Tag Archives: Relationships

Traditional Roles Changing For Men.

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Father’s day has been and gone but one thing is becoming clear: the times there are a changin’.
Online marketplace notonthehighstreet.com reveals the evolution of ‘Dad’ with nationwide survey.

A survey of over 1,000 respondents has found that modern day fathers are more likely to be seen in the kitchen preparing the evening meal, or with a duster and hoover sprucing up the house, in comparison to the ‘traditional’ idea of fathers whose primary role was seen to be working and other stereotypical male roles. The nationwide survey showing that while 77% of respondents recall the traditional primary role of the father from their own childhoods to be concerned with earning the keep, 70% now view the modern day father’s primary role to be cooking.

Further results from the survey showed the following:

* When growing up, respondents remember their father’s taking on roles such as working, painting and decorating, DIY, gardening and taking the bins out.
* When asked which roles the modern day father is known for, the top three primary roles were cooking (70%), shopping (61%) and cleaning (58%)
* Results showed that modern day fathers are 48% less likely to discipline their children in comparison to the generation of fathers before them.
* Results also found that the modern day father is much more likely to take an active, fun parental role with their children. It was found that fathers are now 49% more likely to spend time playing with their children and 48% more likely to take their children to school.

Bit of Spice on the Side – Emma Bunton is spitting image of ‘typical cheater’

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New research indicates that we should be able to spot cheating spouses at first glance: they look completely different from the average Brit.

The UK’s largest extra-marital dating website Illicit Encounters reveals that the average female cheat is 5ft 3”, aged 37, has a dress size 10-12 with blonde hair and blue eyes: visually very similar to ex-Spice Girl Emma Bunton. The site, which has over 670,000 members and represents 3% of Britain’s married population, carried out an extensive survey with over 5,000 of its female members.

The average woman in the UK however, looks similar to TV presenter Kirstie Allsop. Physically, the average British lady is taller at 5ft 5”, older at 40 years old, is a larger dress size of 14-16 and has black hair with brown eyes*.

Additional research shows that the average British woman earns £22,151 per year, works as a secretary or administrative assistant and drives a Chevrolet Matiz. The average British female cheater however earns much more – £37,000 per year – works in Heathcare, and drives a BMW.

Spokesperson for the site, Rosie Freeman-Jones said:

“I’m not surprised that women on the site tend to be more successful than the average female Brit. These women know what they want and are seizing life by the horns – and it’s these type of women that tend to excel across the board.”

“This data might indeed prove the saying that ‘blondes have more fun’.”

Women have a huge presence on the dating site. Each active male on the site is outnumbered by 3 active females. Additionally the site has seen a 20% increase in women signing up to the site over the last 3 years.

Myleene Klass’s Husband Leaves her on her Birthday.

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The Presenter is ‘devastated’ after her husband walked out on her on her 34th birthday, leaving her and her two children alone.

The couple have been together for 11 years and married for 6 months. The couple had been engaged for five years. The couple met when Graham was Myleene’s bodyguard when she was in pop group Hear’Say.

According to The Sun, Graham dumped Klass on April 6 this year – her 34th birthday. “Myleene had no idea that Graham was going to leave her.

“They only got married a few months ago and she thought everything between them was great. It came as a massive shock to Myleene and she’s heartbroken.”

Her friends are angry with him, especially as she has been left holding the babies. It’s an awful situation.”

Mother's Day Ideas

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It is mothering Sunday on the 18th and Frost has sourced some gift ideas and treats for the special women in your life.

This Mother’s Day, treat your mum to exclusive and stylish gifts from Isabella Oliver 365. Select from luxurious and timeless pieces such as the Everyday Scarf, the Essential Skinny Belt or the Leopard Skinny Belt, perfect for any chic mum’s wardrobe. Spoil your mum this Mother’s Day and treat her
to a gift that she will always love. To view the collections visit IsabellaOliver.com . I love all of the collection, it is just effortlessly stylish.

FROM INDIA WITH LOVE ON MOTHER’S DAY

Mother’s Day is celebrated the world over, and this year British Airways will be flying in a special selection of Mother’s Day cards made with love from the Sreepuer village in Bangladesh.

The beautifully handcrafted cards have a deeper meaning than the words on the cover – as all profits are returned to Sreepur Village, a home for destitute women and children in rural Bangladesh.

Rob Jenkinson, who distributes Sreepur cards in the UK, said: “This Mother’s Day you can make two Mum’s happy as well as making a world of difference to the women of Sreepur. They do an incredible job to create these cards all year round, while bringing up their families below the poverty line. Every single penny makes a difference and goes straight back to the project.”

British Airways has supported the Sreepur project since it was established, helping with vital distribution flying a range of greetings cards into the UK, as well as retailing them internally in their Head Office.

