Meet the Spencers: How to manage the in-laws on your (Royal) wedding day

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Meet the Spencers: How to manage the in-laws on your (Royal) wedding day

There are just nine days to go until HRH Prince William of Wales ties the knot with Catherine Middleton, and no doubt pre-wedding jitters have well and truly set in.

But while most couples concern themselves with button-holes and buffets in the run up to the wedding, Wills and Kate have bigger problems afoot. The in-laws.

As the silver is polished, and the flowers are arranged, the happy couple will no doubt be contemplating the one part of the day they can’t control: their relatives. Will Uncle Gary create a spectacle when he flies in from La Maison de Bang Bang? And what’s cousin Amelia planning for her biggest public appearance since that incident at McDonald’s Cape Town?

Luckily for Wills and Kate, thecoupleconnection.net – an online DIY relationship support service, which helps couples deal with issues ranging from in-laws to infidelity and offers free marriage preparation materials – is on hand with some top tips for reeling in the rellies on their big day.

1. You can say what you like about your own family, but tread carefully when it comes to your partner’s. If Uncle Gaz chats up one of the Spencer girls on the edge of the dance floor, you’d do well to blooming button it, Wills.

2. Think through your seating plan carefully. Do you really want Earl Spencer on a table full of single girls? Would Lady Kitty and Chelsy Davy collude to turn a state occasion into a raucous night at Mahiki? Consider who you’d rather keep apart.

3. Have autonomy over your day. Wills and Kate know that ensuring you make the final decisions gives pushy grandmas less room for manoeuvre. Instead give relatives specific tasks that will make them feel valued without allowing them to interfere in other areas.

4. If you’re going to invite the black sheep of the family, take the pressure of yourself and insist your partner invites at least one oddball from their side, too.

5. Introduce the in-laws beforehand. If you think one side might be frosty, arrange a pre-wedding outing that will help break down barriers. Wine tasting usually works.

If all this fails, stuff them all and just elope.

Fortunately for the Royal couple, 29 April is likely to run smoothly. William and Kate undertook marriage preparation in the months leading up to the wedding and have most likely already discussed how to deal with any family issues that might arise.

For those that don’t have the Archbishop of Canterbury on speed dial, it’s now possible to prepare for the big day by working through thecoupleconnection.net’s “making a commitment” articles, which help address issues that may arise throughout a marriage – all in a space and time convenient to them, and without the need to sign up for more formal marriage preparation classes.

Spotted! Guy Ritchie and Tamar Hassan.

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With Italian on the menu it’s no surprise that Zilli Fish on Brewer Street, Soho, is attracting a distinctly Hollywood gangster clientele. Guy Ritchie was in for a bit of lunch and quickly followed by thug film star Tamar Hassan. Both dined on Aldo Zilli’s culinary classic, spaghetti lobster. Unfortunately, the pair just missed each other, further delaying the long awaited collaboration from these two dons of the genre.

Doctor Who's Elisabeth Sladen – A Tribute

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By Jack Bowman

Last night was a terrible shock. I came out of the tube, switched on signal, checked the Twitter feed and saw the news, over and over, that honestly you wouldn’t have believed you were due to read for many years to come.

“Lis Sladen, our Sarah Jane. RIP.”

Elisabeth Sladen, most famous for being the definitive Doctor Who companion, had passed on, aged 63, after battling cancer. The news didn’t – and still doesn’t – sit right; from the very start of her career as an assistant stage manager at the Liverpool Playhouse, to the very end as a children’s TV lead playing a character she gave life to just shy of five decades, Lis was a hard-working, strong, modesty, energetic individual. If anyone would beat this, it would have been her. It should have been her.

They often say the “Doctor Who girl” falls into two categories, the screamers and the fighters. Sometimes though, you get something else – an actress able to bring depth and beauty to the role. A lot of people credited Billie Piper for doing this when the BBC took a gamble and brought back the show in 2005. However, Billie had big shoes to fill as Lis Sladen was the one who absolutely did it first, back in 1973. Not only was she a phenomenally actress who made the companion role in Who an equal to the star and a lead role like none before her – not an easy task when working with Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker – she was also a wonderful, wonderful person.

