The Loop Guide to Clubbing, Drinking, plus West Essex and East London living.

Essex & The City 25

Written by Caroline Polledri
Posted on Monday, 13th October 08

So being 29 is undoubtedly the best year of my life and Sophie agrees. We had a Wenchie discussion the other day * and we’ve come up with a few reasons that I would like to mention. Firstly there’s the sense of inner peace ‘I am happy with who I am and if you don’t like it then tough’. Then there’s the independence and the realisation that we are all totally in control of our own lives and that we have the ability to move mountains, should we wish to do so. Then there’s the self confidence and embarrassment factor where the bar is so well raised that you can barley see it and I’ve heard it gets even higher as you get older. To elaborate on that last point, think back to when you were younger and not only did you suffer your own embarrassment but you could also get embarrassed at the hands of others whether it be your mum, dad or anyone slightly older for that matter who is usually related in some way, well that doesn’t happen when you’re 29 and it’s very liberating. Then (and this is my favourite) there’s the total belief that for the first time ever you have come to terms with the fact that you never know what’s around the corner (and trust me there is usually something). You don’t where you will be in 10 years time and you’ve finally relaxed into the idea that life is about the moment, The Now. Sure you have goals but the lead up to them is not an oversight anymore, instead you cherish the good times more and welcome the bad as something to learn from. So with all that in mind I conclude that 29 IS a good age and I have put all these factors into practice whilst on my husband search. I used to be one of those people in love with the idea of being in love and this got me nowhere as you end up settling. Sometimes when you want something so badly you don’t actually take the time to notice any indiscretions and you push all those niggling doubts to the back of your mind, which only come back and bite you on the arse and trust me I have been bitten more than once and it’s not always enjoyably ha ha. I used to think the task of finding my soul mate would be quite an easy one and that being on TV, writing for a living and working for myself would be what I would have to work at but having done all those things they seemed quite easy in comparison.
So lately I have been dating like it’s going out of fashion, it’s almost as if I am doing an experiment on the male species, testing and trying out all the kinds of people. Reading that back that actually makes me sound like a floozy but I didn’t say I had been sleeping with them all, in fact I couldn’t even bring myself to kiss a couple of them, so lets not go down that road! No, I have this weird notion that if I go out with enough I will be so clued up that I will quickly sum up their attributes after the 1st date and work out whether it’s even worth a second. Ok so I am not so shallow that I have one date, don’t like their shoes and never see them again, well not every time anyway ha ha. I do however, know that the minute they say things like ‘I don’t know what to do with my life’, or ‘my ex used to wear that perfume/do that/order that etc’ or things like ‘I might have the day off tomorrow, again’ or ‘I would move out but I have it to easy at home’ you know those types of things, then their off and they could look like Beckham it really wouldn’t matter, date 2 is not going to happen.
What men fail to realise is if they want an independent woman (and I am not saying they all do) but if they do, they need to be equally independent, have other interests and ambition themselves. They need to be honest about who they are instead of being the man they think you want them to be, is that so hard to ask for? This leads to my next massive requirement in a man and that’s honesty and lets face it if people can’t be truthful with themselves then how the hell are they going to be truthful with anyone else and you can only be truthful with yourself when you’ve actually figured out who you are, got all that? For me 29 was the milestone but I don’t think it has anything to do with age I think it’s to do with reaching a stage where you are happy with yourself. I want someone at the same point in their lives as me and long may that search continue!

Until next time, and I promise I won’t leave it so long! Lots of love and kisses from Miss Essex & The City (how cheesy is that)

P.S Ellie is moving to Dubai, we are one Wenchie down and I am NOT happy! Although she is so I suppose I could raise a smile.

P.P.S Loving Soph’s judging at the 195 factor, so pleased she is doing every week she is the funniest person EVER!

P.P.P.S Have you seen our Wenchies videos? What do you mean no, go on my face book, Wenchies 1, 2 & 3 sooo funny!

P.P.P.P.S Good luck this week Paulie x

* A Wenchie discussion is when all the Wenchies get together (the Wenchies being, me, Sophie, Lucie, Lowman & Ellie) we discuss dating, eating habits, 195, In Magazine, our next holidays etc. These have been taking place for about 4 years and will continue to do so.

The Loop - Loop Articles - Pout Introduces Thursdays at 195 and it’s gonna be like the old times!

Pout Introduces Thursdays at 195 and it’s gonna be like the old times!

Written by Caroline Polledri
Posted on Thursday, 2nd October 08

Thursdays are back at 195 and it’s gonna be like the old times! From the makers of Allure and Posh Funk, Club 195 brings you ‘Pout’! Over the last few months Thursday nights have a taken a bit of a back seat in the excitement stakes and West Essex weekends have definitely seemed shorter, but not anymore! Every Thursday ‘Pout’ comes to Club 195 and the weekend starts early again! Since 195’s refurb and the introduction of some of Essex’s most renowned promoters, club 195 has regained it’s exclusivity of being West Essex most elite night club. It only made sense to re-open on a Thursday guaranteeing that Pout will be a success before it’s even begun!
Complimenting this new night will be West Essex’s finest DJ’s including, Vernon James, Lewi J & Ross Mac playing the latest in funky house and a hint of R n B and of course Magic on the bongos. House drinks are £2.50 all night and entrance price is £5. This is definitely a dressy affair, so you will need to make the effort.
It’s so refreshing to see Thursday nights back again and where better to spend your long weekend than Club 195, first stop ‘Pout’, bring it on!

