August 5, 2009
We have a prize to give away that will make you want to sit out in the garden on a warm summer evening, listening to some of your favourite music with a glass of delicious Caves Saint-Pierre wine, and a beautiful Revival DAB radio from Roberts Radio. (more…)
Demijohn has uncovered the best surprise ever from under a gooseberry bush – a Gooseberry Gin Liqueur from Cheshire. Love them or hate them, gooseberries are a traditional part of a British summer, and when taken in this liquid alcoholic form are truly irresistible. (more…)
Hahndorf - Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement
The Adelaide Hills
Hahndorf is the Adelaide Hills’ most popular tourist destination. Settled in 1839 by Prussian and East German immigrants, Hahndorf is Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement. The original inhabitants were farmers who produced many items that had a ready market in (more…)
‘Wine regions work’; that is the message that came across loud and clear from the winners of the Wine Australia ‘Regional Heroes’ programme this year in UK & Ireland.
The dozen top-performers from the twelve-week promotion of Australian regionality have just (more…)
Chile’s narrow band of land between the high Andes and the crashing Pacific Ocean makes for a unique wine region. The opportunity to achieve great quality is excellent. Try a wine from Chile and judge for yourself. Chile’s wine industry seems to be in the middle of all sorts of soul searching as it tries to pick exactly the right (more…)
August 4, 2009
TOP PRICE TICKETS FOR JUST £27.50 TO SEE DREAMBOATS & PETTICOATS AT THE SAVOY THEATRE! (Usually £50.00)
Inspired by the smash hit million selling albums DREAMBOATS AND PETTICOATS - which rocketed to the top of the charts within the first week of its release - and DREAMBOATS AND (more…)
10% OFF TOP TWO TICKET PRICES FOR THE CONTINETAL AIRLINES TOWER FESTIVAL 2009! Celebrating the best in Arts, Culture and Music.
The CONTINETAL AIRLINES TOWER FESTIVAL 2009 will take place from the 10th – 20th September and is set in one of the most beautiful and spectacular historic royal palaces right in (more…)
Angelina Ballerina’s Big Audition
22 – 30 August
Holland Park, London
www.ballet.org.uk/angelina (more…)
A day of free activities at the National, Friday 21 August
The National Theatre and Prudential set the stage for retirement on Friday 21 August: a day specifically for people in and approaching retirement to discover the many opportunities that retirement offers, all with a unique theatrical twist – and FREE to attend (registration and advance booking is required for some events). (more…)
On 19th October 2009, Disney’s THE LION KING will celebrate its tenth anniversary at London’s Lyceum Theatre. This multi award-winning musical now ranks among the top ten longest-running shows in West End history. (more…)
GPS helps visitors to Redesdale’s Nature-Watch Holiday Cottages in Northumberland to adventure further into the remote countryside for wildlife watching
One of the joys of walking in Northumberland’s spectacular uplands is knowing that you’re unlikely to see another soul. This is especially true of two newly-established walks - one in (more…)
The Ramblers, Britain’s walking charity, calls for an end to ‘no-go’ areas, access blackspots and diversions on the day Natural England (Thursday 30 July) publish new maps of England’s coast. The English coast is awash with holidaymakers in July and August yet a lack of clarity on where people can walk often muddies the waters. And makes it harder for people to leave the deckchair and explore the coastline. (more…)
Walk around them...
During the early summer months, as cows and calves graze together, walkers are asking about the risks of being attacked by cattle.
Tom Franklin, CEO of the Ramblers, comments: “The British countryside is healthy, working land which is why it’s such a pleasure to walk in. The chance to see animals up close is (more…)
Leading guided walking tour operator, Ramblers Worldwide Holidays is offering a one week holiday in Puerto de Soller – one of the most beautiful and remote parts of this glorious island. This land-locked bay, gives the appearance of a placid lake and the holiday hotel ‘Marbell’ is situated on the sea front – literally yards from a small beach. (more…)
To celebrate the release of the stunning new Choir of King’s College, Cambridge album ‘England my England’, we are giving you the chance to win your very own copy!
There is surely no more quintessentially English sound than that of the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, and the true beauty of its unaccompanied voices can now be experienced through the (more…)
GONG, the legendary psychedelic prog rockers today announced they will release their stunning new album “2032″ on Monday 21st September. Released on Steve Hillage and Miquette Giraudy’s subsidiary G-Wave label, the album is officially released two months before Gong’s highly anticipated nationwide UK tour which kicks off at the Brisol O2 Academy on Thursday 19th November. (more…)
Royalty history...
