We saw actor Peter Coyote on our way to dinner in Cannes
Friends having a quiet dinner before the party scene. Myself, Gregore, Konnie Duff and and David Moscow.
Alan Cummings and me at the celebrity gifts stand at Nickie Beach. A place where the celebrities are given expensive gifts to wear or use.
Getting ready for the incredible dinner on the SS Delphine will Paul Allen yacht in the distance complete with helicopter.
We had to alight one large tender to a smaller one so we could board the huge yacht. Very scary.
'How to spoil the biggest and most glamorous party scene of the year the Cannes Film Festival'
The start of my trip was in Monaco for the classic Historique car race preceding the Formula 1 Grand Prix. The event was really exciting and I had a great spot from which to see the race. Then it was off to Cannes for the Film Festival but what a shame is all I can say; as I casually walked on the croisette the weather was fantastic, at least for that day anyway, with clear blue skies and beautiful people milling about. But for me the real shock was the view - it had virtually disappeared. The beautiful bay with the wonderful beaches usually filled with glamorous wannabe's had been desecrated with ugly pointed carnival-type tents housing big booming discothèques. The exotic sunbathers that used to sun themselves topless for the paparazzi were no longer on show, at one time a reason for many of the Hollywood money men to come.
Sadly one of the main hotels, once classed as the most elegant, looked to me like a car crash in comparison to its former beauty. Now very gloomy and dark it felt as though I was walking into a tomb.
I hadn't been to the festival since 1989 when I was a regular for 10 years, having been married to the international editor of the Hollywood Reporter. I spent my honeymoon at the famous Carlton Hotel paid for by the powerful film trade magazine. However, this time I was here as an observer but despite the culture shock, I had a great time and attended lots of extraordinary parties.
Nikki beach was great and although tented they had brought South Beach (Miami) to the Riviera, so much so that I forgot I was in France. The glamorous people were everywhere and I was lucky enough to be invited to the fabulous parties by my wonderful friend and PR guru Kristina Lynn. She invited me to lots of yacht parties - three luxury boats and two tenders on just one of the days. The problem was that you had to get from the tender to the luxury yacht by risking your life and yet still looking 'cool' It certainly was cool one day when visiting the yachts with my umbrella and a thick jacket, feeling very cold whilst trying not to let the rain make me look like a drowned rat. The only consolation was that others were in the same boat (excuse the pun) but wouldn't you know it, the fabulously gorgeous girls that are rife at the film festival looked as though they had just stepped out of a salon rather than looking damp and cold as I was.
A salon was where in fact I spent almost a day getting ready for THE party on the biggest yacht, the S.S Delphine - a spectacularly classic 258 footer, complete with nine state rooms, three lounges and a minimum crew of 55 for just 20 guests. Celebrity chief Mike Kernan was the host and he served a mouth-watering 'organic' meal with Champagne flowing throughout. One of his famous clients is Sharon Stone and he is known for cooking organic food. A party on the Dark Dog boat was great with cocktails at 6pm in the evening. Dark dog is a non-alcoholic drink that gives you energy. I tried the dark dog Champagne cocktails and was able to party into the 'wee' hours.
The next trip was on a beautiful 109ft sail boat also hosted by Mark Kernan and if that wasn't enough he then took us to the fabulous 'Absinthe', an exquisite yacht to die for at over 200ft with a large helicopter pad, where another party was going on he was hosting. It was moored just across from Paul Allen's yacht the co-founder of Microsoft. He's worth an estimated $21 billion and it's not surprising he can afford his $12 million yellow submarine. It was rumoured that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie stayed at his Cap Ferret mansion.
There was a celebrity Spa on the roof of the Old Palace with the most spectacular view, offering complimentary make-up, hair, nails and massage by professional artists and you could even borrow a terrific designer dress to wear to the premieres. Fortunately I didn't which may have saved it from a possible drowning, owing to the weather rainy and cold most of the time. However, I felt like a star and was happy mingling with the celebrities again.