GUESTLIST ESSENTIAL!

Check out their new website. http://www.poutnights.co.uk

Thursday 16th October at Club One9Five & Every Thursday thereafter!
funky house & a hint of r&b.
djs: vernon james - lewi j - ross mac - joe butler - greenie
craig lee - nick da funk - peter nicholls
percussion by magic fingers
Celebrate in style, why not book a table, or for larger groups the Black Room - call us now on 07834 905800
price: £5 all night
dress sophisticated & smart… make an effort!
house drinks £2.50 all night - champagne reception
Club 195, Cottis Lane, 195-199 High Street, Epping, CM16 4BL.
http://www.club195.co.uk

The Loop - Loop Articles - Essex and the City 24

Essex and the City 24

Written by Caroline Polledri
Posted on Wednesday, 27th August 08

I am sure you will agree that this summer was probably the worst one we’ve had for a long time but although the weather has been grey, cold and miserable I have actually had quite a good few months. First there was Thailand detox (see EAC 22) which comes highly recommended. Then there was my Birthday which was the week after the detox and which saw me being carried out of Little Italy drunk as a skunk… oh the shame! I kept blaming it on ‘drinking so soon after a detox’ and Ellie said she would had agreed had it not been for the 2 Tequilas, Grappa & flaming Lamborghini (its my cousins own recipe) and lets not forget the 8 bottles of champagne! So there is a lesson learned there, don’t drink after a detox or do drink but not everything in sight and not anything your crazy Italian cousin decides to make up on the spot! Little Italy is such a great place though I love it there, the fact that you can eat and then go downstairs and party is genius. The food, atmosphere and service is excellent so one doesn’t take the shine off the other if you know what I mean. I like going to West End and its nice to go to a place where you can stay all night instead of going from bar to bar then ending up in a club full of tourists. It always seems that half way through a not very productive night someone decides ‘warehouse’ which you agree to and once there you pretend to everyone you’ve had a great night at the West End… ermm no you didn’t because you’ve ended up in Warehouse ha ha!

So apart from a great B’day and holiday I am now the proud renter of the smallest flat in Essex, ok its small but small has its advantages. Firstly its all mine (well for 6 months anyway), secondly its cheap so I get to live there on my own, thirdly it takes 15 mins to clean and lastly I go out in the morning and when I come home the flat is exactly how I left it. I have my little dog there Ollie so I am not completely ‘on my own’ but you get the idea and for those of you who have never tried living alone I would highly recommend it. My friend Sophie has lived on her own for nearly 12 years and she was the one that really pushed me into doing it, we went to see the flat and I was sort of making excuses I was making the choice to move from the biggest Georgian flat ever to a tiny studio. I couldn’t vision it but with Sophie’s help and expertise the flat looks lovely, girly and homely and I love it! The first few nights were a bit lonely and it took me ages to get to sleep but now its great and I am totally relaxed. Thank you little wenchy for making my flat my home and thank you wenchy no.2 for bringing round one of your steel colonic tools that we used as a hammer!
There’s something to be said for being totally comfortable being on your own, I never really grasped the concept before. I was one of these people that always ‘needed’ someone and would only feel at peace if I had a boyfriend. Now from facing up to it, being single is brilliant! You get to look for people you want in your life not one’s you need because if you do that then you end settling. I think that’s why people put up with so much from boyfriends and girlfriends; they would rather have a little bit of what they need than nothing at all so they settle. Take it from me unless you break the chain you will always be miserable. So unless you like being miserable and trust me some people do (and I am sure they are almost always working the bakers) then you need to work on yourself a bit, just get yourself to a point where you are completely happy on your own, its not easy but its worth it. Failing that have more than one boyfriend/ girlfriend one for each day of the week and you will never be alone but you may be labelled!
The girls and I have decided to have one of our famous Halloween parties again this year and although slightly premature I feel it necessary to organise these things well in advance. Sophie and I have also arranged our 30th for next year, yes the big ‘30’ we are having a joint one at Woolston Manor and then the week after we are off to LA – Hollywood baby! Can you imagine Essex in the Hills, more like the hills have eyes by the time we get there ha ha! On that note I am going to love you and leave you but not for long but I will leave you with a little joke

My Rules

Typical macho man married typical good-looking lady and after the wedding, he laid down the following rules:

“I’ll be home when I want, if I want and at what time I want-and I don’t expect any hassle from you. I expect a great dinner to be on the table unless I tell you that I won’t be home for dinner. I’ll go hunting, fishing, boozing and card-playing when I want with my old buddies and don’t you give me a hard time about it. Those are my rules. Any comments?”

His new bride said, “No, that’s fine with me. Just understand that there will be sex here at seven o’clock every night… whether you’re here or not.”

