Patricia Allison misses Ola Nyman, the character she portrayed on Netflix’s Sex Education. “I really do,” Allison admits. “Ola taught me a lot of great things. She’s Swedish, [and] straight in the way she deals with her emotions. “With people, she is very open and unafraid to do what she wants to do. Ola is a force who goes for it. I miss all of that stuff – it was fun to be with her.” With every character the Kenyan-English actress has played, “I’ve been lucky enough to take something away from them. Ola has been a great source of life, love and friendship. I now look out for the little things, try to be present and curious with my kindness without encroaching.” Another character Allison played recently was Kath in the London stage show Jules And Jim. “She was wonderful, striking, super confident, poetic, sometimes quite unlikeable, and made mistakes boldly. I really adored that aspect of Kath,” Allison recalls. The 28-year-old won’t be returning for Sex Education’s fourth and final season (premiering in September), but she’s grateful for the legacy of the teen comedy drama. “Sex Education made people very curious about themselves, gender and all the things we touched on about personal boundaries. It incited people’s passions,” she says. Recently she joined Hendrick’s Gin’s Flora Adora campaign, which immortalises curious thinkers who are shaping this century. Allison is honoured alongside creative powerhouses across art, literature and theatre, including writers Dolly Alderton and Zadie Smith. Hendrick’s found 84% of the 2,000 adults surveyed would consider themselves to be curious, while 54% feel like their curiosity has plateaued over the past two years. In fact, almost a third wish they were more curious about life and its wonders — a sentiment particularly strong with 46% of Gen Z. So how does Allison stay curious? “Self-care is very important to me and the functioning of my career,” she says. “I do a lot of yoga, meditation, I definitely love swimming, reading and things that prioritise me time — a good time — so I can regain my energy, which helps to reinspire myself. “I tend to journal as well, which is the number one thing I do, because I need to be in constant communication with myself and my spirit through writing.” Allison started journalling when she was 18 years old, “After a bad break up, funnily enough”, she admits. “I don’t use any writing prompts. I find that it comes naturally to me, which I really enjoy. It’s really useful for coping with all the things going on in the world, and helps you figure out how you really feel about it. “I used to do it everyday during lockdown, but now I maybe journal twice a week and I’ll do a really long session, to work around my work schedule. Sometimes I’m up early filming and I can’t wake up super early before then. So I prioritise keeping myself both physically and vocally able to do my job properly.” Going outdoors is also important to Allison. “I love exercising in nature. Being out in it, breathing the air, touching trees,” she continues. “I think all of these activities give you time to relax, which is one of the most important things for any creative thing.” For Allison, establishing healthy boundaries hasn’t always been straightforward – especially when navigating the highs and lows of the entertainment industry. From getting nos and doubting herself to working on projects she’s passionate about, the dial is constantly moving. “I think boundaries are extremely important and it’s something I’ve been learning more of as my career develops. You have to be on game, and even better — in my opinion — so I’ve had to become stricter with myself – not strict, but give myself a nice baggy routine that I can stick to. “And this just means making sure I take care of myself properly and making sure I’m eating well and sleeping properly. It’s key. But it’s not always easy. I have to try and create these boundaries, otherwise I won’t be able to do anything.” Allison has adopted the same approach with social media, particularly after Sex Education first came out. “So many people felt connected to that show, and in turn, wanted to connect with the entire cast, which was really exciting. But it can be overwhelming. Overnight so many people are checking out your social media. It’s kind of mad,” she explains. “It’s hard, but I absolutely do not look at my social media first thing in the morning, at all, and surround myself with good people and real-life connections, making sure I’m there for my friends.” Allison is excited to have such a platform where she can reach so many different people, but she adds: “I want to be able to use that in the right way and be in a clearheaded space. And that does take some navigating.” To celebrate the launch of Hendrick’s Flora Adora Gin, Patricia Allison has teamed up with Hendrick’s Gin to rewild the nation’s curiosity.

Mention Dalmatia, and Split and Dubrovnik usually spring to mind. But head to the northern stretch of this coastal Croatian region and you'll find a road a little less traveled.

