About AnnaGoAnna

Aunt~BubblesLover~Volunteer~Sarcoma~Phyllodes~Friend~BerkeleySqBenchOwner~Foodie~Glassmaker~Crafter

3 day ‘Perfect Cleanse’ from Soulmatefood

Posted on 13/08/2014 by AnnaGoAnna

Late yesterday afternoon the courier arrived with a neatly packaged box from Soutmatefood.

Inside the insulated box are my juices for the next three days. There was a icepack in teh centre of the juices however this had already melted. The inside of the box wasn’t particularly cool – perhaps worthwhile getting the delivery in the morning, if possible – hopefully the juices will remain fresh for the 3-day juice cleanse.

Instructions read (shake and drink juices every 2.5hrs with plenty of water) and juices were put away in the fridge ready for my start today.

Once again I’m using a Groupon Offer to try Soulmatefood Perfect Cleanse. Normal price is a whopping £195 but with the deal it’s £65 for the 3 day cleanse (+ £5 delivery). Reducing each bottle of goodness from £13 to £4.33 each.

A quick summary of the cleanse:

The Soulmatefood Perfect Cleanse, the world’s first hypostatic cleanse has intense alkalising and anti-oxidising properties, giving your skin a healthy glow and your body packed full of vitamins. Our nutritionist has given us some great, insightful facts for each of our 6 steps!

1 – Carrot, Apple & Ginger
– 24% Vitamin B6 – essential for healthy red blood cell production
– Great source of beta-carotene, essential for healthy skin and immune function
2 – Cucumber, Kale, Broccoli, Celery, Lime, Lemon, Apple/Pear, Spinach and Avocado
– High in folate – essential for cell division and new cell production
– 59% of the RDA in Vitamin C
3 – Lemon, Cinnamon, Chilli and Ginger
– Chillies are a great source of antioxidants
– Ginger also has antibacterial properties which can aid immunity
4 – Blueberry, Blackberry, Raspberry, Beetroot, Lemon, Redcurrant, Kiwi and Orange
– 68% RDA Manganese
– Full of powerful antioxidants known as anthrocyanins
5 – Cucumber, Kale, Broccoli, Celery, Lime, Lemon, Pear, Spinach and Mint
– High in potassium – an essential electrolyte that helps regulate cell fluid and blood pressure
– 50% of the RDA in Vitamin C
6 – Soothing night time detox tea
– help aid digestion
– relaxing, soothing and comforting

PERFECT CLEANSE INSTRUCTIONS
DO refrigerate the juices immediately.
DO sip the five parts of your cleanse in order throughout the day alongside 5 glasses of water.
DO exercise lightly whilst on the cleanse.
DON’T drink coffee or alcohol whilst on the cleanse.
Enjoy your juices every two and a half hours and make sure you shake them well!

Some interesting ingredients and combinations however I’m concerned that the majority of the juicy content is fruit and therefore probably quite sweet. I know that, for me, sweeter juicing means that I often crave ‘bad’ food types during and after a cleanse. I’m also concerned that the bottles are 250ml each meaning a total of only 1.25 litres of nutrient based juices each day and a hankering for breads!

We will see. Watch this space!

Issy’s ‘List for Life’ continues….

Posted on 12/08/2014 by AnnaGoAnna

I’ve mentioned my friend Issy before and fulfilling her List for Life now also known as her ‘Phuck-it List’. Whilst we were away in Verona last year we plotted how we would achieve a number of other adventures on her list. One of the things she said she’d love to do would be to dine at The Square in London’s Mayfair. How fortuitous that the very talented 2 Michelin star chef is my cousin (well 1st cousin once removed but who’s counting), Phil Howard.

Since our Verona trip we have spoken of this dinner on many occasions but the urgency of organising it was brought to the fore a few months ago when it was decided that Issy’s treatment was to cease.

Rather than being a small intimate dinner for Issy and a couple of friends we asked Phil if Issy could have the private dining room at The Square. This would enable Issy to invite friends and family to share the magnificent dining experience with her. During chemo Issy, like so many others in treatment, had found it difficult to taste food properly and certainly to enjoy or savour it. With no further treatment Issy has been enjoying tasting food once more and at every opportunity in the most glamorous of places, however her appetite is much smaller. So Issy thought a tasting menu would be perfect!

I cannot express how truly wonderful and kind Phil has been in orchestrating a tremendous and memorable dinner for Issy. Phil spoke with Issy directly to discover her ingredient/food loves, likes and dislikes. He then created dishes based on their discussions and sent Issy the menu for approval. I could almost hear the joyful whooping from her when she shared the menu by email with tonight’s dinner guests.

