Handing back the clementine tart to my dinner party hostess, I tell her I want a bigger slice. Hardly polite behaviour, especially as I’ve just told her that when we first met, I thought she was a b***h. But after six glasses of wine, I don’t care.

Alcohol has freed me from my responsibilities as a friend, mother, daughter and wife so that I’m guffawing at my own wisecracks, impervious to the feelings of others. In my drunken parallel world, I am attractive, I am witty, I am charming… but my husband Chris looks confused as I make heart shapes across the table at him with my fingers like a teenager.

Six hours later, I am staring into my bloodshot eyes as I rest my forehead against the cool glass of my bathroom mirror. Reminded of the last time I had a hangover of this magnitude, back in December 2021, I am overcome with a familiar sense of shame and nausea.

For more than two years, not so much as a drop of alcohol touched my lips. After nearly three decades of regular, enthusiastic and at times heavy drinking, I credited sobriety with newfound clarity, increased confidence and a stable mood.

The more I learned about the damage alcohol does physically, psychologically and societally, the more determined I was to avoid it. And I’d found it easier than I’d thought.

Having embarked on a new sober life at the start of 2022, I lasted until January 20 this year, when, after 750 alcohol-free days, I became a drinker again. I have drunk six times since then, to varying degrees, of which last weekend’s display was by far the most extreme — a deliberate, if destructive, attempt to see if I still enjoyed the sensation of getting drunk.

I didn’t make the decision to drink again lightly. Most of us are aware of the dangers of alcohol, but I’d reached the disappointing conclusion that it seemed integral to my social life and sense of belonging. Unlike so many other sober people I admire, in a society still obsessed with alcohol, I am too weak to go against the grain.

On top of that, increasingly sobriety had come to feel like another form of perfectionism, a way of proving my worth, a stick to beat myself with — less an achievement than a millstone around my neck. The longer I abstained, the further I had to fall from the pedestal on which I’d put myself. I knew drinking again would trigger complex feelings of guilt and relief, shame and liberation, but I was intrigued to see whether it would prove worth it in the long run.

For much of my adult life, alcohol has been part of my identity, turning me into ‘fun Toni’ at parties and helping me switch off after a stressful day.

Two pregnancies and five Dry Januarys notwithstanding, I had drunk alcohol every week since I was a teenager. I could stop at one glass, but usually wanted more.

As a mother of two children, now aged 13 and 11, I saw wine as an essential antidote to the hard graft of parenting — often drinking half a bottle after a hard day. During lockdown, my drinking increased to the extent that I even taught my then 11-year-old daughter how to make my daiquiris.

I drank more than the recommended 14 units a week, but, I reassured myself, no more than many fortysomething women. Though aspects of my drinking were problematic I did not, as far as every popular metric around drinking was concerned, have a problem.

Increasingly, however, hangovers left me racked with anxiety over what I might have said or done wrong. After a particularly boozy Christmas in 2021, I wondered if life would feel easier without alcohol.

Halfway through Dry January 2022, I decided to quit for longer, signing up to Monument, an online sobriety school. Unlike AA, which maintains alcoholism is a disease that can never be cured, Monument believes alcohol abuse is a spectrum and that alcohol — addictive to everyone — is the culprit, rather than the person drinking it.

As months passed, I saw alcohol in an increasingly sinister light. Yes, much of my drinking had seemed harmless, but it had also been behind every traumatic event in my life: from fracturing my wrist as a student to getting sacked from my first job during work drinks. It had also stopped me developing healthy coping strategies for difficult situations. Meeting new friends or dating? The easy, instant solution became drink.

Yet stopping was easier than I expected, even at events — birthdays, a wedding, two funerals — where our instinctive reaction is often to drink.

Sober, I read voraciously, my productivity soared and my skin glowed. I felt braver, kinder, capable of making small talk at parties without the social lubrication of alcohol.

My husband, who has always been a moderate drinker who can take or leave alcohol, was pleased — he’d always thought I was happier not drinking — and my children happy they had more of my attention.

Yet privately, a part of me also felt embarrassed. I hadn’t hit rock bottom, crashed my car or streaked naked while drunk. I was just a midlife mum who liked wine a bit too much. Was stopping drinking entirely a tad melodramatic? An attention-seeking ploy?

My friends, most of them enthusiastic drinkers, were supportive but surprised by my all-or-nothing drinking strategy. Yet as an all-or-nothing person, I was convinced if I had one glass, I’d want another — and I’d soon be back to a life where weekends without wine seemed inconceivable.

I marked a year alcohol-free with mixed emotions — making a big deal out of it felt fraudulent.

To stay motivated, I knew I needed further goals to aspire to. Yet, slowly, my good intentions unravelled.

