It is a man’s world, a part from when it comes to children. Courts tend to favour the mother and many men don’t get to see their own children as much as they like, if at all. In fact, if a couple is not married, the man has no rights at all.
One in five fathers (22%) would like more time off work to bond with their children according to a survey by serviced office provider Business Environment. The research shows that modern men are finding it difficult to maintain a work / life balance that allows them to spend enough time with the kids.
Almost half of fathers (46%) feel that their workplaces do not offer enough flexibility to juggle childcare commitments with work life. While the debate usually revolves around flexibility for mothers, this research highlights that employers are behind the times by overlooking the importance of flexible working for fathers.
When asked about the changes in paternity law that will allow parents to share maternity/paternity from next year, 75% of men and women welcome the changes believing that it will help fathers bond with their children and decrease the discrimination against mothers in the workplace. Those who answered negatively cited reasons such as the cost of implementing new legislation and their belief that childcare is the domain of women.
Positively, more than half (56%) of respondents say they would share leave equally with their partner if given the chance, demonstrating the potential to affect changes in attitudes towards women if it were perceived that men were just as likely to take time off to have children.
David Saul, managing director, Business Environment said: “Since I founded Business Environment 20 years ago, I have seen a huge shift in perceptions about both men and women at home and in the workplace. The view that women should stay at home and look after the kids while the man brings home the money is archaic to say the least. However, our research suggests that employers are not keeping up with the times. We hear a lot about ensuring there is flexibility in place for working mothers, but today it is just as important that men are considered equal in sharing childcare commitments – and that means making allowances in their working schedules too.”
While men may be feeling under pressure, much of the gender discrimination that takes place in the workplace centres on women having children. The research found that more than a quarter of employers would be reluctant to hire a women if she were of child-bearing age (27%) or already has children (26%).
David Saul explains how the change in paternity law may have a positive effect for women, as well as men: “I believe the changes in paternity leave will have a two-fold effect. Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, more men taking time out when their children are born will reduce the stigma that still surrounds women in the workplace, opening up more opportunities and making bigger cracks in the glass ceiling. Secondly, of course, it will allow fathers to spend more time bonding with their children.”
We love music at Frost and this mini music mixer really caught our eye. You can switch songs in style with the all new Mini Mixer.
Ditch the decks with the simple, miniature mixer that allows you to fade between tracks to create a rad musical vibe.
Set the sounds and turn up the volume, this DJ device will have you mix two tracks from any two music devices in a flash, for that ultimate sound.
Style songs to your taste, this piece of kit is quirky and cool – essential for easy listening or powerful partying.
Produce a fresh fusion of tracks with your favourite tunes; this is a great gadget for all music lovers.
Whatever genre, wherever you are, this device is portable, unique and sleek – so blend those hits for a hot new track.
Switch it up with this hip gadget – whether you are creating summer beats or want a sizzling stocking filler, you need this in you ryhematic life.
Try out your skills and put on the party! This genius gadget is available for only £19.95 at www.prezzybox.com
· Requires 4 x AAA batteries (not included).
· (Compatible with phones/mp3/iPods etc.)
· 4 x Connection Wires included
Last week I finally managed to visit Rosso, an Italian restaurant in Manchester that I haven’t stopped hearing about lately. It turns out that it’s with good reason – Rosso is a tasteful, inventive restaurant that’s clearly had a lot of thought put into both the food and the overall experience from the décor to the friendly, informative staff.
As is always the best way, my colleague and I began our evening with cocktails. I had the Old Fashioned which was smooth and well mixed. My colleague’s Bramble was a sweet and refreshing combination of gin and winter fruits.
Having whetted our appetites, we ate a trio of starters. To begin with we had seared king scallops with crisp pork belly and an apple and cider purée. The scallops were light but flavourful and were perfectly complemented by the apple. This was followed by a mixed vegetable antipasti platter. It was an excellent selection of true Italian delicacies and was our favourite of the starters. Particular praise must go to the selection of cheeses which had mature and confident flavours. Our final starter was orzo with sweet potato and char-grilled tuna steak. The steak was perfectly cooked and its saltiness was deliciously matched with the sweetness of the orzo.