The cards are made from jute, also known as Hessian, which grows in abundance in the area around Sreepur, helped by the ideal wet and warm conditions of the monsoon area. The cards are decorated with a combination of wheat straw and paper, with the finished product made from locally sourced natural products to a high standard.

Mary Barry, British Airways community relations manager said: “We’re so proud to be part of this project. I have seen first hand how the village has been transformed, thanks to the generosity of all the people who buy these cards and I would like to thank them for their contribution.”
There’s still time to buy a card before Mother’s Day on Sunday 18 March, please visit – www.thesreepurvillage.org

If you really cannot think of what to get her, try a gift card.

As demands of the modern day can make it increasingly difficult to dedicate time to the family, we need to make that extra effort to show our appreciation on important dates such as Mother’s Day. ‘Children’, both young and old, should be thinking of ways to thank their mums for those long years of suffering, even if they are not able to spend the day with them. To help with this, the UK Gift Card & Voucher Association (UK GCVA) has surveyed 100 modern day mums and found out what they would really appreciate this Mother’s Day. The top results included:

1. A day out with all the family;

2. To be excused from cooking and cleaning over the Mother’s Day weekend;

3. For a beauty or pampering session;

4. Peace and quiet for the whole 24 hours of Mother’s Day;

5. A voucher for her favourite clothing or make-up brand

The top entry of ‘a day out with all the family’ will not come as a surprise to many, however meeting this request by getting everyone together may be difficult for some families.

Andrew Johnson, director-general of the UK GCVA suggests using gift cards and vouchers to compensate for not being with your mum on Mother’s Day:

“An experience voucher (such as for a family day out at the zoo or a weekend away) is a great way for the whole family to enjoy a fun day out together, and mum can make the most of some quality time with the kids. A bonus of these gifts is that they can be redeemed at any time meaning that, if you’re unable to see your mum on Mother’s Day, the gift can be enjoyed at a later date.

Similarly, if you’re not able to spend the day with her, and she wants peace and quiet, why not send your mum away for a spa day by herself so she can unwind. There is a large selection of gift cards on offer that your mum can choose from for a spa retreat.”

Johnson continues:

“As mums are not generally that demanding of their children, many of you will need to think ‘outside the box’ for ideas to show your true appreciation on Mother’s Day. Gift cards and vouchers are an easy and effective way of doing this. To make up for not being around on the day, a further idea may be to give your mum a voucher for her favourite clothing store so she can treat herself.”

There are so many options available to show our mothers how grateful we are to them and all it takes is a little imagination to ensure that mum has a smile on her face on 18th March.

Love Your Mum with New Zealand Lamb

This Mother’s Day, let Mum put her feet up, and cook a meal that comes straight from the heart. This simple roast recipe is easy enough even for kitchen novices to try their hand at, perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon with the family. For those who are looking for further inspiration, check out www.loveourlamb.co.uk to see New Zealand chef Peter Gordon teaching England rugby star Will Greenwood how to make this meal – live from 1st March 2012. You can view the video on Frost Magazine


Serves: 4-6

Preparation Time: 20 mins

Cooking Time: 2h 20


1 x 2 – 2.5kg leg of lamb

1 large red onion, peeled and chopped

4 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped (optional)

The leaves from 2 x 10cm stalks of rosemary

2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)

2 tablespoons olive oil

4 medium parsnips peeled, topped and tailed, cut into chunks

1 bunch baby carrots, scrubbed

800g mashing potatoes, peeled and cut in half

100ml double cream

60g butter

1 medium head broccoli, cut into large florets

150g frozen peas

A small handful mint leaves, torn

1½ tablespoons flour

Preheat the oven to 180?C. Place the lamb in a roasting dish and poke a thin, small knife into it in about 20 places. In a bowl, mix the onion, garlic, rosemary, thyme and olive oil with some salt and pepper and rub this all over the lamb. Leave for 20 minutes, then rub it in again and place in the centre of the oven and roast for an hour.

Turn the lamb over and add the parsnips to the roasting dish along with half a tea cup of hot water. Roast for 45 minutes, basting the lamb with the pan juices a couple of times. Turn the lamb over again and add the baby carrots. It will be cooked medium (which is lovely for a leg of lamb) in another 20-40 minutes.

Boil the potatoes in lightly salted water.

Remove the lamb from the roasting dish and place in a dish loosely covered with foil. Rest in a warm place for 20 minutes.

Drain the potatoes into a colander. Using the pot they were cooked in, bring the cream and all but 1 tablespoon of the butter to the boil. Return the potatoes to the pot and mash them with salt and pepper. Keep a lid on the pot to keep it warm.

Bring another pot of lightly salted water to the boil and add the broccoli. Bring back to the boil and add the peas. Bring back to the boil and cook for 2 minutes. Drain, reserving the liquid, then toss with the reserved butter and mint and keep warm.

