Gaz New Woman 15 10 12 - Newsquest

gazette-news.co.uk /newwoman 

Gazette Monday October 15, 2012 19 

New 

WOMAN 

I’m no 

groupie, 

says 

music 

journo 

Zoe 

‘I’m a nanny for 

rock stars’ P20-21 

SADIE 

HASLER 

IN BED WITH MY 

NEW IPAD 

P24 

FASHION 

P24 

Winter warmers 

SURVIVOR PAGE 28 

My pig skin breast grafts

20 Gazette Monday October 15, 2012 


I’m not a groupie or 

music journalist Zoe 

DEALING with the odd 

bit of casual sexism, 

as well as the tempers 

and egos of the “talent”, 

is all in a day’s 

work for a female music journalist, 

according to Zoe Howe. 

Zoe has written biographies on 

the tempestuous female punk 

band the Slits and more recently 

the charismatic and outspoken 

Dr Feelgood guitarist Wilko 

Johnson and Florence Welch 

from Florence and the Machine. 

As a music journalist she has 

contributed to NME, Channel 4 

music and BBC Music and has 

interviewed the likes of Poly 

Styrene, Macy Gray and Maximo 

Park. 

“When I review live gigs, it is 

often assumed that, as a lone 

female at a gig, I am a ‘groupie’. 

Don’t get me started on that,” 

laughs Zoe. 

“Being a female music journalist 

is sometimes seen as a novelty 

in the same way people view me 

being a female drummer. Some 

say ‘oh you play the drums? 

That’s nice’. No actually I am in a 

band, it’s what I do!” 

Having interviewed some high 

profile artists in her time Zoe has 

found it is sometimes better to 

tread carefully. 

“Of course with some you have 

to be careful of their egos and the 

fact many of them are used to 

only talking about themselves,” 

laughs Zoe. 

“Sometimes it does feel like I’m 

a nanny, but for rock stars! 

“But it’s important to see 

things from their point of view. 

They might have been interviewed 

hundreds of times before 

so you have to think outside the 

box and ask different questions.” 

There were no tantrums at 

dawn when Zoe collaborated 

with Wilko Johnson, who lives in 

Westcliff, on his autobiography 

COOK 

Ingredients: 

1 chicken carcass (bones) 

1 chicken stock cube, use low 

salt if preferred 

500ml water 

1 tbsp Cornflour (cornstarch) 

200g Butternut squash (peeled 

weight) 

Leftover cooked roast chicken 

Leftover chestnut stuffing 

By LOUISE 

HOWESON 

louise.howeson@nqe.com 

Looking Back at Me, which was 

published this year. 

“Wilko was wonderful to 

work with,” says Zoe, 32. 

“He has so many stories. I 

didn’t want to stop his 

stream of consciousness 

which is why the book is 

not in chronological 

order as such. 

“I wanted him to be 

able to go off on tangents 

and talk 

about anything 

that came into 

his mind.” 

Zoe felt at ease 

working with the 

musician. 

“In many ways it 

doesn’t get more 

blokey and male 

than Wilko,” says 

Zoe. 

“But no one 

ever made me feel 

like, you know, 

‘who’s this 

bird wading 

in?’ Wilko 

himself 

was just 

great and 

very open.” 

Her biography 

of 

the Slits, 

Typical 

Girls? 

T h e 

Chicken, stuffing and 

butternut squash pie 

Pastry 

150g, 5oz Plain (all purpose) 

flour 

40g, 1.5oz Cornflour (cornstarch) 

110g, 4oz Butter, 

1 tbsp milk 

Method: 

1. Put the chicken carcass in a 

saucepan with water and the 

stock cube and simmer for an 

hour on the stove. 

Story of The Slits, was published 

in 2009. 

It was the first biography written 

about the Slits and Zoe was 

the last person to interview the 

band members before the 

lead singer Ari Up 

lost her battle to 

cancer in 2010. 

“I’d been a 

huge fan of 

the Slits for 

a long time 

and I noticed no one 

had written a biography 

about them,” 

says Zoe. 