For the main course we once again split three dishes; a decision that I will never regret but that will have permanently effected my waistline. First up was a home-made mushroom ravioli of the highest quality. It had an intense, rich mushroom flavour that was offset nicely by the sauce. This was followed by goose served over balsamic roasted plums with a hint of bitter chocolate. An appetising combination on paper, it sadly failed to live up to its promise. My colleague and I agreed that the problem with it, if we’re totally honest, is that it was a perfectly average dish in a restaurant of culinary delights. There was nothing particularly wrong with it, there was just nothing especially right about it either.
Which brings me on to a dish that deserves its own paragraph – the rack of lamb in a pistachio crust with a rosemary and treacle jus. Simply put, it was genius. The best dishes have bold and unexpected flavour combinations and this one has them in abundance. If you do visit Rosso I’d highly recommend that you order it.
To go with our food we had a Primitivo Dolinci from the organic red wine selection, a nice addition to the wine menu. It had an excellent nose and a subtle, fruity taste that was not too dry. I’m not normally a red wine drinker but I found it to be quite pleasant and a good match for our food.
Finally, my colleague had a gooseberry cheesecake that was a little bland, if technically well made. It was a good cheesecake, it just wasn’t a very good gooseberry cheesecake.
I had a chocolate tower made with valrhona chocolate (a particular favourite of mine) and layers of assorted raspberry accompaniments. Dark chocolate and raspberry is a classic combination and one that never fails to please me. I thought I was full before this dessert arrived but all notion of that disappeared after my first bite. Thank God for that extra pudding stomach we are all born with.
As I’m sure you’ve gathered by now, I highly recommend Rosso. I think my colleague summed it up best when he said “It’s the sort of place I’d propose in”. If you’re looking for a restaurant for a special occasion or to really impress someone then Rosso is ideal.
It is no secret that the bees are dying because of pesticide abuse and that all of the toxic chemicals they put in our toothpaste and make up are affecting our health. The madness of the world is that if we don’t want nasty pesticides on our fruit and veg then we have to pay more for the organic stuff.
This is why we have a new favourite app: Think Dirty. This is what they say:
Think Dirty® app is the easiest way to learn about the potentially toxic ingredients in your cosmetics and personal care products. It’s an independent source that allows you to compare products as you shop. Just scan the product barcode and Think Dirty will give you easy-to-understand info on the product, its ingredients, and cleaner options.
This is a free app that will let you know if your products contain potentially toxic chemicals like BHA / BHT, PEGs, formaldehyde releasing agents, siloxanes, sulfates, petrochemicals, parabens, phthalates, fragrance/parfum and non-biodegradable ingredients
We love it and think that you will too. Get the free app on iTunes here.
Band/Artist: aCr
Location: Houston, TX
Styles: Post-Future Rock
Similar to/RIYL: Queens of the Stone Age, Russian Circles, Red Sparowes, Fugazi,
CD: Ghost Note Manifest
Members/Instruments: aCr – everything. Drums on The Mechanical Motion of Dying Stars: Ryan Jimenez; Drums on “Turnstile Intervention”: Jason Sherman.
Tracklisting: The Mechanical Motion of Dying Stars, Turnstile Intervention, 1st Assumptions vs. 2nd Doubts
Bio: Ghost Note Manifest is the first solo effort from Alvaro Che Rodriguez (aCr), guitarist/vocalist of Liquid Casing. GNM isn’t about laying out one’s inner soul for everyone to see, but only represents a snapshot in time while trying to decipher one’s own riddle.
The three song set was written, produced, and performed by aCr with some help from Ryan Jimenez and Jason Sherman on drums.
Exciting news: The UK’s most prestigious blogger awards are back to celebrate the very best talented industry professionals and individual bloggers from the lifestyle industry. What are you waiting for? Enter from Monday 1 September 2014.