I was lucky enough to first meet Lis when I was asked to step in at the last minute and do some panel interviews for a convention in Newcastle in 2001. Admittedly Lis was a little wary of being interviewed by someone she’d never met, as we all are as actors, yet within seconds that wariness gave way to a natural warmth, generosity, charm and effortless grace that lead brilliantly fun hour of conversation about her career to date. It also lead to an on-off friendship that lasted many interviews – she was gracious enough to always be complimentary and ask me back for her panels – and the next few years with occasional phone calls, always asking after myself and the then-house mate, about my career, what was new, always offering an ear and advice.

We lost touch in 2005, just as BBC Wales were making overtures to bring her back for what was then to be a one-off appearance opposite David Tennant in the episode School Reunion. And it was heart-warming to see her back on prime-time BBC One. And then punch-the-air-brilliant to see her get a long-overdue spin-off, which became The Sarah Jane Adventures. And every year the SJAs were recommissioned, like others I’m sure, the heart would swell a little with pride at her continued success. And then came the awards, which not only were much deserved, also felt long-overdue for such a brilliant, natural, talented screen actress.

I had hoped that even though we’d drifted, one day our paths would cross again and she’d make me laugh with her stories and give that unbeatable smile across a room once. Sadly, it is not meant to be, and all we can do is take our memories of her and offer our thoughts to her husband, Brian and daughter, Sadie in these desperate sad times.

Possibly the greatest tragedy in her death is that she would have been thoroughly bemused, by natural modesty, about the out-pouring of affection, love and tributes across Twitter, Facebook, the Internet and the national and international press, from her youngest fans to those who remembered her first time. If anyone had said to Lis back in 2005 the exciting crescendo her career would reach by 2011, she would never have believed you due to that trademark modesty. Yet that, with her ferocious acting talent, is why she deserved it. And here we are talking about her passing at no age at all. The country and the business has lost one of its national treasures.

There are many memories of Lis to share, to many in fact, so I will leave you with one. It’s the one that started the whole adventure and brought Lis into all of our lives: her casting in Doctor Who. She told me that the day of her audition went like this. She came in, and read for the producer, Barry Letts. He was impressed, so took her down to meet Jon Pertwee on the studio floor. While she and Jon got chatting, Barry walked behind her and gave Jon two thumbs up. Jon finished the conversation and Lis turned to Barry, who started another conversation. Then Jon gave Barry another two thumbs up behind her back. That is how a TV legend was born.

It’s said that occasionally, just occasionally, there’s a perfect human being. Elisabeth Sladen was one of those.

Goodbye, our Sarah Jane.

Seasons Of Mist; UK Premier Held At Odeon Covent Garden

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Best actress – Marina Blake (XVI Open CIS and Baltic countries Film Festival “Kinoshok”)

 

Best actress prize and Special jury prize for best script, best direction and best cinematography (International film festival of family films “Loyal Heart”, Russia)

 

Grand Prix (“Russkoye Zarubezhye”

International film festival)

 

 

SEASON OF MISTS

 

 

 

Script Anna Tchernakova & Evgenia Tirdatova

Seasons Of Mist received it’s UK premiere on the 20th of April at ODEON COVENT GARDEN?

Director Anna Tchernakova

Director of Photography Dmitry Ermakov

Music Gavin Bryars

 

Starring Marina Blake. Sergei Chonishvili,

Ifan Huw Dafydd, Dudley Sutton

 

Cast Yuri Nifontov, Larisa Panchenko,

Heather Chasen, Eve Pierce,

Janet Hanfrey and others

 

Producers Neil McCartney and Evgenia Tirdatova

Co-producers Mikhail Gagarin, Anna Tchernakova,

Pyotr Cherniaev, Olga Kennedy, Elena Badamyants

 

Production McCartney Media (UK) and Kinoglaz (Russia)

 

98 min,, color, 35 mm, Dolby SRD, 2009

 

SYNOPSIS

 

Marina, a forty-year-old Russian woman, lives in a small village in South Leicestershire. A few years ago she married Gregory, a village garage owner, a collector of Morris Minor cars and an Ipswich Town supporter. Marina met Gregory when he came to Russia to see Ipswich Town playing against Torpedo Moscow, and moved to England with her then five-year-old daughter in the hope of happiness and a secure future for her child.

A journalist and a writer in her previous life, she now works at a local hairdressers and in her spare time writes for the village Parish magazine.