“I felt the band 

deserved one 

because their 

music was so 

ground-breaking. 

“No one 

knew what 

to do with 

them when 

t h e y 

emerged 

on the 

scene 

as they 

were so 

experimental 

Ari Up – Ariane Forster of 

the Slits 

2. Boiling the squash for 

10 mins in water. Strain. 

3. Strain the stock and 

throw away the bones 

and add 200ml of stock 

and mix 1 tbsp cornflour 

(cornstarch) with cold water. 

Heat the stock in a microwave 

until boiling then add the 

cornflour paste in, stirring all the 

time until thickened slightly, so 

it’s a slightly thin gravy. 

with dub 

reggae and 

pop-punk, 

A f r i c a n 

rhythms, funk 

and free jazz. 

“They had a 

big impact on 

me. I was the 

only girl at 

school playing drums in a band 

and I remember feeling out of 

place. Then I discovered the Slits 

and it all made sense.” 

She interviewed band members 

Ari Up (Ariane Forster), Palmolive 

(Paloma Romero), Viv 

Albertine and Tessa Pollitt and 

previous and subsequent members 

including Budgie (who later 

joined Siouxsie and the Banshees) 

and Bruce Smith. 

She says: “I had to immerse 

myself into their world and 

spend a lot of time with 

them. 

“Ari was feisty and 

‘ 

she was really a 

force to be reckoned 

with. I had a couple 

of run-ins with Ari 

and she was a 

whirlwind. She 

would send ranting 

emails all in capitals 

which would make 

me laugh.” 

There was never a dull 

moment with Ari. 

“Once I had to get up and 

answer the front door mid interview 

and when I went back into 

the room she had turned my 

voice recorder back on and was 

talking energetically into it. I 

think she didn’t want to lose her 

flow! 

“She had so much passion and 

presence. It’s hard to believe 

someone 

so much energy 

and so 

alive, could 

not exist 

n o w.” 

Working 

w i t h 

t h e 

band 

with 

4.Switch 

the oven 

to 

180oC / 

350F and 

make the 

pastry by 

rubbing the 

butter into the 

flour and cornflour. Once the 

butter is rubbed in, add 2-3 tbsp 

of cold water until you can bring 

You 

have to 

think 

outside the box 

with rock star 

questions 

Collaborators – Zoe Howe and Wilko Johnson 

rekindled her own love of performing. 

“Being surrounded by punks, 

who didn’t care what people 

think or about imperfections and 

things being messy as long as 

you give them a try, rubbed off on 

me,” says Zoe. 

“Viv Albertine was particularly 

influential to me. I’d 

played drums since I 

was 12, but had 

stopped performing. 

After the book Viv 

and I worked 

together. She’d just 

started playing 

guitar again after 

nearly 30 years so 

we encouraged each 

other.” 

Zoe was brought up 

on the South Coast and 

she lived in London for 15 years 

before moving to Essex. 

Her love of music began with 

Zoe rummaging in her dad’s 

record collection. 

“There are so many photos of 

me sitting with headphones on 

listening to music,” laughs Zoe. 

“My dad trusted me to play the 

vinyls and that’s all I 

did!” 

Zoe started 

out as a theatre 

actress 

b e f o r e 

breaking 

into music 

journalism. 


WOMAN 

it together as a dough. Chill. 

5.Put the stuffing, leftover 

chicken, squash and the gravy 

into a baking dish. 

6.Roll out the pastry and put on 

top. Trim around the edge and 

make a hole in the middle as a 

vent. 

7.Brush all over with milk and 

then bake for approx 40 mins or 

until well browned and the filling 

is bubbling.



a novelty act says 

My 

dad 

trusted me 


WOMAN 

to play the 

vinyls, and 

that’s all I 

‘did 

Zoe Howe – the music journalist started as a model and actress 

Picture: AL UNDERWOOD BA69634_018 

She says: “I sort of did it the 

wrong way round; I started out 

as an actress and model and 

later got into music writing.” 

Zoe then worked at the 

World Entertainment News 

Network and then she studied 

for a post graduate journalism 

course at the London College 

before working at 

ITV on the entertainment 

website. 

