Category Archives: Life & Style

YOUNG BRITISH DRIVING STARS JOIN FORCES WITH HOT WHEELS

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Four of the UK’s hottest young driving talents have joined forces with the most prolific car manufacturer in the world Hot Wheels to inspire and encourage the next generation of British racing stars.

With three British drivers now on the Formula One grid, the UK is enjoying an exciting period in its racing history. And with the leading boys vehicle brand Hot Wheels partnering with the prestigious British Racing Drivers Club based at the home of the Grand Prix Silverstone, the excitement is set to reach even the very youngest racing fan.

The four drivers that will act as ambassadors for the brand throughout the year are British Formula 3 racing star Jack Harvey, Sam Bird, a leading light within the prestigious GP2 Series, British Touring Car Championship contender Tom Onslow-Cole, and Oli Webb in his debut season in the World Series by Renault. Each driver will mentor a team in the popular Team Hot Wheels virtual racing championship www.teamhotwheels.co.uk allowing boys of all ages to see what life is like for a real-life racing driver.

Director of the BRDC Superstars Programme Tim Harvey commented: “BRDC Superstars is well-established as a programme, which any serious young British driver aspires to be part of. The scheme only selects the very brightest prospects. We are delighted to see four of our young drivers partner with Hot Wheels on an initiative that will bring the thrilling world of motor-racing to life for fans of all ages.”

Kate Middleton: The Making Of A Duchess

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Few people manage to capture the publics attention, but it is fair to say that Catherine Middleton is huge right now. She’s bigger than a movie star, just as famous as Diana, she’s (arguably) more popular than her fiancee Prince William. If you google “Kate Middleton” you get 51,700,000 hits. If you google “Catherine Middleton” you get 8,600,000.

The tale of a commoner (okay, millionaires over privileged daughter) done good is a story usually only read in fairytale. Yet on the 29th Miss Middleton will walk down the aisle and marry into royalty. Yet to call her a millionaire’s daughter doesn’t really scratch the truth of the surface. Her mother was a flight attendant (snobbishly nicknamed “doors to manual” by Williams posh friends), it doesn’t take long to find coalminers in her family history. This is what makes her fresh. The royal family need her to make them relevant again. The Queen and Prince Philip are cousins, he of Greek royalty.

Catherine Elizabeth “Kate” Middleton was born on 9 January 1982, she grew up on Bucklebury, Berkshire. Her parents Carole and Michael. She is the eldest and has a sister, Phillipa, and a brother, James. She met Prince William in 2001 when they were both studying at the University of St Andrews. They lived together (and at one point were both seeing other people), they became a couple. There have been two break ups, including one in 2007 that lasted a few months. Kate stayed friends with William and the romance was rekindled. During the break up Kate went out a lot, always looking stunning, and mostly with Williams friends.

It seems naïve that when Kate started dating William she complained about harassment through her lawyer saying “she had done nothing significant to warrant such publicity.” She must have known that you cannot date royalty and come out unscathed. She has had Royal Protection officers since 2006. Kate has done more than her fair share of work on the relationship. She has learned how to shoot, joining a royal deerstalking party in Scotland in 2007, Kate and William had broken up that year and it was a make or break trip. They had broken up because Prince William felt he was too young to get married and because he was too close, and disclosed too much, to ex-girlfriends.

At the Concert for Diana they were just friends but after the shooting party she moved in with William at Clarence House. The home of the Prince of Wales, William’s father. When Kate’s parents were photographed on a stalking trip to Scotland three years later the press went into overdrive. Like Kate they were given shooting lessons. The shooting party was hosted by William and was at his father’s residence, Birkhall. The Middleton’s were all doing their best to fit in and have some royal fun. Kate has said of Prince Charles: “I was quite nervous about meeting William’s father, but he was very, very welcoming, very friendly. It couldn’t have gone easier for me.”

Kate will shortly become Princess or Duchess, she already has her own coat of arms and will be going to Canada for her first Royal tour after her honeymoon. She has come a long way after seeing Prince William playing hockey at her school, from becoming his house mate. She will become the first Queen to have a degree. She hasn’t had any career as such, working at Jigsaw as an accessory buyer and then for her parents. Always on call for William, working her life around his. And now she will become his Queen. Let’s wish her luck, she might need it.

