OCTOBER 2022 OCTOBER 2022 £3.99 readersdigest.co.uk HEALTH • MONEY • TRAVEL • RECIPES • CULTURE • REAL STORIES David Hasselhoff How David Became SWIMMING WITH ORCAS Extraordinary Killer Whale Encounters 3 Medics Saving Lives In Extreme Conditions “THE HOFF”
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Contents OCTOBER 2022 OCTOBER 2022 • 1 16 IT’S A MANN’S WORLD Will Olly's family manage to coax him into getting a dog? ENTERTAINMENT 20 INTERVIEW: DAVID HASSELHOFF The Baywatch and Knight Rider icon on confidence, commercials, and career highs 28 “I REMEMBER”: TIM RICE The British lyricist and author looks back on his "sun- dappled" childhood, friendship with Andrew Lloyd Webber and his biggest musicals HEALTH 36 RISE ABOVE PAIN The latest remedies and strategies that can help you enjoy life again INSPIRE 58 EXTREME MEDICINE From war zones to jungles, these medics save lives in some extreme conditions Features 74 BRITISH SHOWGIRLS Discover the racy history of cabaret in Britain and the legacy of the legendary Bluebell girls 82 GRAFFITI GROWS UP No longer a sign of urban decay, street art is becoming prized TRAVEL 92 SWIMMING WITH ORCAS Extraordinary encounters in the forbidding waters off Norway p74 p20 cover illustration by Rachel Tunstall
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OCTOBER 2022 • 3 9 Over to You 12 See the World Differently HEALTH 44 Advice: Susannah Hickling 48 Column: Dr Max Pemberton 52 Memory: Jonathan Hancock DATING & RELATIONSHIPS 54 Column: Monica Karpinski INSPIRE 66 My Britain: Milford Haven 72 If I Ruled the World: Beth Nielsen Chapman TRAVEL & ADVENTURE 98 My Great Escape 100 Hidden Gems: Beirut MONEY 102 Column: Andy Webb GARDEN 106 Adam Frost on how to develop your gardening style PETS 108 How to comfort your pet during the spooky season FOOD & DRINK 110 A Taste of Home 112 World Kitchen: Venezuela ENTERTAINMENT 114 October's Cultural Highlights BOOKS 120 October Fiction: James Walton’s Recommended Reads 125 Books That Changed My Life: Greg Jenner TECHNOLOGY 126 Column: James O’Malley FUN & GAMES 130 You Couldn’t Make It Up 133 Word Power 136 Brain Teasers 140 Laugh! 143 Beat the Cartoonist 144 A Century of Change In every issue p110 Contents OCTOBER 2022 p106
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OCTOBER 2022 • 7 In This Issue… When I was nine, my schoolteacher had all the children in my class put together presentations on their “passions”. Over the next few weeks, I meticulously researched the thing that excited me most in the world: killer whales. For some reason, my child brain was absolutely enamoured with these mysterious creatures, not quite whale, not quite dolphin. I was left redfaced when the other children presented on more commonplace topics like “lego” and “the cinema”, but my fascination with orcas refused to be crushed. That’s why my inner child is so excited about this month’s cover story, a (quite literal) deep dive into the habitats of these majestic creatures. Turn to p92 to enter their world, down in the stunning depths of Norway’s fjords. “Treasure your relationships, not your possessions”, the saying goes. Other people—whether it’s relatives, friends, colleagues, or partners—truly are at the heart of life itself. As human beings, we need connection to stay happy, healthy, and lead fulfilling lives. And as a publication designed to celebrate and aid a happy life, we’re delighted to introduce a Dating and Relationships column to the magazine. On p54, you’ll find Monica Karpinski’s expert advice on all things love, relationships and sex, where she also endeavours to answer your most burning questions. Struggling to communicate with your partner? Embarrassed to ask something about sex? Unsure how to get into dating? Email Monica anonymously at [email protected]. Anna Eva EDITORS’ LETTERS You can also sign up to our newsletter at readersdigest.co.uk Reader’s Digestis published in 23 editions in 10 languages facebook.com/readersdigestuk twitter.com/readersdigestuk @readersdigest_uk FOLLOW US
Over To You LETTERS ON THE August ISSUE We pay £50 for Letter of the Month and £30 for all others I couldn’t agree more with Dr Max’s belief that the empathy shown by a doctor is key in a patient’s evaluation of the treatment received. While having a colonoscopy without sedation I was working hard to keep myself calm by using techniques learned to control panic attacks. As the camera explored the twists and turns of my bowel, the specialist noticed I was quietly humming a tune to myself. He asked what the tune was and I replied, “Puff the Magic Dragon”, however I explained that I only knew two lines of the song. The specialist then started whistling along with my humming and agreed that he also only knew two lines. He asked the student observing to google the lyrics. When the student hesitated he explained that anything they can do to help a patient through a difficult procedure was worth doing. Armed with the words we then sang along for the rest of the procedure! Not only do I remember this years later, but when interviewed by the student afterwards my advice was to learn from the specialist’s bedside manner as it was so important. Tanya Whitbread, Wiltshire LETTER OF THE MONTH Max is a hospital doctor, author and columnist. He currently works full time in mental health for the NHS. His new book, The Marvellous Adventure of Being Human, is out now you live in or how your healthcare is delivered, most patients evaluate their experiences on how polite and empathetic the doctor was, not on the actual quality of medicine practised. My mum, for example, recently started losing her sight. Understandably she was very worried. She went for an urgent appointment with an eye specialist at her local NHS hospital. When I telephoned her that evening to see how it went, she replied: “Oh yes, it was wonderful. They were all so lovely and kind.” Could she now see? No. Had they been able to treat it? No. In fact, the clinic was running late and she’d had to wait for an hour to see the nurse, and three hours to see the consultant. Now, from a medical perspective, the consultation clearly hadn’t been a success. While they’d ruled out emergency causes for her sight loss, they hadn’t really got to the bottom of the problem at all. She was now back at home, still unable to see properly and with no idea if she was going to go permanently blind. But that didn’t matter. What mattered to her was that a nurse had met her at the door and helped her to her seat. Someone had apologised when the clinic was overrunning and made all the patients waiting a cup of tea. One of the nurses offered to get my mum a sandwich when lunch came. The consultant had touched her knee and listened to her as she explained what had happened. They’d asked about how the loss of sight had impacted on her life and the clinic nurse had asked to see photographs of my new nephew. A junior doctor had understood that the thing my mum was most worried about was that, as an avid reader, she wouldn’t be able to read a book again. My mum had been touched by her kindly attempts to reassure her. She felt she had received good care simply because the doctors and nurses had listened to her. Equally, how many times, when asking how things went at the doctor’s, have you heard the reply, “Oh, it was awful, he was really rude.” Not, “Oh, it was awful, he prescribed the wrong medication, or gave me the wrong treatment.” Patients don’t evaluate the actual medicine that’s practised; it’s the communication skills