As I scroll through my Instagram I keep seeing photo after photo of people posing with their wine and I can’t help but get itchy skin watching them holding their glasses wrong. Now, hear me out. I am not just being a snob here, there is a practical reason why you should hold your wine glass properly. And as it turns out, not many people know the correct way to hold a glass of wine is, so let me enlighten you so you can enjoy your vino even more.

First things first, what is the correct way to hold a glass of wine. The short answer is not like this (see Insta screen grabs on the right hand side)

For the record, a glass of wine should always be held at the stem, near the base between your thumb and fingertips. And here’s why:

Holding the glass by the bowl, or clasping it in your hands like it’s a cup of tea, will warm up the wine. A key aspect to savouring a glass of wine is to enjoy it at the right temperature. The average hand temperature measures at 17.7 degrees C. Wine however, even deep reds should be served at considerably chiller temperatures.

When wine gets too warm, its alcohol is emphasised, throwing it off balance and making it taste too boozy. This in tern makes all other flavours a bit flatter and lacklustre.

So unless you are sipping mulled wine on a Christmas market, you have no business keeping your glass of wine warm.

Half of the savour of the wine is in it’s aroma, which is why you see wine connoisseurs giving their glasses a swirl, inhaling and only then taking a sip. Holding the glass by the stem allows for a much more elegant and controlled swirl which in turn will unlock more of the wine’s aroma. Try doing the same motion while holding the bowl of the glass and you risk spilling it all over yourself.

Another thing worth mention here is that if you spray perfume on your wrists then you want to make sure that your hand is as far away from the wine as possible so that the aromas don’t mix. You want to inhale a breath of smooth and abundant wine, not a whiff of your D&G perfume.

Wine glasses are notorious for collecting fingerprints. Especially if you are sipping wine while on a soiree where you are not sitting down and you periodically pass your glass from one hand to the other. By the time you take your last sip your glass will look murky and covered in prints. Holding the glass by the stem avoids this.

So if you want to elevate your wine experience, both in terms of flavour, aroma and how you look while drinking, simply make sure you hold the glass by the stem.

There are practical reasons for changing the way you're gripping your glass, according to sommeliers.

You’ve been holding your wine glass wrong…

Abortion is a necessary medical procedure. There I said it.

It’s not something a woman does on a whim. It’s not something that’s ever undertaken lightly. It is a necessary procedure that allows women to live the lives they choose for themselves.

In the Unites States as of today, states will be able to decide for themselves if abortion is allowed and considering the vastly conservative ideals in some states, it comes as a disappointment yet no surprise that 25 out of the 50 states have already drafted bills that will make abortion under any circumstances illegal.

It means that a young girl who was raped by her uncle will be forced to carry to term regardless of the physical, emotional and mental trauma that the pregnancy would cause her.

It means that a woman who has an ectopic pregnancy (which is vastly agreed to be non-viable and life threatening) may be denied treatment since removing the foetus will now become a prosecutable crime.

It means that a woman who has just found out she’s pregnant during her cancer treatment may be denied life saving drugs as those may harm her foetus.

It means that a woman who is miscarrying risks the onset of life threatening infections such as sepsis because doctors can’t intervene while her dying baby still has a pulse.

It means that often times women will be forced to carry babies even though conditions like pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes may put their own lives at risk.

It means women will be forced to carry to term pregnancies even when they find out that the babies the are carrying will be profoundly disabled or win some cases won't even survive past infancy. 

It means that a woman who already has 4 children at home and no way of feeding another baby will be forced to bring up yet another child into the world.

I have the privilege to live in a country where abortion is a viable option for women. Where sex education and contraception are free and accessible. Yet today I mourn for my sisters who will have fundamental human rights and bodily autonomy stripped away.

I weep for the women who will be forced into a life altering situation and will remain voiceless. I weep for all those children who will be brought into this world where their moms won’t be able to provide for them, children with profound disabilities who have been born against their mom’s wishes… children who will grow up in low economic conditions perpetuating the never ending cycle of poverty.

This decision, this blanket ban on abortion will not save lives. It will not prevent abortions, it will only prevent the access to safe abortions.

I have never had an abortion myself but I know that there were stages in my life where if I found myself pregnant I know for a fact I would have sought medical termination. I know many women who have had the procedure performed. Some were not in the right place financially, some were with the wrong partner and some … just didn’t want another child. The reality is abortion is not a taboo or at least it shouldn’t be. It’s a medical procedure that one in five women has had performed. As of today however, in the States, abortion will become a crime. A back alley dirty little secret.

So I am angry and saddened for this turn of events. I am disappointed in the backward treatment of women. I am frustrated for those who will be backed into a corner to carry a baby they do not want.

Abortion is a fundamental human right and basic medical treatment. It should be legal and accessible. There is simply no conversation to be had around that. I don’t care what the bible or the Quran or any holy book says on the issues. I don’t care what religious affiliations people may have. The fact of the matter is that people should be allowed to decide for themselves.

If your ultra conservative catholic upbringing means you don’t take contraception and you disapprove of abortions that’s fine. Then don’t have one. But your choices, your ideals and your holy books should not dictate how millions of other women should live their lives.

As a woman, as a mother I insist that abortions should be legal. 

Motherhood is simply too important of a job to be forced on anybody.

On Abortion

‘So tell me about yourself’ – the single most dreaded interview question.

