Lifestyle New Year’s resolutions
FIX UP, LOOK SHARP Whether hanging from ropes, channelling Nigella or getting in touch with your Afro-Brazilian spirit, 2012 could open up a wealth of untapped doors for you. We meet four go-getters who made last year work for them Interviews: Anna Millar
NAME Denise Deutsch AGE 30 PROFESSION Fabric buyer, Mandors SKILL Trapeze and Aerial Arts
I fell into the idea of aerial arts as a hobby after unexpectedly getting a ticket to see Leona Lewis perform in Glasgow. She had backing dancers doing it, and I just thought it looked really amazing – something clicked with me. I went online and found a class at the Firhill Sports Complex in Maryhill, with the incredible Glasgow-based performance art company, Spinal Chord; I’ve never looked back. I’m not especially active, although I have done pole fitness. And truthfully, I was pretty petrified the first time I went on my own, but I had a great time and have met some really amazing people. I do a class once a week for around two hours. It feels good to do something unrelated to work, although sometimes they’ll ask advice about fabrics for costumes for their shows.
I’m still as excited by it as when I first started. Really, I can’t believe I’ve learnt to trapeze, climb and hold positions, work ropes and hoops and a whole range of other skills: I still get quite scared but the feeling of achievement is amazing. I recently did the ‘360 degree suicide drop’ – essentially controlled falling; I was shaking at first but it was absolutely fantastic. I’d recommend it to anyone.
See spinalchord.com or outoftheblue.org.uk
NAME Kirsty Moreland AGE 32 PROFESSION GP SKILL Cooking
I always enjoyed cooking as a child and used to dabble a bit at home, and so when I both gave up my job in a hospital to become a GP and split up with my long- term boyfriend within the space of a week, I was keen to try something different and get to know some new people, in a fresh environment. I noticed the local community centre was running cookery classes for beginners, just teaching basic techniques. I had a bit of extra time on my hands and wanted something interesting to do with it, besides which, as a doctor, I was interested in eating healthy and nutritious food. Before long, I had picked up enough techniques to brave an Italian cookery class, which I recently finished up.
My new boyfriend has no complaints when I try out new recipes on him – his favourites being Thai chilli salmon and tarte au citron. I should add that I was by no means a great cook to start off with, but after a few disasters I really feel I have a new skill set. I’d recommend it for anyone, whether it’s just browsing the classes in your local community centre or checking out some of your neighbourhood’s cookery schools. I’ve already signed up for a cake-making class next.
See thecookeryschool.org or entcs.co.uk
38 THE LIST 5 Jan–2 Feb 2012
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