We met early at The Square in Mayfair. A glass of bubbles enjoyed whilst the party arrived. A buzz of excitement from our dining posse. It was very evident that each of us had put a little bit of sparkle whilst dressing and so honoured to be sharing this experience with Issy (and to dine at The Square!). We were then shown to our private room where Issy had laid out our name cards.

During the incredible amuse bouche we took turns to introduce ourselves to the table and say how we know Issy. What a perfect spectrum of guests from her childhood, from school, London, work, partying, cancerland and, of course, her family. The guests had travelled far and wide to be at this dinner – from Cheshire, America, even one chap from Hong Kong and of course London and surrounding areas.

I know that chefs hate ‘public’ taking photos of food. I’m an uber amateur and no ‘food stylist’ so apologies as the next pictures truly don’t do any of it justice.

Believe me when I tell you each and every mouthful of the entire tasting menu was utterly incredibly deliciously beautifully unique and special. Phil had also paired each and every dish with wine… spot on with every sip.

I can’t thank Phil enough for creating such a perfect dining experience for us all. For allowing Issy to share it with her friends and family. For making it such a special memory laden evening for each and every one of us.

Thank you Issy for inviting me to your exclusive dining experience and allowing me to, once again, be part of your List for Life.

If you’d like to follow Issy’s journey, she’s writing for the Huffington Post. Follow her progress here.

Bench visitation

Posted on 12/08/2014 by AnnaGoAnna

A very special evening ahead and with perfect timing there was just enough time to meet up with my friend Kelly for a spot of bubbles at my bench in Berkeley Square.

Have you visited my bench? If so, let me know but please don’t post any photos with teh plaque – only visitors get to see what it says!

and, of course, the obligatory ‘selfie’

(my crazy staring eyes!)

Five years has passed….

Posted on 07/08/2014 by AnnaGoAnna

Hi Mum

I can’t believe it’s been five years since you left. Sometimes it still feels like yesterday when we watched you close your eyes and go to sleep. Sometimes it feels like forever since I heard your voice.

So often I find myself reaching for the phone to tell you something or just to have a chat – I wonder when I’ll stop doing that?

As I start a new chapter in my life, I’ve been sorting through some more of your things and found some great pictures and cards. My home phone also broke recently so I plugged in my old one only to discover a whole heap of voicemail messages from you. How strange to hear our voice after all these years and to know that I won’t hear it again.

Five years since you passed is also significant for me and my health. I found the lump on the morning of your funeral. Gosh it’s been a strange five years. Five years is so significant in cancer terms as most are able to consider it to be the point of ‘all clear’. As mine was a special/unique/rare/whatever variety, I get to continue the regular checks beyond the five years. It’s so odd to think you knew nothing of this part of my life, the cancer bit!

Anyway, thought it was time to post some more pictures of you…

Sherborne School House Cup Winning Team of 1956

I wonder why this photograph was taken? Looking v glam

Mum at our birthday party celebrating my brother’s 21st and my 18th

Mum and I chilling in Barbados

Brilliant! Love that I’ve found a pic of a squiffy Mum with a ciggy!

Miss you Mum

My Prom 23 – Mozart Requiem

Posted on 03/08/2014 by AnnaGoAnna

Conductor – Donald Runnicles with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the National Youth Choir of Scotland.

Tonight’s promenade began with a piece by Scottish composer John McLeod. “The Sun Dances is a glowing, iridescent work inspired by an Easter folk legend from the West of Scotland”. An interesting piece, bright, upbeat and colourful.

At the centre of the programme is Beethoven’s Fourth Symphony in B flat major. Seriously love this Symphony. It’s robust but elegant. It’s fast but captures you with every note played. If you don’t ‘do’ classical music but want to start… here‘s a great piece! Listen and I’ll be seeing you at next year’s Proms!

Our final selection for this evening’s performance was Mozart’s ever-popular Requiem in D minor. Mozart’s poignant and prescient anticipation of his own death. Such an incredible piece that tells such a story about Mozart’s life. The choristers were the National Youth Choir of Scotland – incredible performance and despite the youth present, the performance given was so experienced.

BBC’s Listen Again to this Prom click here McLeod and Beethoven and here for Mozart.

The obligatory ‘selfie’ with Helen.

My Prom 22 – War Horse

Posted on 03/08/2014 by AnnaGoAnna

A Prom inspired by the National Theatre’s play based on Michael Morpurgo’s novel, featuring a new suite created by Adrian Sutton from his score for the original production, as well as other music from the period with performers including the Proms Military Wives Choir & Gareth Malone.

Life-Size War Horse Puppets by the Handspring Puppet Company, Proms debut artist.

Cambiata North West
BBC Concert Orchestra
David Charles Abell conductor

Without gushing too much, it’d be very hard to truly tell you about tonight’s performance. So I will. The performance was spell-binding, emotional, beautiful, visually incredible and audibly amazing.