I signed up to a novel-writing course but dropped out halfway through. I couldn’t conquer the wine-avoiding chocolate habit that had seen me gain half a stone. Meanwhile, my social media use soared as I tried to get the missing dopamine hit from likes and comments. Instead, constantly comparing myself to others made me feel anxious and depleted.

In short, sobriety no longer seemed transformational — after gaining in confidence during the first year, the benefits had plateaued and I began to feel bored.

Towards the end of last year, I admitted to myself I missed drinking. Not for its stress-relieving properties — I’d learned that if you simply sit with difficult emotions, they will pass. What I lacked was alcohol’s licence for stupidity and relief in a serious adult world.

Nobody had treated me like an outsider but, increasingly, I felt like one.

Sobriety influencers suggest we ditch heavy-drinking friends and seek support networks among non-drinkers. But I loved my friends, and at 45 had neither the time nor energy to find new ones.

I struggled to shake a gnawing sense of otherness: on the sidelines of my son’s football match as parents anticipated their lunchtime pint; at the mulled wine table outside the school Christingle service; and when a friend’s face dropped when she realised the bottle of Prosecco I’d turned up with was non-alcoholic.

So in early January, ahead of a reunion, I told my three university friends that I would be drinking. They said they loved me drunk or sober but jumped to get a second bottle of Prosecco when I arrived.

Chris was apprehensive. He had supported me more than anyone in my decision not to drink. But my heart hammered with excitement and trepidation.

I expected the Prosecco to taste disgusting — as alcohol does to a teenager — but the bubbles sparkled deliciously on my tongue. I felt overwhelmed and tearful that, at least, I had finally made my decision.

A few sips later and I felt a familiar sense of giddiness. I had planned to stop after one glass — a new ground rule, along with not drinking at home or in response to stress. But the detachment from being slightly drunk, and delight at being with friends, rendered rules ridiculous. I drank another glass and a half of white wine over lunch.

For a few hours, I felt blissfully removed from the outside world. It was only as the effects wore off that I wondered what alcohol actually contributed to the occasion. An illusion of joy, undoubtedly. But were my conversations more meaningful as a result? Was my laughter more heartfelt?

I wasn’t sure.

My husband was relieved I seemed lucid on my return. But I woke at 5am with a dry mouth and sense of unidentified panic — a reaction to the alcohol, undoubtedly, but perhaps guilt at starting drinking again, too.

I’d forgotten how deeply unpleasant I am with a hangover. Groggy and irritated, I snapped at my daughter for making a mess icing cakes and couldn’t muster enthusiasm for my son’s football match. The children didn’t say anything, but I felt a terrible mother.

Alcohol can be detected on the breath for up to 14 hours after a drink, but I believe it affected me for the rest of the week.

Seven days later, friends were incredulous when I said I was still too hungover to drink again. While the effects may have been psychological, research shows that after a long period of abstinence, our functional tolerance (the ability to withstand impairments such as slurred speech) and metabolic tolerance (the rate at which the liver eliminates alcohol from the body) reduces.

My children had been so proud of me for not drinking that I was too ashamed to tell them I’d started again. They found out a fortnight later, through my daughter’s friend, after I wrote about it on Instagram. Yet I was surprised by their mostly sympathetic reaction.

‘I just don’t think after two years you’re going to get drunk any more,’ my daughter reassured me — and I realised she might be right. It was the permission I had given myself to drink, more than the drink itself, that I had found liberating.

It was nearly a month before I drank again at a pub with friends. As soon as the Sauvignon Blanc hit my empty stomach, my inhibitions were lowered, conversations seemed less guarded, more intimate… and, in truth, more fun. When my glass was finished (we were all driving), I felt a tangible sense of loss.

One glass, I realised, would probably never feel enough. Yet it was enough to make me wake at 5am, feeling miserable. I also believe alcohol made me more emotional and less resilient that week. I flew off the handle when Chris forgot to get the firewood and cried during an episode of Friends.

I wondered if, for moderate drinkers, a long period of abstinence could act as a circuit-breaker — rewiring the brain to consume less. If so, it was a huge relief I appeared to be one of them.

Yet even drinking a glass or two sporadically over a period of weeks, I noticed my skin looked more lined, spots appeared around my nose and chin, and my sleep, even on nights I wasn’t drinking, was disrupted. To assuage my guilt, I exercised harder, braved howling gales to run when injury allowed and spent 45 minutes instead of 30 on my exercise bike. I turned down crisps to compensate for the calories in wine and ate less chocolate. I lost 5lb, but it was a pyrrhic victory.

But I was also curious to know if the sense of abandon being drunk once provided, and that I used to crave, still held the same appeal. Hence this weekend’s dinner party. ‘I might start swearing,’ I warned the other guests.