‘ 

She then went 

on to write for a 

variety of music 

magazines. 

During her 

career Zoe has 

interviewed larger 

than life characters 

including Poly 

Styrene from X Ray 

Spex. 

“I conducted what would 

sadly be one of the last interviews 

she would give, not long 

before she died,” Zoe says 

“She was suffering from terminal 

cancer at this stage and 

Being 

a female 

music 

journo is often 

seen as a 

novelty 

conducting interviews, promoting 

her excellent album 

Generation Indigo, from her 

hospice.” 

The interview was heartfelt. 

“It was such a great interview 

and she was extremely 

philosophical and positive, 

almost as if part of her had 

already moved on and 

was looking at herself 

with a new 

perspective.” 

Disaster 

struck after the 

interview. 

“I checked the 

tape. It had 

recorded her saying, 

‘Hello’ and 

‘I'm a bit tired...’ 

and then it cut out,” 

says Zoe. 

“Thank goodness I’d been 

listening carefully, as I could 

write down as much as I could 

remember, which was quite a 

bit. Thankfully, it’s never happened 

before or since.” 

In her book How’s Your Dad? 

Living In the Shadow Of A 

Rock Star Parent published 

2010 Zoe explored the plight of 

the offspring of rock stars. 

It is something that is close 

to home seeing as Zoe’s husband, 

Dylan Lee Howe, is the 

eldest son of Yes guitarist 

Steve Howe. 

“I wanted to write a book on 

how having a rock star parent 

affects the children,” says Zoe. 

“I didn’t realise who Dylan’s 

dad was when I met him – 

probably one of the reasons he 

said he wanted to marry me! 

“It can be hard to live up to a 

rock star parent. Dylan used to 

play in gigs and the first thing 

someone would say is ‘how’s 

your dad?’” 

Her latest book Florence and 

the Machine: An Almighty 

Sound was published in September. 

For further information on 

zoe, visit www.zoejhowe. 

moonfruit.com.



Fitness for cancer patients 

FITNESS instructor Ondie 

Woods trained her mother 

Maureen throughout her cancer 

treatment so she could 

keep her mobility and independence. 

Now Ondie, who has worked in the 

fitness industry for 23 years, is fully 

qualified to deal with patients across 

Essex who are going through varying 

stages of cancer treatment and recovery. 

She wants to help more people to 

exercise and regain quality of life. 

Ondie, who lives in Leigh, says: “My 

mum was 56 when she was diagnosed 

the first time in 1999 after she had a 

lumpectomy and they discovered she 

had grade three breast cancer. 

“I helped her train to get her mobility 

back after the lumpectomy 

and to keep her fitness up 

during the chemotherapy 

‘ 

and radiotherapy and 

the five years she she 

was taking Tamoxifen.” 

Devastatingly Maureen’s 

cancer came 

back and the family 

It’s 

awful to 

see 

someone you 

love go 

through that 

were told it was terminal. 

“After 10 years in remission 

she began to feel very 

unwell with numerous visits back and 

forth to the hospital and back pain, a 


WOMAN 

By LOUISE 

HOWESON 


year later they found she had secondary 

bone cancer with lesions in the 

liver and spots in the lungs. 

“I helped her keep as much independence 

and mobility as possible 

during that time. She was fantastic 

and never moaned once. It’s awful to 

see someone you love go through 

that,” says Ondie. 

Under Ondie’s guidance 

her mum was able to still 

do day-to-day activities. 

“Simple things like 

being able to carry a tray 

of teas or get out of bed 

to go the toilet independently 

mean the world to 

people in that situation. 

With specific training it is 

possible to give people 

their independence back.” 

“I am a level 4 Cancer Rehab Exercise 

Specialist – there are only 33 of us 

qualified on the Register of Exercise 

Professionals, and we tailor the exercises 

specifically for cancer patients 

and survivors. 

“I have clients who are undergoing 

cancer treatment and I work with 

them to help them with specific problems 

related to the treatment. 

“This can range from side effects 

from the medication or recovering 

after an operation.” 