Reusable water bottles are beneficial in so many ways. Helping keep you hydrated, they also cut down on single-use plastic, and save you money every time you refill instead of buying a new bottle of water. Plus, with all the chic stainless steel flasks and glass bottles on the market – not to mention sporty carrying straps – they’ve become something of a fashion accessory. Trying to hit the NHS-recommended eight glasses of water a day for adults is an excellent idea, of course, but did you know there’s one way your refillable bottle could potentially be detrimental to your health? According to a study from waterfilterguru.com, reusable water bottles contain an average of 20.8m colony-forming units (CFUs) of bacteria, which equates to 40,000 times more than the microbes on a toilet seat. So what might be the consequences if you continuously sip and refill without washing your bottle properly between uses? We asked health experts to talk through the risks… Bottling up bacteria “A common misconception when it comes to reusable water bottle hygiene is that as you’re typically filling it with pure water and it’s only coming into contact with your own mouth, there’s little need to clean it often,” says Dr Donald Grant, senior clinician at The Independent Pharmacy. However, every time you drink from the bottle, you’re transferring bacteria from your mouth, which can then multiply in the container. “Anything that is reusable can be prone to accumulating dirt, dust or debris and, as a result, bacteria,” says private GP Dr Suhail Hussain. “This is exacerbated by the fact water bottles are the ideal environment for harbouring bacteria due to being moist.” Hard to reach crevices – for example, inside a screw top or under a flip-up straw – could also develop mould, and then there’s contamination from other sources. “When you store it in a gym bag, for instance, it can pick up bacteria from the interior of the bag or anything else stored in it, while you can also transfer bacteria from your hands to your bottle,” says Grant. “If your bottle has a valve cap, you may need to lift or twist it with your fingers, and this can transfer bacteria you may have picked up from touching other objects or surfaces.” What types of microbes are found in water bottles? “These might be simple commensals such as streptococcus and staphylococcus, which normally live in symbiosis with their host (i.e. us) but can become problematic if they accumulate, or the individual is under the weather,” Hussain says.“Bacteria such as E. coli – a common cause of urine and bowel infections – can often colonise the water bottle following repeated handling, such as taking the cap on and off.” These bacteria can potentially cause a variety of issues. “You may become sick and develop gastric illness, such as diarrhoea or vomiting,” Hussain continues. “Gram negative rods – another common bacterium found in unwashed bottles – can lead to urogenital tract infections and pneumonia.” Grant warns: “If there’s a build-up of mould inside the bottle, this can cause allergy symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing, or red and itchy eyes. Symptoms might be more severe for someone with asthma.” How often should you wash your reusable water bottle? “To minimise your risk of getting sick, you should ideally clean your water bottle after each use,” Grant says. “As a minimum, you should aim to wash it thoroughly at least a few times a week.” Hot water and washing up liquid are all you need to banish bacteria on the daily. “Fill the bottle with hot soapy mixture and swill around, or leave to soak in a detergent mixture,” Hussain advises. “Remember to pay special attention to lids/caps and screw top regions – use a clean brush [to scrub them].” If you’ve neglected your bottle for a few days and it needs a deeper clean, Grant suggests: “Soak your bottle overnight in a solution of half vinegar and half water. Rinse the bottle and let it dry fully before using it again.” Storage is also important to help minimise nasty microbes. “Where possible, you should keep your water bottle out of germ-rich environments such as your gym locker or sports bag,” Grant says. “You should also avoid filling your bottle with anything other than water, such as protein shakes, energy drinks, or sugar-rich liquids, as sugar can stimulate the growth of bacteria.” Hussain adds: “Don’t leave water bottle in the sun for long periods of time or siting in the cup holder in the car – the mixture of warmth and moisture is likely to make bacterial overgrowth worse.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Prince George visits Eton with parents Prince William and Kate Middleton King Charles and Queen Camilla ecstatic after getting their first Royal Ascot winner As Elon Musk calls cis ‘a slur’ – what does the term cisgender actually mean?

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So much of fashion right now feels disappointing. After years filled with promising pushes for progress — from body positivity to racial justice and wider representation — the post-lockdown industry has failed to demonstrate any real change. There’s been a notable lack of plus-size representation in recent seasons, while major luxury houses continue to be led by white men.

Being two-faced doesn’t have a positive connotation, but let’s set that aside for the duration

As colourful in nutrients as it is in appearance, this easy-to-construct salad is a powerhouse of goodness!” says functional nutritionist Pauline Cox. Roquefort, rocket and pink grapefruit salad Makes: one salad Ingredients: 90g rocket 100g Roquefort (ideally raw), cut into chunks 1 ripe avocado, peeled, stoned and sliced 2 pink grapefruits, segmented A drizzle of raspberry blush vinaigrette A handful of chopped fresh coriander A handful of pecans, chopped A handful of sunflower seeds For the vinaigrette: 100g raspberries (10-12 juicy raspberries) 60ml extra virgin olive oil Juice of 1 lime 20ml balsamic vinegar 20ml beet kvass (optional, but ideal) 1 tsp salt (ideally beetroot salt) Method: 1. To make the vinaigrette, add all of the ingredients to a blender and combine. Transfer to a clean glass jar with a lid, keep in the fridge and use within three days. 2. Lay the rocket leaves onto two plates, adding chunks of Roquefort, slices of avocado and pink grapefruit segments, and drizzle over the raspberry blush vinaigrette. 3. Sprinkle over the chopped coriander, pecans and sunflower seeds. ‘Hungry Woman’ by Pauline Cox (Ebury Press, £27). Read More Ditch Deliveroo – make these healthy, 30-minute pizzas instead Three quick and easy vegan fakeaway recipes The dish that defines me: Eddie Huang’s Taiwanese beef noodle soup Nutritionist explains how women can eat to help balance hormones How to make protein pancakes without flour The only three recipes you need to seize the summer