Since the Pop icon’s sudden death on Thursday, 25th June there have been widespread reports of skyrocketing music sales and radio airplay domination.
Michael Jackson’s death will lead to a phenomenal increase in royalty earnings from his music according to PRS for Music, the organisation which represents the UK’s 60,000 strong song writing community and nearly two million overseas. (more…)
Pulp.
Journeys through the past…
To survive, pop has to constantly reinvent itself. Over the past ten years, however, it has been less concerned with renewing itself than plundering its past. In the early Nineties, as record buyers rushed to update from vinyl to CD, record companies opened up their vaults and sold their back catalogues all over again, reinventing ever more ingenious ways to do so, such as ‘digitally remastered’ special editions of classic albums.
They were helped by the ‘baby boomers’ - the now 50/60-somethings, who are the most powerful economic force amongst record-buyers. With such a ready-made market for repackaged nostalgia, why should the record companies bother investing cash in new acts that, if they’re lucky, might produce just a hit single or two?
Not so long ago artists would be given a few singles, even an album, to prove their worth. Now new bands are lucky if they get past the second single.
In the Seventies, Eighties and Nineties it was largely the role of small independent companies to discover and nurture new talent, which would then be picked up by the major record companies.
The Britpop bands Oasis, Blur and Pulp, all emerged via this route. Major record companies then decided they wanted a part of this lucrative market, so they bought up independent labels such as Creation and Food, hoping they would continue producing hit records while resting under the umbrella of multinational entertainment corporations. They didn’t - and few of the once fertile independent labels of the early Nineties have survived into the new Millennium.
When the music’s over…
The Beatles had The Cavern in which to learn their craft.
It was once said that we measure out our lives in pop singles, but will we still be humming the songs of Pop Idol graduates 20 years from now?
The pop charts may be over 50, but with singles sales at their lowest level for over 25 years there (more…)
As the UK hosts the Festival of British Archaeology (18 July to 2 August), an annual extravaganza of heritage events coordinated by the Council for British Archaeology, the Isle of Wight is offering visitors the chance to join leading Oxford University professor, Sir Barry Cunliffe, and his team of archaeologists on the Big Dig 2009 (more…)
The Northern Territory’s Outback roads have gone digital with the launch of ‘Do It Yourself Tourguide’. The new audio-visual sightseeing tours are ideal for self-drive travellers providing a rich and entertaining commentary to any Red Centre journey. (more…)
Red Funnel is offering return fares to the Isle of Wight this summer for less than £10* per person, based on a car and six people.
Traditionally warmer and drier than mainland Britain, a summer holiday on the Isle of Wight is like going abroad without leaving the country. Your holiday starts the moment you board the (more…)
Will mark the anniversary of Tennyson
2009 marks the 200th anniversary of one of the Isle of Wight’s most famous residents, the great Victorian poet laureate, Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892). To mark this anniversary, a new toposcope – a monument which indicates the direction and distance to visible landmarks – will (more…)
Thomson has enlisted their youngest ‘cabin crew’ yet in order to demonstrate the airline’s safety instructions onboard all of their flights. An industry first in UK aviation, this innovative new safety film features a group of children talking passengers through the ins-and-outs of emergency exits, oxygen masks and (more…)
Dr Chris Fenn Provides Top Tips to Combat Some Common Over Fifties Heath Issues. Now life begins at 50, according to a new survey which reveals that over fifties have more time and feel more carefree than ever before. So there has never been a better time to take charge of your physical and mental wellbeing. (more…)
RNID, the largest charity in the UK representing deaf and hard of hearing people, and Research into Ageing have joined forces to strengthen research into age-related hearing loss. The charities are inviting applications for a series of co-funded research projects to investigate why hearing declines with age and to advance the development of treatments. (more…)
Angela experiencing first hand, blindness...