Never have I believed a puppet to be real as I did tonight. The War Horse, foal and goose – all puppets worked by humans but to an extent that every movement and mannerism reflected the animal it purported to be. It wasn’t long before you forgot entirely that there were skilled puppeteers and believed the animals were truly there.

I’ve not yet seen the play The War Horse nor the cinematic version. I don’t feel I need to now either as tonight’s performance must surely top them both.

The inclusion of the Gareth Malone and the Military Wives Choir was inspirational. They became part of the story and, on the eve of centenary of the First World War made it all the more present and poignant for doing so.

Clever staging allowed for part of the floor of the auditorium to open up and bring up a canon which was fired during the performance, for soldiers to appear through a field of corn. There was snow to illustrate the length of the war through the seasons and the writer Michael Morpurgo on stage as a witness and then to hand out the ears of corn.

Truly an utterly brilliant performance on stage accompanied by the most incredible choices of music and song. I’m quite sure that I wasn’t the only person with a tear in my eye and a little choked at the emotive performance.

Reviews:
The Times
WhatsOnStage
Telegraph
Guardian

Happy Birthday Pops

Posted on 03/08/2014 by AnnaGoAnna

Celebrating Dad’s birthday!

What you can’t see in the bottom left picture is that Dad is trying hard to suppress his own giggles as he watches his Grandson Joe have a very infectious giggle-fit…. below is a selection of pics of ‘the other party’!

(***Sorry Joe, you told me I wasn’t allowed to post it on Instagram but you didn’t mention my website! Love you oodles x)

Pure Viva Cleanse – Results

Posted on 01/08/2014 by AnnaGoAnna

I completed the 3-day juice cleanse yesterday evening. I haven’t felt the same ‘clean’ feeling that I’ve felt with previous cleanses and find myself a little underwhelmed with this package.

Was I hungry during the 3 days? Yes. I found having 6 juices a day a struggle. I would have preferred less juices during the day but a larger volume in each ‘serving’. Each bottle was only 330ml in volume, mostly sweet in taste and thinner juices than I’m used to. This culminating in my going to the fridge more often (with 6 juices a day), feeling unsatiated and the sweetness leaving me with a craving for breads. This package, being just the juices with no instructions or timetable, meant I neglected to drink as much water as was probably required, I felt ‘clogged’ and I constantly craved food. Usually at the end of a detox or juicing period I find that if I crave ‘food’ then it tends to be healthy options, fruit, salad or nuts. The sweet taste of these juices has left me craving unhealthy options so I wonder if my body isn’t alkalised following this cleanse.

Did I get congested? Yes. Despite my taking digestive stimulator capsules in addition to the juices, there was little movement! TMI?

Do the juices last in the fridge? Yes. There was less separation of the juice content during the 3 days but a good shake before drinking is required.

Calorie counting? On each of the juice bottle labels are the nutritional facts of the content. This includes the calorie count for each. I was surprised that each bottle had 200-250 calories meaning that for a 6 juice day this worked out at approximately 1,300 calories.

Would I do it again? No. I didn’t feel this pre-prepared juicing plan provide me with anything more than the juices which I could buy from Pret or similar outlet selling cold-pressed juices. Although caveat to that would be that as this was an offer at £59 +delivery it may work out cheaper.

Would I recommend Pure Viva Cleanse? No. I didn’t feel the overall service was great. Ordering was cumbersome, my only phone contact disappointing and the juices were just juices ie no plan, instructions or information.

Oooh and the all important question….

Did it work and results? As a ‘cleanse’ probably not. I don’t feel ‘lighter’ nor that wonderful ‘clear’ sense of being that I usually feel after 3 days of juicing. I did however lose another 1.5kg.

Pure Viva Cleanse – 3 day Juice Cleanse

Posted on 29/07/2014 by AnnaGoAnna

This morning saw the arrival of a new juice cleanse from Pure Viva Cleanse. An offer from LivingSocial meant that the 3 day juice cleanse was reduced to £59 (normal value £99) together with a £10 delivery charge.

The ordering process was a little cumbersome. Firstly you are required to make your booking online via the website. I would have then expected something further about arranging delivery but you’re left hanging with your account indicating that it is ‘on-hold’ but no further explanation. FYI despite my order having been delivered this morning this order in my account remains ‘on-hold’.

I waited to see if the status would change or anyone would contact me – they now had my details in my account. A few days later when nothing had changed, I telephoned the number on the website. My call went through to a mobile and I felt was answered in an abrupt fashion. I enquired about how to set up the delivery date and was quickly told to give this information and order number over the phone together with payment details for the £10 delivery cost. When I asked about the ‘on-hold’ reference on the website being misleading I was told this was how the website worked. Not great customer service for a first time sale.