Entries for the National UK Blog Awards will open on Monday 1 September 2014 and provide a unique opportunity for bloggers from the lifestyle industry to be recognised nationwide.
The first ever National UK Blog Awards took place in April and achieved huge success with over 900 bloggers entering the awards and 16,000 members of the public voting to determine which blogs deserved a finalist spot
Alongside the category for the lifestyle industry, bloggers will have the chance to enter into 13 other categories including automotive, education, health and events, whilst members of the public can also nominate their favourite individual or company blogger.
Gemma Pears, director of the National UK Blog Awards, said: “The UK Blog Awards provide a unique opportunity to be acknowledged and recognised as a true knowledge provider within your industry.
“Blogging is growing increasingly important in the UK; it’s a great way to position yourself as an expert in your field to build your credibility, as well as being able to showcase your knowledge whether you’re blogging as an industry professional or simply because you love to write.
“Awards are a hugely powerful marketing tool. They give you and your business immediate credibility and set you apart from the industry norm.
“Whether your blog is your business, a hobby or it’s part of your daily working tasks, a good blog can really help develop your client’s trust and helps close the gap between the ‘you’ and ‘ them’.”
You can enter your own blog or nominate a blog at www.blogawards.co.uk from Monday 1 September 2014, with entries closing on Friday 31 October.
The UK Blog Awards are on the look-out for expert judges from the lifestyle industry to help decide which bloggers will be announced as finalists prior to the awards evening in April 2015.
Robin Williams’ death left a world in mourning like no other celebrity before him. The laughter and joy he brought to people in childhood and beyond made him an international treasure.
One of the most touching tributes I saw was from Norm MacDonald, I am not embarrassed to say that it even made me cry. Rest in peace to Robin Williams, who will be sorely missed. Here is Norm’s amazing tribute. Let us know what you think.
Norm MacDonald
It was my first stand-up appearance on Letterman and I had to follow the funniest man in the world. #RIPRobinWilliams — Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
I was a punk kid from rural Ontario and I was in my dressing room, terrified. #RIPRobinWilliams — Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
I was on the phone to a friend back home when the funniest man in the world ambled by. #RIPRobinWilliams — Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
There was no one else on the floor. In shock, I told my friend who just walked by. Only the funniest man in the world. #RIPRobinWilliams — Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
I guess he heard me say his name, cause in an instant he was at my side. #RIPRobinWilliams — Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
He was a jewish tailor, taking my measurements. He went down on his knees, asked which way I dressed. #RIPRobinWilliams — Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
I told my friend on the phone that the funniest man in the world was on his knees before me, measuring my inseam. #RIPRobinWilliams — Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
My friend didn’t believe me so I said, “Could you talk to my friend, sir. #RIPRobinWilliams — Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
The funniest man in the world took the phone and for ten minutes took my friend’s chinese food order. #RIPRobinWilliams — Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
I laughed and laughed and it was like I was in a dream because no one else was there. No one. #RIPRobinWilliams — Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
The place was out of Moo Shoo Pork, and there was nothing he could do about it. #RIPRobinWilliams — Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
He angrily hung up on my friend and I was about to thank him when he said I hadn’t even tried the jacket on. #RIPRobinWilliams — Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
Then the funniest man on earth dressed me, a complete stranger, and i remember he ended with a windsor knot. #RIPRobinWilliams — Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
He spoke mostly yiddish, but when he finished he was happy with his job and turned me to a mirror to present myself to me.#RIPRobinWilliams — Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
No one witnessed any of this. No one. #RIPRobinWilliams — Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
The funniest man alive was in my dressing room a good half-hour and was far funnier than the set I had to do soon.#RIPRobinWilliams — Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
ll of a sudden it was, had to. #RIPRobinWilliams — Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
When he left my dressing room, I felt alone. As alone as I ever remember feeling. #RIPRobinWilliams — Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
Until today. #RIPRobinWilliams — Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
Unacceptable. #RIPRobinWilliams — Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
Samaritans is available round-the-clock on 08457 90 90 90 or email: jo@samaritans.org