If you can place the vegetable roasting dish on the hob, then remove the vegetables. If not, pour the roasting juices into a saucepan. Place over a moderate heat, add the flour and stir to make a paste, then slowly add the juices from the leg of lamb and as much liquid from the vegetables as possible to make gravy. Taste for seasoning.

To serve: simply carve the lamb and arrange on warmed plates with vegetables, mash and gravy.


It’s the thought that counts Now for some stats and facts!

Standard Life’s ‘Your Commitments, Your Future’ report reveals the nation’s true time and money spent on their parents – a clue to what mums might have in store this Mother’s Day.

Treating your parents:

* Adults in the UK spend just £13 a month on average on their parents, that’s just over £150 a year
* In comparison, parents in the UK are spend over three times as much, £456 a year on average, spoiling their children

Thinking about parents:

* Adults in the UK spend on average nearly half an hour (27 minutes) each day thinking about their parents
* However, women think about their parents significantly more than men, with women devoting 10 minutes more each day – that’s nearly 70 hours more each year!
* Women aged 18-24 spend almost three quarters of an hour (44 minutes) each day thinking about their parents, the most of any age group
* In comparison, men in the same age group devote half the time to their parents, just 22 minutes each day
* On the other hand, parents in the UK on average spend 41 minutes a day thinking about their children, with women aged 45-54 devoting almost an hour a day (58 minutes)

Who/what else do we spend time thinking about?

· Partner/Spouse – 50 minutes a day on average

· Work colleagues – 18 minutes a day on average

· Credit card payments – 11 minutes a day on average

· Investments – 6 minutes a day on average

· Current accounts – almost 4 minutes a day on average

· Pensions – 3 minutes a day on average

Julie Russell, Personal Finance Expert at Standard Life, said:

“We spend a lot of time thinking about our families and like to treat the people we love. So it’s worth remembering that planning our future finances can play a key role in our relationships with our loved ones. Whether we’re spoiling our mums with a well-deserved treat this Mother’s Day or planning a fun family break this summer, budgeting and looking ahead is essential. And with the end of the tax year looming, it’s a great time for us all to sit down with our families and think about how we can improve our finances to help us enjoy our family life even more.”

To help people better understand their financial and emotional commitments, Standard Life has published knowyourcommitments.co.uk with an interactive tool and thoughts on financially preparing for the future. Further help with financial planning is also available at yourfuturemoney.co.uk

Now for something a bit different, but an excellent idea.

Newcastle-based Shared Interest is an ethical investment co-operative that aims to reduce poverty in the world by providing fair and just financial services. The Society, which was started in 1990, is the world’s only 100% fair trade lender. Shared Interest accepts investments from UK based individuals as well as from businesses, schools, community and faith groups. Account values range
from £100-£20,000. All invested funds are then pooled and used to make low interest loans to fair trade businesses in the developing world. With the support of over 8,000 members the organisation
was able to lend £40 million over the last 12 months. The organisation has expanded its international
presence in the past three years opening offices in Kenya, Peru and Costa Rica. This regional presence
– and the vital local knowledge that the staff are equipped with – means that they are able to help
even the most remote communities by enabling them to access the credit needed to take goods to market.

www.shared-interest.com

Get Your Flirt On.

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Office Attraction
Get your office flirt on…

According to new research revealed today, the office is the best environment to flirt in. Bars may be geared up for romance to flourish but the British public prefer to attract the opposite sex over the photocopier rather than over a drink.

Echoing the relationship of Dawn and Tim in The Office, the report, commissioned by Lynx, to mark the launch of Attract ‘For Him’ and ‘For Her’ fragrance, has found 37 percent of Brits use the work place to flirt compared with only 25 percent giving off amorous signals in bars and clubs.

Surprisingly usually reserved Brits were comfortable scouting for love in the supermarket, on the street or even public transport. It seems that attraction can strike us anywhere and the public are more than happy to act on it.

Top 5 Flirting Hotspots

Work – 37%
Bar or Club – 25%
Supermarket – 10%
On the Street – 8%
Public Transport – 4%

Flirting has become a weapon of love throughout the UK with men doing it 348 times a year and women making eyes at the opposite sex on 182 occasions.

Northerners have come out on top as the biggest culprits with 46 percent of people from Northern Ireland admitting to flirting at work, closely followed by North Easterners (45%) and Scots (42%).

On the opposite side of the scale, Londoners are more reserved in the work place (22%) and the majority choose to get amorous in night clubs (38%).

Kieran Danaher, Lynx Brand Manager at Unilever UK, said: “Men and women find it easier to flirt at work as they can read each other’s body language and interact closely with each other. Unlike bars and clubs the office allows us to use all our senses in order to attract the object of our affection. We can clearly see, hear and smell each other in the office”.

