Tag Archives: Catherine Balavage

JACOB’S CREEK AND BBC SATURDAY KITCHEN WINE EXPERTS BRING A LITTLE SPARKLE TO CHRISTMAS

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Leading Australian wine brand and award-winning wine duo demystify bubbles ahead of the festive period

Can’t spot a Prosecco from a Cava; don’t know a Brut from a Demi-Sec? Well fear not because BBC Saturday Kitchen wine experts, Peter Richards and Susie Barrie, have joined forces with the UK’s best-selling sparkling wine brand1, Jacob’s Creek, to produce the ultimate guide to fizz, ‘A Taste of Sparkling’, just in time for those Christmas celebrations.

This eye- and ear-friendly vodcast objectively guides you through the sometimes confusing world of sparkling wine. Taking in everything from Asti to Champagne, it helps you make sense of sparkling wine; from how to open the bottle correctly, to when to serve different sparkling wines, and with what.

We enjoy more sparkling wine at Christmas than at any other time of the year, so when better to make sense of the world of fizz and impress your family and friends? Peter and Susie run the Winchester Wine School and, like Jacob’s Creek, their mission is to help you get the most out of your fizz whatever the occasion.The vodcast is a simple way to bolster your wine knowledge with small interesting snippets that capture the imagination. Did you know, for example, that due to the number of bubbles in a bottle of Champagne, the pressure inside the bottle is the same as that in the wheel of a double decker bus? No? Then this vodcast is for you.

http://db.tt/Pnaf9DO Jacob’s creek podcast.

As Susie says, “For many of us, shopping for wine is a complicated and intimidating experience, with most decisions based on price and familiarity. Like us, Jacob’s Creek wants to help people expand their horizons and discover new wines and tastes that they may not have tried before”.

Visit www.jacobscreek.co.uk/united-kingdom/news/a-taste-of-sparkling to start your sparkling wine adventure.

WILLIAM AND KATE ROYAL WEDDING SET TO BE MORE POPULAR THAN CHARLES AND DIANA’S.

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National Express brings in extra staff to cope as half price Royal Wedding coach tickets go on sale.

Coach operator National Express is preparing for a huge surge in bookings of coach tickets to London following the announcement that Prince William and Kate Middleton are to marry on 29 April 2011, and are already booking out extra vehicles to meet demand.

The company is slashing 50% off the price of its advance tickets travelling to London from anywhere in the UK for travel between 27 April and 1 May 2011 and bookings are now being taken. National Express has already had hundreds of enquiries since the wedding date was announced, from travellers wanting to book tickets to get to London to enjoy the atmosphere and excitement of the royal wedding. They have had enquiries from as far a field as Mexico and has brought in extra staff to man phones and process ticket sales.

The move will be the biggest peak time fare reduction ever offered by National Express and MD Andrew Cleaves predicts it will be the company’s busiest ever period. Andrew comments: “For Charles and Diana’s wedding in 1981 we transported over 8,000 people to the capital for the occasion but we expect to far exceed those numbers this time. The Easter Holiday is one of our busiest times of the year anyway and with the extra Bank Holiday more people than ever will making the most of the break.

“We have never cut our prices by this much before for a major event but it is such a significant national celebration, we want to help as many people get there as we can. We recently transported over 50,000 from around the country to Birmingham for the Pope’s recent visit and we expect this will be the next busiest event in the country.”

National Express experience an average 100% increase in coach ticket sales to London for major Royal events and sales can be up to 300% higher than average from key royal fan base locations such as Cheltenham and Cornwall.

While Kate will be arriving at the Abbey in her own royal coach, National Express coaches also cover a number of ‘regal’ locations around the UK including Royal Leamington Spa, Caernarfon, Queens Parade in Bloxwich, Princes Rd bus station in Wells, Kings Head in Chacewater and Royal Well Bus Station in Cheltenham.

The coaches carrying visitors to London for the festivities will arrive at Victoria coach station, which is on the royal wedding route and just a short walk to Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey.

National Express (and its former companies) has been carrying people right into the heart of London by coach to enable them to celebrate every single Royal event that has taken place over the past 80 years including the Coronation, the Abdication, the Silver Jubilee, all the Royal Weddings, Trooping the Colour, Royal birthdays and Royal funerals.

National Express provide Britain’s only scheduled national coach network, serving more than 1,000 destinations with 19 million passenger journeys each year across the UK. National Express provide Britain’s only scheduled national coach network, serving more than 1,000 destinations with 18 million passenger journeys each year across the UK.

