Author Archives: Frostie

Reality stars face UK’s biggest charity plunge

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The UK’s highest bungee jump awaits a group of reality TV stars as they join a national campaign which will see them risk their lives to help raise vital funds for sick and disabled children in the UK.

 

Frances Wood, who shot to fame on ITV’s ‘The Voice’ and X Factor duo, Poisonous Twin, are the latest to join Reality Relief, a campaign supported by an ever growing list of celebrities from hit reality TV shows which has already raised over £10,000 to help provide life-changing support for disabled youngsters.

 

The fearless celebrities will be plunging 300ft towards the ground at Tatton Park, Greater Manchester on Saturday November 24th, as the latest in a series of sponsored challenges which have tested the nerve of contestants from hit TV shows such as Big Brother, The X Factor, The Voice and The Only Way is Essex.

 

Launched by national charity, Caudwell Children, in 2011 Reality Relief aims to help new found stars thrust into the media spotlight use their fan base to help raise funds and make a real difference to the lives of others.

 

Frances said: “Reality Relief is a fantastic opportunity to help raise the profile of Caudwell Children, the charity behind the campaign, and their crucial work helping change and save the lives of disabled children.

 

When I heard about their Reality Relief bungee challenge I jumped at the chance to get on board and take part.

 

I hope people will really get behind the bungee jump and help us make it as successful as possible.”

 

Poisonous Twin member Stephanie added, “We have never done anything like this before but this is a really fantastic opportunity to help raise vital funds that will help change the lives of disabled children.”

 

Trudi Beswick, Chief Executive of Caudwell Children, said “These new stars are not only taking on an incredibly brave challenge, they are putting themselves forward to help raise awareness about the additional support desperately needed in the UK for those with disabilities or life threatening conditions.

 

Sadly it’s a common misconception that specialist equipment such as powered wheelchairs for disabled children are available on the NHS, when in fact families are expected to pay up to £20,000 for the additional support they need.

 

There are also a number of treatments that save lives, but come at an incredibly high price for families already facing the trauma of their child’s illness. We help these families get the treatment they need to keep their child alive.

 

Reality Relief aims to help new found stars make a real difference and we are thrilled to have them join the campaign.

 

We would really like to take this opportunity to wish them the very best of luck and ask that people honour their bravery by supporting their fundraising.”

 

To support Frances visit http://www.justgiving.com/FrancesW or text FRAN49 £(amount) to 70070.

To Support Poisonous Twin visit www.justgiving.com/Poisonoustwin or text TWIN73 £(AMOUNT) to 70070.

 

Uggie, Hollywood Canine Superstar, releases “My Story”.

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On the 30th of October 2012 Uggie attended his book launch at the London Kensington Waterstone bookstore.

‘My Story’ is a must read book, autobiography of ‘The Artist’ Oscar winning film canine star Uggie which went from originally abandoned and later adopted dog to spoiled celebrity Hollywood Icon.

 

Credit: Tenee Attoh


Uggie, recently retired from movies work, is the first dog in history that had his own paws put in cement at the historic Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, planting him next to the handprints of Hollywood’s royalty.

 

Uggie – adopted by animal trainer Omar von Muller, which is also Uggie’s manager -wrote his book with the human help of, English celebrity biographer, Wendy Holden.

 

Credit Simone Lezzi

The book, published by HarperCollins, has been sold to America, France, England (where it can be found in Waterstones and WH Smiths bookshops) and, in 2013, will be published also in Italian.

 

Since Uggie was adopted and became a star, he wants to let people know they should

adopt a dog rather than buying one. Even if the dog will not became a big star on the

screen, he will still be a big star in the house, within the family. If you need to buy, buy a book, Uggie says!


Find out more about the book writer at: www.wendyholden.com/

Find out more about Omar von Muller at: www.miamioffleash.com

 

Article written by Paola Berta
Photography by Simone Lezzi and Tenee Attoh

 

 

Sex Toys For Older People and Disabled

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Desire and Pleasure, the online sex toy website from charity FPA’, is launching a revolutionary inclusive selection of sex toys.

The range was created after research found that older people and the disabled are poorly catered for when it comes to sex toys, products and information on how to use them.