Ondie plans to set up group exercise 

sessions especially for this purpose. 

She says: “I am planning to run the 

sessions in halls across Essex. It 

would mean they would be able to 

focus on something positive and 

improve their overall health and independence.” 

For details, visit www.ondie 

woodstotalfitness.com, 

e-mail ondietotalfitness@ 

tiscali.co.uk or call 

01702 476723, 

07870441158. 

Ondie Woods 

– offers fitness 

training to 

cancer patients 

Picture: ANNA 

LUKALA 

BA 70828

partner? 




The Awkward Question 

? 

WOMAN 

Have you 

snooped 

on your 

With one in three of us admitting we have checked our other 

half’s text and e-mails on the sly, we are asking is it every 

OK to cyber snoop? A new study shows women are more 

likely to have a scroll through their partner’s mobile or a root 

through their e-mails. What’s more, three quarters of people 

who admit to spying on their partner’s texts end up 

discovering flirty or sexual messages. We asked our readers 

if is it ever acceptable to go through your partner’s phone? 

Checking your partner’s phone – is it right or wrong? 

YES 

BECKY MUNSON, 39, and 

lives in Alresford. She has two 

children aged 14 and three 

years old. 

She says sometimes the 

answer is “yes”. 

“I think there’s nothing wrong 

with looking if you have 

suspicions. I suspected my ex 

was having an affair so 

checked his messages, which 

confirmed my suspicions. 

I occasionally look at my 

husband’s now, not that I 

have any suspicions, just 

because of what had 

happened with my first. 

“I would have no concerns 

with him checking mine. 

“Although it’s not something I 

relish doing if you genuinely 

have concerns then I don’t 

think there’s anything too bad 

about having a look. 

“You could end up saving 

yourself from being in a 

relationship with someone 

who is cheating on you.” 

NO 

KAREN WADDY, 50, lives in 

Colchester with her partner. 

She has two grown up 

children and works as the 

marketing administrator. 

She says rifling through your 

partner’s phone is a real no. 

“If you don't trust your 

partner, to the point at which 

you consider spying on them, 

how can that relationship ever 

work? 

If they’re spying on your texts 

and e-mails, chances are 

they’re also snooping on 

other areas of your private life 

such as going through your 

handbag and looking in your 

pockets. If you catch a 

partner spying on you it 

means they don’t trust you 

and they never will trust you. 

“I would never look through a 

partner’s phone and if I found 

them doing it to me it would 

be curtains for our 

relationship.” 

OTHER THOUGHTS 

FROM FACEBOOK 

“If someone becomes very 

secretive with their mobile or 

starts turning it off at night, 

when they usually leave it on, 

adds a password, or keeps it on 

silent, there’s a 99 per cent 

chance they’re up to no good.” 

CLAIRE STRONG 

“I’D rather not check his 

mobile/emails. What you don’t 

know can’t no can’t hurt you. 

There’s a good chance there 

will be something on the phone 

you won’t like.” 

TRACEY POOL 

“If you have nothing to hide 

then it doesn’t matter” 

KAREN HARRIS 

“If a man looks elsewhere for 

companionship then he’s not 

worth being with.” 

AIDEN 

“It is not acceptable. A woman’s 

handbag, computer and mobile 

phone is private.” 

SHARON PIPER





In bed with 

my new iPad 

and toasted 

teacakes 

SADIE HASLER 

Sadie Hasler is a writer, 

performer and radio 

presenter. She has 

appeared on Russell 

Howard’s Good News, 

Al Murray’s Multiple 

Personality Disorder, 

Harry Hill’s What Are 

The Chances, and 

CCTV cameras 

throughout the land... 

IT is 10.46am on the day of 

my column deadline. I am 

writing this while eating 

toasted teacakes in bed. I feel 

like some kind of bohemian 

slattern bashing her confessions 

into a gilt typewriter 

with a wonky “S” key while a 

naked man grunts beside her. 

But in this case, the man is a 

dog, and the typewriter is an 

iPad. 

That’s right, I bought myself 

an iPad, and I am in love. 