of the doctor that determine how they evaluate the care. This is important because if doctors listened to their patients, then overnight people’s experience of the NHS would improve. That means we can improve the NHS without spending a single penny. n H ave you ever sat in a hospital bed and had the assembled doctors talk about you as though you didn’t exist? Or a doctor comes up to your bed, looks at your chart and walks off without saying a word? Or the GP never looks up from their computer screen when they talk to you? If so, then you’re not alone. Research into patients’ view of healthcare has shown that this is all too common, with around a quarter of patients reporting these kinds of experiences. This behaviour makes patients feel belittled and unvalued, and is important because it gets to the very root of how patients evaluate the quality of care that they receive. While doctors like to focus on treatment outcomes, this is not how the general public tends to assess whether or not their doctor is any good. Research from around the world has consistently shown that it doesn’t matter which country 48 • AUGUST 2022 AUGUST 2022 • 49 HEALTH The key to improving healthcare is better listening, writes Dr Max Patience And Care PATIENTS EVALUATE HOW POLITE AND EMPATHETIC THE DOCTOR WAS COMPASSION IN CARE Dr Max hit the nail on the head. If ever anyone has been rude to me or patronising in the past, I’m afraid to say it’s always been a doctor. Being treated like an individual human being, rather than a “case” or a “typical example of a…” makes all the difference in the world. When someone in a white coat or a blue uniform acknowledges our humanity, our existence, our feelings, apologises for delays or mistakes, and takes a moment or two to make us feel at ease in an unfamiliar and often scary environment, it makes such a difference. It doesn’t take much, and it doesn’t cost money, but both patients and staff would benefit from more humane interaction. Marian Smalles, via email 8 • OCTOBER 2022
Send letters to [email protected] Include your full name, address, email and daytime phone number. We may edit letters and use them in all print and electronic media WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! UNBRIE-LIEVABLE MEMORIES I, being a cheeselover, appreciated Sam O’Brien’s vivid description of six places to visit. It also set me on a trip down memory lane to various “cheesy” incidents that I had experienced over the years. Friends visiting from France just before Christmas one year left a wrapped present behind without divulging the contents. Placed beneath the Christmas tree, which was quite close to a radiator, our noses soon gave us a very strong hint. Yes! It was a round of cheese—Brie, I think—and a little over ripe even for me to enjoy by the time it was revealed. Another cherished memory is of sitting in an Istanbul café with a group of young people who had no common language. Someone wishing to propose a toast, asked me how to say, “Cheers” in French. Unfortunately, I misheard him and the answer I supplied him with resulted in his raising a glass and bellowing, “Fromage!” Our friendship endured and we laugh about it still. Maggie Cobbett, North Yorkshire TRUE LOVE I found the article on “Lifelong Platonic Love” engaging because it reminded me how important it is to have a genuine connection to another person. It’s a wonderful feeling to be in a relationship where you feel loved, valued and respected and also to enjoy the freedom to be who you are. It seems to be that a platonic partnership has empowered people to move away from the idea of looking for “the one” who can make you whole which implies that you are not complete until you find that perfect partner. I’m thinking of the fairy tales many of us were raised on. With this in mind, it is important to let go of these childhood beliefs and figure out what truly fulfils you in whatever way is most suitable for you. Suzanna Kyle, Worcestershire OCTOBER 2022 • 9
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Photo: © action Press/ZUMa Press Wire/ZUMa Press SEE THE WORLD... turn the page
Hundreds of small boats called dingi noukas are moored in the river port of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. In them, ferrymen transport workers, goods and tourists across the Buriganga River. It’s the lifeline of the metropolis, which—with a population of 22 million—is one of the world’s most densely populated cities. …DIFFERENTLY
Photo: © Keren sU/china sPan/alaMy stocK Photo 13
illustration by Lauren Rebbeck IT’S A MANN’S WORLD 14 • OCTOBER 2022
OCTOBER 2022 • 15 M y wife wants to get a dog. My kids, also, want a dog. My inlaws, who used to own a dog, but then it died, also wish for us to get a dog (so they can dog-sit occasionally—this in marked contrast to their general stance on babysitting). My mum—a member of a website where you can borrow other people’s dogs for the day and look after them, for free, just because you like dogs so much—also, guess what, wants us to get a dog. It’s a Royal Flush. So, I’m the dog-blocker. But it’s not that I don’t want a dog. It’s that I don’t want a dog. That’s clear, isn’t it? My family appear to be having some issues with this nuanced distinction, so let me spell it out for you: when I gaze into my future, and imagine myself doing all the doggy things—walkies, grooming, poop-scooping, chatting inanely to other dog owners about their dogs—I am unmoved. I don’t hate that version of my life; it just doesn’t excite me. It doesn’t feel like an improvement. It doesn’t make Olly Mann resists family peer-pressure to become a "dog person" Dog's Olly Mann presents Four Thought for BBC Radio 4, and the podcasts The Modern Mann, The Week Unwrapped and The Retrospectors It's A Life
full-hearted affection regardless of the treatment they receive in return. What’s so clever about that? Plus, dogs stink. Sorry if you’re a Dog Person and you’re reading this thinking, Other people’s dogs smell, but mine doesn’t. I’ve got news for you: your dog stinks too. Or at least, your house does, because you regularly crack open cans of jellied offal. Us non-Dog People can detect it instantly, like that cloud of nicotine that non-smokers sniff out on smokers’ hair and coats, regardless of whether they’ve been at the Juicy Fruit. None of this is insurmountable. But perhaps more problematically, the presence of dogs doesn’t particularly delight me. I’ve witnessed Dog People, upon enjoying an afternoon stroll through the park, greeting an unmuzzled, enthusiastic pup bounding up to them with genuine affection and laughter, grinning at the creature and patting it gamely. On the surface, my reaction appears similar: I will smile at both dog and owner, but inside, I’m thinking: Please, don’t bite my toddler! Lest you suspect there’s some traumatic childhood memory me actively want a dog. I am not, however, a Hard No on dogs. I might, potentially, even enjoy owning a dog. I just can’t say, because I’ve never previously owned a dog. I’m not dogphobic; I’m just not a Dog Person. I’m only mildly dog-curious. Got it? I was raised with cats—imbecilic, pedigree ones with pretentious names—and I love all the things about cats that Dog People hate: their aloofness, their independence, their psychopathy, their complete lack of humour. I enjoy fruitlessly attempting to earn their love. I’m acutely aware, in a "Greyfriars Bobby" situation, that my cat Alvin would strip the meat off my corpse, but it still feels satisfying when he sits on my lap one evening, because I know he is choosing to do so. Alvin is not my "best friend". He is, in that moment, desiring to spend time with me (even if only because my tummy is more comfortable than the rug). Cats, I love. But dogs? Meh. All that "man’s best friend", intuitive intelligence stuff seems a million miles from the pooches I’ve known, who seem to dumbly demand their owner’s attention, indiscriminately pursuing them and licking them with 16 • OCTOBER 2022 IT’S A MANN’S WORLD I LOVE ALL THE THINGS ABOUT CATS THAT DOG PEOPLE HATE: THEIR ALOOFNESS, PSYCHOPATHY, COMPLETE LACK OF HUMOUR…