I found myself in a lift with Mike Tyson who was being calmed by a lady who seemed to be looking after him. He was getting very agitated at being late for a premiere - not very pleasant. I had dinner with David Moscow and was invited to the premiere of his new film. He played the famous role in the film "Big" with Tom Hanks where he wished to be an adult. When I arrived home I had a video in my machine with him starring in an old film; a spooky coincidence. He's a great guy and lots of fun. I saw many more stars on the croisette including Will Smith, Sir Anthony Hopkins and of course Harrison Ford, who were all there to promote their films.
So what is this to do with healthy living? Well they must be doing something right as they looked pretty healthy to me!
Hypnosis work:
I have just been conducting some research on basic relaxation with hypnosis and found that it helped a Parkinson patient. I worked with him four separate times in group hypnosis therapy and each time his trembling completely stopped while in hypnosis. However, if any negative word was used while in trance he would start shaking again. We were all quite amazed. I was researching with an expert in Kirlian, Konnie Duff, a doctor in Chinese medicine who uses a Kirlian machine to picture the energy before the hypnosis and after. The results were quite spectacular. "In the ten years I have been using Kirlian photography for therapy I have never seen such changes in just 6 minutes of hypnosis", she said. "You would have to work with someone for many sessions to see such changes it shows what a few minutes in deep hypnosis can do".
I will keep you posted with our findings we will be working with one of her Russian Professors, doctor Konstanin Korotkov to see how consistent these changes are and combining the traditional therapy with cutting edge technology. Her new very expensive Kirlian machine from Russia even reads out the therapeutic findings.
We were discussing some research in one UK university, where they photographed the energy around a hand where one finger amputated, the picture showed that the finger looked to be still intact. Some amputees experience phantom limbs so it may not be just a psychological effect as previously believed..
Diet Coke to drop additive E211 for fear of DNA damage.
Diet Coke: Linked to hyperactivity and DNA damage
Coca-Cola is taking a year to phase out a controversial additive that has been linked to damage to DNA and hyperactivity in children. It is Sodium benzoate, also known as E211, is used to stop fizzy drinks going mouldy.
What can it do? Research Peter Piper, a professor of molecular biology at Sheffield University, found that the additive could switch off parts of DNA, the genetic code in the cells of living creatures, that could be linked to cirrhosis of the liver and Parkinson's disease. Interestingly there is a big surge of Parkinsons disease now.
Research by Southampton University found that sodium benzoate was one of seven additives - the six others are food colours that can lead to hyperactivity in children.
The Food Standards Agency has called for the six colours to be withdrawn from products but not sodium benzoate.
Coco Cola say that non of the bottles will contain the E211 by the end of the year. Why not now if it is dangerous? The company said that they had not found a satisfactory alternative to replace the additive. Well I suppose that makes sense, to some people anyway. I remember when they took food/drinks off the shelves immediately if it was thought to be dangerous. Well that's progress for you.
Tips:
Since mobile phones are said to be dangerous a little tip may help. If you hold the phone away from you while you dial and get through that will take the worst part away. It seems it takes two watts to initiate the receiving of the call once the signal is complete but only a fraction of watts is used to speak.
There is a new patch for HRT that say it is not as dangerous. It just shows they were not saying it was dangerous before I wonder if the same will happen with the patch?Thank you for reading my page. You can e-mail me at: valerieaustinhyp@aol.com
Please visit my website at www.valerieaustin.com
Valerie Austin Training (founded 1989)
Validated (GHR, GHSC) Hypnosis Training courses at foundation & practitioner level in business and medical hypnotherapy.
Valerie Austin is author of six successful self-help books including SELF HYPNOSIS published by Thorsons
Founder of UKRAH (1992) The UK Register of Advanced Hypnotherapy.
Eds Note: VALERIE AUSTIN is an author, journalist and trainer with an international reputation in the field of hypnosis. Her best selling books and training help people achieve their full potential. She founded the Austin Corporate Stress Management Company focusing on reducing stress and anxiety amongst executives and CEO's. She also worked as a consultant in hypnosis at the Priory Hospital, the UK's equivalent to The Betty Ford Clinic, which specialises in food addiction and alcohol abuse. Valerie's work in the film industry (Hollywood) interviewing movers and shakers, producing TV news segments and publishing celebrity magazines in London gave her invaluable experience for her current Harley Street practice. |
