Do you ever embellish the truth about your weekends? If so, you’re not alone as new research from lastminute.com has revealed that one in five of us lie about our weekends. From spontaneous trips away to swimming with dolphins, there’s no end to the fantasies concocted to impress colleagues on a Monday morning. If you’ve ever been tempted to enhance your out-of-office life, you may identify with some of these findings.
Fake Britain
As Alexander McQueen fever hits London, Working Process and Savage Beauty were two of my must-see exhibitions of the year. Featuring the largest retrospective of his work in Europe, the lavish garments on display at Savage Beauty had me reviewing my staid, work wardrobe with some disdain. From slinky shell dresses to raffish tartan and taffeta numbers, the fabulously flamboyant world of McQueen whisks you out of the conformity of the corporate world and into journeys you never believed were possible.
Savage Beauty
Adopted by global giants: Deutsche Bank, Apple and Astra Zeneca, mindfulness is the latest buzzword sweeping through offices. Claiming to improve memory and performance, reduce stress and lower blood pressure, the simple act of becoming aware in the present moment, is set to revolutionise the way we work. If you fancy giving it a whirl, here are my top four tried-and-tested techniques which take no more than ten minutes in your lunch break.
Mindfulness
“Turn left just past Jesus,” instructed the reception manager. Grabbing my bag with a grin, I wondered what other surprises lay in store for me during my first night in a Nunnery. Seeking a weekend of calm and serenity far from the corporate pressure cooker, I was delighted to accept an invitation to the grand opening of Stanbrook Abbey in rural Worcestershire.
Stanbrook Abbey
As daylight commutes, lunch breaks al-fresco and post-work Pimms make a welcome return, we’ve finally made it through winter. But while we’re dusting off our sandals down south, in the harsher Scottish climes where winters are frequently a feat of endurance, spring is celebrated with far more pomp and ceremony. Edinburgh’s Beltane Fire Festival is a mystical night of Pagan pageantry crammed with stirring twilight creatures, fire dancers, flame throwers and giant, glowing toadstools.
Beltane Fire Festival 2013
Driven by never-ending goals in our nine-to-five lives, all too often the things we dream of achieving in our free time get relegated to bucket lists of wishful thinking. Five years ago, I visited Marrakesh on a mini break and was entranced by the distant white peaks of the Atlas Mountains. From the roof terrace of my riad, I vowed to explore them one day. But once back home, doubts crept in and the dream became as distant as the snowy mountain peaks. But this year something changed.
Atlas Mountains
With self-employment in the UK at the highest levels since records began, an exodus is taking place in offices across the land. But while there are undisputed benefits to the freelance lifestyle, there are many things we take for granted about office life that are sorely missed when we clear our desk for good. Having endlessly mentally wrestled with both scenarios, here are my top five reasons why I believe the grass remains greener on the office side of the fence.
On the Green
Known for Temple Bar, Guinness and plentiful craic, Dublin’s a city break destination guaranteed to shake off the shackles of corporate life. But like the best-loved books, don’t judge it by its cover alone. Home to Samuel Beckett, James Joyce and Oscar Wilde, Dublin’s literary credentials are second to none. From the Book of Kells to the world-famous Ulysses, the city’s steeped in literary history. If you’re looking for a mini break with a little more depth, now’s the time to delve into the pages of a well-worn classic.
Literary Dublin
If you’ve ever embarked on a work project which has consumed every waking moment, you’ll identify with Working Process. The exhibition documents the painstaking creation of the late Alexander McQueen’s final couture collection, Horn of Plenty in 2009. From the first pin and tuck to the high-drama of the Paris catwalks, the exhibition provides a fascinating insight into the working process of one of the UK’s most celebrated designers.
Working Process
Love them or loath them, there’s no denying that beards have sprouted back into fashion over the last few years. Once the preserve of homestead hill-billies, they’re now as likely to be sported in the boardroom as they are down on the pig farm. Combed and coiffed into submission, today’s facial topiary bears no resemblance to the mutton chops of yesteryear. Hot in pursuit of the new hursuit trend, I popped down to Beard at Somerset House to put in some face time.
BEARD