Universally Amazing Facts Light from some stars takes so long to travel to our eyes that when you look at the starspeckled night sky you're actually peering deep into the past. NASA's Hubble Telescope can look as far back as 13 billion years ago There might be as many as 3 sextillion stars in the universe. That's three followed by 23 zeros, or 300,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. That's more than all of the grains of sand on Earth Ordinary, observable matter (like planets) makes up just five per cent of the universe. The other 95 is made up of invisible dark energy (68 per cent) and dark matter (27 per cent). That means there's 95 per cent of the universe we don't know about yet source: businessinsider.com underpinning this: nope. When I was about six I did get chased around by a farm dog, which was unpleasant, but I’m certain that’s not being triggered in my mind when I see an elderly labrador curled by a pub fireplace. I’m just thinking, Move along mate, you’re taking up the best space! I’ve rehearsed all these arguments with my family: none is apparently persuasive enough to withstand “but try it, you might like it!”. As if getting a dog were as inconsequential as trying rice pudding, or boxercise, or gay pornography. But I was an Eighties kid: I recall those "A Dog Is For Life, Not Just For Christmas" slogans as formatively as the harrowing images of blackened lungs that stopped me picking up a fag. Even if I do try it, and like it, what an enormous commitment owning a dog seems to be! The daily walking regime, the pockets full of plastic bags, the holiday logistics. My kids, of course, claim they’ll do their part, but we all know that if muggins here didn’t sprinkle flakes into their goldfish bowl each night, we’d have a bowl of floating stiffs. I’m the one who works from home. I’m the one who keeps my walking boots by the back door. Surely I’ll be expected to do at least 50 per cent of the dog stuff? Which isn’t to say I’m entirely against it. And with my entire family gunning for a dog, I can sense the direction of travel. The latest compromise between us is a bit of "try before you buy": we’ve agreed that, the next time one of my wife’s colleagues requires a dog-sitter, we’ll step up for the weekend. What could possibly go wrong? n OCTOBER 2022 • 17 READER’S DIGEST
18 • OCTOBER 2022 I t’s not easy being a legend. Just ask David Hasselhoff. “From the moment I wake up it’s like I’m The Hoff,” says the man who holds a Guinness World Record as the most watched man on TV. “I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve gotta go to work’. I have to be on all the time.” We’re meeting at the 2022 Monte-Carlo Television Festival a day later than planned, with David apologising: “I wasn’t really on yesterday. I was tired the night before and I couldn’t sleep. It’s funny because when I’m working I have to be David Hasselhoff, to be charming and funny. But sometimes I just want to stay home and watch television with my wife.” As we chat in the restaurant at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel, his Welsh wife Hayley is sat quietly by his side. It’s his third marriage (he was previously wed to actresses Catherine Hickland and Pamela Bach) and they seem like a very happy couple. To her he’s just David but to the world he’s The Hoff—a larger-than-life personality famous for starring in Knight Rider and Baywatch as well as for topping the pop charts in Germany and sending himself up in adverts and cameos. Now 70, he’s a formidable presence, with steely blue eyes and an imposing 6ft 4in frame. But he’s also friendly and laidback. The Hoff, he notes, is a persona, not a ENTERTAINMENT The iconic star of Baywatch and Knight Rider opens up about his enormous fame, keeping his ego in check, and still hustling at 70 David Hasselhoff By Simon Button On Business, Baywatch And Being A Legend DPA PICTURE ALLIANCE / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
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20 • OCTOBER 2022 Starring in Ze Network
OCTOBER 2022 • 21 real person, but he’s been happy to go along with the moniker since it was bestowed on him by a bunch of female fans in Australia some 20 years ago. To hear him tell it, they’d written to the country’s Daily Telegraph en masse, singing his praises with such compliments as “We’re Hoffcrazy,” “We’re Hoff nuts,” “He’s Hoffalicious” and “Some like it Hoff”. David grins between bites of vanilla ice cream. “I thought that was pretty interesting and flattering. I ended up going to Australia to do a tour and wound up presenting at The ARIA Awards, which is like their equivalent of The Grammys. Everybody in the pit was wearing a David Hasselhoff mask and shouting ‘Hoff, Hoff, Hoff’.” Hasselhoff embraced it. As well as being a judge on America’s Got Talent and a contestant on Dancing with the Stars, he has since good-naturedly sent himself up in everything from The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie on the big screen to a slew of TV walk-ons. READER’S DIGEST “I HAVE TO BE ON ALL THE TIME, BUT SOMETIMES I JUST WANT TO STAY HOME AND WATCH TV” With wife Hayley Roberts SUZAN MOORE / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
22 • OCTOBER 2022 His latest TV show, Ze Network, puts a new spin on his willingness to pastiche his public image. In what he calls a “totally crazy” action comedy, he plays himself as a frustrated actor fed up with all the cameos. So, he travels to Germany to star in a stage play in what he thinks is a prestigious theatre in Berlin, only to find that it’s in an obscure venue in some outof-the-way town. To make matters worse, he then gets mixed up with former Cold War assassins who think he’s an ex-spy. “The reviews have been great,” Hasselhoff smiles, “and here in Monte-Carlo I bumped into a couple of American actors who’d been to the screening and told me, ‘We didn’t like it, we loved it’.” Fans are also lined up in front of the hotel, hoping for an autograph or a selfie, which must stoke his ego? “Well yes, I have an ego, but it’s through a desire to be perfect in whatever I’m doing. I have a healthy ego because I apologise when I’m wrong. I am wrong sometimes but most of the time I’m dead-on.” He oozes confidence and selfawareness. I wonder if he was the same as a youngster growing up in Florida and Atlanta? He shrugs. “When you’re young you’re confident about everything. I remember seeing a play and going, ‘I want to do that’. Next thing you know, at age seven, I was in Peter Pan on stage. It felt like I belonged there. My mother told me, ‘You’ve got it’. I asked her, ‘What have I got?’ and she said, ‘Star quality’.” His mother was right. He went on to study theatre at the California Institute of the Arts, then did a stint on TV soap The Young and the Restless. His subsequent TV and film credits are too numerous to mention, but Knight Rider—in which he played LA crimefighter Michael Knight with his sidekick talking car KITT— remains one of his favourites. David knew from the start that it would be a hit. “But everybody laughed at me. Even my father. I said, ‘Dad, the script is glowing in my hands and I have to get this’. At the first audition I was too nervous. I wasn’t ready but they auditioned me again and at the second audition I was like ‘Roll the cameras!’” Another iconic role came along in the swim-shorted shape of hairychested lifeguard Mitch Buchannon on Baywatch, which ruled the airwaves throughout the 1990s with its slow-motion shots of scantily clad beach boys and babes. I ask if it “I AM WRONG SOMETIMES BUT MOST OF THE TIME I’M DEAD-ON” INTERVIEW: DAVID HASSELHOFF ALLSTAR PICTURE LIBRARY LTD / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