The Lynx report found that Brits adventurous nature to flirting in everyday environments extends to their attitude to getting intimate with each other. When the flirting works out and peoples attraction starts heating up Brits our comfortable going alfresco to get sexy.

A whopping 54 per cent have been intimate in their cars and 31 per cent have taken to the garden to take their intimacy to the next level.

The top 5 places men and women get intimate are:

The Car – 54%
The Garden – 31%
In a Club – 20%
Parents Bedroom – 17%
The Pub – 16%

Kieran Danaher, said “There seems to be an attraction epidemic in the UK. Inhibitions around flirting and public displays of affection (PDAs) have dissipated”.

New Lynx Attract For Him and For Her is available now.

BOYS BEWARE – 200,000 WOMEN ARE READY TO POP THE QUESTION!

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Over half (56%) of men who are in a relationship might say yes
A fifth of women (22%) in a relationship would consider proposing on a leap year

The ancient tradition that women can propose to ‘the one’ on the 29th February has historically led to men having sleepless nights as the date approaches. According to Opinium Research, 2012 should be no different.

This year a staggering 200,000 women are swallowing their fears and planning to take the leap! And while an inspiring number of women are gearing up to raise that all-important question, men who are not asked today should not breathe a sigh of relief quite yet. A fifth of women (22%) said they would definitely consider asking those four little words when a leap year comes around in the future.

When men were asked if they would accept their girlfriend’s proposal, only 14% said they would turn it down (believing that they themselves should pop the question), while 56% of men would consider accepting their partner’s proposal.

James Endersby, managing director of Opinium Research, commented: “Those crucial four words “Will you marry me?” are usually uttered by men but this year it seems that brave women across the country will encourage that convention to change and are wearing the trousers in their relationship instead. Hot on the heels of Valentine’s Day this opportunity only rolls around once every four years, so to all those women out there planning to pop the question – good luck!”

BRITISH WOMEN ‘SEAL THE DEAL’ WITH A LEAP IN PROPOSAL PURCHASES

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Today is the day when women propose to their boyfriends and OCADO has reported a change in deliveries this week as love-struck women prepare for more than just a traditional proposal. The online grocer has seen today’s deliveries of romantic, sometimes risqué, goods soar as British women hope to woo their men into wedded bliss.

If all goes well, it’s sure to be a night to remember, following the increase in sales of:


– Massage oil – sales up 133 per cent

– Candles – sales up 32 per cent

Proving that the way to a man’s heart is, of course, through his stomach, it seems that loved-up ladies are also hoping to bake their way to the alter…


– Pink icing – sales up 200 per cent

– Heart-shaped cookie cutters – sales up 127 per cent

– Cake sparkles – sales up 33 per cent

– Italian Red Wine – sales up 5 per cent

Ocado is making life easier for those planning proposals by celebrating with a range of special leap year offers. The emporium of food has discounted many aphrodisiacal ingredients, in addition to a selection of traditional grocery essentials, by a fitting 29 per cent. Ending today, visit www.ocado.com for further information.

90% of Brits saying being "Friends with Benefits" ruined Friendship.

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90% OF BRITONS IN THEIR EARLY TWENTIES WHO’VE HAD A ‘FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS’ RELATIONSHIP SAID IT RUINED THEIR FRIENDSHIP

The results of a recent survey, asking single people about their views on ‘friends with benefits’ relationships, have revealed that 90% of Britons in their early twenties who have had a relationship with a friend said it ended up ruining their friendship.

The poll of over 15,000 men and women was carried out by mysinglefriend in association with the DVD release of FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS (out now on Blu-ray and DVD).

Overall results show that of those UK singletons who had embarked on a relationship with a friend, 58% now think it was never a good idea as it always ends in tears. Only 1 in 20 of those surveyed think a ‘friends with benefits’ arrangement can work for men but not for women.

“It’s fascinating to find that so many people have at some point dated a friend, and in the vast majority of cases this hasn’t worked out. I’d say we’ve found that it’s best to avoid practising on your friends – most friendships won’t survive!” Said Sarah Beeney, founder of mysinglefriend.

75% of 31-40 year olds won’t admit to ever having had a relationship with a friend
Of the 38% of over 40’s who have had a ‘friends with benefits’ relationship, 73% managed to remain friends after the relationship fizzled out

Despite 90% of those in their early twenties admitting they ruined their friendships, 60% still believe the arrangement can still work in some circumstances

Only 7% of resilient 20-30 year olds ended up getting hurt by having a relationship with a friend

In FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS, Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis star as two friends who decide to add the simple act of sex to their friendship, soon discovering that getting physical really does always lead to complications…

Directed by Will Gluck and starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis, FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS, out now on Blu-ray and DVD, also boasts hilarious performances by Woody Harrelson and Emma Stone.