Selected For You aims to provide ergonomically designed products that are easy to grip, can be controlled remotely and are easier to use by those with limited mobility, dexterity issues or suffer from fatigue.

The products have been selected by experts and sex toy reviewers to ensure that the most suitable products have been chosen. Their feedback has been compiled and today the range goes on sale.

Terry Hawkins, Business Development Manager at FPA says: “Our research shows that there is demand from older and disabled people, but it is not often clear which products are most appropriate for them or how they should be used.  We are aiming to solve this conundrum. Selected For You will eventually become the world’s most inclusive range.

“One of the most neglected audiences  has been older people. We are finding that a lot of older people are either still sexually active or back on the dating circuit again. Many older people are still very physically and mentally active and don’t need special products.  Rather than specially designed products, what they need is information on how to use the products, what they are and how to do so safely.”

FPA welcome feedback from customers who visit the site about our product range and the information we provide. By listening to their comments FPA  is continually finding out more about how we can help sectors of the marketplace who have up until now been unable to find products to suit their individual needs.

The website www.desireandpleasure.co.uk was launched by FPA in September as a social enterprise to help fund the sexual health charity which runs telephone helplines, and campaigns on major issues.

Ratedpeople.com Launches Find a Tradesman App

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The Ratedpeople.com app connects homeowners with quality, local tradesmen on the go

The UK’s number one tradesman recommendation service RatedPeople.com has today announced its new tradesman comparison app. Available both on Android and iPhone platforms, RatedPeople.com’s Find a Tradesman app enables users to easily locate job-specific tradesmen instantly through their mobile phones.

Predominantly functioning as the fastest and easiest way to connect homeowners with quality tradesmen, the RatedPeople.com app gives homeowners the opportunity to upload descriptions and photos of the work they would like to be done, whenever and wherever. The user is matched with up to three tradesmen in their local area, who are interested in the submitted job. Each tradesman will provide a quote for the work. The homeowner has access to ratings and reviews from the tradesmen’s previous customers, to help when selecting which tradesman to hire.

When the job has been completed, the user can add their own review and recommend the tradesman to their friends. The app also automatically builds a list of all the tradesmen the homeowner has used, creating their own ‘little black book’ of tradesmen.

Key App Features:

·         Upload up to 5 photos to the posted job

·         View each tradesman’s profile: ratings, photos of previous work and qualifications

·         View the RatedPeople.com checklist, with advice for hiring a tradesman

·         Rate their tradesman

·         View all their tradesmen in an address book

·         Share the app and tradesmen details with friends

 

Tariq Dag Khan, CMO of RatedPeople.com, commented: “The mobile industry is booming in the UK at the moment, with 75% of Brits now projected to own a smartphone by 2013. Our tradesmen are well ahead of the curve, 70% already own a smartphone, which is why our business is taking off. With both homeowners and tradesmen able to react with immediate response, finding a tradesman has never been quicker or easier.

“We understand how busy homeowners are during the day and we wanted to come up with a solution that enabled them to more speedily and efficiently manage their home improvement needs. The RatedPeople.com app now gives our customers the chance to instantly connect with tradesmen whilst on the move, providing a service that we believe will help generate more and better quality leads for tradesmen.”

Ninetails Release New EP ‘Slept and Did Not Sleep’

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“A propulsive display of robust slickness” – 8/10 This is Fake DIY

 

“A satisfying, organised chaos” – VICE

 

“New cats Ninetails specialise in precision guitar-pop” – NME

 

After a spring which saw them tipped by Vice, NME, Clash and This is Fake DIY, Ninetails return with ‘Slept and Did Not Sleep’, the much anticipated follow up to their ‘Ghost Ride the Whip’ EP. Combining hyperrealistic pop with sleek maximalist production, the Liverpool four piece explore euphoria, lamentation and lucidity on this song cycle melodrama. Throughout, moody minimalism and loop-based composition provide an Eno-like back drop for vocals inspired by sunshine pop, r’n’b and dramatic choral harmony.