‘I haven’t seen drunk Toni for so long,’ one friend said excitedly; another told me I was ‘sparkling’. Though I wanted my sober self to be enough, I was quietly thrilled by the compliment.

My memories began to blur after four glasses of champagne, and by 9pm, when I had moved on to Sancerre, I was slurring my words. My husband says I’m more interesting sober, ‘because you’re repeating yourself endlessly when drunk’. Nevertheless, I was overcome with affection for him — hence the out-of-character hearts across the table.

The freedom from the pandemonium of my midlife thoughts — work, children, chores, repeat — is welcome.

Of course, it comes at a cost. By the taxi ride home I was hiccupping, and I woke with a jolt at 4.27am, with a sense of self-loathing that lingered 48 hours on.

As I type, I’m wondering whether my behaviour towards my hostess warrants an apology, and vow not to get that drunk again.

‘So, was it worth it?’ a fellow guest WhatsApps me.

To which I say, I just don’t know. While I don’t think I’ll ever get that drunk again, an all-out ban isn’t on the cards either. A life of total sobriety no longer appeals.

LUKE LITTLER was left shaking his head in anger after rival Krzysztof Ratajski drank his WATER on stage.

The teenage sensation defied the bizarre incident by beating Pole 6-3 on Saturday evening during the Belgian Darts Open in Weize.

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The 17-year-old Littler was clearly confused in the early stages but crucially broke the throw in the eighth leg to take control of the match.

He said: “I saw him drink some of my water. I saw him do it again, so I just put it on the floor.

‘Trying to reach me. If he is honest enough, I’m just happy with the win.”

Littler later saw the funny side on social media, sharing a screen split of photos of the incident with the caption: “0-0 drinking my water? 1-2 drinking my water? hmm… good night, see you all tomorrow.”

It was a slow opening to the match and both players toiled in the quiet atmosphere. But the ‘Watergate’ incident certainly fueled the Warrington prodigy.

In the end he threw six 180s with an average of 97.05 to comfortably beat the ‘Polish Eagle’. The crucial moment was knocking out 65 with tops to break Ratajski’s throw for the first time and lead 5-3.

Littler will now face Damon Heta on Sunday afternoon, exactly seven days after the Australian knocked him out of the UK Open in an epic encounter.

He added: “That’s what people say revenge is a thing. But I’ll just move on to the next match and beat what’s in front of me.”

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Just a week ago, Mervyn King complained to the referee about Ratajski’s behavior during their match at the UK Open.

Michael van Gerwen dropped out of the Belgian event with further shoulder problems.

He lost 6-4 to Peter Wright, who revealed afterwards: “Michael obviously still has a shoulder injury. I felt sorry for him.

“He has an injury and hasn’t practiced much in the backroom. I thought I had a chance and almost threw it away.

Normally you need more than a ton average to beat Michael, but hopefully he will get better.”

Dorit Kemsley celebrated her 9th wedding anniversary with husband, Paul ‘PK’ Kemsley, by sharing a loving tribute to her main Instagram page on Thursday. 

The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star, 47 – who revealed her marriage issues with PK got ‘progressively worse’ before he quit drinking – also included an assortment of sweet throwback images in the latest post. 

In the caption, the TV personality penned to her husband, 56: ‘happy anniversary baby i love you,’ followed by a white heart emoji. 

The mother-of-two shared snaps that were taken as the pair enjoyed a romantic dinner. The lovebirds cozied up together in one image as they posed for a selfie together. 

In two other photos, Dorit draped her arm over PK’s shoulders as he reached up to gently grab her hand. The reality star also laid a gentle kiss on his cheek while posing for photos at the table.  

In another picture, the couple were seen posing on a balcony with the ocean sprawled out in the distance behind them. 

Kemsley flaunted her toned frame in a satin green, bralette top as well as matching, high-waisted trousers. 

The businessman kept it casual in a pair of dark navy pants as well as a short-sleeved, black shirt as they paused for the snap. 

She uploaded an additional throwback selfie that was taken in the reflection of a mirror. Dorit sported a gray hoodie and fitted, black capri leggings. 

The star also held a black purse in her hand while her blonde locks were styled into a high ponytail. PK could be seen standing directly behind his wife as he rested his chin on top of her shoulder. 

A short clip was also included in the Instagram carousel, and showed the fashion designer giving a sweet kiss on her husband’s cheek as he looked towards the camera. 

A black and white photo showed the pair dancing during their nuptials which took place on March 7, 2015 at Rockefeller Center’s Rainbow Room in NYC. 

She donned a figure-hugging, dazzling reception gown and the lovebirds could be seen standing closely to each other while enjoying a dance in front of their guests. 