Update: Kate has become Duchess of Cambridge and William Duke of Camdridge. Kate’s dress was designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen.

KEITH LEMON UNLEASHS HIS INNER TEMPAH AND ROCKS HIS SHADES FOR TEENAGE CANCER TRUST

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Comedian Keith Lemon is asking people to make like their favourite shade-wearing celebrities and support Teenage Cancer Trust’s annual ‘Rock Your Shades’ day on Friday 6 May. Whether it’s in the style of Lady Gaga, Tinie Tempah or even Elton John, Keith wants everyone to wear their shades with attitude and donate to the cause.

Whether you’re at work, school, indoors or out, the charity is asking people to act like Jay-Z and Beyonce, by strutting your stuff and wearing your sunnies. In return, the charity is asking people to donate £1 to Teenage Cancer Trust and help young people across the UK fight cancer.

To make the event even more exciting, Teenage Cancer Trust has teamed up with TOPMAN and a group of young cancer patients who were treated on a Teenage Cancer Trust unit, to design four pairs of unique ‘Rock Your Shades’ sunglasses. These cool shades can be purchased from all TOPMAN stores from 16 April and will cost £15 each, with £5 of every pair sold donated to the charity.

For those wanting to get more involved, there’s a range of suggestions on the charity’s website, such as holding fancy dress sunglass wearing themed celebrity parties where you can imitate stars like Kanye West, Bono or even Dame Edna Everage! Or you can even run a ‘bling your shades’ competition at work or a sunglasses-themed bake sale.

Keith is currently hosting ITV1’s new primetime entertainment show, Sing if You Can, alongside Queen of the Jungle Stacey Solomon. Every episode will see two celebrity teams trying to deliver the best performances of hits and classics whilst taking on extraordinary challenges designed to distract them. The hosts will unleash an abundance of thrilling and comical challenges that will test the stars as never before. Each week the winning team will go through to the end game ‘The Money Spinner’, to be in with a chance of winning up to £20,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust.

‘Rock Your Shades’ is derived from Teenage Cancer Trust’s strong rock heritage. With help from the charity’s long-standing patron, The Who’s Roger Daltrey CBE, Teenage Cancer Trust has been staging sell-out annual gigs at the Royal Albert Hall for the past eleven years. The concerts have become a staple of the music calendar and this year saw acts such as Squeeze, Beady Eye, Biffy Clyro and Tinie Tempah taking to the stage. The proceeds of the shows and Rock Your Shades helps give teenagers the fight and attitude they need to beat cancer.

Every day six young people in the UK are told they have cancer. Usually placed on a children’s ward or with elderly patients, young people often feel extremely isolated when facing a cancer diagnosis, never meeting another young person going through the same thing. Teenage Cancer Trust believes teenagers shouldn’t stop being teenagers because they have cancer and so fund and build specialist units in NHS hospitals that allow young people to be treated together with others their own age, in an environment suited to their needs.

Teenage Cancer Trust units aren’t like ordinary cancer wards. Their home-from-home atmosphere helps create a sense of normality. The state-of-the-art units are bright and vibrant and will often include things like pool tables, jukeboxes, games consoles, computers and webcams, ensuring they can keep in touch with family friends outside hospital. Alongside all of this is a medical team of teenage cancer specialists whose knowledge creates a body of expertise that’s second to none.

To make your £1 donation and for more ‘Rock Your Shades’ fundraising ideas please visit www.teenagecancertrust.org/rockyourshades or call 020 7612 0370. To purchase the Teenage Cancer Trust Rock Your Shades sunglasses please visit one of its 165 stores or online at www.topman.com

FIRST TIME BUYERS BEWARE: The Shared Equity Con

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First time buyers are finding it increasingly difficult to get on the property ladder. Incomes and property prices remain distorted and banks have become increasingly stringent.