 

Earlier in the year Ninetails were included in NME’s scene report of their home city and a performance at Sound City in May prompted Clash Magazine to tag them as an “Up Coming Hype Band” whilst Vice highlighted them in their ‘Ones to Watch’ list. Prior to these accolades, they’d shared stages with Alt-J, Errors and Tall Ships. The band have also been included in Simon Raymonde’s list of favourites in 2012.

 

The band will release ‘Slept and Did Not Sleep’ through Superstar Destroyer Records on the 26th of November as a pay-what-you-feel download. A visually cohesive CD package and very limited number of ‘uniquely chopped and screwed’ cassette tapes of the EP will also be available. Two videos will accompany the release, as well as an EP launch in Liverpool and the band’s first London Show on the 29th of November at the Bull and Gate in Kentish Town.

 

Undoubtedly, this is an exciting time for Ninetails who have already made plans to release again early into the new year.

 

The Ghost of Relationships Past

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The old phrase ‘lesson learnt’ is never truer than after the end of a relationship. With each heart break we experience we take something different from it. But do we ever truly move on if we keep repeating the mistakes of our past relationships?

Relationship expert for online match maker eHarmony.co.uk, Dr Gian Gonzaga says “sometimes people lose faith in finding love because they seem to be continually attracted to the ‘wrong’ type of people”.  According to Gonzaga, at times it can seem as though no matter how hard we try we end up with the same problems but with different people, like magnets that attract the same situation over and over again.  It’s time we examine where we are going wrong and eradicate the real issue, to really be able to move on and find lasting love.

So excavate the past to create a different future for yourself:

The common denominator

Look at all your past relationships, write them down if it helps, and ask yourself these questions about each one. What attracted you to the person in the first place? What caused the relationship to end? Were there signs early on in the relationship that there were problems but you ignored them?

Old relationships are never wasted, they are a rich source of information which you can go back over to discover what you could do differently in the future. Be really honest with yourself and try to look at the relationship from an outsider’s point of view. What you are looking for is the similarities between them to see if there is a pattern.

Is the thing that attracts the thing that destroys?

Are you attracted to creative, emotionally unavailable men and then the relationship ends because you don’t get enough attention? Or are you drawn to bright, bubbly women but then fail to get very far because you feel threatened when she flirts with your mates?

Look at the people who have qualities that you find attractive – not just the ones you have had relationships with but also people in the media, friends etc. What is it in them that you find attractive? Then look at yourself and develop those qualities in yourself rather than waiting for someone else to come and make you feel that way.

Don’t fall for someone’s potential

This is the most common mistake that people make in relationships. They meet someone and they fall in love with what they ‘could be’ rather than what they ‘are’ today. They believe that if they love this person enough; give them lots of encouragement, support and everything they need in order to blossom that they will have a wonderful relationship together. Although this often comes from a loving place it is starting a relationship from the basis of wanting to change the other person rather than accepting and loving them as they are. It is a great feeling to be the hero or heroine in another person’s life but it is rarely going to lead to a healthy relationship because the basis of the relationship isn’t equal.

Look in the mirror

When a relationship ends it can be comforting to think it was all the other person’s fault but that attitude is depriving you of the opportunity of finding out what you could do differently next time. Look back through the story of your time together and look at your own behaviour. At what points could you have done something differently? Are you angry with all men/women because of things that have happened in your past? If so now might be the time to get some help if you really want things to change.

Change your mind

Just like any other area of life, relationship choices can become habitual and instinctive. We often dismiss potential matches simply because they don’t conform to an image we have in our head of ‘our type’. Open your mind and heart and start saying ‘yes’ to communication or dates with matches that you would normally dismiss out of hand, you may be pleasantly surprised.

Noone’s fate is fixed in stone, we can all change and grow and even if you have never had a healthy relationship in the past it is no reason that you never will in the future.

http://www.eharmony.co.uk/relationship-advice/start-with-you/2011/11/how-to-make-your-future-love-life-different-from-your-past

 

New app shows women how to man up in time for EU gender directive

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On 21st December the EU gender directive comes into force which means car insurance companies will no longer be able to differentiate between men and women. So does this mean the European Union now believes women are no different to men?