Love it!

The Loop - Loop Articles - Essex and the City 23

Essex and the City 23

Written by Caroline Polledri
Posted on Thursday, 3rd July 08

Is it me or are men turning into women? The other night in Nu bar there was a boy in there with shoulder length hair (that had been straightened) and an Alice in wonderland style headband? I mean what is that about? It was bad enough that from the back he looked like a girl but from the front he looked like a pre op transsexual and not a very attractive one. Ok so if he was a pre op transsexual I wouldn’t be taking the mick (well not as bad anyway) but not he was a ‘normal’ West Essexer.

It seems that slowly but surely the men in this area are doing more preening, straightening, plucking and waxing than the whole of girls allowed put together and I for one am not happy.
Like most women I take pride in my appearance there are some occasions (every week in fact) when I will jump in my car with my ‘Saturday morning hung over, picking up breakfast attire’ which consist of pyjamas and sports wear and some very battered Birkenstocks. There are times when I don’t wear a scrap of make up and my roots are so bad I am at the stage of trying on hats and considering head scarves. So with that in mind why the hell would I want to go with someone who makes me feel inadequately dressed all the time and even puts the rubbish out with perfect hair? Where have all the real men gone? Ok so general hygiene is a MUST but I know men that go to salons and get their eyebrows done and their hair coloured and cut every week! No thank you, in my eyes you should have more important things to worry about like working to provide (for me) in a physical or mentally challenging job so when you get home we have lots to talk about and I can look at you with respect. The thing is a man getting more feminine actually turns us off, men take note! Ok there are many celeb men that we liked when we’re 16 like Leonardo Di Caprio and Corey Haim but as you get a bit older and you want a big strong protective man to wrap his arms around you so you feel protected. Not a smooth skinned tanorexic who is worried about breaking a nail. I have been wanting to write about this for ages but needed to collect a bit more evidence and now I have. Most of my friends feel the same and I have been very observant over the last few weeks and this is what I have come up with.
I was trying to work out the reasons behind it and I honestly think that the more women take control the more men are sitting back and saying ‘ok lets swap’. I mean they are taking time out to make themselves look ‘pretty’ for heavens sake, what is that about? These days women work just as hard as men and are every inch the provider in the family and also within the couples unit. Which is great but the backlash of this is that men (armed with mentality of the ‘woman at home’ which was abandoned with Reebok Classics) have decided they want a slice. They are confident now that they can count on us both financially and for emotional security that their quite happy relaxing into their new less powerful roles. It’s almost as if subconsciously they are turning the tables and saying ‘you wanted equal rights now you’ve got them but we want them too!’.


I know how this sounds and there is no one more grateful than me for what the suffragettes did Germaine Grere, Anne Widocome and other feminists of our time have some valid points BUT I think its come back to haunt us and we only have ourselves to blame! Now it seems there is a choice between pretty boy lemon or totally male chauvinists white van man, ok so I am generalising but I don’t care, I have got no reason to be diplomatic – I don’t care if either category hates me!
Ok so once again I have got mega deep and slightly political but as you get older fewer things get to you, and when they do you have to let rip and lately the boys of Essex are making the boy bands on the nineties look more manly and Mark Owen looked like a 12 year old girl so that’s saying something!
So with that in mind and if any of you pretty boys are reading this, stop the eyebrow shaping, the manicures and the several trips to the hairdressers and you might get a girlfriend who doesn’t want to share your beauty products. Instead you will meet girls that are more interested in surrender to your manly ways and letting you have a bit more of that control that makes you feel a bit more masculine….. Shit I am going to get so many repercussion from this, please don’t hit me with your GHD’s!!!!

P.S Love to all my wenchys..

P.P.S Get Jen out of Big Brother, whats with all the crying over a shite painting.. I have never wanted to be in Big Brother as much as I do this year. If I went in and was still in after throwing a shoe at Alex then I would have got that poor excuse for a painting and made a hole, which I would put my face through and wear it for the rest of the show.....