Gregory loves her, and the daughter seems to flourish in a private school, but Marina doesn’t feel happy and satisfied with her life – and can’t really explain why. A chance encounter with a touring classical string quartet from Moscow throws her out of her daily routines, and unexpected love opens up all the questions, which Marina has been hiding deep inside…

It’s a story about people who are moving from place to place in search for home, and can’t find it anywhere. It’s also a story about middle age – the age when one has already (or not) achieved something in life, but when there is still time to start everything anew. And it’s a story about a standing stone on the outskirts of a small English village where, as some of the villagers believe, aliens might land one day…

 

Anna Tchernakova

Director, co-writer

 

Born in St. Petersburg. Graduated from the Directors’ Department of the VGIK (The State Film School in Moscow). Since 1993 has been working as a scriptwriter, director and producer. Her films participated in many international film festivals including Tokyo and Montreal. She made the documentary “Postcriptum to Infinitas” for the Russian TV (1992), the feature “The Cherry Orchard” (Russia, 1993, Grand Prix of the Minsk Film Festival (Belorussia), si-fi drama “Last Summer” for ???, Canada, 2000, animation “Sea and Stars” (Canada, 2002, Prize for the best animation in Flix, Canada), documentaries “Millenium Music” (2001), “Writings On Water” (2002), short film “A Unified Theory of the Universe” (2003) and others. She is the author of many scripts, stories and poems, director of theater performances. Played in “Infinitas” by Marlen Khutsiev. Emigrated from Russia in 1994, was a professor of McGill University (Montreal, Canada), Linkoln University (UK). She works as an independent film director in Victoria, British Columbia (Canada) and England. At present she is working on the feature “Telemetry”. “Season of Mists” is her second feature. In 2010 she made the feature “Death in Pince-Nez or Our Chekhov”.

 

 

Dmitry Ermakov

Director of Photography

 

Born August 15, 1968. Enrolled at VGIK in 1986 and was called up a year later. After he was demobbed he returned to the VGIK (Alexander Galperin’s workshop and later Alexander Knyazhinsky’s workshop). Graduated from the VGIK in 1993 and shot the short film “The Bridegroom” (“St.Anne” prize for photography). In 1998 he shot the medium-length “Crossroads” (directed by Arko Okk, Estonia). He was one of the cameramen working on the TV serial “My Frontier” together with Leonid Kazakov and Alexander Degtyaryov (director Ivan Solovov, 2003). He made commercials and clips. In 2006 he shot the feature film “The Wedding Chest” (special prize for the best camerawork at the “Golden Knight” Film Festival, Russia, and “The Golden Minbar” for the best camerawork in Kazan, Tatarstan). In 2009 – “Season of Mists”, director Anna Tchernakova) and “The Ferry” (director Dmitry Makeev). In 2010 – “Zone of Turbulence” (director Evgenia Tirdatova).

 

Gavin Bryars

Composer


Born in Yorkshire in 1943. His first musical reputation was as a jazz bassist working in the early sixties with improvisers Derek Bailey and Tony Oxley. He abandoned improvisation in 1966 and worked for a time in the US with John Cage. From 1969 to 1978 he taught in departments of Fine Art in Portsmouth and Leicester, and during the time that he taught at Portsmouth College of Art he was instrumental in founding the legendary Portsmouth Sinfonia. He founded the music department at Leicester Polytechnic and was professor of music there from 1986 to 1994. His first major work as a composer was The Sinking of the Titanic (1969)and Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet (1971), selling over a quarter of a million copies. He has composed prolifically for the theatre and dance as well as for the concert hall and has written three full-length operas. His first opera, Medea was first staged by the director Robert Wilson in Opéra de Lyon and Opéra de Paris in 1984. His second opera, Doctor Ox’s Experiment (based on a story by Jules Vernes) was staged by the Canadian film director Atom Egoyan for English National Opera in 1998. The third opera, “G”, was commissioned by Mainz Opera and was premiered in February 2002, staged by Georges Delnon, in the newly refurbished Mainz Opera House. Among Gavin Bryars’ other works are three string quartets, a series of vocal works for The Hilliard Ensemble including Glorious Hill (1988), Incipit Vita Nova (1989), Cadman Requiem (1989, revised 1998) and The First Book of Madrigals (1998-2000); works for the opening of the Tate Gallery in Liverpool (1988).Among Gavin Bryars’ numerous recordings are “Three Viennese Dancers”, “After The Requiem”, The Black River and “Vita Nova” on ECM New Series, “The Last Days” on Argo (1995), and “Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet” (1993), “The Sinking of the Titanic” (1994), “Farewell to Philosophy” (1996), “A Man in a Room Gambling” (1997) and “Cadman Requiem” (1998). The Gavin Bryars Ensemble, founded in 1981, regularly tours internationally, including appearances in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Finland, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Austria, Japan and Australia, as well as giving occasional concerts in London.