With the situation as it is many first time buyers are turning to shared equity housing schemes. Instead of buying the whole of a property you only buy a percentage. The local government housing authority or a building company own the rest. You pay rent on the remaining percentage but the amount you borrow is significantly reduced and so are your mortgage repayments. You also require a smaller deposit.

The government loves the scheme, it helps the construction industry and keeps the property market booming.

As someone looking to get onto the property ladder I had been considering such a scheme. I was therefore appalled when I came across some of the horror stories people have had with shared equity schemes.   I felt it was important that anyone looking into the scheme should be aware of what they are getting into. Here is a selection of people’s experience.  All comments are taken from the evening standard see the full article here and all the other comments as well.
– Marlise, Reading, 01/07/2010

Biggest mistake of my life! I bought a 40% share of a property through Thames Valley Housing Association in 2005. After a couple of years, rent had gone up by almost £200 and service charges sky rocketed, for a very poor service. Due to personal circumstances I had to move to London, to which TVHA gave me permission to rent via the local council. The council tenants did not pay rent for close to a year, and after struggling to pay living expenses in London and Rent/Mortgage on the shared ownership property, I went into serious debt, as well as mortgage debt. TVHA have been extremely unhelpful in this situation. Not making it easy for me to sell my share of the property (the costs of which are ridiculous). I am now unemployed and left to deal with mortgage debt collectors’ calls and harassment from TVHA for their rent. I no longer have an attachment to this property and would love to see it go as it has caused me so much stress, but I am trapped.

 

 

– SR, London E14, 15/04/2010

Biggest mistake of my life wish I had read this four years ago. Desperately need to sell to move closer to a disabled relative, there are errors in the lease preventing me from selling and the housing association are taking their time to sort it out. Paying a fortune in service charges for poor service.

 

 

– Lewis, Southampton – England, 02/03/2010

Very Interesting reading all the comments, only wish the info had been out there 2 years ago before I bought my 40% share. Rent and charges have jumped up by 75% in 2 years, flat has dropped £40,000 in value, can’t afford to increase my share, can’t afford to sell, and now paying more in combined rent and mortgage than I would have if I were privately renting….
Whatever anybody thinks, it is genuinely a mistake to get involved in shared ownership (even in a rising market) believe me!!
– Josh, London, 17/07/2009

 

Hi, I have just bought on shared ownership. This was the only means of myself and girlfriend to get on the ladder. We are paying a good £450 cheaper than renting in that area. Our incomes are low but we still managed to get a 4.5% fixed rate. This was the only option for us. To be honest all the problems are down to lack of research and thought. In a falling climate you will obviously find it hard to sell property. Not only this but we have gone into this scheme planning on staircasing to 100%. I don’t think anyone can say this is worse than renting as I am saving £450 per month to go on more equity.


As a long term I don’t see this as an investment but a foot up. To me it’s less risk of neg equity if circumstances change i.e break up. If you go in to this thinking it’s an easy way then you will find problems every day. As for the overpriced bit. Ours was on the market for 300,000. We got them to go down to 250,000 due to our independent survey we got and they accepted as they knew we would pull out otherwise. This is about 10% cheaper than all 2 beds in the area on the open market.


I think if you look at this as an easy way to own a home by still having the same rights as renting you will be in for a big awakening. I also have friends who have bought and sold on this scheme and because they did their research they have come out with no problems and quids in.
So I part own a 2 bed apartment right on the river in London next to canary wharf for 800pcm inclusive. Bad??!!

– Sarah, London, 09/07/2009

I am in the same situation trying to sell my 45% of shared ownership property to no success.
My rent and service charge has doubled it is just ridiculous! Now in the predicament of taking it off the market to try and gain some equity as if we sold now we would lose so much, however have a baby on the way and need out! Feel completely stuck in this flat, but had nowhere else to live and no deposit so had to go shared ownership! A2 Dominion housing associations are also unhelpful, time wasters and money grabbers. Good luck to anyone trying to get out!