Now women can see for themselves what it would be like to live life as a man with the Manify Me smart phone app. Women’s car insurance specialist, Diamond has worked with Rantmedia to develop the app which takes a headshot of a woman and ‘manifies’ her into a man. So Katy Perry could become Keith, Cheryl Cole could become Charles and Holly Willoughby could become Harry.

Dave Halliday, Diamond managing director, said, “Despite evidence to the contrary, the EU insists that men and women are the same, so we thought we’d take the idea one step further and allow women to see what they would look like if they were a man.

“Unfortunately for young women, the EU’s change to the law is likely to mean higher insurance premiums because from a risk point of view, women will have to be treated the same as men, and young men in particular have the worst driving record and are the highest risk.”

Diamond’s own statistics clearly show that young women have a safer driving record than young men. Men under 21 are four times more likely to have a dangerous driving conviction than women under 21. While on average accidents involving men under 21 cost 48% more than those involving women of the same age.

Despite the EU’s assertion that men and women are the same, most women clearly don’t feel the same. Diamond surveyed 1,000 women aged under 30 on the issue, 72% said they believe men and women drive differently, while a massive 83% believe men and women think differently.

The Manify Me app is available for Android phones and can be downloaded from Google Play.

 

Top tips to make kid’s bath time FUN without breaking the bank

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As research from Megaflo, the hot water expert has shown, more than 93% of parents believe that bath-time is one of the most important parts of a child’s day to help them relax, learn and have fun.  With the cold weather now upon us, bath time will be more important than ever.  We all remember there being nothing better than splashing about in the bath tub when we were little; so from bubbles to shampoo mohawks and bath crayons – here are a few top tips to bring the old favourites back and make your child’s bath time as fun and memorable as yours, without breaking the bank.

 

1.         Sail away!

Bath time just isn’t the same without a boat to play with.  Keep all of your clean, empty cartons and bottles as these make great play time accomplices for all of those budding pirates!  You can even create some pre-bath fun, by using use crayons and felt pens to help them make their dream vessel a masterpiece!  Remember – no holes… otherwise the boat will become a submarine! (Follow these instructions to make your creation. http://www.ehow.com/how_8161908_make-boats-out-plastic-bottles.html)

 

2.         Paint by bubbles!

A new era of children’s toys is upon us with bath crayons and bath paint pallets galore!  For the same effect and to save a few pounds, why not get a plastic egg carton and mix some shaving foam with food colouring… you have your very own clean-easy bath colour palette fit for any little artist.  Just be on hand to check that inquisitive little fingers don’t decide to try to swallow their creations..!

 

3.         Bath time Punk-Rockers!

One of the best ways to avoid the hair-washing tears is to get your little ones to design their own shampoo mohawk.  Create different soapy styles and faces – no doubt you’ll be creating one for yourself too!  Everyone’s a winner.  Remember to try and find a mild but soapy shampoo, for extra volume but minimal tears…

 

4.         Deep sea aquarium!

All children love aquariums and creatures of the deep sea.  Why not create your own right at home in your bath tub?  It will also make some good pre-bath entertainment.  Simply draw and decorate your fish, mermaids, crabs and other sea-side goodies, laminate them with sticky-back plastic and throw them in.  The kids will have hours of fun searching for them in amongst all the bubbles.  Why not create some treasure to go with your pirate ship as well?

 

5.         Trusty Rubber Duck never fails!

We all remember using a lovely rubber duck to play with in the tub and with the latest trend for bright and colourful Hippie, Pirate, Union Jack, Princess and Alien ducks, there is sure to be one to please every child!  What’s more – these ducks last a lifetime and look great as an ornament in your bathroom.  Why not build up a family of ducks and let their imaginations run wild!

 

Megaflo has teamed up with Pump Aid, the charity dedicated to providing clean water and good sanitation to sub-Saharan Africa, to support a phenomenal Malawi Schools project.  The £62k project, co-funded by Megaflo, will provide pupils and staff across 21 schools in the Mchinji District, Central Region of Malawi, with access to clean water and basic sanitation through the installation of 80 toilets and 10 pumps.

 

For more information, please visit www.megaflo.com.