I know there are fancier technological 

purchases a girl could 

make, but they’re not as cute. I 

have been putting off buying 

one of these bad boys because I 

felt it was a luxury when I 

already have a laptop, but when 

it started to whir and delay displaying 

the words I thought to 

myself the only practical thing 

to do is buy something pretty. 

That is what a hard-working 

girl needs to operate efficiently 

in a modern world. 

It is 11.08am on the day of my 

column deadline. I just paused 

in writing my column so I could 

perform the important task of 

assigning the features editor 

VIP e-mail status and a noise 

which makes me feel professional 

and productive when he 

e-mails me to see where my column 

is. It’s quite time consuming, 

having this many means of 

efficiency. I might need another 

teacake... 

I finally gave in and bought 

this beaut when I found a 

cheque I had forgotten to pay 

in. I figured it was like bonus 

money, so not naughty at all. I 

don’t know why it should feel 

like such a luxurious purchase 

when I spend most of my waking 

hours typing. 

The answer is I have never 

been comfortable spending 

money on big things. I hardly 

ever spend more than ten 

pounds on an item of clothing 

because it feels like a waste. 

Sometimes I wish I was the kind 

of girl who could stand swooning 

in a shop window at a pair 

of sky-high Jimmy Choos then 

go in and proudly blow £300 on 

a credit card... but if I did that I 

would probably die. If not out of 

buyer’s remorse then certainly 

because I’d tumble to my death 

in the heels. I am a clumsy oaf 

who should not seek to raise 

herself above 5ft 7ins. 

We never had much money 

when I was a kid. Mum raised 

us on her own. I paid for my 

school lunches with tickets, and 

milk and bread was bought by 

counting out coins from a huge 

Gilbey’s gin bottle. Finding a 

fifty pee in there felt dead fancy. 

I thought all families did this. 

I went to a funeral of an old 

man named Charlie Jones with 

my mum a few years ago, and 

during a hymn she casually 

turned to me and said when we 

were little he used to go to the 

butchers and bring us back 

bags of meat because he knew 

we didn’t have much. 

I didn’t quite know what to do 

with that. I just thought he was 

a nice old man we saw occasionally; 

one of the motley peripheral 

characters that made up our 

strange patchwork family. I felt 

like I should get up and sing 

some epic gospel number about 

braising steak to thank him. 

But I didn’t. 

So I’ll never buy designer 

heels and this iPad only made it 

back from Currys because of 

the forgotten cheque. 

I’m glad I feel swish typing on 

it. I’m glad I don’t feel like 

expensive things are an entitlement 

in an age where under 10s 

feel like Dickensian waifs if 

they’re not at least on a waiting 

list for the new iPhone. I’m glad 

I know what it’s like to count 

twenty pences out of a gin bottle 

and that a man named Charlie 

Jones was kind to my mum. 

It’s 12.26pm and I’m going to 

toast all that with another teacake. 

Wrap-up in style for the winter 

GO GOTHIC 

Go black this winter to 

work the gothic vibe. 

Glossy fabrics like leather, 

patent and PVC work 

dominatrix chic. Jaeger 

London patent belted mac, 

£1,800 0845 521 0495 

www.jaeger.co.uk 

RED 

DEVIL 

Opt for an uplifting 

rainbow-hued, bright coat 

to perk up the dark nights. 

Go against this season’s 

dark mood with jewel-toned 

jackets. This Maisie rust 

coat is £269 from Hobbs 

0845 3133130 

www.hobbs.co.uk 

A winter coat is one of the 

most important fashion 

buys you’ll make all year. 

This week we look at this 

season’s trends, to 

ensure you wrap-up in 

style 

It may not be frosty 

just yet, but you'll be 

left out in the cold if 

you don't bag a 

winter coat 

sharpish. 

With the best buys long gone by 

November, it's worth bucking the trend of 

being fashionably late. 

While the primary function of a winter coat 

is keeping you warm and protected, a 

good coat is the ultimate style statement 

and has the power to reinvent your entire 

look. 

As something you'll be wearing over and 

over again, hopefully for years to come, 

it's worth investing and taking time to 

choose the right one for you. 