The Loop - Loop Articles - Essex & The City 22

Essex & The City 22

Written by Caroline Polledri
Posted on Monday, 2nd June 08

So the adventure begins for the ‘detox eight’, formal known as party animals, Caroline, Sophie, Lucie, Ellie, Natalie, Zoe, Lu Lu & Dan (Ellies boyfriend)! Our mission? To be thin & brown & altogether more healthy! Realistically (and this is no exaggeration) the last time my body was completely sober, cellulite free and had enough energy to walk up more than one flight of stairs was probably when I was about 9. I can’t remember a time in the last 10 years when I didn’t feel tired and sluggish unless I was exercising regularly and watching everything I ate. Its fair to say that I (and the rest of the girls including Dan) like a good drink, we are regular restaurant frequenters and the only exercise we tend to do is dancing in 195! In need of a detox? I think so!
Ok so going to Thailand to for just a week in order to have two colonics a day, be up at 7am (I wasn’t aware there was an AM) & replace food with which can only be described as a clay milkshake. To others this may have seemed a bit crazy, however when you have as much self control as the detox 8, then it requires something this drastic! Plus Ellie & Dan have done this three times before and assured us we would love it! Although this is coming from a couple who once told me when we were in Marbella that she was on a million pound boat in the port and to meet her there. As we walked up the gangway my phone rang, it was Ellie, ‘ha ha not really’ she was watching and laughing at the opposite restaurant, we were nearly inside the boat with a French couple we didn’t know. So, was ‘trusting’ Ellie’s word one to take seriously? To late to turn back now!
The first few weeks prior to going I was a little bit apprehensive, funnily enough not about the not eating party, it was more to do with the colonics twice a day. For those of you who don’t know what a colonic is please read EATC 3 for the review on my first ever one. Briefly though, it’s basically when a small tube is inserted up your bum & water goes in & out in order to flush out your stomach and cleanout all the left over waste that hasn’t been digested. Some people have said they haven’t eaten red meat for years but it’s come out in a colonic. It really helps with digestive problems, it helps relieve bloating and best of all it gives you a flat tummy! So that’s a brief explanation of colonic, relieving and slightly satisfying. Ok so that I can handle once every few months but twice a day? After not eating all day every day, what the hell is suppose to come out!
Putting that to the back on my mind I was feeling pretty confident & although my intention was to be v thin & v brown (my dream see EATC 1) I was hoping to come away with something in the way of an inner strength! (Ooh look at me getting deep!), something I have been lacking lately.

Arriving at Heathrow you would have thought that the detox eight were never going to see food or drink again! We stuffed & stuffed & stuffed we had the fortune of getting in the first class lounge where everything was free! At one point I had three mini muffins in my mouth, ok they were mini but three at one time is just greedy! Cheese & biscuits, bagels, crisps, twiglets and once on the plane the stuffing didn’t stop there, if the air hostess would have bought up an old leather shoe I think I would have even eaten it! I think it was because of the thought of not eating for 7 days made us panic, and panic can make you do very gluttonous things, like ask for seconds of plane food when the first tastes like rubber to start with! I had a realization on the flight whilst demolishing my 3rd bag of twiglet, ‘in 13 hours we won’t be eating for a whole week’!!. It was then I started to worry about the hunger bit, WE MUST BE CRAZY!
Arriving at Bangkok where the stuffing continued and although it was 7.30am we felt we needed at least one Thai curry, well when in Rome is what I say and we weren’t sure if we would even get a chance to sample Thailand’s delicacies! We were behaving a bit like squirrels storing their food in their cheeks for the winter, sort of the same, although we weren’t storing, we were swallowin and getting it then planning to get it sucked out twice a day for a week! Once again, WE MUST BE CRAZY!

So at Bangkok airport we then get a connecting flight to Koh Samui & the plane (which looked like the propeller’s had been weaved by the people on shipwrecked!) was slight scary and I am not a nervous flyer but even I was hoping to get there in one piece!
Anyway we did and once we touched down into Samoui airport, which can be described only as a hut we got in our car that was to take us to Koh Samui resort, it was then that I was getting excited!
The bumpy drive through the jungle brought us to a stunning resort, with its own private beach, wooden beach houses and our own private pool, it was perfect. Our rooms where lovely modern we had air con, TV and even a computer (FACEBOOK!).
We arrived at the resort quite late so decided to start the detox first thing in the morning and instead enjoy our last supper, I am surprised we could stuff anymore in to be honest but we managed! We then were to meet our mentors and advisors for the first time, these where the people who would be guiding us through our detox mission or as we expected, the sadists!
Introducing…. Sentha and Frank or as we aptly named them ‘a picture of health one & two’. Why I hear you ask, well that’s what you thought of them the minute you met them they both looked about 20 years younger than they looked (Soph did the right thing and found out how old they were). They both had glowing skin and bright eyes and just generally glowing. Ok so they’d lived in Thailand for five years and probably detox every few months, plus I doubt they burn the candle as much as the detox 8 do. However they said that we too by the end of the week would feel and look just as fantastic! Now we were getting eager!
We went through everything we’d be doing and were shown how to make the ‘clay shakes’ this would not only fill us up (remember no food!) but it would also cleanse our insides and scrape out any rubbish… how charming! We also had to take 6 tablets every few hours, they were herbal so nothing to worry about but also used for de clogging the rubbish in our systems and no they weren’t speed! We were told that when we weren’t drinking clay or swallowing more tablets than boots we would be doing things like yoga and meditation, both of which I really like. This is going to be good I thought and after the chat with our advisors we all felt really positives bring on day one, I mean how hard can drinking clay, mixed with what looked like dry porridge with apple juice be 5 times a day?