 

Evgenia Tirdatova

Producer, co-writer

 

Member of the European Film Academy and the “Nika” National Academy and is a president of the “Kinoglaz” Com. Born in Moscow, Russia. Graduated from the Gnesins Institute of Music and the Cinema History Department of the VGIK (State Film School) in 1985. Worked at the State TV and Radio, in the magazine “Soviet Screen”, was the chief editor of the “Kino-Glaz” and “Audio Video Business” magazines. Was the program director of the “St.Anne” competition and other festivals. Since 1995 she is a programmer at the Moscow International Film Festival. She is the author of numerous articles and books on Russian and foreign cinema. She was the co-author of the script to the documentary film “Your Leaving Object Leonid Obolensky” (Grand Prix of the IFF in Nyon, Switzerland, 1991) and the author of the scripts of the documentary film “Farewell, Cannes” (2003) and feature “Zone of Turbulence”. She is the holder of the Vera Kholodnaya award, the “White Elephant” prize of Film Critics Guild of Russia, the “Golden Hat” prize of the Russian Film Producers Association and the “Young Artists Award” (USA), “best producer” prize at the Open Russian film festival (2006). As producer she released the short films “Sanzhyra” (directed by Nurbek Egen, 2002), and “The Day Off” (directed by Alla Savina, 2008), features “The Kite” (directed by Alexei Muradov) which were awarded 12 prizes at international  film festivals, “The Wedding Chest” by Nurbek Egen (Russian-Kirghiz-French-German co-production) which won 15 Russian and international prizes and was submitted for the Oscar, “Season of Mists” (dir. Anna Tchernakova), Russia-UK. As a director she made the feature ”Zone of Turbulence” (2010).

 

Neil McCartney

Producer

 

UK-born producer, journalist, consultant, and entrepreneur. He was co-founder of the British Independent Film Awards, as well as the “Financial Times” stable of newsletters on media and telecommunications and a series of other media initiatives. He is chairman of The Independent Film Trust (IFT), a UK charity which exists to advance the cause of independent filmmaking, co-chair of the Cambridge Film and Media Academy, an alumnus group for people working in film, television and new media, and UK representative of the Moscow International Film Festival. He has produced a number of short films. “Season of Mists” is his first feature.

 

He is a regular contributor on media and telecommunications to newspapers and radio and television programmes, including BBC TV’s News and Newsnight, BBC World Television, BBC News 24, Sky Television, CNN and Radio 4’s Today and The World at One.

 

Neil was founder chairman of the “Financial Times” Global Telecom Awards, a member of the juries for the Mobile Entertainment Awards in 2004 and 2006, and a member of the judging panel for the annual GSM Association Awards that were awarded at the 3GSM World Congress in Cannes in February 2005. He was also a member of the jury for the Faithful Heart festival in Moscow in October 2008.

 

Marina Blake

As Marina

 

Graduated from VGIK in 1995 (Anatoly Romashin’s workshop). Played in features “The Man For the Young Woman” (Russia, dir. M.Ibragimbekov), “Kodak” (dir. M. Popov), “Black Coffee” (Finland), “The Police Drama” for BBC and others. Worked in “The Theater of Luna” (Moscow) in different theaters of London (played Irina in “Three Sisters” by A.Tchekhov, Margarita in “Master and Margarita” by M. Bulgakov) and others. At present lives in London.

 

Sergei Chonishvili

As Sasha

 

Born in 1965 in Tula city (Russia) in the family of actors. ???????????1 ?????? ??????. In 1986 graduated from the Theater school by the name of Schukin and started to work at the Lenkom Theater. In 1993 he participated in the first performance of The Independent Theater project “Playing Zhmuriki”. Worked in The Oleg Tabakov’s Theater (“Psyco”, “The Old Quarter”). Played the role of the prince Shadursky-Jr. in the popular TV series “Mysteries of St.Petersburg”. Was the voice in many commercials. His writer’s debut was “Not Significant Changes” (2000). In 2003 he published his second book “The Train Man”. Awarded “Seagull” prize (Nosdrev in “The Mistification”, I.Smoktunovsky prize. Played in features and TV series: “Family Mysteries”, “Azazel”, “The Theater Blues”, “Farewell Doctor Freid”, “I Love You”, “The Rope From the Sand”, “The Man of No Return” and others.