Just about every key trend of this season 

can be tapped into through a stylish 

cover-up, meaning you don't have to go 

overboard with a whole new wardrobe. 

MILITARY 

Battle the cold in a 

military coat this winter. 

Military-esque features 

translate so well to coverups 

with the sharp tailoring, 

strong shoulders and brass 

button detailing. Military 

Autograph coat, £129 

Marks & Spencer 

By LISA HAYNES 

FAUX FUR 

Faux fur is a way to channel 

Russian romance. Stick 

to longer length coat styles 

in versatile shades of ivory, 

brown or black. Ruby+Ed 

Siberian Stone long coat, 

£275 

www.rubyanded.co.uk 


WOMAN 

STREET 

FASHION 

EMMA MEAD, 23, from Colchester, 

says: “I absolutely love Primark and I 

get a lot of my things from there and 

from other High Street shops as well. 

“I always wear heels and I don’t own a 

pair of flat shoes because I find it 

uncomfortable to wear them. 

“I like to feel feminine and I like the 

extra bit of height it gives me to wear 

heels so even though I am just 

shopping in town today, I am still 

wearing heels. 

“I am quite a girlie girl in my fashion 

sense and out of famous people the 

person I really admire for her style 

sense is Cheryl Cole because she can 

look just as good when she is wearing a 

pair of jeans as she does when she is 

done up for a night out. 

“The shoes I am wearing today, and my 

bag, are from Primark, the jeans are Top 

Shop, my jumper H&M and my pink 

watch is made by Ice.”




WOMAN 

Discover make-up secrets to inspire 

confidence, no matter what your personal 

style. Bobbi Brown reveals how in her 

seventh beauty book, Pretty Powerful... 

PRETTY 

NATURAL 

You love the healthy, natural glow that 

comes from wearing subtle make-up and 

your mantra is “'less is more”. 

“It starts with a sparkle in the eye and amazingly 

clear skin,” says Bobbi. “These women are the 

epitome of health and wellness – not only stunningly 

understated in their beauty, but they also understand 

that subtle style simply works.” 

BOBBI’S TOP TIPS 

Begin with a dab of corrector or concealer just where 

you need it most, then a light foundation or tinted 

moisturiser that completely blends into your skin. 

Go with a pretty blush that is the colour your 

cheeks turn when you exercise. 

Choose a lip colour in the natural tone that 

appears when you bite your lips 

(your perfect nude). 

PRETTY 

RADIANT 

Looking radiant and exuding positive 

energy is your beauty goal, whether that’s 

through bringing light and sparkle to your 

face or using colour. 

“Pretty radiant women use both beauty and style to 

express their personalities,” explains Bobbi. “This 

doesn’t mean over-the-top make-up. It’s more about 

expressing their individuality with just a pop of colour 

or a touch of sparkle.” 

BOBBI’S TOP TIPS 

To bring colour, warmth and sheen to your face, apply 

a creamy blush. Shimmer powder looks gorgeous 

when dusted on cheekbones. Adding sheer gloss 

to your lids makes them shine. Light-reflective 

shimmer shadows are another beautiful way 

to add sparkle. 

Add creamy lipstick in a shade 

that’s pretty and not too 

strong. 

PRETTY 

STRONG 

Your beauty routine is based around 

practicality and time-saving as you’re 

athletic, sporty and often on the run. 

“A woman can be strong in character or strong in 

body, but it is pretty powerful when both qualities 

come together,” says Bobbi. “Pretty, soft make-up 

plays on your natural beauty without overpowering 

your healthy look.” 

BOBBI'S TOP TIPS 

If you’re particularly active, tinted moisturiser evens 

out skin tone, won’t look heavy or out of place, 

and stays on. 

For eyes, choose long-lasting products like 

gel liner and waterproof mascara. 

Just a touch of gloss or lip 

balm is all you need for 

your lips. 

PRETTY 

CLASSIC 

Your look epitomises timeless style, 

with a chic wardrobe and polished 

make-up. I admire women who are pretty 

classic because they’re consistent not only with 

their style but with everything else,” Bobbi says. 