It’s no secret that women are more likely than men to be misdiagnosed by a medical professional. In fact, as many as 57 per cent of women have reported being wrongly diagnosed by a doctor. In 2016, a study found that women have a 50 per cent higher chance than men of receiving a misdiagnosis after a heart attack, while researchers found in 2014 that 33 per cent of women are more likely than men to be misdiagnosed after a stroke. When it comes to women’s health, an explicit gender bias in medicine can lead to serious and sometimes life-threatening results. That’s why Dr Erin Nance, an orthopaedic hand and wrist surgeon located in New York City, has dedicated the month of October to sharing the most commonly misdiagnosed health conditions that affect women. Her series has since gone viral on TikTok, as she discussed how symptoms of rare autoimmune disorders or infertility can present differently in women, leading to a misdiagnosis. For the first video of the series, Dr Nance revealed how postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome - also known as POTS - affects more than one million people, but is present in mostly women aged 20 to 50. However, Dr Nance explained that POTS is so difficult to diagnose because “we can’t see it”. “This is the group of women that get written off by doctors because they look healthy. There doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with them,” she said. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, POTS is a condition in which a reduced volume of blood returns to the heart after someone stands up from a lying down position. As a result, patients with POTS may experience an increased heart rate, dizziness, or fatigue when they stand up after lying down. @littlemissdiagnosed Day 1: It’s me, POTS, I’m the the problem it’s me #littlemissdiagnosed #31for31lmd #pots ♬ original sound - Dr. Erin Nance ?? Dr Nance explained that some other symptoms of POTS include “chronic fatigue, brain fog, total body chronic pain, GI [gastrointestinal] stomach issues, anxiety, headaches, and it can affect any part of your body”. Another difficulty about POTS is that there’s “no specific treatment” to help the condition, Dr Nance said. “We can’t do a biopsy, we can’t do any imaging, there’s no blood test for it,” she added. Instead, doctors may recommend drinking more fluid, exercising regularly, or wearing compression stockings to keep blood flow in the centre of the body. For the 14th day of her video series, Dr Nance received 1.4m views when she spoke about the commonly misdiagnosed symptoms of stroke in women. “Stroke is the third leading cause of death in women,” she began the clip. “Yet, women are over 33 per cent more likely to be misdiagnosed when having an acute stroke.” Dr Nance admitted that most women who experience a stroke are often told by doctors that they simply have anxiety or a migraine. When it comes to the “unique” symptoms of stroke that are present in women, some may experience loss of consciousness or fainting; general weakness; shortness of breath; confusion, unresponsiveness, or disorientation; sudden behavioural change; agitation; hallucination; nausea or vomiting; seizures or even just hiccups. @littlemissdiagnosed Day 14: Stroke is no joke #littlemissdiagnosed #31for31lmd #stroke ♬ original sound - Dr. Erin Nance ?? “These unique symptoms are often the ones that are overlooked,” Dr Nance said, before detailing the individual risk factors that can put women at a greater chance of having a stroke. The first on the list of risk factors was taking birth control pills, followed by pregnancy, hormone replacement therapy, and history of suffering from migraines. “The reason why this is so important for everyone - every normal, everyday person - to know this is because the best outcomes are when women are evaluated and treated within three hours of having this symptom,” Dr Nance added. On day 16, the orthopedic surgeon explained how symptoms of a heart attack can also be wrongfully overlooked by doctors. “More women than men die of heart disease every year, yet women have a 59 per cent increased risk of being misdiagnosed with acid reflux, stress, or anxiety,” Dr Nance said. Besides chest pain, a woman may exhibit signs of a heart attack when she experiences unusual fatigue for several days; sleep disturbances; shortness of breath; lightheadedness; nausea or cold sweats; indigestion or gas-like pain; and pain in the arm, neck, jaw, or back. @littlemissdiagnosed Day 16: It’s not always Big on the Peloton #littlemissdiagnosed #31for31lmd #heartattack #womensheart ♬ original sound - Dr. Erin Nance ?? When it comes to multiple sclerosis (MS), Dr Nance revealed on day 19 of her video series that women are 83 per cent more likely to be misdiagnosed for MS by a doctor. MS is a disease that affects the “myelin” - the protective sheath covering the brain, nerves, and the spinal cord. According to Dr Nance, some of the often-missed signs of MS include extreme fatigue, confusion, forgetfulness, and mood swings. @littlemissdiagnosed Day 19: You’re gonna be okay #littlemissdiagnosed #31for31lmd #ms #multiplesclerosis ♬ original sound - Dr. Erin Nance ?? As for lupus - an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks its own tissues, causing inflammation in the body - Dr Nance shared in the 20th video of her series that women between the ages of 15 and 45 are most likely to develop the disorder. “The average time from when you first develop your symptoms to diagnosis is six years,” Dr Nance revealed. @littlemissdiagnosed Day 20: Sneaky little ? #littlemissdiagnosed #31for31lmd #lupus ♬ original sound - Dr. Erin Nance ?? She claimed that 46 per cent of patients report being misdiagnosed with something other than lupus, while “54 per cent of them were told that either nothing was wrong with them or that their symptoms were psychological.” “The main problem with lupus is that the longer you go undiagnosed and untreated, then the greater risk for end organ damages,” she added. The Independent has contacted Dr Nance for comment. 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