Angela Rippon, one of the best known faces and voices in British broadcasting, showed her support for St Dunstan’s Blind Heroes Week by experiencing firsthand what it is like to live without sight. Supported by one of the St Dunstan’s Rehabilitation Officers for Visually Impaired People (ROVIs), Angela wore a sleep (more…)
Cycling clubs and cycling enthusiasts are being urged to join up to a special charity challenge to help raise money for children with severe disabilities. The ‘Chaucer Challenge’, a cycle ride from Greenwich to Canterbury, is set to take place on Sunday, 13th September, in aid of The Children’s Trust. (more…)
When we’re in need of relaxation, the first thing we usually think of is booking a holiday, because we know soaking in the sunshine and dipping our toes in the sea will help us to unwind. But, whilst we know that time spent by the ocean is mentally nourishing, what do we know about how it can benefit us physically? (more…)
A new National Trust initiative launches today to challenge urbanites to transform their window sills into beautiful, tasty vegetable gardens. People living in the UK’s five million flats have the biggest challenge when it comes to finding space to grow food at home, but there are over 600 acres of growing space available on window sills in the UK. (more…)
£6.99
www.dancingbee.com
Each garden is different and each Head Gardener has different methods and means of applying his knowledge. Whether it is sowing times or the right time to clip a hedge in a particular garden, the more we delve into the UK´s famous gardens the more we come across the (more…)
London Transport Museum celebrates the glory of the suburban garden as part of its next major exhibition, Suburbia. Opening on 15 October 2009 to March 2010, Suburbia will explore how public transport helped to create the myths and identity of suburbia and how it has featured in the cultural fabric of London and Britain over the last 100 years. (more…)
Exhibitors at this year’s RHS Show Tatton Park (22-26 July 2009) had the Midas touch with 61 RHS Gold medals having been awarded across all categories.
A 20-year-old garden design student from Northwich was the recipient of the first RHS Gold medal awarded in a regional Young Designer of the Year competition. Lee Belgrau delivered a (more…)
Launch of National Search for young designer of the year 2010
Well done!
Lee Belgrau, a 20-year-old garden design student from Northwich, has been awarded an RHS Gold medal in the Tatton Park Young Designer of the Year Competition at the RHS Show Tatton Park, Cheshire.
This year’s regional competition, jointly funded by the RHS and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), is being used as a launch platform for the (more…)
The credit crunch has hit Britain’s pensioners and those coming up to retirement hard as they have seen their disposable income reduced. Many are being forced to try to return to work, or delay their retirement, for many years longer than planned. These are the findings of new research amongst people aged 60+, by (more…)
According to LegalWills.co.uk, every adult in the UK should have prepared their last will and testament but as many as two thirds have not. The most common reasons given for not having a will are the inconvenience of setting up meetings with a lawyer and, in these tough economic times, the high cost of professional assistance. (more…)
The Mansfield Building Society has been named Best Local Building Society at this year’s What Mortgage Awards.
L-R: Peter Doherty, product manager at the Mansfield Building Society and Ben Wilkie, editor of What Mortgage magazine.
The awards recognise lenders who offer customers competitive rates on their mortgage and good value on insurance products. Lenders are also judged on the overall service they provide to (more…)
Taxpayers continue to be targeted by fraudsters
London 28th July 2009 - Leading ID fraud expert, Equifax, has become aware of another wave of phishing emails from fraudsters offering tax refunds in return for credit card or bank details. This latest spate of fraudulent emails has surfaced as the deadline for tax payments looms – perhaps trying to catch out the unwary hoping for some relief from their tax bills. And as some recipients have confirmed, at first sight these emails are fairly convincing although on careful reading it is clear they are a scam.
“Coinciding with the fact that many self-employed people may be just sorting out their tax credit applications and second stage payments on overdue tax to meet the 31st July deadline, this is cynical timing” confirmed ID fraud expert, Neil Munroe, External Affairs Director, Equifax. “If you were worried about money and then got the email you might think all your prayers had been answered. They ask for credit card or bank details and if you gave those you could find yourself very quickly a victim of ID fraud. However, generally a person would be alerted to a tax refund at the end of the financial year.
“The key thing to remember is that organisations should not be asking its customers to confirm personal details such as bank and credit card details via email or telephone. So anyone receiving one of these emails shouldn’t reply and delete the email immediately.
“Fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated in how they operate and consumers need to be aware of these types of phishing scams and the risk to their identity. Make sure you know who you are speaking to and if in doubt, check. As the HMRC advises, they only ever contact customers who are due a refund in writing by post.”
Equifax tips to protect against ID Fraud
• Be wary when asked to give out your personal details online, if you doubt the request is genuine, contact the company directly
• Make sure you have the latest virus protection that ideally updates hourly and you have a Firewall
• Keep your PIN secure and do not use the same PIN for all of your cards and accounts and never write down your PIN
• Don’t include common verification such as your date of birth or your mother’s maiden name
• When using online banking, ensure people can’t view your details and log out of the site, rather than just closing the window
• If you are disposing of an old computer, make sure you destroy information on the hard drive
• Always check bank statements and credit card statements carefully against receipts
• Apply for a copy of your credit file to look out for any unauthorised activity
Consumers urged to take the uSwitch.com Energy Bill Challenge and to sign an e-Petition to make energy bills simpler, clearer and easier for all to understand.