23 In Knight Rider, 1982
24 Baywatch
OCTOBER 2022 • 25 READER’S DIGEST could be made now and Hasselhoff sidesteps the question with: “It was a different time.” He’s also dismissive when asked about the Pam & Tommy TV series. “I refuse to watch it. I don’t care.” He laughs. “Although if they did the David Hasselhoff story I’d watch that. I’d probably produce it.” As for the more-PC 2017 Baywatch movie starring Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron, he’s equally scathing. “They blew it and it bombed, except in Germany. I went on stage there and said, ‘It’s a great film’, just to be nice, and it was a huge hit.” Germany has always embraced Hasselhoff and even more so for his singing than his acting. He’s had hit after hit over there and famously performed “Looking For Freedom” atop the Berlin Wall. “I love the fact I had the balls to insist on singing on the Wall and I love how the Germans have embraced me and my music. That’s why I was so happy to go back there to film Ze Network. Given that he doesn’t take his image too seriously, I ask him what he does take seriously. Ever the canny self-publicist, he says: “I’m serious about Ze Network. I was in a bad mood because I couldn’t find a TV series for myself, yet I saw all my friends getting old on television. I was like, ‘What about me?’ A few years ago I bumped into the director Robert Rodriguez and he asked me if he could take a picture with me. I said ‘Never mind a picture, I want a movie!’” So far he is yet to work with the From Dusk Till Dawn moviemaker, but now he has his own TV show at 70. He grins again. “I’m really proud of it and it’s really, really weird. The director said to me, ‘Just go with it’ and that’s what I did.” The David Hasselhoff in the show is fed up with doing cameos and commercials. The real David Hasselhoff isn’t. “They’re great, so long as they pay well.” He talks about being paid a lot of money to do adverts for a bank. “So I embrace the fame that came with Knight Rider and Baywatch. It makes me a living.” He’s also more than happy to meet and greet the fans once our chat is over. “After all, it’s called showbusiness.” He flashes those bright blue eyes. “You put on a good show, you get the business.” n Ze Network is coming soon to the UK and Europe “I LOVE THE FACT THAT I HAD THE BALLS TO INSIST ON SINGING ON THE BERLIN WALL” COLLECTION CHRISTOPHEL / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
BILL CROSS/DAILY MAIL/SHUTTERSTOCK / RICH GOLD / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO With Andrew Lloyd Webber in 1978
27 English lyricist and author Tim Rice, 77, is known for writing lyrics for the world’s best-loved musicals, including Joseph, Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita ENTERTAINMENT Tim Rice I REMEMBER…
T R I N I T Y M I R R O R / M I R R O R P I X / A L A M Y S TO C K I REMEMBER 28 • OCTOBER 2022 (JO) AND ANDREW. We weren’t incredibly wealthy, but we had a very nice middle-class upbringing. Dad worked for the de Havilland Aircraft Company as its Far East representative. A wonderful thing happened when he was sent to Japan for a year in 1954 and took the whole family with him. It was a great childhood adventure and I was old enough, at ten, to appreciate it. There I listened to the American Forces Radio, which got me hooked on popular music. I WAS A KEEN STAMP-COLLECTOR AS A CHILD, which was what first made me aware of Eva “Evita” THE VERY FIRST THING THAT I REMEMBER is seeing a snail on a gatepost when my father Hugh and my mother Joan lived in Croxley Green in Hertfordshire. I doubt if I was even three years old; it would have been around 1947. Obviously I couldn’t foresee that 20 years later in 1967 the pop star Donovan would write a song, “There Is A Mountain”, whose lyric referenced a snail on a gatepost! But it seems very serendipitous in retrospect that I grew up to have a career as a lyricist. MINE WAS A SUN-DAPPLED CHILDHOOD WITH MY TWO YOUNGER BROTHERS JONATHAN With Sarah Hugill and Andrew Lloyd Webber at the opening night party for Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat
KEYSTONE PRESS / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO / M&N / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO OCTOBER 2022 • 29 Perón—whose glamorous image on Argentinian stamps as its First Lady was one of my favourites. I recall feeling sorry at the news of her death in 1952; like my father, I was already an avid newspaper reader from the age of seven. Then in 1955 while we were still in Japan, I remember reading that her husband, President Juan Perón, had been ousted. So, unlike most British people, I was always vaguely aware of the Peróns long before I heard a radio documentary about Evita in 1973. I suggested to my collaborator Andrew Lloyd Webber that a musical about her life would make a great follow-up to our hit with Jesus Christ Superstar . I WAS EQUALLY CLOSE TO BOTH MY PARENTS. They both played a part in my future career, despite probably thinking I was the least likely of their three sons to settle down with a good job. But my mother had writing ambitions of her own and was contributing stories and plays to publishers and newspapers. My favourite toy as a child was her typewriter, since I loved to see words printed neatly READER’S DIGEST Pictured at his 1974 wedding to Jane McIntosh, a production assistant with the National Theatre
I REMEMBER In costume as the Rock Pharaoh Andrew Lloyd Webber needed a “with-it” lyric writer for his compositions. My overriding interest was the music scene and I had written a couple of pop songs already, so I wrote to Andrew offering my services as a lyricist. I was 21. We started writing together, but it wasn’t until I took the gamble of leaving EMI that our collaboration began in earnest with a three-year contract with a new manager, David Land. Andrew and I got on so well that I even moved into a spare room in one of the two adjacent flats in South Kensington where he lived with two generations of his Bohemian family. They were a 30 • OCTOBER 2022 and legibly on paper. After A-levels at Lancing College in Sussex, I became an articled clerk at a lawyer’s office in London before realising that I wasn’t cut out to be a solicitor. So I moved on to work as a management trainee, or glorified office boy, in the music business at EMI where my father knew the MD of the London office. TALENT IS OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT, BUT YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE LUCK AS WELL. Most successful people owe a lot of their start in show business to other people. I had heard from a music publisher contact of my mother’s that an 18-year-old prodigy called