Another snap was a family photo of Dorit, her husband and their two children: son Jagger, 10, and daughter Phoenix, eight. 

They could be seen wearing matching pajamas while sitting in front of a fireplace in the image. 

Dorit shared another selfie as she cozied up next to PK as they sent gazes towards the camera. 

The businessman also took to his main Instagram page to celebrate their anniversary, and included similar throwback images on the post. 

He typed out in the caption, ‘I’m here, I see you, I love you happy 9th anniversary and thank you,’ followed by a red heart emoji. 

Dorit and PK first crossed paths in 2011 after meeting at a restaurant in NYC. Three years later, they welcomed their first child together and son, Jagger. 

In March 2015, the couple said ‘I do’ and welcomed their daughter, Phoenix, in February 2016. PK also shares children Daniel, Atlanta and Tatum with his first wife, Loretta Gold. 

Their anniversary celebration comes shortly after Dorit revealed that her marriage troubles with her husband got ‘progressively worse’ before he stopped drinking.

The reality star opened up about her marital woes with PK over the last two years on part two of the season 13 reunion of RHOBH, which aired earlier this week on Wednesday.

During this season Dorit discussed how PK’s traveling and her PTSD from her 2021 home invasion have negatively affected their marriage.

‘After we wrapped [filming], things got progressively worse,’ she shared. ‘And him and I were at probably an all-time bad.’

‘PK was drinking a lot and he’s a drinker. I just think that its very difficult to have clear-headed conversations when he’s drinking so much, so he gave up drinking,’ she revealed.

Dorit added that she and PK are doing ‘better than ever’ now that he’s given up alcohol. ‘That was a very pivotal moment, so things are – knock on wood – as good as they can possibly be,’ she went on.

Dorit said that at the time of filming PK had been sober for ’49 days.’ She also shared that PK once stayed in a hotel, but denied that the two ever lived ‘separate lives’ as has been previously reported.

Last month PK branded ‘elements’ of wife Dorit’s PTSD from home invasion ‘obnoxious’ as she said he has become ‘more harsh and mean over the years.’

Dorit said one of her favorite things about PK used to be ‘how he could let go of things so easily’ but claimed ‘over the last few years, he’s definitely gotten more harsh with me, a little mean sometimes.’

She admitted she wanted her husband to ‘comfort’ her more if she was suffering ‘an episode.’

She said, ‘In a marriage, these are the times that truly test your relationship. This particular bad time where I need PK, and it’s not the other way around, he’s coming up really short.’

In October of 2023 Dorit and PK denied claims that their nine-year-marriage was over after it was reported that they have been ‘living separate lives for about two months after she ended it’ as per In Touch.

The couple responded to the claims and said that though they have had some ‘challenging years’ they ‘have not separated.’

Earlier it was reported that PK has been living at a hotel in Beverly Hills and is said to be ‘heartbroken’ about the split, according to a source who spoke with the publication.

‘She’s been telling people that she fell out of love with him but they agreed to keep it a secret for now so it doesn’t affect the show,’ the source added.

‘We have had some challenging years, which we openly discuss in the upcoming season of RHOBH,’ the pair’s statement to In Touch began.

‘We remain committed to working through these issues as a united couple for our family. We have not separated nor are we planning to do so.’

‘Rather, we are focused on healing, making changes and doing the things that many couples have to do at some point in their marriage.’

‘We would be grateful for everyone’s understanding. We are doing what we can to focus on the best interests of our family, as opposed to spending our time contending with rumors and hearsay that are not true.’

Shocking footage of a drunken brawl between three passengers on board a Ryanair flight from Edinburgh to Tenerife has prompted some MailOnline commentators to call for a ban on alcohol on planes.

The video showed two men fighting and spitting at each other. Passengers said they were abused for hours during the flight to the Spanish island, in an altercation that appeared to have started with the two men – said to be brothers – arguing in the aisle.

Things turned violent after other passengers got involved. Footage showed a third man being shouted at before a woman attacked another passenger.

Passenger Hannah MacDonald, who filmed the fight, said the two brothers and one of their friends had been drinking heavily.

The images have sparked controversy among MailOnline readers. 'Si from the lakes' said: 'Time to ban alcohol at airports.'

'Pingu21' agreed: 'There should be a breathalyzer at the gate with a maximum blood alcohol content. Too many people go to the bar as soon as they arrive at the airport and knock back pints.'

'Oldblueboy2' found the answer simpler: 'Do not sell alcohol at airports or on flights.'

However, not all commentators were enthusiastic about an alcohol ban. 'Kim Rong Un' replied: 'Of course, punish the millions who can control themselves, for a handful of fools who cannot.'

'Yorkypud' agreed that alcohol should not be banned: 'I think you should just permanently ban idiots like these from ever flying again. It is not fair to those who would like to relax in a sensible way during their holidays before getting on a plane.'