uSwitch.com is campaigning for household energy bills to be made simpler, clearer and easier for consumers to understand after asking an examining board to give an independent (more…)
Until 20 September 2009
Sainsbury Wing
Admission free
Supported by the Corporate Members of the National Gallery
The Impressionists were indebted to a longer tradition of sketching and painting outdoors which reached back to at least the late 18th century.Drawing on the National Gallery’s rich collection of 19th-century French landscapes, Corot to Monet charts the development of open-air landscape (more…)
Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson Mayor of London today urged the government to give older people and their carers the priority they deserve by publishing their delayed proposals for older people. Currently both the update to the Government’s Strategy for an Ageing Society and the proposed green paper on social care are long overdue. (more…)
from the Isles of Scilly to Shetland for Leonard Cheshire Disability
Andrew in his kayak...
As Andrew Fairbairn stood at the top of the lighthouse at Muckle Flugga in Shetland, it was with a sense of relief that the 52 year old grandfather looked out over the islands in the archipelago. After two years of planning and a year of training, it marked the end of his 27 day journey to kayak, cycle and walk the 1,180 miles from the Isles of Scilly in South West England, to Shetland. (more…)
Members increasing...
A recent survey has shown that UK motorists have joined car clubs in large numbers during the recession and there are now over 60,000 motorists in the UK.
Membership has more than doubled at City Car Club, one of the biggest UK clubs, in the past year since the credit crunch started mainly because car clubs are a much cheaper alternative to (more…)
(Friday to Monday evenings) at Waterloo St John’s Church, Waterloo Road, London SE1.
1: London Poetry Pearl Life’s London Poetry Elleesium Poetry Anthology
To celebrate its 5th year London Poetry Festival has published this Anthology which is now available to buy online
• From the Festival website
www.londonpoetryfestival.com (more…)
August 3, 2009
Celebrate the apple
Start buying british to help home varieties to survive.
It all started with Eve’s first tentative bite back in the Garden of Eden. But, far from being forbidden fruit, as proffered by the serpent, the apple has become a symbol of wholesome natural goodness. (more…)
Say cheese!
Few things go together better than French cheeses and wines. Here we recommend some special combinations.
French cheeses and wines are steeped in tradition, and there are many strict rules surrounding their manufacture and production. Oh, and they taste good together, too! We’ve gathered up a (more…)
A healthy option...
Rhubarb! rhubarb! rhubarb! A vegetable that most people think is a fruit. Prior to television programmes such as ‘Home Front’ and ‘Ground Force’, and the current vogue for decking and water features, many gardens had a crown of rhubarb lurking somewhere, usually behind the shed or compost heap. Often the garden’s owner never even realised it existed. (more…)
Atul Kochhar, Michelin chef.
A new culinary tour offers Masterclasses with Atul Kochhar and a magical discovery from Bangalore to Cochin. Food lovers can discover the sights, sounds and flavours of Southern India on a new tour from Indian Odyssey hosted by Michelin starred chef Atul Kochhar. (more…)
Elin Jones, Rural Affairs Minister.
The ‘ultimate guide’ to Welsh food and drink was launched at the Royal Welsh on Tuesday July 21st, 2009. Compiled by the Welsh Assembly Government, the 96 page Directory contains listings for more than 500 food and drink producers as well as information on farmers markets, food festivals, and business support organisations. (more…)
Published by Corgi,
16th July 2009,
£6.99
Mary Jane Staples
Another classic wartime saga from a bestselling author (more…)
Generous: Anthony Brown
Children’s illustrator and author, Anthony Browne, whose picture books have become famous for their distinctive images of gorillas, has created an original watercolour of his trademark Gorillas for children’s charity Action for Children as they celebrate their 140th anniversary. (more…)
You don’t need land to live the good life - The Essential Guide to keeping chickens in the city
Waking up to a cock-a-doodle-doo and skipping outside to collect the eggs for breakfast is no longer exclusive to the country bumpkins of this world. More and more urban dwellers are outsmarting the city-slick fox, and maintaining a happy, healthy garden or backyard flock. (more…)
Recent research has found that physical and mental stimulation can slow down the inevitable shrinking of the brain and even reduce the risk of dementia. But, if the body refuses to stick to that Sunday game of golf there is still a very sociable, challenging hobby to keep the mind agile – playing a musical instrument. (more…)
Margaret Murphy
A threat to her survival helped turn Margaret Murphy from a poorly paid biology teacher into a slightly better paid crime writer.
“I’d dabbled with writing as a teenager,” recalls Margaret, “but just after I went to university I stopped altogether. It was always there but when I was in my thirties I was told I might not (more…)