Day 1

First drink of the day, wasn’t that bad, tasteless really apart from the juice a bit lumpy though, grainy a bit like a mixture of cold porridge and sand. It did fill me up all day and I can’t believe I’ve done a whole day of not eating; usually it’s a struggle for me to refuse my 7th biscuit! Did yoga for the first time and really enjoyed it we only got the giggles a couple of times ha ha! We were then surprised to hear that we were allowed one vegetable broth a day, after yoga. Its basically vegetable water with a bit of spice and it was really, really nice. We were also allowed coconut water, which I have when I go to Portobello Road, its lovely! Took the tablets for the first time too, they were ok they were capsules so easier to swallow than tablets. Had my first massage, it was amazing and cost about £4, so cheap! Tonight we were shown how to do the colonics on ourselves! Err hello! I thought we would have a highly trained colonier to help! There was a board put in our bathroom and ‘picture of health one & two’ went through what we had to do. It was ok actually… very productive..Ahem. It was the thing I was worried about so am pleased I am ok with it!

Day 2

7am wake up call, managed all five drinks and all tabs. Sentha upped the yoga this morning, so it ended up being a really good workout. Went exploring where we saw the first of many yaks and were nearly chased by two dogs… Should never have gone off the beaten track! Found a 5 star hotel with amazing treatments, still does not appeal to us, we are here to detox! Also just one bit of toast would be nice I think but the thought soon passes. Had two colonics today (woo hardcore) and I already feel like I’ve lost weight….Everyone weighs themselves but me, my theory is unless the scales come up 7 stone then I will never be happy so what’s the point of depressing myself on the scales! We also went to Natong market and got a few bags and sunglasses, everything is soo cheap, Natong is like the capital of Koh Samoui, it was nice but sooo much tempting food about! We were all in bed by 8, ha ha how sad are we!

Day 3

Feel really tired today, had a few weird dreams last night, apparently that’s quite normal. Morning shake was a bit of a struggle for all of us but the day did get better. Sophie had a treatment with Centar to help with her asthma, it was called ‘crano sacral therapy’ she said she didn’t feel a lot different afterwards but apparently she will see the effects tomorrow. Two colonics again, this time one with coffee in the water apparently it’s good for you. We went to fisherman’s village today, another sort of market town. It was ok but again so many restaurants and food stalls, I felt a bit weak and spaced out because I hadn’t had my shake – you need to drink those shakes!

Day 4

My shake did not go down well this morning but the girls got me through it, they are all so encouraging and it really helps, for all of us. Plus as we are up so early we went to see the waterfall and feed the elephants it was beautiful! Back at the resort I had bought one of my bikinis out here that I looked rough in and I put it on and my muffin top had disappeared, I couldn’t believe it! Plus Sophie had lost 5 pounds! This was just the incentive we needed to get through this day. Plus Sophie’s breathing in her sleep was so much better after the crano therapy and she hadn’t even used her pump this morning! We are now all trying to think of things wrong with us so we can have it! I whack Ellie on the head but it actually makes her better rather than ill. Had a lovely coffee salt scrub on the beach, my skin felt amazing! Sophie and I had one together and were given some very attractive ‘natural’ coloured knickers to wear… if anyone was that colour naturally I would say they had jaundice! Am so over food, but still feel a bit weak. Sentha took my pulse and said my body is exhausted, which is true been worrying a lot about job, family and boyf, its making me tired. Things need to change when I get home!

Day 5

I am trying not to even think about my next clay shake, they are starting to get so ming now. The only incentive is that tomorrow is the last day! I can’t believe I haven’t eaten for 6 days, my tummy is soo flat, I have (as have the other girls) lost weight of my arms, legs, face… well everywhere! I now wished I had weighed myself!
We all watched the sunset tonight it was beautiful, we all feel and look amazing! Took loads of pics on the beach. Early night tonight, for tomorrow evening we get to eat! Ok only raw veg but believe you me I would eat out of a bin right now if I had to! Its not that I am hungry, the drinks fill you up, it’s just that I miss the taste of everything! Apparently though after this you are supposed to be able to taste like you’ve never tasted before! Bring it on!

Day 6

The first meal in 6 days….Ok so it was only fruit but it tasted like the most amazing dish you could imagine! Today was hard, the drinks weren’t going down well at all and I maybe because I could see the end in sight, sometimes that makes things harder. Everyone weighed themselves again and we all (even though I didn’t weigh myself) have lost a stone in five days! Can you believe it and not only that, we are also brown and feeling wonderful!
At our final meeting we were given a list of other foods that we could eat to break the fast, it’s mainly salad, fruit and veg but that’s fine with me as long as its food!
Going home tomorrow and I really really don’t want to as we’ve had such a brilliant time and if I was to sum up this holiday in three words it would be, amazing, challenging and hilarious! I am definitely coming back next year!

In conclusion my detox experience in Thailand was amazing and for us it’s the start of an altogether healthier life, once you’ve felt like we have there is no going back to feeling like we did. People thought us girls (and Dan) were crazy doing something like this and back then I understood, but now, now we look and feel amazing both mentally and physically. We challenged ourselves to the max and we did it, we encouraged each other and kept the prize in sight, looking and feeling amazing. Yes, we were hungry at times but what tends to keep you going is the thought of how satisfied you will feel after that first meal, that and the fact that if you’d gone with seven amazing people like I did, you would have no problem getting through it too. This detox isn’t for everyone, some people don’t have the strength of the detox eight, we are POWER but if you do then please try it you won’t believe how brilliant you feel!