MailOnline contacted travel industry experts for comment on the ban on alcohol on flights. Most agreed that this was not a viable solution.

Gilbert Ott, frequent flyer and founder of travel site godsavethepoints.com, said: 'Bans only encourage more and more uncontrolled behavior, such as secretly drinking drinks in toilets or in non-obvious cups. This would only make it more difficult for cabin crew and authorities to monitor alcohol consumption.”

He called for tougher enforcement: “The current slaps on the wrist for disruptive offenders are pathetic. Drinks should flow as freely as ever, but offenders should be punished more severely.”

Marika Mikusova, author of Diary of a Flight Attendant, agrees that an alcohol ban would result in secret drinking: 'If alcohol were banned on flights, some enthusiastic people would be forced to buy alcohol duty-free and then drink it in secret. to drink on board.'

However, she acknowledges that drinking on flights can be problematic, leading to “aggressive passengers” or people unwisely combining drinks with their medications and subsequently requiring medical attention.

For a flight attendant, a ban would have one big advantage: “The less we serve, the more free time we have to just do nothing.”

Rob Burgess, editor of the frequent flyer website, gives his opinion headforpoints.comsaid: 'There are already plenty of rules and laws around drunkenness in the air, including denying boarding to anyone who appears intoxicated while boarding a plane.

“Some airlines are also taking steps to mitigate issues that arise, such as not serving alcohol on some routes, such as 'stag-do' routes.

'Dry airlines do indeed exist and are by default not that popular with British fliers. Not serving alcohol would have a significant impact on meal service, especially in premium cabins, making it a less premium experience for those who enjoy a drink or two with their meal. It would also encourage more terminal alcohol use and its associated consequences.”

Jay Robert, a flight attendant who runs the popular business Fly Guy's Cabin Crew Lounge Network, believes that this 'pre-flight drinking' is the problem, and not alcohol on flights. He said: 'Cabin crew are trained in the correct serving of alcohol and we know that if we do not follow procedures we will have to deal with the situation.

'Personally, I have never had a major problem with drunk passengers because we follow the procedures set out by the airline… [the] The problem I think is that passengers get p****d at the airport bars where the servers and bartenders care more about sales than proper service of alcohol because they know the passengers will stagger away.

'I think having a drink above the clouds is one of the last remaining pleasures from the golden age of flight, and I don't think the majority should be punished because of a few who can't drink responsibly while flying.

“But airlines and airports need to adapt to the current 'drink-all-you-want-before-you-fly' culture.”

A-list etiquette expert William Hanson agrees that restriction, rather than a blanket ban, is necessary, but believes this should be extended to mid-flight. He said: 'Drinking should definitely be reduced on flights as alcohol seems to have a different effect on people at high altitude.

'Two drinks should be more than enough and perhaps one more closer to landing for long-haul flights. Not everything in life has to be an excuse to text!'

Nicky Kelvin, editor-in-chief at The points man, agreed: 'Rather than an outright ban, airlines and regulators could work together to build an agreed framework to address these issues and agree on a standardized approach.'

Diane GottsmanAccording to the National Etiquette Expert at the Protocol School of Texas, imposed restrictions are not necessary. She said: 'I think it is the passenger's responsibility to use common sense and monitor their intake.'

And excessive alcohol consumption isn't just limited to in-flight events, she argued: “It happens on flights, it happens at parties, it happens in bars, so banning alcohol is not the solution.”

Tour operator Rob Burley expressed concern that an alcohol ban would impact business.

He said: “Many customers expect access to drinks as part of the inflight service we promote. To leave that out would take away from the travel experience we want to provide.”

However, one respondent from the travel industry was strongly in favor of a ban.

Founder of TravelSpain24 Timon Van Basten believes that the number of drunken incidents on airplanes is increasing 'alarmingly fast'.

He said: 'Given the escalating situation, the once extreme measure of banning alcohol now seems a necessary step to ensure safety.

“Partial measures and reactive policies have proven inadequate to curb the problem. Simply cutting off disruptive drinkers does nothing for passengers who are already drunk before takeoff.

“Relying on crew to identify limitations is an unfair burden that slows down response times. Technology such as breathalysers are still unreliable for mass screening and do not take misleading consumption into account.

“Some argue that a ban would infringe on personal freedom or hurt airline profits. However, the first responsibility is to protect pilots and crew.

'Given that alcohol is a primary factor in many disturbances ranging from verbal abuse to physical violence, removing it is prudent to de-escalate high-risk situations in real time. And since most incidents are caused by irresponsible excess rather than binge drinking, the economic impact may be overestimated.”