The discount is available in all National Express ticket outlets – at the National Express call centre (+44 (0) 8717 81 81 78) nationalexpress.com, over the counter at all National Express coach stations and nearly 1000 other ticket agents across the UK.

Damien Hirst donates picture for The Warrior Programme Annual Fundraising Dinner. {Art}

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Celebrity support aids the fundraising efforts of the Warrior Programme, the charity dedicated to helping serving and ex-service men and women who have been affected by the psychological trauma of war. Damien Hirst has donated a unique proof print ‘Big Love with Diamond Dust’ to help fund the programme which has helped over 400 people get their lives back on track, since the charity launched in 2007.

Other celebrity support at the dinner includes John Boorman, Film Director and his children Charley Boorman and Katrine Boorman, John Illsley of Dire Straits,and Jeanne Marine, Bob Geldof’s partner, who will sing at the Gala Dinner tomorrow, Tuesday 30th November at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea. Damien Hirst’s wife Maia Norman and his mother will be at the event. Both Jeanne and Bob attended the Gala Dinner in 2009, with other celebrities, which raised £75,000 towards The Warrior Programme’s goal of £1m before 2012. The Prince of Wales has written the Foreword to the event programme.

“Before Warrior I had two choices: one was to live; the other one to die. Now I have a hundred choices.”

Tom, Warrior Programme participant.

Picture credit:
Photographed by Prudence Cuming Associates

© Damien Hirst. All rights reserved, DACS 2010

Shop the sales in comfort. {Fashion}

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SAVE YOUR SOLES DURING THE JANUARY SALES WITH REDFOOT’S FOLDABLE PUMPS

As the Boxing Day sales loom on the horizon women everywhere are preparing themselves for the ultimate battle – with limited sizes and half off deals the sales are a true test of every woman’s strength, stamina and determination and it’s dangerous to go in unarmed.

Step in Redfoot – the comfy foldable pump with patented split sole technology start from £29.99 – simply pop the pumps into your bag next to your energy drink and power snacks and head out to your nearest shopping centre with confidence.

Redfoot pumps mean that – when you are hit with that familiar shoppers ache – you simply pop on your pumps and keep on shopping; bagging the best bargains and looking stylish while you do it.

Redfoot foldable pumps – never leave a bargain behind!

http://www.redfootshoes.com

The Last Minute Gift That Rocks! {Christmas gift ideas}

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Still not finished your Christmas shopping? Still got that difficult person to buy for and you have no idea what to get them? Don’t despair, with only 3 days until Santa officially arrives Hotel Voucher Shop has a gift that everyone will love and what’s more it can be bought online as late as Christmas day itself and delivered as an e-gift with a personalised message! Now that is last minute!

The Hotel Voucher Shop experience gift cards are the ideal present, no matter what the occasion, guaranteeing your loved ones an experience they’ll enjoy, after all who doesn’t love a good break?

The gift cards can be used to book over 70,000 hotels in over 5,000 destinations worldwide, including over 1,000 major hotel groups. The vouchers come in denominations of ten starting with a value of £10 ranging up to £1,000 and can be used as either part or full payment of a hotel break with any remaining balance stored for future use.

The Hotel Voucher Shop gifts come in three different ways, paper, plastic or virtual. Purchase paper and e-vouchers online at www.hotelvouchershop.com. Paper vouchers are posted, presented in an attractive wallet and personalised with your own unique message while e-vouchers are emailed instantly (especially handy when you need to send a present pronto or if you are buying for someone on the other side of the world!) The plastic gift cards can be purchased from top high street retailers including WH Smiths, Sainsbury’s and Superquinn.

Hotel Voucher Shop would be happy to offer your readers a 15% discount to celebrate the festive season!

*All Hotel Vouchers are non-refundable and are valid for 12 months from purchase.
For further information about the Hotel Voucher Shop visit www.hotelvouchershop.com

Bob Martin joins forces with vet Mark Binns deliver Christmas message.

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People are advised to consider pet ownership carefully before making a commitment

Pet care specialists Bob Martin has teamed up with local veterinary surgeon Mark Binns to remind people that pet ownership is a commitment not to be taken lightly this Christmas.

With the recession biting hard and at a time when every penny counts, pet rescue centres are reported to be full to capacity.

In the run up to the Christmas period, Bob Martin, has worked with Mark to develop some top tips for people considering buying a pet over the festive season, and give pointers to take into consideration.