Well done girls (and Danny) I am so proud of us all!

New You Spa Samui..
Call 06 2837379
Or email for more info,

Prices vary depending on what time you go;

We paid: A week and the Koh Samui resort £120.00 for the week.
The weeks detox programme £260 for the week.
Flights, £640 plus £140 for connecting flight to koh samui return.

The Loop - Loop Articles - The Allen Car Stop Smoking Clinic - No not the comedian!

The Allen Car Stop Smoking Clinic - No not the comedian!

Written by Caroline Polledri
Posted on Wednesday, 14th May 08

My initial thought when I was asked to review the Allan Carr Easy Way Clinic (the magical place that is suppose to stop you smoking) was scepticism but also I was a little bit scared. Although I knew that smoking was bad for your health, a waste of money and makes your clothes and hair smell the thought of actually never smoking again really worried me. What if this 5 hour session worked & I actually did stop smoking? After having had this habit for so long the thought of giving up made me feel nervous like I was going to miss it. I started to reminisce about all those times when I had enjoyed having a cigarette, I remembered how satisfying it was to have one when you really really fancied one or after you’ve eaten or with a glass of wine. I was loving the new trend since the smoking ban, of smirting ‘smoking and flirting’ outside various clubs and bars and how nice it was to chat to other smokers. Even writing this and pondering about it makes me think ‘If I enjoy in that much then why bother giving it up?’ I need to force myself to think of its bad points. So here goes, I hate having to buy cigarettes, having to need something and the fact that I spend at least £100.00 a month on them is equally as annoying. I hate smoking in the cold or rain or on my own outside because none of the other girls smoke. I hate how I couldn’t settle at home or on a long journey unless I knew I had enough cigarettes to last me. I hate my hair & skin look dull and teeth looking discoloured. I hate that feeling when you’ve smoked yourself silly at a party the night before, dreading the first cigarette of the day but knowing you need it. I hate having to cover up the fact that I still smoke from my dad who has recently had a heart transplant – if he had smoked he wouldn’t have survived. Then there’s the guilt on TV of all those adverts, the NHS helpline constantly trying to help & the warnings on the cigarette packets. I hate walking down the street smoking, I look rough! I hate the head rush you get when you have your first fag of the day. I hate the fear I feel when I get a cough, convinced this was it! I hate the fact I can’t run more that a minute without near enough collapsing and most of all I hate that I am addicted to something as pathetic as a smoking when I am otherwise quite sensible! Right now I am ready!

Armed with all the thoughts of the above I am on the train my way to Wimbledon for my Allan Carr session. I am still nervous still and apprehensive plus due to my bad journey planning I have just realised I am actually going to be late. Half of me is slightly relieved that there is a chance I will miss my session, thus putting off the stopping of smoking but half of me just wants to get it over with, I have been worrying about it for the last two weeks! I ring the clinic and they assure me I will still make it, Damm! This is actually going to happen or worse what if I go there and it doesn’t happen! What if there is no cure for my smoking! That is an even more horrific thought!

Rushing in the clinic and I am the last person arrive and sit myself nervously into on of the comfy but very unattractive chairs sort of like the ones you see in an old peoples home. All the chairs are the same and I feel my mind wondering..... How did they manage to get so many of one hideous looking chair.. Right focus! See this is the problem with me how am I going to listen to this very nice lady talk me out of smoking if I find it so hard to focus?  I am going to try!

After what seemed like 10 minutes (but was actually an hour) of discussions and talking about the reasons why we smoke etc. we are sent out for a cigarette break and there are breaks throughout the day, including smoking your last cigarette with the rest of the group. Once in the smoking room I overheard a few people saying things like ‘I don’t know how this is going to work’ and ‘I can’t see how it can work’ it was clear that people had come here because they were desperate to give up and the thought of not doing it made them really scared. It made me realise how powerful a hold it has over people and that it’s a terrible addiction.
Part two of the seminar and this is what really hit home with me just how pointless smoking is, they were talking about absent minded smoking, smoking and not even realising you’re doing it but lighting one up out of sheer habit and this is something I always do. They also spoke about what we thought smoking did for us, like relaxes us and helps us concentrate – a massive contradiction what other drug both relaxes you and helps you concertrate it just doesn’t exist! Another hour and half gone and time for lunch and more cigarettes where at this point I started to feel really silly for smoking!
The next part of the seminar went on to explain the health risks and why as such rational people we do something that will eventually kill us also that when we started smoking we never actually signed up to it for life, which proves how addictive it is.
After some relaxation exercises in the fold back chairs (ahh comfort rather than style!) it was time for the last cigarette ever and to this day that cigarette has remained the last for me!
It might sound really boring reading a review about the Allan Carr clinic and this is only a very brief outline but all I can say is that its been 2 weeks and I am a non smoker in fact I feel like I have never smoked and I don’t miss it from life one bit, in fact I have more time to think, more energy and I feel completely free. I would recommend this stop smoking method more than any others because it makes giving up smoking easy and an enjoyable experience like you’ve really achieved something! Give it a go you’ve got nothing to lose!!!!!