You sit down in the stiff chair across the table from your interviewer. You feel good about yourself. You are wearing your most professional outfit, not a hair out of place, you feel confident and prepared albeit a bit nervous. And then the first question they hit you with is ‘So tell me about yourself’. You sit there and for a good minute try to remember your own name while also trying to figure out what exactly it is the interviewer wants to know. You start to stutter, your palms get clammy, and you panic. Sounds familiar?

Having recently landed a new job (yay me!) I think I have managed to nail down to a T the formula for what hiring managers want to hear when they ask you that question.

So let me help you out and spill the tea on what it is you should actually say.

First things first. I think it goes without saying that when an interviewer asks you that question, they are not expecting your life story. They don’t care about how many siblings you’ve got, they don’t care that you have a dog that just turned 7, or that you like to play Animal Crossing in your free time. What the hiring managers is actually interested in finding out is what are you bringing to the table. So next time you hear the question ‘tell me about yourself’ make the mental switch to ‘what value are you brining to the company’.

Any answer you give, any statement you make should always link back to what's in it for them. For example, let's imagine you are interviewing for a job as a social media manager. The wrong answer to the question 'tell me about yourself' could sound a little something like this:

'Well, my name is Jess and I'm 33. I live in London and I love watching movies in my spare time. I love social media and marketing. I am on Facebook and Twitter all the time. I love TikTok and have 750 Instagram followers. I have always been into creating content for myself so I thought why not make a job out of it. I used to work for a small company as a social media manager and I really enjoyed it'

This is a shitty answer, yet an answer any unprepared person will most likely give. To answer the question properly. Think about the following statements you should include in your response:

Now let's compose an answer with the above statements.

'I am Jess and I am a Social Media manager. My background is in marketing and I specialise in creating compelling content for a variety of small and large clients. In my previous role I have been supporting both the sales and PR teams by creating promotional content for each individual platform. My strength is engaging with audiences and building a brand presence that resonates with customers. What I am looking for now is a company where I can add value, somewhere where I can grow and solve problems using my social media skills.'

You see the difference? The first answer is just blah. It's boring, it's a vague, it doesn't sell you. 

The second one however talks about your skills and experiences, highlights your strengths and informs them of your achievements. 

And that is it really. It's quite simple, isn’t it. Whatever job you are interviewing for, you can always use the template of My background is..., I specialise in..., My strength is... and What I am looking for is... to build a response that creates an amazing first impression of you as a candidate. 

After all we never get a second chance at making a first impression so make this one count. 

So next time you prepare for an interview, use this framework to build the best response possible. Then learn it, practice it, rehearse it. This should be something you feel comfortable saying and trust me, if you get this right you will feel like you've already nailed the interview so you will ooze confidence for the rest of the chat. 

Now go out there and land your dream job! You've got this.

How to answer the single post dreaded interview question: "so tell me about yourself"

So Tell Us About Yourself 

Nobody is coming to push you. Nobody is coming to come and encourage you to get up in the morning to go to the gym. Nobody is going to get you motivated. Nobody is going to do the handwork for you. It’s all you baby. Nobody is coming to save you.

I’ve hard this quote many times in the past and it always used to make me feel sad. What do you mean nobody is coming to save me? What about the people who live me and care about me?

Over time I’ve learned to accept the truth. It’s not that people won’t be around to help and support you, motivate you and help you, but ultimately your life and your fate are in your own two hands. And realising that is liberating.

You don’t need to wait on people to do the right thing by you. You don’t have to wait for others to do stuff for you. You and only you are in charge of your life. Fate is in your hands. It’s not luck. What we get in life is not what we deserve or don’t deserve. It’s what we’re willing to work for.

People often say ‘you deserve to be treated better‘. The reality is what you deserve or not, doesn’t really matter. You will be treated the way you allow to be treated.

‘You deserve a better job‘… A better job won’t come and find you, you have to decide to look for one and work on improving your skills to get the job that you want.

This has really opened my eyes about my own goals. If I want to earn more I will have to make it happen. My manager, as much as we have a fabulous working relationship, won’t come and offer me more money out of the goodness of his heart. I will have to go in there and negotiate for what I want. Alternatively, I will have to find a different job. It’s not a matter of what I think I deserve, it’s what I’m willing to work for.

Similarly, I have certain fitness goals and as much as I want someone to motivate me to achieve them, it’s all down to me. I have to wake up an hour early to go to the gym. I have to make better food choices. I have to push myself in the right direction every day.

And while it’s always helpful to have someone on your side to cheer you on and make sure you stay on track, ultimately it’s all down to the individual. It’s me who has to get my life in order. It’s me who has to work hard for my goals and the life that I want. It’s me who has to show up and root for myself. It’s me who’s on my team.

You’ve been holding your wine glass wrong…

Latest

On Abortion

So Tell Us About Yourself

Nobody is Coming To Save You

Career

So Tell Us About Yourself

Your Career - 5 Common Mistakes that are Sabotaging Your CV

Your Career: A Woman’s Guide To Salary Negotiation

Lifestyle

You’ve been holding your wine glass wrong…

On Abortion

Nobody is Coming To Save You

Motherhood

Motherhood and Body Image

Childhood and Digital Privacy - Why we don’t share our son’s face on social media

Lessons in Breastfeeding

Travel

Lyon City Break

Lisbon - Europe's Hidden Gem

My Birthday In Edinburgh