Issue 31 : January 2010

Welcome to the January edition of Matchbox, our first issue of the new decade and published – apparently – during the coldest winter of the past 100 years. With Christmas gone and New Year’s just a distant memory you may feel the urge to hibernate – not only due to the weather but simply to avoid what is, with its resolutions and belt-tightening, traditionally one of the most daunting of months. Worry not, however, as this issue we bring you a bumper edition of Matchbox containing our health, wellbeing and fitness special, the Body Bible – designed to inspire, motivate and get your year off to a winning start.

Carrying on our sporting theme, our cover star this month is dance legend, Carlos Acosta. Acosta rose to fame from an impoverished upbringing in Cuba, where his father’s inspired decision to enrol him in the national ballet school at the age of nine was the catalyst for his rise from street urchin to the most acclaimed ballet star of his generation. Liat Clark visits Acosta at the Royal Opera House to discuss his extraordinary life.

Next up Charlie Norton meets five of the newest inductees to be voted into to the coveted GH Mumm Cordon Rouge Club, set up to honour explorers, adventurers and endurance athletes around the globe.

Our photo story this issue showcases a selection of mind-boggling images from award winning photographer Daniel Somner, who uses a tilt shift lens to create what appear to be artificial miniatures of actual sporting events. Almost impossible to describe I will let the images do the talking for me.

Finally, and in addition to our heady mix of regular columns and features, we have spent the last 12 months compiling a comprehensive list of our selected local businesses and amenities for the Matchbox Black Book of Everything 2010.

Enjoy!

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