Radio Gorgeous

You are walking along a path. It is covered in snow. The sky is blue and all you can 

hear are birds tweeting. You look down. The snow is glistening in the morning light and you hear the crunch of the snow under your boots. You turn and notice a stream running past you. And further ahead there is a waterfall. You breathe in and smell the sweet clean air and stretch your arms wide and open yourself to the 

beauty of the mountains. This isn’t a headspace app. This is a small part of what 

you experience on a yoga week in the friendliest French resort of Les Menuires.

I got burnt doing yoga. I got sunburnt doing a sun salutation. To be fair, the sun burn 

was unintentional. I was at Les Menuires (pronounced ley men weir) a hill top village, the gateway to the largest ski region in the world Les 3 Vallees, well beloved ski resort of the British who have now entrenched themselves so fixatedly in parts of this phenomenally beautiful region that there are villages which are not only all English speaking but they do not know how to speak French. Les Menuires is different. Les Menuires is French, from the language spoken - they do speak and understand English but everyone speaks to you in French because, they are. 

This is one of those purpose built resorts the English consider ugly because not every building resembles one of those wooden chalets which weather dolls enter in and out. There are large tower blocks, and purpose built shopping centres with covered heated runways, which may not look as attractive as the snow coated pavements you find in Austrian and Swiss resorts, but are far more comfortable and user friendly to navigate. As for the apartment blocks, they offer 

incredible views over the valley and to the mountains and are always on the piste, making it a genuine ski in ski out resort. It is also predominantly French, with French speakers, the next nationality being Belgian, German then British. There are British in nearby St Martin de Belleville but they tend to keep themselves to themselves, with a three star Michelin restaurant ‘La Bouitte’ (which means pig sty in the local patois).. I learnt all of these facts from the taxis driver who collected me from Lyons – a quick and attractive two hour drive away, although you are able to fly into Geneva, and into Chambery (there are direct flights from Manchester). For the third year running, the town hosts a yoga week, which maligns what is packed in. Thanks to a very busy Easter, I was only able to sample a few days here, but managed to squeeze in pilates, yoga (where I got sunburnt on the terrace overlooking the mountains), shiatsu (excellent – I found out I have issues with gall bladder, must take burdock, too many years of being a people pleaser and not punching people I should have). Qi Gong (becoming aware of my own energy – which is I am told, a lot like that of the mountain, powerful and transcendent!), and a (MMM) morning meditation mountain silence walk in the snow, making my own version of a ‘headspace’ app, with waterfall sounds, tweeting birds, gentle rivers glistening in the morning light, crunching snow under foot albeit occasionally interspersed with snow tractors and helicopters lifting supplies to the local refuge. I’ve got so many more inspirational visualisations to share with my yoga groups following the walk. I stayed at the hostel HO36, which is central, incredibly cool, with its pool tables, long bar, and huge vistas over the mountains, funky local art (papier mache bear heads – sounds awful but actually rather good), plethora of board games which are strictly meant for the twenty somethings, and very good music. (They have live bands there regularly in high season). The food hasn’t quite caught up with the healthy yoga week, (excellent mountain fayre – cured meats, cheeses, raclette, glorious glutenous bread), although veganism is now big in France. I also ate at the central Le Comptoir restaurant overlooking the main ski area which does excellent smoked trout and vegetarian salads.

All the fitness instructors are French but do speak English and there are talks on nutrition, feng shui, Sophrology (relaxation therapy), how to make your own massage oils, reflexology, nutrition, (how to live a healthy happy life), as well as yoga for kids and Qi Gong, Tai Chi, and various types of yoga (hatha, iyengar, vinyasa). 

Much of the action was held in the central sports centre, although many of the hotels offer their own excellent spas, and there’s indoor swimming pools and gyms, all with exceptional views over the mountain range, as well as indoor squash courts. The skiing, which was not my focus on this trip, is excellent, as the resort, purpose built as it was in 1964 (and therefore as old as me), offers a wide range of blue and red runs, ideal for families, and because of its location, easy access to the other slopes on offer in the Trois Vallees region. Les Menuires has heart, with its striking iron clock tower, designed by renowned artist Yves de Préval who felt the town needed a spire, to crown the village’s glory (ironically it does have a crown on top of it). The central area of the village forms a basin into which all the snow appears to be trapped – as does the sun. There are mountains on all sides and a slope for tobaganning for the young children. In fact, there is a lot for children, including a large play area with trampolines but unless you are en famille you wouldn’t know it. Parents are able to watch them play from the verandahs of the appartments. The resort has been very carefully considered and is much more than just a gateway to the World’s largest ski resort linked to the pistes of Meribel and Val Thorens.I am told they have had good snow this year and expect it to least till beyond 

