Film & TV
Claire is a journalist and freelance writer commended for her idea generation, alternative angles on a story and never missing a deadline. Has experience writing for print and digital publications in a variety of formats including essays, articles, listicles, product descriptions, website and advertising copy, opinion pieces, short stories and poetry. Is proficient compiling research and obtaining sources on a variety of subjects to form a piece of high quality copy in keeping with the editorial tone.
Film & TV
Avoid the grey January weather with a trip to the cinema to see Timothée Chalamet in A Complete Unknown, Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas and more!
Stop the scroll! Here's everything new and noteworthy hitting TV this week including Kristen Wiig's starry, Sixties set, Palm Royale.
A steamy sapphic road trip romp with a stellar cast - is Ethan Coen's first solo offering worth the fuss? Yes, says Claire Hool, just don't take it too seriously.
Interviews
With more cooking creds than we can count (including two Michelin Green stars), Chef Chantelle Nicholson spills the (coffee) beans on her collab with illy, waste-free cooking and the ingenious chouxnut.
Andy Leek, the man behind Notes to Strangers, talks about his latest collaboration (a free, public art trail around Portman Marylebone).
Boos and hisses at the ready! Lisa Maxwell spills the tea ahead of her villainous turn in this year's panto at the Norwich Theatre Royal.
Gary Hunter, our go to guy for all things chocolatey, chats cooking for royalty, halloumi cheese and his dear friend and inspiration, the late great Richard Hughes.
From old school barbers and greasy spoons to comedy venues and where to get the best negroni, Jamie Poulton, co-owner of swish seafood bistro (and Soho institution), Randall & Aubin, tells Muddy his favourite neighbourhood haunts. Bookmark these now.
Travel
Fill your boots at this award-winning, cosy inn with rooms, tucked away in the North Norfolk countryside. Great gastropub fare, a friendly atmosphere and a glorious garden await.
Expect local booze, comfort food and a BIG warm welcome from this olde worlde characterful inn in North Norfolk.
Stunning North Norfolk location, fine dining, pool, spa, residents only VIP vibes and a whole slew of awards - on paper The Harper has staycation goals written all over it, but does it live up to the hype?
Country staycay of dreams coming in hot! The Royal Berkshire hotel is perfectly situated for a fun-filled weekender with friends and family
This rustic, super-foodie, 18th-century inn with its very own farm that supplies the kitchen is upping the ante on farm to fork dining - read my review to find out what Muddy thinks of The Kings Head Inn.
A five-star manor house stay for you and all your besties - and Tom Hiddleston is a fan? Sounds good on paper but does Norfolk's Ormesby Manor cut the (Colman's) mustard
Forget strait-laced stays! From converted windmills and water towers to off-grid wagons and former Victorian loos, you can get your intrepid adventurer fix in Norfolk with these quirky offerings.
Not your average B&B! Byfords is also a café, restaurant and store. Read on for my review of this much-loved gem in the heart of Holt.
Culture
Muddy meets five leading voices on the opera scene to talk careers, survival and reinvigorating the art form.
Don't let the title of this exhibit put you off, there is plenty of food for thought and some exceptional pieces which will shock, enthral and resonate with you in equal measure.
Starting a summer of rip-roaring variety shows, the all-singing, all-dancing Cromer Pier Show is back with a bang! Here's what Muddy thought when we stole a seat on opening night.
Stop dithering over which local panto to book this season, here's why you should go and see Cinderella at Gorleston Pavilion lickity-split.
Literature Reviews
Are you looking for your next character-driven novel? Then look no further than this list of books like The Dutch House, Ann Patchett’s 2020 Pulitzer nominated thoughtful, intuitive, compulsive, splendid novel.
Looking for more books like The Vanishing Half? Brit Bennett’s second novel has taken the world by storm, reaching number one on the New York Times fiction bestsellers list, it is a book I kept seeing all over social media and one I was looking forward to reading to see what all the hype was about – the verdict? Totally worth it!
Are you looking for your next exciting mystery novel? Then look no further than this list of books like The Guest List. A remote setting, a high profile wedding, lots of people forced to spend time together, stranded by a storm, all hiding secrets – Lucy Foley’s fifth novel has all the right ingredients for an intense narrative, and then a dead body is discovered amping up the mystery!
Creative Work
Inspired by my time in Cyprus, a modern take on the legend surrounding the rock of Aphrodite
This is a poem I wrote for an assignment at university it is a poem inspired by a vintage 'pre loved' kimono I own that got me thinking about how we are all in fact pre loved
A personal poem written during lockdown which was selected by Dare to Create and included in their poetry anthology entitled Lockdown Rhythms
My essay was Shortlisted for The Fountain Essay Contest 2019-20. The theme was facing challenges and I reflect on a particularly stressful period of my life where I would hide on the underground as a way of coping with work place anxiety.
A short story recently shortlisted for The WritersWeekly.com Summer, 2020 24-Hour Short Story Contest. We were provided with a prompt and then had 24 hours to write a short story which incorporated the prompt in someway. This is my shortlisted entry.
Style
Style ruts, online shopping overwhelm and panic buying begone! With the genius three-word styling method from Alexandra Fullerton, local resident and stylist to the stars, your life (and your wardrobe) will never be the same again.
Wellness
Muddy reviews the prestige and VIP therapeutic experience, The Norfolk Hygge Experience, from Slow You Down Wellbeing.
Think wellness retreats are all green juices and no fun? Think again! See what Muddy thought when we stole a coveted yoga mat on a Yoga with Lucy retreat.
The paint was barely dry on the walls when we stopped by to see this popular city salon's new digs on opening week, but does it get the Muddy seal of approval?
From accepting your shortcomings and putting your phone to bed to making the last two minutes of your day count, local breathing expert, Jane Tarrant, will help you pump the brakes.
An exploration into the latest mental health buzzword and why medical practitioners are, now more than ever, most at risk of burning out
Though restrictions are lifting and we have already started navigating this ‘new normal’, the repercussions of the pandemic on mental health are yet to be fully realised. One area of concern is the apparent rise in people emerging from lockdown suffering from body dysmorphic disorder. Claire Hool explores the reasons for this rise and discusses the ways that aesthetic practitioners can help patients who are showing signs of this underdiagnosed disorder
The NHS defines mental illnesses, or mental health disorders, as various conditions that affect an individual's mood, behaviour, feelings, thoughts and how they interact with others. This can affect normal day-to-day functioning and can impact someone in both their personal and professional life. People's mental health issues and struggles manifest differently.
People reporting some form of gender incongruence has risen tenfold over the past few years, and the reasons why are not always clear. Whatever the reason, Claire Hool considers ways to transform your workplace into a more transgender-friendly space
Business
With the worldwide focus on keeping our planet and ourselves safe from harm, it is particularly pertinent, now more than ever, to look to the ways this can be achieved. Claire Hool explores the possibilities of becoming sustainable in aesthetics and whether doing so will compromise standards.
Many aesthetic practitioners come from a spa, salon or retail background, and bring with them a wealth of sales expertise. However, if not managed correctly, this kind of experience can be inappropriate for a medical environment. Claire Hool discusses ways clinic managers can adapt sales techniques to avoid being pushy, maximising not only patient results, but also the bottom line of your business
Are you looking at ways to improve your business so that it is more environmentally friendly and pleasing to an untapped market of conscious clientele, but are unsure where to start? Claire Hool breaks down the jargon and the buzzwords to help you make ethical decisions that are right for you, your business and your clients