 

Ifan Huw Dafydd

As Gregory

Works in various theatres in Wales and England. Played in films: “Leaving Lenin” (1993), «The Proposal» (1997), “House!” (2000) and others, in series “Golden Hearts”, “The Last Detective” etc.

 

Dudley Sutton

As Darby

 

Born in 1933. He is one of the most famous actors of the British television. Played in “Devils” (1971), «Madam Sin» (1972), «Casanova» by Fellini (1976), «The Pink Panther Strikes Again» (1976), «Deep Dream» (1978), «Chain Reaction» (1986), «?rlando» (1992), «Up to the Villa» (2000), «The Song for the Raggy Boy» (2001), «The Football Factory» (2003), in TV series «Great Expectations», «Hemingway», «David Copperfield», «Victoria and Albert» and others.

 

Eve Pierce

As Liz

 

Actress of cinema, theatre and TV. Played in Mike Leigh’s “Tupsey-Turvey” (1998), in Richard Loncraine’s “Wimbledon” (2003). She playrd on stage Masha in “Uncle Vanya”, Old Lady in “The Summer Day (1999), participated in many BBC plays.

 

Heather Chasen

As Jane

 

Actress of cinema, theatre and TV. She played Tosca (“The Kiss of Tosca, 2000), Gran (“The Box for Toys”, 2003), on television – Margaret Thatcher (“Who Bombed Birmingham?”, 1990) on stage – Miss Marple (“The Announced Murder”, 1994) and others.

 

Janet Hanfrey

As Mary

 

Actress of cinema, theatre and TV. Played in films “Missis Dalloway” by Morlin Gorris (Miss Pym, 1996), «???????????» by Bille August” (Madam Gilo, 1997), “The Cook, Thief, His Wife and Her Lover” by Peter Greenaway”, “Nine Lives by Thomas Katz”, “Omen” (2006). He played on stage in “The House by Bernarda Alba”, “Separate Tables” etc. Played in TV series “Oliver Twist”, “Alice in the Wonderland” and others.

Styled & Frocked on the King's Road

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BBC children’s television presenter Cerrie Burnell will be appearing at the Styled and Frocked fashion event at JuJu Nightclub, Kings Road on Thursday 28th April.

The Tree of Hope Children’s Charity has joined forces with the campaigning Models of Diversity for a unique Fashion Event to help raise funds for children’s specialist medical treatment and therapy in the UK.

One of the few visibly disabled people working on television, Cerrie’s appointment as presenter on BBC’s children’s channel CBeebies sparked complaints from a minority of parents. Subsequently Cerrie has spent much time campaigning to raise awareness on disability and the prejudice that surrounds it.

Cerrie has said ”I am delighted to have the opportunity to lend my support to a fashion event which will be celebrating models of all different ages, colours, sizes and abilities.” Adding ”It will be great evening and I am so pleased to be helping rasie raise support and awareness for the Tree of Hope Children’s Charity and the brilliant work they so.”

Guest List also includes:

Catherine Balavage

Chelsey Baker

Liz Brewer

Ben Duncan

Ian Carmichael and Tony Pappas

Leee John

Cindy Jackson

The event will be hosted by Sally Farmiloe-Neville

With the guidance and approval of medical practitioners in our health care services, The Tree of Hope Children’s Charity will fund grants for medical treatment and therapy within the private sector of medicine in the UK. We will also fund surgery and treatment by medical specialists abroad, where the specific knowledge and facilities are available, in order to treat UK children as quickly as possible. Please visit http://www.treeofhope.org.uk/ for more information (Reg. No:1043092).

Models of Diversity is a London-based non-profit organization, whose mission is to change the face of fashion and modelling. They have had great visibility in the press with their impressive campaigning, celebrity endorsements and most recently, their models have been used in popular television programmes on Channel 4 in 2011.

Lee Chapman and Leslie Ash, are hoping to attend the Fashion Show, stating: “We are both delighted that we are able to help the Tree of Hope Children’s Charity by hosting this Fashion Show at JuJu.”

Special guest entertainment including the Teakshow comedy duo. the crooning of Don Wilson and Lipstick Bandits Burlesque and a catwalk show featuring the clothes of up and coming Bo Carter, Hoss Intropia and Toni Pickles of Get Waisted.

