-200 people are expected to attend, music will be provided by the Parklife Choir.
?More

Lyn Wilton from the Association of Jersey Charities said: ?There are currently 263 charities registered with the AJC ranging from branches of national charities to small local charities, clubs, societies and support groups and there are non Association organisations in Jersey who work tirelessly for the benefit of others and this is to be commended.

?The awards aim to publically recognise the huge amount of fantastic work Jersey charities do for the community which can often be overlooked. Volunteers are modest people so the ceremony is planned in the same vein; a relaxed celebratory afternoon garden party to be enjoyed by all. We?d urge as many charities to take part as possible to really make the most of the event and the award money is definitely a prize worth winning!?

The Association of Jersey Charities is working in partnership with the 50 years of Financial Heritage celebrations. As part of this alliance the proceeds from the Golden Gala community charity ball, to be held in September to mark the anniversary, will be donated to local charities through the Association and the Jersey Charity Awards 2011.

Application forms and guidelines for charities wishing to apply can be found on the Association website www.jerseycharities.org via the Jersey Charity Awards logo. The application deadline is 5pm on Thursday 30 June 2011.

GSAA Entry: Clothing designed and made by Jasmin Ferguson

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GSAA Entry: Clothing designed and made by Jasmin Ferguson

After achieving my A levels in Art and design and Photography at Hautlieu as well an Extra in Textiles at the Harbour Gallery I gained a place on Art and Design foundation at the competitive London College of Fashion, where I gained a merit award and went on to study at the college on degree level in Womenswear Fashion Design Technology and Pattern cutting. I am currently studying in London on first year of my degree, recently achieving an 80% distinction level for my work.

I have also recently been interning for the company who produce Courtney Love?s clothing line, helping to make the garments in preparation for fashion week and gaining experience within the industry, I was also very privileged to gain entry to London Fashion week as a dresser backstage. In the past I have had my work exhibited in Jersey at The Harbour and Falle Art Galleries, and also had pieces photographed and featured in online magazine, Amour. As you will see from the examples attached of some of the garments I have designed and made, I use a variety

of different mediums, often experimenting with more unconventional ones.

My designs are heavily influenced by Art, Music and Era?s such as Punk and the New Romantics. As a result my style could be described as bold and expressive with a tendency to source unusual fabrics and incorporate Textiles skills into the production of them. I am also very interested in the recycling of old clothing and fabric by customizing and remaking them, I have focused a number of my projects around this idea in the past and have produced entire garments made from recycled products and clothing. My work is strongly influenced by designers such as Hussein Chalayan, Gareth Pugh and Alexander McQueen, and one day aspire to also work as an independent designer with my own brand and line.

sportsperson of the month: Liam McGeary

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sportsperson of the month: Liam McGeary

Age: 28

Sport: MMA (mixed martial arts) and I?m studying Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, in which I?m now a blue belt. I?ve also trained in boxing and kick boxing.

Schools attended: East Gate and King Edward VII both in Kings Lynn.

Favourite ice-cream flavour: Raspberry Ripple! I could eat tubs of that stuff.

Favourite animal: A dog.

Favourite food: I don?t really have a favourite in that, I will eat almost anything!

What would you wear to a fancy dress party? I?d have to go as a vampire!

Favourite song? Gangster?s Paradise by Coolio.

Favourite fighting expression? When the referee yells ?Let?s get it on?, I know its time to work then.

When did you start boxing? I started boxing when I was around 8 years old, my dad was a great boxer so I wanted to follow in his footsteps. Over the years I did a bit of boxing, but around 9 years ago I watched my first cage fight and that was it – I wanted to do that!! It took me a while to get into it properly but now been training non-stop for 5 years and love it!

What is your worst fighting accident? My worst accident has to be the most recent one, back in October I suffered a massive injury and it put me out for 3 months, missing out on 2 big fights and a European competition that was being held in Portugal.

Where do you think is the best place to fight in the world? Definitely in America, when you get over there you know you have made it! That?s the place I dream of getting to anyway.

Where and when was your favourite fighting moment? November 2009 when I fought in my home town for the first time. It was only a small venue and the atmosphere was electric. I battered the guy and knocked him out in 1 minute 58 sec. I took a few kicks to the groin in that one but my left hook definitely made up for it.

How can people get into fighting in Jersey? If people are interested in trying their hand at a bit of MMA or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, they can find us at Gracie Barra Channel Islands, Room G at Fort Regent. The coaches are Rob Staples, Andrew Toporis and Stuart Macintyre – the best coaches I?ve ever trained with, they have won numerous titles between them, one being the world sport Jiu Jitsu champion, on a couple of occasions, so these lads know exactly what they?re talking about!

What competitions have you done most recently? The London Seni,  a big competition back in June last year where I took a gold in my division. My next event is on the 7th of May so I?ve been flat out with training. That?s going really well. Because I missed out on some fights because of my injury, this next fight I?ve got some catching up to do, so the poor bloke is not going to know what hit him…

 

Saffrons Cookery Class And Wine Tasting Dinner

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Executive Head Chef Philippe Maratier and Indian Chef Kundeti will demonstrate a variety of seasonal Saffrons recipes using local produce. You will have the opportunity to prepare the dishes and sample them for yourself! Chefs Philippe and Kundeti will be on hand to guide you through each step and answer any queries you may have along the way. To get those taste buds going after the evening, everyone will receive a copy of their recipes to take away. After the Cookery Class, Melanie, the Sommelier will talk you through the wine selection to compliment each dish. You will learn how food and wine go hand-in-hand and so you don?t forget, you will receive an information pack to go home with. Put your knowledge to the test after the wine tasting by ordering the wine to accompany your dinner. Choose from either the a la carte menu or from the menu demonstrated by Chefs Philippe and Kundeti.

 

Animal: Your Baby Looks Like A Monkey

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There was some great Durrell news a few months ago, as keepers at the wildlife park announced the birth of a healthy male black lion tamarin.  The baby, born on 22nd March, represents a great achievement for the conservation charity as this is the first black lion tamarin baby to have been successfully bred outside of Brazil in the last eight years.

Commenting on this exciting news Mark Brayshaw, Head of Durrell?s animal collection said ?This birth is great news; monitoring and successfully delivering the baby has been a very tricky event to manage. Predicting when the infant would be sufficiently developed yet intervening prior to natural parturition has been key and has involved dedicated input from the mammal team with lots of early mornings and late nights to monitor progress.?

 

There are currently nine critically endangered black lion tamarins, including the new baby, at Durrell?s headquarters in Jersey.  In 1999 the Durrell team reached a crucial stage in the species? recovery programme, when a group of black lion tamarins trained in woods at the Trinity wildlife park were returned to Brazil for reintroduction to the wild.

 

This baby has been named Francisco after the Head of Durrell?s Veterinary Department who delivered him. He is the first healthy baby born to new mum Roxanne, who has previously lost two babies and suffered several miscarriages. Due to her previous problems the decision was made to monitor her four and a half month pregnancy carefully and to deliver the baby by caesarean section at the appropriate time.

At the park, all of Durrell?s tamarins have been trained to sit on scales so that they can be weighed remotely. Roxanne had also been trained to allow keepers to monitor her by ultra-sound through the enclosure mesh. This was done almost every day for a few months with a fake ultrasound device, meaning that when she did fall pregnant the team could check the development of the foetus without her being anesthetised

 

So far both mother and baby are doing well. The infant is being hand-reared and syringe fed every two hours throughout the day and night and over the next few weeks they will slowly teach him to lap milk from a dish and when he is able to do this successfully he can be returned to his family.

 

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