NICOLE COWAN

PERFORMER AND EVENT MANAGING DIRECTOR

Performer and event managing director Nicole lives in Bangor with her partner Joe Burns. The talented entertainer, 32, is one half of the duo behind Fire Angel Events that provides dancers, fire breathers, aerial artists and promotional staff to functions across the UK, Ireland and internationally. Tell us about where you live. I live in a town house in Bangor, which my boyfriend Joe and I bought last February. We live there with our seven month old rescue pup, Aria. It’s the perfect set up for our first house, spacious, cosy, outside space and a huge garage for my work space and costume Studio (and a future gym is highly likely)! What’s the best thing about your home? Having the beach on our doorstep is definitely one of the best things about living in Bangor. We usually walk Aria down by the sea in the evening. When the sun is just setting, the views are just mesmerising and the atmosphere is so tranquil, perfect for a bit of head space. Are you very particular about how you keep the house? Our house is always quite tidy with teddies and dog toys scattered all over the place! I like to have a house with a touch of personality, lots of plants, spaces to zen out and don’t mind dirty paw prints on the furniture. Ultimately, we believe houses are for living in. Who does the cleaning?

We generally take it in turns, but mainly me because I’m the perfectionist! Joe works five days a week and plays basketball most nights (he has 13 caps for Ireland), so he has an excuse... sort of. How often do you change your sheets?

Interesting question... we have white and also grey bed sheets - after a night of performing I’m not home until the early hours and usually too tired to get a shower, resulting in sheets with shimmer and false tan on them. So, usually it’s at least once a week. Do you listen to much music or are you a telly in the background person? What are you listening to / watching at the minute?

It’s a Friday night and I’m writing this, I’m off work (an unusual occurrence for me) Joe’s cooking and we are going to sit down to a documentary, probably based on a physiological killer. We watched Accidental Anarchist last night, made by a former British diplomat: a great watch and highly thought-provoking. Where’s your haven in the house to get away and relax, read a book? Are you reading anything at the moment?

My haven to relax would have to be in a nice warm bath, with some incense burning . I do enjoy reading a good non-fiction book. My next book will be ‘The Power of Now’ by Eckhart Tolle, a modern take on spirituality and the importance of living in the moment (I’m waiting on Joe to finish it). If you’re partying at home, where do you hang out? In the summer the garden is ideal, it’s private with a cosy seating area for friends and family, we just need a fire pit. We still haven’t had our house warming yet would you believe! Are you much of a foodie, and if you are, what’s your signature dish?

Oh, completely. I have recently gone from vegetarian to vegan. We purchased the cook book ‘Bosh’ which is amazing for vegan recipes. The pesto lasagne has to be one of my favourite dishes at the moment. I have such a sweet tooth and my nemesis is chocolate, so peppermint crèmes and raspberry ruffles are also a favourite. Can you turn your hand to odd jobs and DIY or do you get someone in to do the work for you

I will always try and do it myself. We decorated and painted our own house, kitchen cupboards and even the handles are all hand painted.

If there is something I cannot do, I will call on my Mum; she can turn her hand to almost anything.