April, but the season finishes end of April. Two and half hours car journey from Geneva or Lyons, it’s a long trip, but you can take the train, which gives you a direct route into Lyons (34 euros) and then onto the tram to the airport (16 euros) which is fast, efficient and modern. If you like sun with your ski, French speaking in France, and the best meditation with your mountains, I would wholeheartedly recommend this place. Its strap line is 

‘Friendly Menuires’. I would say of all the ski resorts I’ve visited over the years, it is without doubt the Friendliest. 

Fact box: 

Sarah Tucker visited Le Menuires, flying to and from Lyons. She stayed at www.ho36hostels.com/en/es-menuires-3-vallees. And visited Le Comptoir restaurant. 

For more information about Les Menuiers visit www.lesmenuires.com

#wellbeing #GorgeousEscapes #Yoga

Victoria Pearson chats to Indie Folk singer Holly Rees about her upcoming Canadian tour and her appearance at Canadian music week. Holly also talks about her music influences and her new live EP 'Text me when you get there'

https://hollyrees.bandcamp.com/

#Folk #RadioGorgeous #GorgeousEntertainment

As a therapist and head of a trauma therapy unit, Ruth is on top of her game but her personal life has imploded. She has papered over the cracks in her life in the wake of her son's disappearance and buried herself in her role at work. These cracks break open when she meets an intense patient who uncannily resembles her missing son. 

Bev draws on her own experience as a clinical psychologist for the NHS but the story is a full exploration of the pitfalls and responsibilities of motherhood as much as the relationship between therapist and patient. 

#GoodEnoughMother #RadioGorgeous www.faberandfaber.com @FaberBooks

‘Looking after our personal energy is vital’ Delilah Sullivan tells me as I sit opposite her in a coffee shop in Barnes. Her book ‘The Teachings of Mr P’ sounds a little like a precursor to ‘The Book of O’, but is nothing like it (in fact, quite the opposite). The book is really all about higher energy rather than sexual. In short, it is a series of channelled conversations with ‘P’ who is Plato, and it’s utterly fascinating.  It talks about the power of love, in all it guises; space time and randomness, the effects of virtue, and the intricacies of the metaphysical.  Because it is in dialogues and short excerpts, it is very accessible.  Easy to read, to digest, to absorb and it stays with you. Example ‘Without the desire to explore one’s potential, there is no desire to accept one’s past’. ‘To observe history, one has to let it go from one’s present.’ ‘Life is not love. It is joy that brings life. Man (and woman) are seeking joy and he/she will not find this through love’.  It’s sound bite without trying. Without top ten tipping.  It’s the sort of book you will thumb, and pull back so many times, it would be better it be ring bound (I’ve had mine for a day and it’s already falling to pieces!).  

As well as being an author, Delilah is an energy coach (she literally walks the talk), living in Richmond, who now talks to workers and members at multi-national corporations and health organisations about how to manage their energy. “Companies are increasingly aware of the importance of the emotional, mental and energetic wellbeing of their employees, it improves the profitability of their company and creates a more beneficial environment for everyone.”  The book is only a small part of her work, as Delilah also has a regular podcast and a website which allows guests (anyone) to ask questions, and she channels the answers. 

Delilah helps people who wish to find direction, clear blocks, and access their inner wisdom and creativity. She helps those who face or are experiencing burnout, are carers, and who are suffering illness.  Delilah gives talks as well as channelled readings, one to one mentoring and energy awareness and creative awareness sessions. 

The Teachings of Mr P (£12.99) is out on amazon 

 www.DelilahSullivan.com

#RadioGorgeous #Healing #Wellbeing

#GorgeousLives #RadioGorgeous #Music

"You have to do something for you once in your life." Norda Mullen, 58, 

year old flautist for the Moody claims, looking ten years younger 

than her years, thanks she says to having a Greek mother (the Greeks 

have good skin) and a good diet and lifestyle (she tries to go to yoga 

every day). “I have spent my life making others look and sound good. Now I want 

to do it for myself.” Thus began the process of her making her own solo music.

Now living in Richmond with her husband Kelvin and two dogs (who both 

have a mention on her first CD), she chose to live in here because "it's 

beautiful, and right next to beautiful urban London. However, the parking 

attendants suck!"

