It always surprises me how jealously some women guard some of their contacts, for instance, the name of their hairdresser, where they buy their sale clothes, the name of their tailor? I have never understood this practice. Surely they can’t be worried the hairdresser, tailor can be poached? I LOVE for my clients to refer their friends to me and if they ask me where I go for a facial, to buy mung-beans or just for breakfast, I tell them. I would hate to be some exclusive secret. If I am full there will be a waiting list for new clients but my existing clients will always be safe. There’s a recession looming, honey. I need the cash!
A while back a friend of mine asked me to get her an appointment for a facial as, at the time, the list was closed to new clients so I booked in my name and then let her have the slot. It really did not affect me in any way as I was really glad to help.What surprised me subsequently was that, when we meet, she could not get away from me fast enough. I later found out through a mutual friend that she had been boasting about her new ’secret’ A-list facial but wouldn’t give out details so I did, well…… I just couldn’t help myself!
Be generous with your contacts and your friends will be generous with theirs.
it’s a scratch back world out there and, if you get an itch you can’t reach you will need to rely on a friend to scratch it.
Here are some of the people I see and their contact details. It goes without saying that as these are all really fabulous people who are great at what they do ( which, of course, is why I see them) they may have a waiting list. Be patient. It’s worth it.
Dr. Nicholas Lowe - consultant dermatologist Tel: 0207 499 3223. He also has a skin-care line available in larger Boots the Chemist stores – I especially rate the exfoliater and the oil-free moisturiser which.
Vaishaly Patel – facialist Tel; 0207 224 6088. Vaishaly is fab. She has the most perfect skin and healing hands. I have been going to her for nearly 12 years now. She can tell, just by looking at your skin, if you are stressed and if your digestive tract is not working properly.
Sarah Birrell – nutritionist Tell: 01284 760020 I love Sarah. When I could not lose that last stone after my third child – I was getting very concerned that, despite my healthy diet which consisted of lots of veg, wholegrains, seeds and bananas,I was feeling exhausted, low and could not kick the excess weight. Sarah told me that my body could not tolerate bananas and all the pumpkin/sunflower seeds I had been munching. I lost that extra stone in a fortnight and felt much more alive. More recently, I have been taking a supplement Sarah recommends called Resverotrol which is a very potent anti-oxidant that comes from red wine. Within a few days of taking it, my skin has improved in texture and tone – even Vaishaly noticed when I had my last facial.
Darren Runce-personal trainer Tel: 01284 706777 Darren allows me to kick ass. We run and kick-box and I have just started resistance training with him with a harness. It does help that he looks like Ronan Keating…. Oh, his gorgeous girlfriend is a beautician. She specialises in make-up tattooing at Sandringham.
Hilary Grimsdell – medical herbalist Tel: 01359 252278. When I have trouble sleeping, I go to Hilary for a bottle of Valerian. Works better than anything you can get from the health shop.
Carol Donaldson – tarot card reader Tel: 01359 251839. Carole offers tarot card readings, guidance and healing and she comes to your house.Every so often, I organise tarot card readings for friends of mine. Carole comes over to read our cards and the reading is recorded on to a cassette which we are able to listen to afterwards. It is a positive, life-affirming way of spending the afternoon or evening. I always have pots of tea and something to eat and I have yet to organise one of these afternoons that has not been well-received.
Alex Spence – osteopath Tel: 01353 664476. A lot of clients I know rate Alex. I am sure it is not just because he is good-looking…..
Donna, Toni & Guy – hairdresser Tel: 01284 717171 Donna has cut my hair for as long as Toni and Guy have had a presence in Bury St Edmunds. I am ALWAYS happy with my haircut, whether I just let her get on with it or whether I ask for a different style.
Francine Raymond, The Kitchen Garden – Gifts for home and garden Tel: 01359 268322. Francine is amazing. not only is she the most stylish person I know, with the most stylish house. She has the prettiest chickens, the most beautiful gardens and cooks like a dream. Francince is an author and columnist, has appeared on TV, runs courses and has the Kitchen Garden which is a shop in her home selling stylish gifts for gardeners, hen-keepers and, basically, anyone with taste.
Phil Mizen - Langham Herbs Tel: 07772 457063 Phil makes the most amazing pesto with coriander, dill or – my favourite – rocket. I love them in risotto, stirred into stir-fried chilli prawns. His jerusalem artichokes are divine boiled, sliced and sweated with swiss chard, garlic and cream. Phil sells at the Saturday Market at Wyken Hall in Stanton
Jane Capon – The Domini Dairy. Tel: 01359 221333. Locally produced unpasteurized milk, butter, cream and yoghurt. Jane sells at the Saturday Market at Wyken Hall in Stanton.
Lindsey Fenn -www.linseyfenncakes.co.uk. Gorgeous cakes and cookies. Lindsey sells at the Saturday Market at Wyken Hall in Stanton. She also makes cakes to order. I love the pavlovas, the carrot cake with cream cheese filling and the cheesecakes.
The Metfield Bakery -www.metfieldbakery.co.uk Another stall at the Saturday Market at Wyken Hall in Stanton. I absolutely love the Pugliese. Absolutely delicious with cheese, toasted with good butter and fig jam and as a toasted cheese sandwich, sliced with mozarella and shallow-fried in olive oil. Using a fish-slice to press down on the sandwich . Not dissimilar to the toasted cheese sandwich served at the legendary Harry’s Bar in Venice.
Min Grob - www.mingrob.com (yep, I know I am shamelessly promoting myself but it’s no word of a lie, I teach myself and i like me as a teacher!!!)