“They are trustworthy, solid and dependable.” 

BOBBI'S TOP TIPS 

A classic look starts with perfect, even skin, so use the 

correct foundation formula for your skin type – matte, 

sheer or richly moisturising. To create a classic eye, 

you’ll need three basic eye shadows: light, medium 

and dark. Use the lightest shade all over lid, medium 

shade from lash line to just above the crease, and 

darkest shade to line the top lash. 

A classic lip is pretty and feminine. Choose a 

colour a little brighter than your own lip 

and, for extra definition, use a pencil 

in the same colour.


Mix and match to 



WOMAN 

nail it this season 

MIX and match your nails and make-up to look stunning this Autumn, says make-up artist and nail 

technician HOLLIE WAKEHAM. Hollie, who runs a salon in Colchester, gives us the lowdown on the latest 

beauty trends. She is a regular at the fashion weeks and posts make up seminars on You Tube. 

Be bold – match nail and eye make-up colours 

It’s OK to 

be square 

with your 

nails 

‘ 

HEY honies! So after the 

excitement of Paris Fashion 

Week last week I have 

been busy working at the 

Look Magazine beauty 

show. 

It was all about bold nails and 

matching them to make-up and 

accessories. 

We focused on bold nails for the 

show, Blue Island nail polish by 

Look Beauty, which were filed into 

a sqaure with round edges. Really 

eye-catching. 

Myself and Karla Powell were 

the nail technicians for the show 

and the autumn/ winter collection 

featured a number of designers 

including Mango, River Island, Primark, 

New look and many more. 

The show wasn’t short of 

celebrities. Top model Kelly Brook 

was there with her new range for 

New Look and lovely Alesha Dixon 

was performing her new single. 

Normally I’m crawling 

around on the floor doing the 

models nails, but me and 

Karla were spoilt with our 

very own nail sections. 

Smash box was the 

brand of make-up used 

and deep red lips with natural 

eyes or electric blue 

smokey eyes with nude lips 

was the look used by the make 

up artists. The colours complemented 

the island blue nails perfectly. 

The clothes were amazing lots 

of fur, metallics and ankle boots. 

The hair had an almost windswept 

undone feel to it. With 

brushed out waves and 

lots of dry shampoo for 

texture highlighting 

the shine. 

‘ 

File the nail 

into a square 

with a rounded 

edge. 

Paint on to the 

natural nail with 

Blue Island by 

Look Beauty. 

For an eyecatching 

look 

match nails with 

dark blue eye 

make-up or dark 

lipstick. 

Choose either 

dark eyes or lips, 

not both 

together. 

Alternatively 

match the nails 

to accessories 

like bag or 

jewellry. 

To complete 

the look create 

windswipt curls, 

using dry 

shampoo which 

gives the hair 

body and stops it 

going limp. 

Square look – file nails in to a square and match the colour 

with eye make up or lipstick




WOMAN 

My pig skin graft 

CANCER survivor 

Paula Short was the 

first person at 

Colchester University 

Hospital to 

have both of her breasts 

reconstructed using pig 

skin in a pioneering operation. 

She is one of just a handful 

of women across the world to 

have had the state-of-the-art 

surgery called a porcine biomesh. 

After being diagnosed with 

grade one breast cancer in 

November last year Paula was 

keen to have a double mastectomy 

and breast reconstruction. 

When she was told about the 

pig skin procedure it did not 

daunt her. 

Paula, from Colne Engaine, 

says: “For some people it 

might seem weird to have pig 

skin inside them, but to me it 

felt more natural to have 

something animal than something 

synthetic. 

By LOUISE 

HOWESON 


“I have been around animals 

most of my life and so, in some 

way, it felt right to me.” 

During reconstructive 

breast surgery the pigskin is 

used to bolster existing muscle, 

so it’s strong enough to 

support a silicone implant. 

The pigskin graft can be 

used only when the reconstruction 

is being done at the 

same time as a mastectomy. 

Women who have previously 

had a mastectomy and lost 

most of the skin on their 

breast would not be suitable 

for it. 