By Brittany Chain, Political Correspondent for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 8:40 PM EST, February 16, 2024 | Updated: 9:27 PM EST, February 16, 2024

Months of planning had led to this moment. Months in which designers, models, sponsors and style watchers were persuaded to lend their support – and money – to a previously unconsidered venture: showcasing the best of British fashion under one roof.

Or better said: one piece of canvas. As I watched the finishing touches being put on the giant tent that would host the first ever London Fashion Week, I felt a surge of pride and pure excitement.

I knew some were skeptical, but as I stood at the back of this amazing new space, I hoped that this would be the start of something incredible.

Now, 40 years later, my wish has come true. London Fashion Week is an institution that many take for granted. Yet at the time it felt like a dream to have one central catwalk location where young British designers could showcase their innovative collections and unleash the waves of creativity from the streets of London.

Buyers from New York's best stores have been coming to London for years to buy pieces from our more mature designers, such as the elegant Jean Muir, Bill Gibb and the brilliant Zandra Rhodes.

There were high end groups exhibiting at various hotels in Park Lane, doing collective catwalk shows during the day and a few standalone salon events with gold chairs.

Yet nothing had the charm of Paris or Milan, then the two fashion capitals of the world, both of which had been hosting shows for decades.

Yes, we have organized one-off events for individual designers; Wendy Dagworthy, a former customer, reminded me how we had chosen the Playboy Club in Park Lane as a special venue for her first show in 1979, where the bunnies served breakfast. A real one-off!

But I wanted to showcase so much more of the design talent that London was buzzing with.

I felt that if Paris could attract the international media with their new catwalk tent outside the Louvre, so could we.

Together with fashion show producer Mikel Rosen I walked through the streets looking for the right location for a tent. Ultimately we decided that the large green lawn in front of the Commonwealth Institute in Holland Park (now the Design Museum) would be a great location, with some extra space inside for the smaller shows. But where would we find the money?

The newly formed British Fashion Council, made up of the great and good men in suits who run the industry, was still in its infancy and so did not have a budget to speak of.

Instead, I convinced my client Mohan Murjani, the Hong Kong jeans magnate behind Tommy Hilfiger and Gloria Vanderbilt, to give me £20,000 for what became known as the Murjani Tent during London Fashion Week.

The young designers, now icons, who chose to show at that exciting first Fashion Week included Wendy, Jasper Conran, Sheridan Barnett, Betty Jackson, Katharine Hamnett and BodyMap.

There were about 25 shows planned, and the only problem came when every designer jostled for the same prime locations. Eventually they calmed down and agreed to work together, realizing that just participating was a thrill.

When the big day finally arrived, the international fashion media were fighting for seats. We knew we had succeeded when I had to weed out pushy Italian buyers from the front row seats reserved for important figures like the elegant Grace Coddington of Vogue and Anna Harvey, Princess Diana's favorite stylist.

Backstage was hectic, with models arriving late from one show to another and having to be transformed within minutes. I felt like everyone's mother, cackling and putting on a new outfit for each of my clients' shows.

My team and I had to make sure the previous designers packed up quickly to let the next one in on time, and that was always a challenge because the champagne was opened as soon as each show ended. But we didn't really party until the end of that first week, because everyone was way too tired. I remember falling asleep at the table in Langan's Brasserie after a few glasses of wine.

After our first few successful catwalk seasons, then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher agreed to host regular cocktail parties for the overseas buyers and press at Number 10. I remember her husband Denis once got into a heated argument with designer Jeff Banks. It must have been about politics!

The iconic photo of Katharine Hamnett surprising Mrs Thatcher in her protest T-shirt reading '58% Don't Want Pershing' (a reference to basing US missiles in Britain) became one of the most widely used news photos of the decade.

Princess Diana also led the way; after all, she was the foremost ambassador of British fashion, usually wearing the latest looks from her favorite designers Catherine Walker, Bruce Oldfield and my beloved friend Jasper Conran.

She even threw her own Fashion Week party at Lancaster House in March 1985. We were quite intimidated as we queued up to shake hands with her and, to our surprise, the hand of young Prince William, who looked as if he had just woken up. and brought downstairs to say hello to our unruly bunch of fashionistas.

Unfortunately, after a few seasons the lawn of the Commonwealth Institute began to collapse, so we moved to the grounds of the Duke of York Barracks on Sloane Square, now home to the Saatchi Gallery, which had space for two huge tents, a cafe and indoor rooms for smaller shows.

By now the paparazzi were fighting to photograph the front row, which had become the place where new young celebrities could be seen. We were all thrilled when we heard that Madonna would be appearing for the Joseph Show in 1986. She was almost an hour late, throwing the entire Fashion Week schedule out of sync, but there was no way we could start without her.