"My family are all very musical. I was brought up on ragtime, gospel, the blues, classical music, and rock and roll. 

Everything was ragtime, even Happy Birthday was turned into Ragtime, 

but I was born in Mississippi so what do you expect? I was brought up within a family where 

music was the heart and soul of our life. I love the range of music 

here in England as well ... anything from the best in Classical to rock, pop, anything and 

everything. And I’m unconventional.”

This unconventional flautist, rather than staying in the background out 

of the spotlight, frequently high kicks on stage while managing to play 

faultlessly. “No, I’m not a conventional classical musician,” she 

admits, also telling me she’s a 4th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, which with the yoga 

keeps her fit.

A normal day for a musician is not normal. She wakes up late, drinks 

coffee, goes to yoga, and may be writes a 'tune' as she calls it. "I 

was about eight when I discovered I loved music. How could you not 

being brought up in a family of six children?" Inspired by Annie 

Lennox (who she would love to play with one day, who is also a trained 

classical flautist), Peter Gabriel and Chrissie Hynde, she's a lover of 

Tchaikovsky, Debussy and Beethoven. “I would come home at the age of 

eight and listen to Tchaikovsky four or five times each evening, over 

and over again. I must have driven my parents mad. But we also had so much 

pop, blues, and gospel in the house at the same time. I grew up with hippy sisters, 

who played Bob Dylan, Dire Straits, the Rolling Stones, the Moody Blues, and my mother 

played mandolin, so it was the most mixed cacophony of music you can 

imagine."

The tracks on 'Norda' have the clear crisp, emotive voice, think Enya 

and Annie Lennox but with a raw, visceral quality of someone equally as happy 

in rock as in classical. And of course, she plays the flute. Justin 

Hayward discovered her in LA in 1996 when she was doing session work – 

movies and commercials. "I don't believe I saved the Moody Blues. 

Their music is timeless - that's why they are still going strong," she 

says modestly. Justin Hayward, John Lodge and Graeme Edge, the 

stalwarts of the band, have all been very supportive of Norda's 

initiative.

"They've all been very supportive which is wonderful." she says. All 

the tracks on her solo CD are inspired by her own life, including the first, which is 

dedicated to her father who died in 2013. Norda teaches out of her home in Richmond. "I love teaching young 

flautists and I teach guitar as well. It's very inspiring 

listening to the young play. To be good you need to practice and  

practice more!"

Norda herself trained at Mississippi State University when she was 

only thirteen. Following that, she attended Interochen National Music Camp during the summers in Michigan for four years, studying with Alexander Murray of the London Symphony, and then onto Northwestern University in Chicago, as a flute performance major, studying with Walfrid Kujala, the piccoloist from the Chicago Symphony.

I've played everywhere from Monaco, in front of Princes and Kings, the 

Royal Albert Hall, and the good and great venues throughout the United States, including the Hollywood Bowl.  

I've toured with the Moody Blues for the past 16 years.

It has been wonderful.

Norda, the CD, and her second CD, Give It Up, are both available on Amazon and cdBaby.com.

Are you constantly busy and constantly on your phone, are daily tasks getting you down? Time for some practical and sensible advice from top blogger, vlogger and podcaster Anna Newton. 

An Edited Life, Simple Steps to Streamlining Your Life, at Work & at Home by ANNA NEWTON is published by Quadrille. 

https://www.theannaedit.com/

#RadioGorgeous #lifestyle #AnEditedLife

Today in the Latte Lounge Podcast we focus on the fact that in midlife many women quite often split up with their partners and become newly single again, or their relationships get strained or have wobbles and how hormones plummeting can affect women's sex life. Do listen to  this frank and moving discussion which may give you some amazing insights about yourself and practical tips to improve your private life. 

The Latte Lounge podcast is sponsored by Sylk Natural Lubricant. Vaginal dryness is a taboo subject that no one likes talking about. It can really affect your sex life and relationship. Well don't let it. A good quality natural lubricant like Sylk that is water based, pH friendly and free from hormones and parabens can make all the difference. Sylk is available at larger Boots stores and online.

You can find all this and more on the Latte Lounge website, details below:

https://www.lattelounge.co/

Twitter: @lounge_latte

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/loungethelatte/

SYLK Lubricant

https://sylk.co.uk/

Francine Kay:

http://www.francinekaye.com/

Jo Divine:

http://www.jodivine.com/

For even more amazing interviews go to:

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#RadioGorgeous #LatteLounge #Relationships