Multi Award Winning Bar, JuJu is the hottest addition to the nightlife scene on World Famous King’s Road in Chelsea. Located in the heart of Chelsea, JuJu has won multiple awards since opening. In 2009, it was awarded Best New Bar and in 2010 it was awarded Outstanding Mixology by the London Club and Bar Awards. Not surprising, given that JuJu serves the finest cocktails mixed by some of London’s best bartenders including their in-house mixologist. JuJu also offers an eclectic combination of Pan Asian tapas food from all over the world.

28th April
6pm – Late
JuJu
316 – 318 King’s Road, Chelsea, SW3 5UH, London
Tickets £20 (including a fabulous goody bag)

You can buy them here:

http://styledandfrockedjuju.eventbrite.com

http://www.treeofhope.org.uk

Make a Donation here: http://www.justgiving.com/treeofhope/Donate

POKER PLAYERS PANIC AS FBI SEIZE POKER SITES

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Millions of poker players were sent into panic on Friday as the three major US poker sites, Poker Stars, Full Tilt and Absolute Poker went offline as they were targeted by FBI

Restraining orders were issued against five internet domain names and 75 bank accounts used by the online poker companies.

The founders of PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and Absolute Poker were indicted on charges of bank fraud, money laundering, and illegal gambling.

Online poker has been illegal in the US since 2006 following the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act and some sites such as party poker closed down their US operations. However the majority of big sites including Poker Stars and Full Tilt continued to operate by getting players to deposit into offshore bank accounts. Poker Stars and Full Tilt have been now been charged with money laundering (amongst other things) accused of cleaning money via transactions with fake businessess (selling golf balls, flowers and jewelery.)

Currently US players are unable to play or withdraw any funds and they are extremely worried as to whether they will be able get their money back. The amounts frozen range from a few dollars to hundreds of thousands.

Famous young poker player Tom Dwann only added to the panic by speculating on his twitter that absolute poker accounts were only worth 40 cents on the dollar and Cake poker accounts were worth 70cents. Although he did later add that he felt Pokerstars and Full Tilt accounts should be safe, he is however a member of the Full Tilt Poker team.

Some players have frantically been trying to sell their accounts. Theoretically PokerStars accounts should be safe since under Isle of Man law (where they are based) players accounts are required to be held in a trust. Whether this will prove to be the case is open to debate.

The Department of Justice is seeking 3 billion dollars in fines from the major sites. The DOJ’s statement also stated that it would seize all assets from the owners of the company, so this includes the companies themselves.

The 3 billion dollar fine has worried poker players as to whether the 3 companies will be able to remain solvent, particularly when combined with a huge spate of withdrawals, similar to that of a run on a bank. All the sites involved state that player’s money is safe.

Poker Stars stated, ‘Please be assured player balances are safe. There is no cause for concern about loss of funds in your PokerStars account. For all customers outside the US it is business as usual.

The PokerStars website has been moved to www.pokerstars.eu, and the PokerStars Support email address is now support@pokerstars.eu. PokerStars apologises to all players for any inconvenience caused by this disruption.’

The situation regarding non-US players is very unclear. Many players are still able to play as well as withdraw funds although some are not.

One panicked forum member said,

I don’t get why people are even asking if it’s only going to affect US players. If you’re outside the US you can still play but you’re basically playing for play chips because tilt and stars don’t have any money to give you if you cash out.

According to @GamblingComp, all the indicted sites, around the world, will be down within 48 hours. So far this has not proven to be the case. Non-US players are currently able to play.

Full Tilt said, ‘We assure all players on Full Tilt Poker that your online playing experience will not change and that you will be able to both deposit and withdraw funds as needed. Your money remains safe, secure, and accessible at all times.’

The Poker Players Alliance stated, “On behalf of the millions of poker players across the country, we are shocked at the action taken by the U.S. Department of Justice today against online poker companies and will continue to fight for Americans’ right to participate in the game they enjoy,” said former Senator Alfonse D’Amato, chairman of the Poker Players Alliance. “Online poker is not a crime and should not be treated as such. We are currently gathering all of the information around today’s announcement and will offer detailed analysis when the full facts become available.”

Some have speculated that the recent crackdown by the US government may be about to pave the way for a government approved site. A D.C. Internet gambling law cleared Congress just a few days ago. The law allows the D.C Lottery to create online poker and other “games of chance”.