Katharine Hamnett's 1986 show was pure entertainment, with singer Sarah Jane Morris performing her hit with the Communards, Don't Leave Me This Way, alongside model Marie Helvin, Buddhist monks and African drummers. Roxy Music wore Wendy Dagworthy's menswear collection and Jerry Hall always modeled for her good friend Antony Price. Boy George was a regular customer at BodyMap.

Yasmin Le Bon and her friend Gayle Elliott were everyone's favorite models and the pretty American girls of the time, Pat Cleveland, Alva Chinn and Billie Blair, stopped by to appear on the catwalk, but also to party on their way to Paris.

London Fashion Week was exciting, thriving and loud. The tents in King's Road were about to explode with all the excitement.

Unfortunately, the magic was doomed not to last long. In October 1986, after five seasons and almost a hundred shows, industry policy meant that the catwalk tents were forced to move to the Olympia car park, where the sales exhibition for the rest of the fashion world took place.

Despite Vivienne Westwood and Zandra Rhodes already holding their shows at Olympia's beautiful Pillar Hall, availability was limited and many designers were upset about the move.

As time went on, some of our biggest names, including Vivienne and Katharine, started showing in Paris; Ghost went to New York; John Rocha to Milan. But new names emerged such as Victoria Beckham and Stella McCartney.

Now brands from Alexander McQueen to Burberry and homegrown modeling talent like Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss are proving what I knew: that there's nothing quite like British fashion.

Compared to the behemoth that London Fashion Week has become, the marquee shows of the 1980s may seem small. But what a glorious time we had in those first early, but unforgettable years.

By Alanah Khosla for Mailonline

Published: 04:00 EST, February 14, 2024 | Updated: 04:45 EST, February 14, 2024

A mother has issued an urgent warning about the sale of slushies to children after her son became 'intoxicated' before passing out after sipping the ice-cold drink.

Victoria Anderson, 29, from Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, Scotland, had taken her youngest son, three-year-old Angus, and an older sibling shopping on January 4.

Not long after the trio ventured out, Angus asked for a raspberry-flavored slushie after noticing the bright, pink-colored iced drink at a local corner store.

Without thinking twice, Victoria bought the drink for her son, who had 'never had a slushie before', only for the horror to unfold shortly after Angus downed the cold, sweet drink.

About 30 minutes later, while in another store, the three-year-old unexpectedly collapsed and fell unconscious, leaving a panicked Victoria fearing for his life.

The mum-of-five said: 'After we had the slushy we went to another shop and Angus kept saying he wanted to go home.

'I thought he had thrown himself on the floor in a tantrum, but when I looked his eyes were in the back of his head and he was having a fit. He became as weak as anything.'

She added: 'I started shouting, 'Someone, get me an ambulance.' I thought I lost him. His body turned stone cold.”

The mother-of-five described how Angus' body was left limp and 'stone cold' as paramedics arrived on the scene and tried to revive the toddler, whose blood sugar levels fell dangerously low.

Angus was rushed to Glasgow Children's Hospital where he remained unconscious for two hours while doctors carried out tests to determine the cause of his episode.

Victoria said: 'He was unconscious for about two hours. It was the scariest thing I had ever experienced. He was doing well that day; there was clearly nothing wrong with him. There is no such thing in the family.

'I was afraid he was going to die, given the way he crashed, how limp he was and how unresponsive he was. They punched him in the leg and he didn't even flinch.'

Eventually, Victoria received news that the three-year-old was suffering from glycerol poisoning, which can be caused by consuming slushies.

She said: 'They asked what he had eaten and drunk that day and I told them about the mud. The doctors said the mud had caused glycerol poisoning. His blood sugar levels were very low.

'It's not something I'd ever heard of before. There was definitely a connection with the slushy.”

According to the Food Standards Agency, slushies can contain glycerol as a substitute for sugar to create the slush effect.

Although glycerol is found in some other foods, it is added in much smaller amounts than in slush ice drinks.

If a child ingests excessive amounts of glycerol, it can lead to glycerol intoxication, which in turn can lead to headaches, nausea, shock, a 'drunkenness', hypoglycemia and loss of consciousness.

It is advised that children under four years of age do not drink slushies as the effects of glycerol are related to body weight.

In the wake of the nightmarish experience, Victoria is now calling for a ban on serving slushies to children.

The mother said: 'I think slushies should be banned completely or at least there should be a warning sign for children under 4. But this can happen to any child of any age.

'I'll never buy slushies again. You just don't know what's in these drinks. I want to make as many mothers as possible aware of what can happen if you buy these drinks.'

This comes after the Food Standards Agency ruled last year that Tango Ice Blast drinks and slushies are 'not suitable for children under 4 years' and that free refills on drinks should be stopped.