– Gillian, London, 16/07/2009

I too, am in a similar predicament to the other people commenting. After securing a good job in Norfolk I informed my housing trust (Metropolitan Homes) that I needed to sell my 40% share of my one bedroom flat. It has taken them 5 weeks to market the property, a valuation (for which I had to find and pay a surveyor) £15,000 below one estates agents valuation and £30,000 below a second estate agents valuation. They have sent only two people to view in the two weeks since marketing and I now have only 6 weeks till I take up my new post with NHS Norfolk. (I am a nurse)
Everyone recognises that selling a house is stressful but the ‘don’t care’ attiutude of housing associations just makes the whole situation worse!

 

 

– Aji, London, 09/09/2008

The shared-ownership scheme has been around for years and the Government are always attempting to promote it, it’s a way of getting people off council waiting lists. I have lived in a shared-ownership property for 15 years and I would never recommend it to anyone, in fact I would advise people to think very, very carefully before taking part. My housing association owns the larger percentage of the house, but do not pay a penny towards the upkeep, as a ‘home owner’ I am expected to do this myself. There are lots of pitfalls with these schemes so my advice is “buyer beware”!

I offer my condolences to all those who have suffered but I also thank them for sharing their experiences. Hopefully we can now avoid making the same mistakes they have. This was not a case of me cherry picking the worst stories. This was the majority experience; please check the evening standard article for yourself.

If you are considering a shared-equity scheme the message is clear, do your research and don’t rush into anything. Make sure you read the small print.

More articles on property coming soon.

 

Did you know wine is mentioned 521 times in the Bible?

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To boost your wine knowledge this May in celebration of National Wine Month here are 15 ‘Did you know?’ facts about wine to impress your friends –

· Wine is mentioned 521 times in the Bible.

* Noah was the first documented planter of vineyards.

* There are over 10,000 different grape varieties.

· Wine grapes are the most widely planted crop in the world.

* The average age of a French oak tree cut down to make a wine barrel is 170 years.

* Early Roman women were forbidden to drink wine, and a husband who found his wife drinking was at liberty to divorce, or even kill her.

* If you pay under £4 for a bottle of wine in a UK shop, nearly two-thirds of this is tax (excise duty and VAT).

* The worst place to store wine is the kitchen because the temperature is too warm and variable.

* Don’t store wine in a refrigerator – even at its warmest setting it will be too cold!

· A wine is “corked” if the bottle has a contaminated cork, which makes the wine smell musty, similar to wet cardboard.

* On average, one bottle of wine contains about 2.8 pounds of grapes.

· It takes the grapes from an entire grapevine to produce a single glass of Chateau d’Yquem – arguably the best sweet wine in the world.

* Plato argued that when a man reached 40, he could drink as much wine as he wanted to cure the “crabbedness of old age”

* The earliest known wine production occurred in Georgia around 8,000 BC

* The most expensive drinkable wine ever sold is reputed to be a Romanee-Conti 1978 which sold for $24,000

Visit www.maketimeforwine.org to find out more.

POKER SHUT DOWN – UPDATE

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On Wednesday there was some good news for online poker players following the shutdown last Friday. The two biggest sites in the US, Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars, came to an agreement with the United States Attorney Office for the Southern District of New York. The deal means the sites get there domains back but US players will still not be allowed to play. However the agreement means that the sites are once again open for all non-US players.

Although unable to play, many US players believe this is an important first step to getting their money back. This was affirmed by FullTilt.

‘The agreement represents an important first step towards returning funds to U.S. players because it allows Full Tilt Poker to utilize its domain to facilitate the withdrawal of player funds. But, unfortunately, there remain significant practical and legal impediments to returning funds to players in the immediate future.’

Since the shutdown, poker players have exerted a substantial amount of pressure on US politicians and many believe this is the reason for the swift agreement. Well known player Andrew Robl tweeted, ‘Part of the reason for swift return of the domains is the huge public outcry. call/email your senators etc’

We can now be hopeful that US account holders will receive their money back in the future at some point.

In a statement the US attorney for the Southern District of New York stated, ‘this Office expects the companies to return the money that U.S. players entrusted to them, and we will work with the poker companies to facilitate the return of funds to players, as today’s agreements with PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker as today’s agreement demonstrates.’

See the 2+2 thread below for the poker communities reaction to the shutdown in MS Paint form!