Packaging – The juices are grouped into ‘daily’ heat-sealed plastic bags which are rammed into a chill bag. The contents are only mildly cold and the bag barely able to close. I’m also acutely aware that there are no instructions, leaflets or information within the package.

There are 6 juices a day, each in a 330ml bottle and numbered to make it easier. In addition there is a bottle of ‘lemonade’. I’m unsure if this is a separate drink or like other detox juicing programmes contains lemon juice for adding to the first hot or cold water of each day.

I have looked at the website for programme instructions, more particularly with reference to the ‘lemonade’ but feel the most informative programme instructions to be on the LivingSocial offer page.

It appears the lemonade is an additional drink and I will need to buy some fresh lemons for my morning water and lemon ‘wake-up’ drink.

Juice 1 – Essential Green (daily)
Kale, Cucumber, Apple, Celery, Lemon, Ginger

Enjoyable green juice. Not too ‘green’ in flavours for those new to juicing!

Juice 2 – Essential Red (daily)
Beet, Dandelion, Apple, Parsley, Lemon and Carrot

Juice 3 – Garcinia Essential Berry Extract (daily)
Garcinia Cambogia, Acai Berries, Blueberries, Goli Berries, Raspberries, Green Coffee Extract

Juice 4 – Energiser (daily)
E3 Live AE, Coconut Water, Pineapple, Mint, Ginger

Juice 5 – Refresh Tonic (daily)
Romaine, Pear, Mint, Cabbage, Cucumber

Juice 6 – Skin Deep (daily)
Strawberry, Kiwi, Lemon, Apple

Juice 7 – Lemonade (one per detox)
Lemon, Lime, Cayenne Pepper, Raw Agave

I’ll let you know how I’ve got on with this cleanse in a few days.

My Prom 14 – Duruflé, Ravel and Simon Holt

Posted on 27/07/2014 by AnnaGoAnna

As you know from previous posts, I love going to different concerts at the Royal Albert Hall and I’m also a huge fan of the Proms. The diversity of the Prom concerts put together over the season means also that even a seasoned Promenader or classical music aficionado will be challenged by some pieces performed and also learn to love or hate new composers/compositions.

Fortunately for me, Pod organises our Proms season by sending out a list of concerts that he and his wife are interested in attending a few weeks before they go on sale. I, together with other friends, reply with our choice of concerts that we’d love to join them for. Pod then patiently, and repeatedly, redials the booking line number at the moment the clock chimes 9am and until his call is placed in line with the thousands of others who are keen to secure Proms tickets. This year he was only 4,000(ish) in line and successfully managed to secure all the tickets requested. What a star and quite some feat of patience.

Tonight saw the first of my Proms season. Our party of four consisting of Pod and Helen, Pod’s brother Ciarán (pronounced ‘Kier-Ron’ (Irish)) and myself. We met first for a drink and bite to eat at The Queens Arms, a fabulous pub hidden in a Kensington Mews. Wonderful company, lots of tales and laughter together with great food setting us up perfectly for our short walk to the Royal Albert Hall, climbing the stairs to our second floor box and devouring a cooling ice-cream for dessert before the start of the performance.

Tonight’s programme consisted of pieces by Ravel, Holt and Duruflé (pronounced ‘doo-roo-flay’).
Conductor – Thierry Fischer.
Performed by the wonderful BBC National Orchestra of Wales together with the BBC National Chorus of Wales and the National Youth Choir of Wales.

Love love loved the pieces by Ravel. New pieces with which I was unfamiliar and ones that I would love to hear again and to once again lose myself in Ravel’s music. I found La Valse utterly mesmeric and could listen to this again and again.

Duruflé’s Requiem was, in the main, unknown to me. However some pieces I recall Mum performing as part of a Marlborough Summer School choral week and other pieces reminded me of long summers in Taizé some many moons ago. Again pieces that I’d love to listen to again.

Simon Holt’s world première of Morpheus Wakes however was a work that sadly didn’t do a thing for me. I found it jarring on the ear and wondered if the high pitched composition would find itself in a sci-fi film of the future (a genre of film that doesn’t appeal to me). Certainly, and sadly, not a piece of work that I want to listen to again.

That’s why I love the Proms programme – I always find something familiar, something challenging and something new in each and every Prom.

The ‘somewhat blurred and looking like a loony‘ obligatory selfie!

PROGRAMME
Ravel, Maurice (1875-1937) – Valses nobles et sentimentales, for orchestra
Holt, Simon (b. 1958) – Morpheus Wakes (BBC commission; world première)
Ravel, Maurice (1875-1937) – La Valse, for orchestra
Duruflé, Maurice (1902-1986) – Requiem

BBC Listen Again – Ravel and Holt here Ravel and Duruflé here