As part of the new guidelines, they have warned cinemas, restaurants and shops to stop promotions such as 'free refills for children under 10'.

IT wasn't until last summer that striker Marcus Rashford had the world at his feet, but critics say he has now lost control.

The boyhood years Manchester United fan had just signed a new five-year £325,000-a-week contract running until 2028 – giving him a guaranteed salary of £84.5 million.

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All he had to do was keep performing on the field.

Smiling for the camera with boss Erik ten Hag, he said at the time: “I am going to do everything I can to help the team reach the level we are capable of. I couldn't be more excited about the future under this manager.”

But for the first time, his future at Old Trafford is being seriously questioned by fans and critics after he attended the club the night before training and called in sick.

Ex-Premier League star and BBC pundit Chris Sutton told the It's All Kicking Off podcast yesterday: 'He thinks he's untouchable.

'This is not the first time he has committed a crime. It has been continuous. He has no respect for the manager and no respect for his teammates. That is the starting point.

“He probably thinks he can last longer than Ten Hag, but as far as I can see he is out of control.”

Fellow BBC pundit and Newcastle legend Alan Shearer added: “Something is wrong – at home or in his relationship with the club.

“He can't keep doing this, he can't keep wasting his talent. He needs strong management, someone who can get hold of him and tell him that he will regret it immensely at the end of his career if he continues to do this.”

Rashford's latest actions posed a huge challenge for disciplinarian Ten Hag, who has already put his foot down on stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho and forced them out of the club.

The only thing that can save his future at the club in the longer term is a sincere apology to the Dutchman and the fact that United are in dire need of attacking options.

An Instagram apology to the fans will no doubt follow and a promise to improve on his tally of four goals in 26 appearances this season.

But the signs of a troubled life off the pitch were already there before United announced the 26-year-old had signed a new contract in July last year after a fantastic season saw him score 30 goals in 56 games.

A month earlier, The Sun told how Rashford had split from his fiancée Lucia Loi, his school sweetheart. The news came forward after he was seen walking into a Miami hotel with personal trainer Courtney Caldwell while on vacation.

Rashford subsequently appeared to be one of the players warned by Ten Hag ahead of this season that they needed to live their lives well, both on and off the pitch.

He said, “If you don't live the right life, you will be killed. What is important? Sleep, recovery, nutrition. Three key areas and if you don't get this right you won't be able to perform.

“So if you ask me about Rashford, the same goes for Rapha Varane and every player. You don't reach the levels if you don't do things right.”

When asked directly: “Is there a concern that Marcus or any other player has a problem with their lifestyle?”, Ten Hag refused to take a step back.

He replied: “When I joined Man United the standards generally weren't good. That's true.

“I demand the highest standards in sleep, recovery and nutrition because that makes the difference between being able to perform every third or fourth day. At Man United we demand the highest standards.”

Rashford should not have been surprised by the warning as Ten Hag previously dropped him from the starting line-up against Wolves in December 2022 for being late for a team meeting.

He responded by coming on as a substitute and scoring the winner, later insisting in an interview that he understood the decision.

He said: “I never made anything of it because if I had been a coach I would have done the same thing.”

But in June 2023, his personal life was thrown into question when he was spotted in Malibu, California, with American Caldwell and Love Island's Natalia Zoppa.

And three months later he set his £700,000 Rolls-Royce on fire.

Then, in October 2023, he incurred the wrath of Ten Hag again when he decided to go to Chinawhite nightclub in Manchester to celebrate his birthday after United were beaten 3-0 by rivals Man City.

Ten Hag later said: “I talked to him about it. It's unacceptable. He apologized and that was it. For us it is an internal matter. He is very motivated to put things right.” That night out came nine days after his brother Dane was arrested on suspicion of assault while on holiday with his partner in Miami.

The Rashford family closed ranks, but Dane's mugshot appeared online the following month, causing a rift between Dane and Marcus' other brother, Dwaine Maynard, who looks after his career.

A source said: “The arrest was embarrassing and has caused a lot of problems within the family. Marcus is in the middle of it all and tries to keep everyone happy, which makes him unhappy.” Dane has since been cleared of any wrongdoing.

But the Rashford family suffered another blow when a cousin died. Marcus paid tribute to him by looking up at the family. sky after scoring. Marcus must now regain Ten Hag's trust and simplify his life outside of football.

Many fans are baffled that things have gone so wrong for the footballer, who in the eyes of the public could do no wrong early in his career.

He received a lot of praise for it charity working and campaigning against food poverty. This led to him being awarded an MBE in 2020, when he was 22. He successfully lobbied the government during the government's term. pandemic to reverse his policy of quitting free school meals for primary school age children summer holidays.

And his motivational children's book You are a Champion was named Book of the Year in 2022.

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