HOMER SYKES / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO , OCTOBER 2022 • 31 fascinatingly wacky cast of enchanting characters—and that suited me fine. I FOUNDED A CRICKET TEAM, HEARTACHES CC, IN 1973 AND IT’S STILL GOING STRONG. The photograph above was taken recently when we played one of our most venerable opponents, Odiham CC (in Hampshire). After each game, I write a match report which I compile into an almanac at the conclusion of the season; some of the reports go back nearly 50 years and it’s amazing how often I can remember the day quite clearly. The players here had just secured a victory—and the Labrador in the photo had secured several egg-and-cress sandwiches. I HAD A BRIEF ENCOUNTER WITH MY HERO, ELVIS PRESLEY when I actually got to shake The King’s hand in 1974. While on honeymoon in America, my wife Jane and I were invited to one of his shows at the Las Vegas Hilton by his music publisher— who just happened to be closer than close to one of Jane’s girlfriends. Elvis’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, was a permanent fixture at the gambling tables, which was why Elvis got trapped in the Vegas circus for so long. We were invited to a post-show gathering and Elvis READER’S DIGEST In cricket whites as a member of his private team, The Heartaches
ZUMA PRESS, INC. / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO I REMEMBER Rice wins his Emmy, alongside Andrew Lloyd Webber and singer John Legend in 2018 32 • OCTOBER 2022 thanked us for coming. He looked good close up—he wasn’t going through one of his fat periods—and seemed very cheerful. I told Jane that I hoped that Elvis would record one of my songs and that we could meet him properly next time, but we never did. Just three years later, Elvis had left the building forever. I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT THE ABBA SONGWRITERS BENNY ANDERSSON AND BJÖRN ULVAEUS WERE MUSICAL GENII. After Evita, Andrew had the poetry of TS Eliot for his Cats lyrics, while I needed a new composer-collaborator for my idea of a drama about a chess match between a Russian and an American grandmaster as a proxy for the Cold War. I heard that Benny and Björn wanted to write a stage musical as a change from three-minute pop songs, so we met up for dinner in a Stockholm restaurant and they decided to do Chess with me. As Björn explained, Sweden almost had a border with Russia—so they knew all about that Cold War feeling! I WAS VERY HONOURED TO RECEIVE A KNIGHTHOOD FROM THE QUEEN IN 1994 and also to
With wife Jane at Buckingham Palace after receiving a knighthood become an EGOT, a rather ugly acronym which stands for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards. But I consider myself a minor celebrity and only wear a hat to protect my thinning dome, not because of recognition. Most of my dearest friends are outside of show business. I’m very close to my family—three daughters and a son, and seven grandchildren, who are all musical. I can’t retire—what else would I do? So I’ve written three new songs for the first London revival of the 2013 musical From Here To Eternity that I wrote with the composer Stuart Brayson, whom I first encountered two decades ago when he came up to me in the street and pressed his music tapes into my hand. It’s my way of forcing myself out of my natural laziness. n As told to Maureen Paton From Here To Eternity runs at London’s Charing Cross Theatre from October 29 to December 17 with an opening night on November 8. For tickets and more information, visit charingcrosstheatre.co.uk OCTOBER 2022 • 33 READER’S DIGEST
HEALTH 34
photos: (left) ©getty images (right) by Vicky lam THE REMEDIES AND STRATEGIES THAT CAN HELP YOU ENJOY LIFE AGAIN Rise Above Pain by Lisa Bendall With additional reporting by susannah hickling
36 • OCTOBER 2022 S ince his teens, Antony Chuter has faced severe discomfort from recurring kidney stones. This was compounded in adulthood by issues caused by sciatica and a connectivetissue condition affecting his feet, shoulders, and elbows. The 51-year-old former IT engineer from Uckfield, East Sussex, used to try to push through his pain. In the early 1990s, he and his then-partner renovated houses and went sailing and night-clubbing. “We had a busy, active life,” he says. But gradually the pain took over. Chuter started cancelling social engagements, and eventually lost his job, home and relationship. He sank into depression. Chuter’s doctor referred him to a pain clinic in 1995 but the real turning point came almost a decade later, when he participated in a six-week programme that included a peer-led pain self-management course. “It was a game-changer,” he says. “I’ve learned the importance of living for the day and finding enjoyment in the things I’m able to do.” For relief he also does some gentle exercises, like an aqua walking class and simple workouts in the gym. And when Chuter feels pain flaring up, he’ll listen to music and play a game on his phone. “That helps me chill out,” he says. Relaxation is just one of several methods he relies on to stay healthy and happy. He has a new partner and a comfortable home. And he’s thrown himself into helping others dealing with long-term pain by setting up a men’s support group, which meets twice a week on Zoom. “We listen to each other,” he says. “The only rule is that we talk about how we feel in the moment. It’s very cathartic.” At least one in five Europeans lives with chronic pain—defined as persistent pain that lasts for more than three months—and half of them say it interferes with their professional life. But there are ways to prevent chronic pain from defining you. And the good news is that some of the solutions also work for anyone suffering from occasional acute-pain episodes like headache, toothache or muscle pain. Here are several ways that you can take your battles with pain, whether it is chronic or acute, into your own hands. MEDICAL TREATMENTS Topical Relief For pain problems that are near the skin surface—like an arthritic joint in your toe or a nerve injury in your fingertip—medicated creams or gels may provide some relief. They usually contain a topical anaesthetic or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Heat or cold packs may soothe RISE ABOVE PAIN
OCTOBER 2022 • 37 deeper musculoskeletal pain. But “avoid direct contact with the skin,” cautions Dr Bart Morlion, director of the Leuven Center for Algology and Pain Management at University Hospitals Leuven in Belgium. “Put the hot or cold pack in a towel. Long application of heat or ice cold can cause tissue damage, so I advise three times a day for 15 minutes.” Over-the-Counter Medications Aspirin, also known as acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), has been on the market since 1899 and was the world’s most popular painkiller by the mid-20th century. Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, became available in 1950, and today it ranks as the most widely used medication. Both drugs work by changing the message of the chemical transmitters that travel up our spinal cord to tell our brain we’re hurting. As they have the least harmful side effects of all painkillers and can help address a wide range of aches, it’s best to try them before turning to anything stronger—unless your doctor has advised you to avoid these products because of a medical condition such as liver disease. Ibuprofen, which is an NSAID, is chemically like aspirin, but carries more serious risks, including kidney damage and gastrointestinal bleeding. You should check with your physician before using it, especially if you’re over 65 or have medical conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. Be wary of combination products, like those that contain paracetamol plus codeine. The more ingredients a medication has, the greater the risk that it could interact with something else you’re taking. “If you are on other medication, speak with your pharmacist or doctor, or both, and read the product information,” suggests Dr Morlion. Prescription Drugs For more extreme pain, NSAIDs are also available for sufferers in prescriptionstrength formulas (some people need them to ease their osteoarthritis, for instance; this condition affects more than 40 million people across Europe). There are of course tightly controlled prescription drugs for chronic pain, including opioids. Keep in mind that different types of pain can require different treatments; for example, gabapentin and pregabalin are anticonvulsant drugs that are often used for pain arising from damage to the nervous system—such as a severed nerve or shingles. READER’S DIGEST At least 1 in five Europeans suffers with chronic pain
Back and Joint Injections Spinal nerve blocks—injections of a long-lasting anaesthetic into vertebrae joints—can help with some types of back pain. But, like so many other treatments, its effectiveness depends on where the soreness is coming from. This won’t relieve disc pain, for instance, but can help with pain in the facet joints connecting your vertebrae. For some of his chronic headache patients who haven’t responded to other treatments, Dr Morlion uses nerve block injections in areas around the head. Another option is botulinum toxin, known as Botox—it can also prevent migraines by blocking the transmission of pain signals. Steroid injections into inflamed joints can sometimes help with arthritis pain. All of these offer only temporary relief for most people, lasting anywhere from weeks to months, so they need to be repeated. Nerve Stimulation Spinal cord stimulation (SCS), which is becoming more popular around the world, can override pain signals by sending electric impulses to the spinal cord through surgically implanted wires. It doesn’t work for all pain, but it may help some kinds of back or limb pain by replacing it with a tingling sensation. But there are risks to this kind of invasive procedure—an implanted battery could leak, or you could develop an infection. Even if it works perfectly, the hardware doesn’t last forever. There is also a new, more targeted form of stimulation known as DRG (dorsal root ganglion, a cluster of neurons located in the mid-spine), which is delivered directly to the nerve-root bundle. A less invasive option, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), delivers a lowvoltage electric current through the skin. TENS devices are widely sold for use at home or in a health care provider’s office. Some studies suggest that TENS can reduce the sensation of pain with issues like shoulder tendonitis and an aching lower back by interfering with the nerve signals. But beware: you should always consult your physician before you use such devices, especially if you have a pacemaker or medical conditions like epilepsy or deep vein thrombosis. NON-MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS CognitiveBehavioural Therapy (CBT) Since pain is highly unpleasant, the emotional 38 • OCTOBER 2022 RISE ABOVE PAIN 41 million adults in Europe suffer from migraines
impact of it can be just as distressing as the physical sensation. Strategies that work on controlling this response—CBT being a key one—can improve how we feel, says clinical psychologist Sue Webb, who runs an online course aimed at helping people tame chronic pain. “Reducing the emotional response to pain is like turning the volume down on it,” she says. “CBT helps people understand what is happening to them and gives them tools to put it right.” For example, it can be helpful to be aware of your negative self-talk. Stress and anxiety are proven to worsen physical pain, so instead of berating yourself for only being able to clean half the kitchen floor, you can be more compassionate and accept that this is the best you can do today. An expert in CBT can help you change your thought patterns by teaching you how to reinterpret these kinds of situations. In 2020, a research review of 60 studies by the University of Utah in the United States concluded that CBT and other mind-body therapies can reduce pain severity in people who are taking opioids. In most of the studies, the participants' opioid use also went down. Meditation and Relaxation A University of Utah research review also found that mindfulness meditation was among the most effective mind-body therapies for pain reduction. Relaxation practices like meditation can minimise tension in the body, calm the sympathetic nervous system, and provide a greater sense of control. Specific OCTOBER 2022 • 39 READER’S DIGEST Aromatherapy oils and incense Physiotherapy ball and band Acupuncture needles Topical balm Topical pain relief patch and roll-on balm TENS pads Cannabis gummies photo by Vicky lam
techniques—such as focusing on your breathing, progressively relaxing different muscles, or visualising a peaceful place—may take time to learn, so don’t get discouraged if they don't work at first. For some people, music, deep breathing, or essential oils can be relaxing. What’s important is finding out what works for you. Massage Therapeutic massage can lower pain levels by improving circulation and relaxing your body. It may also reduce the anxiety that aggravates pain. Some research suggests it can be effective for soft tissue injuries, back pain, headaches, and fibromyalgia pain. Seek out a registered massage therapist who is specifically trained to address injuries. Acupuncture Acupuncture, derived from a 2,500- year-old Chinese practice, can treat a wide range of everyday conditions, including backaches and dental pain. Tiny needles are inserted through the skin to various depths and are thought to disrupt pain signals by stimulating the nerves. Evidence is mixed, although a 2017 analysis in The Journal of Pain found that it does seem to help certain individuals beyond the placebo effect. It usually takes a few sessions to see results, and as with many treatments, it’s not easy to predict who will benefit from it. Harriët Wittink, a physiotherapist specialising in chronic pain and the chair of the lifestyle and health research group at the University of Applied Sciences Utrecht in the Netherlands, believes acupuncture is worth trying. “The frequency of adverse effects is unknown, and they may be rare,” she says. “Just make sure that the acupuncturist is appropriately licensed.” Cannabis Medical cannabis has been earning more attention as a potential pain reliever, although research is still limited, and it isn’t yet recommended as a first-line treatment. However, Imperial College London has set up a medical cannabis research group that will evaluate and develop new cannabinoid (CBD) treatments for pain, inflammation and cancer. In the meantime, many people are experimenting on their own. An analysis of public health data published last year in The Lancet Regional Health– Europe found that more Europeans were using cannabis at older ages. A 2021 Danish survey of people who used cannabis 40 • OCTOBER 2022 RISE ABOVE PAIN More than 40 million people across Europe live with osteoarthritis