The Loop - Loop Articles - The Grapevine - Authentic greek restaurant, Woodford!

The Grapevine - Authentic greek restaurant, Woodford!

Written by Caroline Polledri
Posted on Thursday, 17th April 08

Over the years there have been many attempts to introduce different types of ‘authentic’ restaurants to this area, some have failed and some have gone on to be one of the landmark eating establishments within our golden triangle. The Grapevine has the ability to be one of those significant eateries and one of the few that has the standard to guarantee its longevity in West Essex.

It was refreshing for me to go to a restaurant other than the Bel Sit where the staff were equally as friendly. One of the beauties of the Bel Sit (and what makes it so popular) is that they make everyone every customer feel equally as important and although after all these years and numerous visits you are wise to the fact that they do it to everyone, you still feel like a special customer. The Grape Vine has the same way about it but because of its décor, layout & of course food it made for a much more sophisticated dining experience. They didn’t ship you in & ship you out, it was a lot more relaxed and laid back. The staff were lovely and extremely efficient, they constantly had their eye on what stage you were at throughout your meal but not in an intrusive way. They were constantly on hand for more drinks and clearing of your table but again in a delicate manor rather than making you feel like you should leave as soon as you’ve had your last mouthful. I was also impressed by their knowledge of the food they were serving and the wine they would recommend to go with it, to me that is professional and more importantly shows they are interested in what their doing rather than just serving.

The Grape Vine’s authentic Greek fare included excellent Humus, lamb kofte & a varied selection of both hot and cold Mezze. Along with this there were a selection of steaks, chicken & fish and some tasty looking vegetarian options. The side dishes complimented the mains and the wine list was excellent.

The menu was varied but not overpowering and one of the things I loved most about the food was the fact they had such large selection dishes from the grill.  Not only did it give everything that home cooked with a hint of the Mediterranean taste, it was also healthy!

To start my Grapevine experience we were welcomed at the bar with two glasses of house white, it was a lovely soft pinot, chilled & in a really big glass which is just how I like my wine to be. Once seated I opted for the halloumi to start, which is my favourite cheese and which was THE best I have ever had!

For main I had the fish kebab, which came with rice, salad and the most amazing chunky chips. The fish was tender and not dry in anyway (which can sometimes happen when you grill fish without the skin on) instead it was juicy and succulent. Now you might be mistaken for thinking that I haven’t got a sophisticated palate but this is not the case and even if it was The Grape Vine has enough dishes to suite all tastes so it wouldn’t matter anyway.

My boyfriend Jeff had the spicy sausage & hummus to start & the fillet steak and Cypriot potatoes for main. Of course I had to taste it (much to his annoyance) and it was amazing, the fillet steak melted in the mouth and the potatoes where roasted perfectly.

The Grapevine is without a doubt going to be a big eating influence on this area, along with providing their customers with an amazing Mediterranean dining experience in a relaxed atmosphere; they also have exceptional service and heavenly food! The complete dining experience!

The Grapevine 0208 504 2545
24 The Broadway
Woodford
Essex
IG9

The Loop - Loop Articles - Essex and the City 21

Essex and the City 21

Written by Caroline Polledri
Posted on Wednesday, 12th March 08

There has been a baby epidemic in this area at the moment and I can’t work out if its because we had such a rubbish summer, a boring winter or the fact that TV lately (excluding Harry Hills TV burp) is absolutely rubbish, I mean how many programmes do they want to show about losing weight? Supersize V’s superskinny with the ever so ugly Gillian McKeith, if you are what you eat then she must be eating a hell of a lot of Llamas and if eating healthy makes you look like that then I think I’ll avoid the mung beans thank you. I know we’re a nation obsessed with weight but how many different ways do they need to be told! The funniest one is 3 fat brides, one thin dress (also with Gillian) ha ha surely that proves that no matter how fat you are there will always be someone fatter wanting to marry you, so what’s the worry? Then there’s How To Look Good Naked, which is slightly contradictory to anything on channel 4 that bangs on about losing weight because its sending out the message ‘be happy with what you’ve got and flaunt it’ so if you just watch that, you don’t need to watch the other rubbish. Apparently the presenter (Gok Wan) used to be really really fat which I can sort of see. Its funny isn’t it sometimes no matter how skinny a person gets (e.g. Sonia from Eastenders) they will always look fat? It’s like you can still make out that fat person screaming to get out. I don’t like Gok there is something about him that makes me think that he’s taking the piss, I was looking on the website and there was a section of ‘Gok’s top tips’ this was my favourite: Wax and shave the hair on your body – your muff area should always be maintained niceeeeeeee great journalistic terminology and it wouldn’t surprise me if Gok has indeed got a muff himself! So rubbish TV maybe that’s the cause of the bambino epidemic in the area not that it’s a bad thing, my friend Laura has just given birth to THE most cutest baby called Teddy, he is gorgeous, it made me broody for about 15 minutes but after a cup of something sweet & strong and two neurofen that feeling slowly passed. Its not that I’m not broody, I am, but I just feel like there is other things I need to do first.. Like earn a million! I have been saying that since I was 15 and its got to the stage where a million in decreasing in value as the years go by, I’ll get to 80 years old and buy a loaf of bread and a lottery ticket for a million and be one of those old people that say, to anyone that will listen ‘in my day a million pounds was a lot of money’ to which the adolescent teenager on his hover board will reply ‘yea and I bet in your day you had to drive everywhere!’