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/29/news-views-gossip/mspaint-online-poker-players-before-after-1023686/

 

How To Know When Its The Right Time To Get Married.

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William_and_Kate_weddingWith royal wedding fever hitting an all time high there is a high number of women wondering if there boyfriend will pop the question. Kate waited by Prince Williams side for nearly a decade, earning herself the nickname ‘waity Katy’. It would seem that Kate, or Catherine as she now wants to be called, has had the last laugh. However, not all women want to get married, or remain undecided. While most men need quite a bit of a push in my experience. So, when is it the right time to make the commitment? What do you need to know first? Read the point below to find out if now is the right time to get married.

Are you in love?

There are many reasons why people think they should get married. Whether its peer pressure or because you have kids. Truth is, there is only one reason why you should get married: You’re in love. As long as you love someone it does not matter what life throws at you. They are the constant in your life. If you are unsure whether or not you’re in love; you’re not. If you are unsure if your boyfriend loves you, ask him or read this: How to tell if your boyfriend loves you

Are they your final emotional destination?

When you marry someone you are not just sharing your life, but also your soul and your DNA. You are forever joining together. Marriage is something to be taken seriously, do you really want to be with this person? It’s okay to have doubts, we all do. It is always possible that Angelina Jolie or George Clooney will want to marry you later, but the thing is; if you have found someone who loves you and you love them back you are blessed, people spend lifetimes trying to find the love of their lives. Don’t throw that away.

Are you just sliding into it?

Do you really want to get married or are you just sliding into it? Marriage is a mistake that’s hard to get out of unscathed – whether that be emotionally or financially. Being in a loveless marriage is something nobody should have to put up with. Don’t just get married because your mother is nagging you.

Do you just want a big day?

They say the most important day in a women’s life is her wedding day. I like to think this isn’t true, but it is still something women, and men!, buy into. After the dress, the presents and the honeymoon you will have to spend the rest of your life with this person. Not really worth one glamorous day.

Are you getting married because you (think) you are cracking on a bit?

Getting married because your nearly thirty isn’t a good enough reason. Although a women’s biological clock doesn’t work in her favour, marrying someone you don’t love – or worse, having a kid with someone you don’t love; a child ties you to that person forever- just because you feel pressure from society or your mother will never make you happy. Think of all the other thing you could do with your life; travel, focus on your career, study. There is a big world out there. You don’t need a husband (or wife) for that.

Do you know each other? Does the other person listen?

You have to know the person you are marrying. Can you communicate with them? Can you talk openly? If you tell your partner that something annoys you do they make the effort to change? If someone love you they will do anything they can to keep you around, they will care about your thoughts and feelings. You also have to accept the other person, good and bad.

And another thing…

 

Talk about finance, children, future goals together. It’s okay to be nervous, to be unsure, relationships are hard, but if you really love the person you are with, what are you waiting for?

The Wedding Survival Guide: How To Plan Your Big Day Without Losing Your Sanity is available in print, ebook and Kindle. The Kindle version is only £2.99.

 

 

Kate & William: Get Free Glass Of Champagne At Gilgamesh

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Celebrate The Royal Wedding at Gilgamesh

To celebrate Wills and Kate tying the knot, acclaimed Camden restaurant Gilgamesh is throwing a lavish Royal Wedding Reception.

As well as screening the ceremony live, Gilgamesh will be serving an English/Pan-Asian brunch, featuring dishes themed around all things Royal.

On Friday 29 April, the renowned North London hotspot will be the perfect place to celebrate the Royal Wedding. From 11am-5pm diners can choose from fantastic dishes including Sandringham Ham with Poached Free-Range Eggs and Hollandaise Sauce, Buckingham Hot-Pot and Lady-in-Waiting Chocolate Cake.

As an added bonus, guests named William or Kate will receive a complimentary glass of Champagne on arrival, provided they show photo ID.

So head to Gilgamesh for a day that promises to keep the corks popping. For bookings contact reservations@gilgameshbar.com or call 0207 428 4922(ext 2).
GILGAMESH

Camden View

Camden Stables Market

Chalk Farm Road

London NW1 8AH

Tel: 020 7482 5757

www.gilgameshbar.com