If Paula had not chosen this 

opted she would have been 

faced with having to have two 

skin grafts from her back. 

This would have meant days 

Ask the 

surgeon 

Recovered – Paula Short and her husband Syd 

Picture: STEVE BRADING CO71136 

Q: What are the benefits of 

this compared to using 

skin from the back? 

A: Compared to any “flap” 

surgery where muscle is 

taken from the back or 

tummy, there is less 

operating time, early 

recovery after surgery, 

less hospital stay, less 

scarring, less pain 

Q: How much shorter is 

the recovery time? 

A: Post–operative recovery 

is quick with discharge 

from hospital within 23 

hours. 

Q: How expensive is the 

procedure? 

A: Cost of biomesh 

generally range from 

£1,500 – 1,800 and added 

to that is the cost of 

implant at around £500. 

Q: How many of these 

procedures have been 

performed at the hospital? 

A: I have performed seven 

procedures in Colchester. 

Q: Is it an option for 

women who are going to 

have reconstructive 

surgery? 

Surgeon – Arunmoy 

Chakravorty 

A: Yes, it is definitely a very 

good option for patients 

requiring mastectomy and 

who opt for immediate 

breast reconstruction. 

Q: Would you say that 

Pauline is a good example 

of how effective it can be? 

A: Yes, Paula is a good 

example. I feel it is a good 

option. 

Q: She was already fit and 

healthy – is that necessary 

for a good recovery? 

A: No. But, we do know 

that younger patients are 

more worried about their 

body image which is very 

understandable.


after cancer op 

of recovery in hospital as well as 

a lot more pain and discomfort. 

She says: “I knew I wanted a 

double mastectomy because I 

didn’t want the cancer to come 

back. 

“The reconstruction using the 

pigskin graft meant the 

recovery time would be 

‘ 

minimal and I’d be 

back on feet very 

quickly.” 

Paula’s surgeon 

was Mr Arunmoy 

Chakravorty, who 

is based at Colchester 

General Hospital. 

“When I first spoke 

to Mr Chakravorty he 

explained they would 

need to take the skin from my 

back for the double mastectomy. 

I realised what a big operation it 

would be and I was worried 

about recovery time. 

“Then he mentioned using pig 

skin. I asked all sorts of questions 

about infections and if my 

body would reject the pig skin 

but it seemed like the right decision.” 

The hospital raised the money 

for one of the pig skin grafts and 

the company who provide the 

grafts donated the other. 

She says: “I have ridden horses 

for many years. Looking 

after animals teaches 

The 

pigskin 

graft 

meant recovery 

time would be 

minimal 

you to be tough and 

to be practical. One 

of the hardest 

things I ever did 

was make the 

decision to have 

my horse Blue 

Boy put down. 

“I was very practical 

throughout 

my own treatment 

and just put my complete 

faith in the hospital.” 

Paula went in for the operation 

in February this year. 

“After the operation I felt 

groggy, but by the afternoon I 

was feeling a lot better and I was 

home by 6pm,” says Paula. 

“I was back in work after a 

fortnight and by March I would 

say I was fully recovered. My 

husband Syd and I love to travel 

and we put our holiday to Jordan 

back to the March and we 

had a fantastic time.” 

The recovery was not completely 

plain sailing. 

“I never really felt in pain, 

uncomfortable yes, but not in 

pain,” says Paula. 

“I had to have drains on my 

breasts to get rid of fluid and 

they were like two milk bottles 

but I still managed to keep 

active.” 

Is Paula happy with her surgery? 

“They look fine in clothes and 

I am really happy with them. 

When I was first confronted 

with them they didn’t really feel 

like they were mine because 

they don’t really move! 

“Also they are completely 

numb. You might get a phantom 

itch but you can’t feel anything. 

“For me, having the surgery 

has ultimately given me my life 

back and allowed me to carry on 

living it to the full.” 


‘ 

I had 

to have 

drains on 

my breasts to 

get rid of the 

fluids 


WOMAN 

Donors – the skin of pigs is not rejected by the human body



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