Many US States have been calling for the legalisation  of online poker so that it might be used to raise additional tax revenues that might be used to help balance struggling state budgets.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2011/04/dc-internet-gambling-law-clears-congress

 

WOMEN IN MALE-DOMINATED TRADES: KENT FEMALE ELECTRICIAN

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Electrician Charlotte Riddle.

Currently there are more men working in industries such as building, plumbing like Shower regrouting perth and electrical engineering than women, but this is a changing trend says Checkatrade, which helps people avoid cowboy builders by providing a free transparent and impartial directory of vetted tradespeople and service providers across the UK.

According to a recent survey conducted by the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC), 63% of 16-24 year old women polled said they are more interested in learning a skilled trade rather than a profession, because a trade stays with them for life. When asked which trade they would like to learn, the results were as follows:

1. Electrician (35%)
2. Carpenter (21%)
3. Plumber (20%)
4. Builder (10%)
5. Farrier (6%)

Becoming a bricky was the least popular choice, accounting for just 1% of the votes.

Kevin Byrne, Managing Director at Checkatrade, is delighted: “It is great to see more women opting for hands-on careers. It means the number of independent female traders registering with Checkatrade will rise over the coming years, especially with university fees set to increase again. This is positive news for the future growth of our business.”

Qualified electrician Charlotte Riddle registered with Checkatrade after setting up her own business two years ago. She previously worked in credit control before spending some time as a driving instructor. After a spell renovating houses in France, Charlotte moved back to the UK and decided to follow in her electrician father’s footsteps.

“My father is a huge source of inspiration and actively encouraged me to retrain”, explains Charlotte. I found it challenging because there was a lot to learn, plus I was pregnant and had a full-time job to maintain. It was hard work but I obtained City & Guilds qualifications in ‘electrical installations’ and ‘inspecting/testing electrical equipment’, plus a level 3 National Vocational Qualification (NVQ).”

After qualifying as an electrician Charlotte became Part P registered to comply with building regulations and went into partnership with her father. She is now responsible for installing, repairing and maintaining electrical systems in homes and commercial premises. Specific duties include:

· Installing and repairing lighting fixtures and connections
· Checking and replacing consumer units; replacing controls, switches, and other components as necessary
· Installing and repairing wiring systems in houses
· Changing circuit breakers
· Performing electrical safety checks
· Studying electrical blueprints, manuals and files for reference
· Maintaining records and completing paperwork

Charlotte’s business, Connected Domestic Electricians, has a wide client base and is prospering despite economic conditions. Easter is a popular time for home renovations, which makes it a busy time for Charlotte.

Commenting on the electrical trade’s gender balance, Charlotte observes: “I think one of the main reasons we see few female electricians is a lack of awareness. We need to inform young women that careers in electrical engineering are accessible, highly rewarding and not restricted to men so there is no need for apprehension.

She jokes: “Many people booking an electrician think it will be a man coming to call. Indeed, some take me for the receptionist when I answer the office phone and ask what time ‘he’, the electrician, will be arriving. This is not sexism, just natural assumptions people make because the trade is so male-dominated. However, these old-fashioned attitudes need to change.”

Electricians often have to lift floorboards, chase out walls or move heavy furniture to reach electrical components. This means working in the trade can be physically demanding.

“It can be exhausting sometimes,” admits Charlotte. “Luckily I have my father on board to help out. We work as a team to get jobs done on time, within budget. Newly qualified electricians looking to start their own businesses should consider partnership rather than going it alone. They can’t teach you everything at college, much of what you learn is on-the-job. My father’s experience is invaluable to the future success of Connected Domestic Electricians.”

Charlotte is delighted to be a part of Checkatrade. She comments; “Interfering with a domestic, industrial or commercial electrical system is extremely dangerous unless you are properly qualified. Rogue electricians risk lives for financial gain. It’s a disgraceful practice and we want to do whatever we can to minimise its effect on households and businesses.

“My father and I are proud of our company, and strive to achieve only the highest standards of safety and quality. Being part of Checkatrade means people can monitor and review our work – so far the feedback has been extremely positive, so it’s good for business too.”

Kevin Byrne founded Checkatrade in 1998, when a tornado devastated his hometown of Selsey and cowboy builders scrambled to rip off people trying to rebuild their homes.

For more information on Checkatrade visit: www.checkatrade.com

For more information on Connected Domestic Electricians visit: www.connected-electric.co.uk