instead of prescription drugs found that they did so mostly for pain management. Always check with your doctor before putting cannabis to the test. PAIN PREVENTION Miren Behaxeteguy, a 47-year-old from Montpellier, France, is one of the 41 million European adults who suffer from migraine headaches. They can strike several times a week and leave her incapacitated. Earlier this year, the pain forced her to take prolonged sick leave from her job as a social worker. “I hit a wall and decided I had to manage my pain in a different way,” says Behaxeteguy, a grandmother. “I’m now focused on being comfortable before and during an episode.” As soon as she feels any pain surfacing, she puts on a hat containing ice packs and, on her neck, a grain-filled heat bag. She applies a variety of other prevention and management techniques, from relaxation to Pilates. Regular physical activity can prevent and ease aches and pains in multiple ways. It improves your general emotional well-being, triggers the release of pain-relieving endorphins, and boosts blood flow and nutrients to your joints and tissues. “Exercise is not only important because of the ‘use it or lose it’ principle, but also because it increases confidence in your ability to do things,” says Wittink. If you’re worried about aggravating your pain or putting pressure on your joints, try gentle walking or lowimpact exercises like tai chi, yoga or aquatics. And if you’ve had a recent sports injury or are recovering from surgery, a physiotherapist can often suggest at-home exercises that will help you to heal or improve your mobility. In addition to doing exercises suggested by her physiotherapist and going to Pilates classes, Behaxeteguy does deep breathing exercises with the help of online videos. “It takes five minutes, and I can do them anywhere on my phone.” And, she puts great stock in the healing power of keeping pets. “Walking my dog helps me exercise and get some air, and my cat’s purring is incredibly calming. That’s my personal prescription!”. Effectively dealing with pain can often mean exploring a variety of different strategies. Take the advice of someone who has been there. “Have an open mind and try new things,” says Antony Chuter, who is now chair of Pain UK. “List possible solutions and pick one. If that solution doesn’t work, pick another. It’s all about what’s right for you. And it’s important to accept your pain and take more pleasure in the things you enjoy.” n OCTOBER 2022 • 41 READER’S DIGEST
HEALTH 42 • OCTOBER 2022 T he cliché of a knitter is a white-haired lady—possibly one who also solves murders, if you’re an Agatha Christie fan. But in the 1940s, young male Royal Air Force pilots wielded needles as they waited for their next mission. Wartime pilots crashed a lot and “lap crafts”—like knitting, embroidery, and beadwork—helped rebuild dexterity in wounded limbs while also helping to settle wounded minds. They were the cornerstone of early occupational therapy. Today, millions of people around the world employ these same techniques. “They are entwined with our mental health,” says Janine Smith. Along with Deb McDonald, she co-owns Skein Sisters, a store in Sydney, Australia, that sells supplies for knitting and crocheting. “I know that if I haven’t knitted for a few days, I really miss it. It’s like meditation.” Research supports Smith’s statement. Physiotherapist Betsan Corkhill and occupational therapist Jill Riley were part of a team from Cardiff University that, ten years ago, surveyed more than 3,500 knitters and found that the more frequently people knitted, the calmer and happier they felt. Or, as McDonald puts it, “That rhythm of making stitch after stitch is like deep breathing. It’s a flow where you don’t have to stress about it, How crafts like knitting can help us deal with stress Active Hands, Calm Minds By Donyale Harrison
OCTOBER 2022 • 43 you’ve got the rhythm happening.” “Flow” is a concept first named by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. As he wrote in his book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, “The best moments in our lives are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times. The best moments usually occur if a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile.” Shauna Richardson knows just how true this is. The artist spent 18 months in a state of flow when she crocheted three seven-metre-long lions for the 2012 Cultural Olympiad. To complete the task, which required nearly 38 miles of wool, she says she had to “zone everything out and sustain a state of mind driven by rhythm and process.” But smaller projects will also get you there. Even a simple knitting or crochet pattern requires attentiveness to ensure that each stitch is made correctly. And if there’s not enough challenge in the straightforward, you can make additions, from colour changes to textured stitches to highly intricate patterns. Csikszentmihalyi also describes the opposite to flow. He points out that although people are healthier and grow to be older than in previous generations, they often end up feeling that “their years were spent in anxiety and boredom,” and they feel cut off from satisfying work. The Cardiff research team found that even though most of the people surveyed were employed, three-quarters of those who knitted three or more times a week felt significantly more able to organise their thoughts and forget their problems. Many respondents described feeling calmer and in a better mood after knitting, and the majority of respondents who suffered from depression “perceived that knitting made them feel happier.” For respondents who suffered from chronic pain, almost nine out of ten said that knitting gave them a sense of accomplishment and a means of coping with their pain. Interestingly, more than half of those surveyed said that knitting pushed them to develop other skills, like building furniture. Because knitting is so accessible—at its heart it’s two sticks and one stitch—it helps people build confidence in their abilities. After all, if you make a mistake, you can just pull it all out and start again. n KNITTING IS ACCESSIBLE—AT ITS HEART, IT’S TWO STICKS AND ONE STITCH
HEALTH 44 • OCTOBER 2022 Chest pain For most people who are younger with no medical history to suggest cardiac problems or a higher risk—such as high blood pressure or diabetes—pain in the chest doesn’t usually indicate a heart attack. It could be caused by indigestion, muscle strain after exercise or anxiety. Or angina triggered by narrowing arteries could be provoking the pain. This needs medical attention but is rarely an emergency. But if your chest pain lasts more than 15 minutes, spreads to other parts of your body such as your jaw, back or arms, comes with tightness of the chest or sweating, breathlessness or sickness, you need urgent medical help. A heart that goes bump in the night or eyelids that move by themselves? It might be Halloween but, almost always, there’s no need to be afraid Scary Symptoms Susannah Hickling is twice winner of the Guild of Health Writers Best Consumer Magazine Health Feature