The advice that Mark shares with people on Bob Martin’s website has been created to offer guidance and support to those thinking of buying a pet and covers topics like feeding, worming and flea care.

Here are just some of Mark’s top tips:

· Make sure your pet doesn’t bring fleas into your home. Ideally get them treated before you get them home with an appropriate product.

· Groom your puppy or kitten from an early age to get them used to the feel of the brush

· If you have a dog, get it microchipped or as a minimum, get a tag that has your name and phone number as a contact before they start going out.

· Make sure your pet always has access to fresh water.

· Before buying your pet, consider whether your lifestyle fits in with your pet’s needs.

Mark says: “The Dog’s Trust’s strap line ‘a dog is for life, not just for Christmas’, coined back in 1970, is as relevant today as it was forty years ago. Although there is a lot to consider when buying a pet, providing that you can provide it with the care it needs, a pet can enrich your life and have a great and positive influence on your lifestyle.”

For more top tips and to read Mark’s blog, visit www.bobmartin.co.uk.

Valencia call to football fans to action with ‘My Champions League Moment’

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Tour Spain and the Valencia City, Province and Regional Tourist Boards are calling out to all British football fans to relive and share via Facebook their favourite Champions League moment, and stand the chance to win tickets to the Valencia CF v Schalke 04 match on the 15 February 2011.

‘My Champions League Moment’ would like to see football banter put in to action … instead of just talking about what was the best Champions League moment, show it.

Fans must upload a photo of themselves re-enacting what they consider to be a stroke of Champions League football genius or share their own treasured photo from a Champions League match to http://www.facebook.com/My.Champions.League.

From watching Liverpool triumph against AC Milan after being 3-0 down, to the heart-stopping two goals Manchester United scored in the last few minutes against Bayern Munich, or John Terry’s penalty miss that gave Manchester United the title – there are many ‘Champions League moments’ to choose from.

Entries must be uploaded and votes cast by the 23 January 2011. The photo with the most ‘likes’ will win this unique competition

The successful fan will win flights and accommodation for two people and the chance for two tickets to the match between Valencia C.F. vs. Schalke, on the 15 February at 20.45 at Valencia’s historic Mestalla Stadium

David Gomez from Tourism Valencia said ‘This season has already shown some fantastic football but held few surprises, and we want fans to show us what really makes the ‘beautiful game’ and what we have to look forward to for the rest of the season.”

‘My Champions League Moment’ is supported by Valencia CF, Valencia Tourism, Valencia Regional Tourist Office, Valencia Province Tourist Office and Tour Spain.

Champagne fizz with friends this Christmas. {Food & Drink}

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Christmas is the perfect excuse to open a bottle of Champagne and celebrate the year in style with loved ones. The Champagne Information Bureau has compiled a list of top tips and dispelled some myths on how to serve and enjoy the ultimate luxurious drink this festive season:

Quantity – a bottle of Champagne serves about seven Champagne flutes. When served as an aperitif, allow one bottle for every three or four guests, but at a meal, serve one bottle for every two or three.

Temperature – Champagne takes around three hours to chill in the fridge. For a quicker result, place the bottle in a bucket filled with equal parts ice and water. This takes about thirty minutes. Never put Champagne bottles in the freezer as it will dumb down the aroma and flavours.

Open – Be brave! Slant the bottle at a 45 degree angle away from guests. Untwist (exactly six half turns) and remove the wire muzzle. Grasp the cork firmly with thumb and forefinger and twist the bottle slowly letting the pressure help to push the cork out. It should sigh rather than pop.

Serve – Champagne is best served in a tulip-shaped glass or a flute. Do not serve in a saucer-shaped glass as the aroma and bubbles will disperse. Serve by holding the glass upright. Pour a small quantity of Champagne in the glass and allow it to settle before filling two-thirds full.

Enjoy – hold the glass by the stem or even better at the base to avoid warming the drink. Between glasses, store the opened bottle of Champagne in an ice bucket for no more than three hours. Contrary to popular belief, a silver spoon placed in the neck of an open bottle does not prevent the Champagne going flat.

Store – keep un-opened Champagne horizontally in a cool, dark place away from heat, light and severe temperature variations.

Francoise Peretti, Director of the Champagne Information Bureau, says:

“Don’t be Champagne shy this Christmas! Make sure you look around for different styles and brands – there is a wide diversity of Champagne which will suit your occasion. Year-end celebrations are a great time to experiment and explore.”