,

I wonder if we will be flying everywhere by the year 2070 can you imagine air rage, I don’t think getting out at the lights to berate someone would really work in that instance and if you hit someone or where getting chased by the police you could so easily lose them in the sky ‘quick grey cloud get behind it’. How would traffic wardens function though? I bet they’d have wings, or vehicles that never ran out of the fuel that made them fly, or they’ll just invent robot traffic wardens! Well whatever they decided you can be sure they’d find a way, the bastards! You really do have to be a certain kind of person to be a traffic warden don’t you, I mean you must want to do that job because I think I’d rather be a dustman who ok can be equally hated when you get stuck behind their trucks but I would still rather clear up peoples shit than be a traffic warden. What kind of person would want to be a traffic warden and how exactly do they ‘ward traffic’ I never see them when I am stuck in jam pacing up and down doing their best to help ward the traffic I have however seen them give a ticket to an ambulance! Ok maybe they have now been given the name ‘parking attendants’ but have they ever attended to your parking? Nor mine. If they really are what they say they are then what’s to stop us pulling up to a traffic warden jumping out the car giving him/ her (there are women ones, ugly) your keys and said ‘ere mate attend to the parking of that for me, I’ll be back at three’. Now I am sure that they would not attend to my parking then, no but they will attend when my ticket was four minutes over its time, or slap me with fines twice when outside my own house and once when I did have a valid ticket that was printed faded! Now correct me if I’m wrong but those traffic wardens/parking attendants do not do their jobs properly. So for that I going to continue to tell them so by means of shouting obscenities, throwing rubbish at them, following them home sticking a home made sign outside their house, ‘a traffic warden lives here’. Then when they have to move because they are being terrorised by the neighbours I am going to watch them load up their removal van and tell the police they looked like there were some suspicious items being put in the van (and which I had earlier planted) and watch and smile while they get arrested and or better still make a citizens arrest and when they scream and say ‘you can’t do this’ I am going to state ‘am I not a citizen? Therefore I am authorised to make a citizens’ arrest, just doing my job’. Yes that’s the plan so if you know of any traffic wardens and more importantly where they live then please please let me know. When I worked at Kiss, streetboy used to do this thing where he stood in a high street with a mega phone and if a traffic warden went past he would should ‘TRAFFIC WARDEN ALERT, TRAFFIC WARDEN ALERT’ it was so funny, he got told to move on all the time but the ever relentless he just kept coming back it was brilliant and worth thinking about doing round here!

,

Right enough about traffic wardens they’ve taken up far to much of my valuable time already I am just going to round up this delightful piece of literature by explaining what is actually entailed on my detox trip to Thailand in May, firstly you don’t eat for the whole time you’re there, instead you drink drinks made our of clay, take herbal tablets and to pass the time you mediate and do yoga. Secondly you have colonic twice a day and go for runs on the beach. Now am I right in the thinking that the after not eating, running and taking herbal tablets that when it comes to the colonics the only thing left to come out of you would be your actual insides? But hey if it makes you lose weight then sod it! Its better than anything Gok or Gillian recommends and at least you can do it in the sun!  I am slightly worried though but at the same time I think we will have a laugh either that or want to strangle each other there aren’t many people that you can go on holiday with at the best of times let alone when you’re all struggling under the pressure of not bloody eating! It will be nice to do something different though and I will reward myself to a trip to Ibiza when I get back or maybe somewhere a bit more exotic I haven’t decided yet.
So that’s about all I am going to waffle on about this month so until next time, ta ta, au revious, arrivederci, adios, laters!

, ,

P.S I would like to thank all my wenches and my friends for really helping me through this time with my dad, he is on the mend and will be home soon thank goodness – longest year of my life!

P.P.S I would also like to thank Gal for finding my 21st video and putting it on DVD for me.. It was so lovely to watch and made me realise how long we’ve all been friends. It’s only a shame we haven’t got a video of the ‘Mean It!’ Party… Ha Ha

P.P.P.S Enough of the cardigans boys, so 2007!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Loop - Loop Articles - Essex and the City 20

Essex and the City 20

Written by Caroline Polledri
Posted on Wednesday, 6th February 08

I have said it before but I will say it again, why is it that when people are in a relationship they insist on saying ‘We’ when talking about themselves, ‘we’ can’t make it, ‘we’ are sorry ‘we don’t often get the chance’… spoken by just one person! I think to myself why not just hold up a bit banner saying ‘Yes I have a boyfriend/girlfriend, I am with someone, I am not single I am part of a pair!’ For goodness sake at what point did you turn into the same person with only one mouthpiece!

As you may have gathered all that ‘we’ business is not for me, its lovely to have met your ‘soul mate’ and to really feel close to someone but reta