For more weekly health tips and stories, sign up to our newsletter at readersdigest.co.uk OCTOBER 2022 • 45 Palpitations Many people fret about a fluttering, fast-beating or pounding heart. Often this is caused by dehydration, stress or too much caffeine. Drink plenty of fluids, manage anxiety and cut back on coffee. When should you worry? If you are getting palpitations a lot, and you also get chest pain or are short of breath, see your doctor to eliminate a heart rhythm problem. Skin tags Fleshy growths that often look like warts and are usually connected by a stalk to your skin are almost never cancerous. They’re a common part of getting older and tend to be in areas of friction, like your neck or under your arms. If you’re worried, get them checked out. Twitching eye The unpleasant sensation of a twitching eyelid is almost always harmless. In fact, it just means you—and in particular your eyes—are tired. Ease off the computer or phone screen. As ever, if the problem persists, see your doctor in the extremely unlikely event that it could be a symptom of a neurological disorder. Floaters in your eye Almost everyone gets black dots that pass in front of their vision as they get older. Have regular eye tests (every two years for most people). Meanwhile, if the dark shapes are accompanied by flashing lights, see an optometrist immediately to rule out a detached retina. Feeling faint when standing up Dizziness when you get up quickly is called postural hypotension, caused by a drop in blood pressure when the blood goes to your legs as you stand. It’s very common, especially as you age, and nothing to worry about unless you actually pass out or fall or it’s happening more frequently. Remember to rise slowly. Ringing in your ears A sudden ringing that goes away or a constant noise can both be signs of tinnitus. Again, it’s more likely when you get older and is often associated with hearing loss, certain medications or stress. Could it be something more serious? Occasionally, it might indicate high blood pressure or hardening arteries. It could be time for a health check. And, if your tinnitus beats in time with your pulse, see your GP. n PAIN IN THE CHEST DOESN’T USUALLY INDICATE A HEART ATTACK
HEALTH 46 • OCTOBER 2022 basis can help alleviate knee osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and lower back pain. 5 Tai chi compares with brisk walking and resistance training This might be difficult to believe, as tai chi is so slow and smooth, but it can improve both upperbody strength, thanks to the unsupported arm movements it involves, and lower-body strength when practised regularly. 6 It may boost brain power Benefits aren’t just physical. Studies have found that regular tai chi can improve cognitive functioning in older people with dementia and without. Given that it’s considered safe and suitable for the elderly, this is a definite win. 7 It has the feel-good factor A reduction in stress and anxiety, and increased confidence, are other mental health benefits of tai chi, according to research, though further research is needed. 8 You can do it at home Classes are useful not just for teaching the movements but also for meeting likeminded people. But there are videos available online too—you’re bound to find one that matches your fitness level and exercise preferences. 1 Tai chi is good for both body and mind Tai chi is a gentle martial art that originated in China. It’s called “meditation in motion”, because it involves slow movements with a focus on breathing and on what your body is doing in that moment. You can go at your own pace. 2 It’s easy on the body Tai chi is suitable for all ages and levels of fitness. It is low-impact, meaning there is minimal risk of damage to your joints. Muscles are relaxed and there is no stretching or straining. It’s an exercise that can be easily adapted for less able people, including those in wheelchairs. 3 It could prevent falls A 2019 review of studies suggested that tai chi might reduce the risk of falls in older people. Certainly, the emphasis is on balance, with sideways and backwards movements helping to strengthen muscles required for good stability. It also improves flexibility and spatial awareness. 4 It may reduce pain A small body of research indicates that practising tai chi on a regular 8 Reasons To Try Tai Chi
down the mental health curve. We get concerned when we notice big changes in their behaviour that don’t pass in a few weeks—for example, grandchildren stop meeting friends, stay in their bedroom or lose interest in things they used to enjoy. What role can grandparents play in ensuring their grandchildren’s wellbeing? The most important thing grandparents can offer is themselves, just being there, listening and validating. Relationships are the biggest predictors of happiness and success across the lifespan. Strong positive relationships build resilience in our young people. What practical things can grandparents do? Be present and give their time. They can give their time directly to their grandchild and to their own child —a parent who is allowed time to refuel will show up as a better parent. They can help their grandchildren by being on their team and sitting with them when times are tough. All children benefit from something called relational wealth and this is a grandparent’s most important contribution. n For more information go to resilienceandwellbeing.blogspot.com and castlepsychology.co.uk Ask The Expert: Grandchildren’s Wellbeing How did you become an expert on families, including children? My passion comes from my belief that with the right support all children can reach their potential. Working with children is so full of hope. I have spent the past 15 years working in child and adolescent mental health in the NHS. What are the main mental health challenges facing children? This is difficult to answer. Over the past two years there has been an increase in child and adolescent mental health difficulties. In particular, there has been a significant increase in anxiety and eating disorders, both linked to the pandemic. Young people are also reporting a much higher level of loneliness, which may be linked to excessive screen use. How do these manifest themselves in their behaviour? It’s absolutely normal for young people to move up and Dr Tamara Scully is a Suffolk-based chartered clinical psychologist who works with children, young people and adults. OCTOBER 2022 • 47 READER’S DIGEST
Max is a hospital doctor, author and columnist. He currently works full time in mental health for the NHS. His new book, The Marvellous Adventure of Being Human, is out now S tanding outside my hospital the other day, I was struck by a sight. In fact, I’d bet it’s a sight we’ve all seen countless times: obese nurses standing around outside a hospital, usually smoking, busting out of their uniforms. Their poppers ready to pop, their belt heaving under the strain of keeping it all in, it seems a feat of mechanical engineering that they ever managed to get into their uniform in the first place. It is estimated that one in four nurses is obese, with nearly two-thirds being overweight. That’s pretty shocking. Of course, health professionals should know better—they know more than most the problems associated with obesity. They’ve seen the heart attacks and strokes, the diabetes, the leg amputations. Why are so many still overweight? It’s a clear example of denial—a basic psychological defence mechanism that the mind uses to resolve conflicts. On the one hand the mind knows that being obese is bad, but on the other hand it wants to eat cake and not worry about it. So, unconsciously it pushes this conflict deep down so we can ignore it. Don’t think about it, pretend it’s not happening. While some have argued that obese nurses may be less productive and take more time off sick, this isn’t 48 • OCTOBER 2022 HEALTH Healthcare workers need to join their patients on the treadmill, argues Dr Max Leading By Example