Summer Essentials & Holiday Essentials! For At Home or Travelling!

Strike a Paws: The Ultimate Guide to Making your Pet Instagram-Famous

www.sony.co.uk

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· Whether your pet is a seasoned star, or you’re trying to raise their profile, ensure you are camera-ready to capture your pet in perfect focus with Sony’s new Animal Eye Auto Focus technology

· Enter Sony’s latest Instagram competition to win a camera equipped with Animal Eye AF

· Sony reveals five of the top ‘petfluencers’ in the UK as the hashtags #dogsofinstagram and #catsofinstagram reach over 250M posts

· Guide includes a photography series taken by award winning animal portrait photographer Gerrard Gethings, featuring Instagram stars @dolly_pawton and @danteduke_thecat

Whether you’re a dog lover or cat crazy, social media is the go-to place to spend hours scrolling through the cutest animals the internet has to offer. In 2019, Instagram has become the ultimate destination for pet photo-sharing, but with over 250 million uses of the #dogsofinstagram and #catsofinstagram alone, it’s hard to stand out from the crowd. With Sony’s new unique Animal Eye Auto Focus technology, users can take perfectly focussed pictures of their pets meaning our furry friends can get all the likes they deserve.

To celebrate the release of its unique Animal Eye AF technology, on the α6400, α7III and α7RIII models, Sony has revealed a list of five of the most followed pets in the UK. These include a beautiful Mancunian husky, a fluffy Maltese from London and high fashion chihuahua.

Five of the most followed pets in the UK:

@milperthusky (dog) – 885k followers
@lifewithmalamutes (dog) – 383k followers
@bluestaffy (dog) – 250k followers
@lilliput.the.maltese (dog) – 180k followers
@dolly_pawton (dog) – 144k followers

They’ve also teamed up with Instagram stars Dolly Pawton (@dolly_pawton) and Dante Duke (@danteduke_thecat) to give you the ultimate how-to guide to taking perfect pics of your future Instagram-star.

From finding the right backdrops to teaching your pooch to pose, Sony brings you the ultimate guide to turning your pet into an Instagram star, with the help of professional pet photographer Gerrard Gethings and pet-influencers Dolly Pawton and Dante the Cat.

Gerrard Gethings, Animal Portrait Photographer, said: ‘Photographing animals is very different to photographing humans. You have to create an environment where you control as many elements as possible. It should be calm and quiet. The trick then is to capture the animal’s attention and keep it for long enough to get the shot you need.’

‘When the frame is set up, you often have only a split second to get the shot, so the right camera is important. We took all today’s photographs with Sony cameras, using their Animal Eye Auto Focus technology. Focus is everything, and this feature tells the camera to automatically track the animal’s eyes, keeping them in super sharp focus, allowing me to concentrate on getting the perfect picture.’

Stella & Lucy (Dolly Pawton’s Mums) said: ‘A top tip is to get to know the pose that your pet enjoys doing. When Dolly was younger, we noticed she loved to prop herself on the table, so that become her signature pose. When taking shots, we incorporate her favourite squeaky toy (a little white dumpling) that she’s had for years. She’ll look at that no matter what else is going on – we don’t know what we would do if we lost it.

‘If you’re getting a few shots, keeping their interest is key. We get really creative with this and sometimes end up making a huge range of sounds to keep Dolly’s attention – often getting odd looks from passer’s by. Finally, Dolly always get rewarded with her favourite treats.’

Karen Duque, mother of Dante the Cat said: ‘With cats, it’s all about making them feel comfortable. Dante is a very relaxed boy, but whenever we set up a shot with him, we take the time to make sure he is familiar with his surroundings. He will walk around, rub himself on the props and sniff things – then he’s ready for his close-up!’

Stella & Lucy (Dolly Pawton’s Mums) have also provided a run down of the key things to think about when trying to make your pet Insta-Famous:

Embrace their unique personality

Cute, sassy, goofy, adventurous; our pets each have their own individual character. We all know how special they are, so flaunt what makes them stand apart and tell their story. Dolly has an eye for fashion and she’s passionate about activism – everything she posts ties back to that.

Outfits

Create a distinctive look that stands out. Whether that’s elaborate clothing, stylish accessories or themed content for the Holidays (pumpkin and Santa hats at the ready), who doesn’t love a good costume change? On the other hand, if that isn’t your pet’s style – be true to them. It’s all about being authentic.

Set the scene

With Instagram being a visual social platform, its key to create an image that catches the eye and creates that thumb stopping content. Props, backdrops, good lighting and perfect focus are essential to embrace and build on your pet’s character and create engaging imagery.

Whether that’s brunch at a cafe, having a ‘sip’ at the bar, walks on the coast, or snuggled up on the sofa at home; choose a variety of backdrops that bring something new, yet are compatible with their personality.

Strike a pose

Choose the best angles that show off your pet’s personality and any distinctive physical features. The more you work with your pet, the more you will get to know their strongest look, whether that’s a powerful stance which oozes confidence or belly rubs to show off their playful side. Treats will definitely be your friend here!

Focus on Quality

Use the best equipment to capture sharp imagery that highlights every inch of your pet’s shining persona and appearance. The new Animal Eye AF function on Sony cameras will help you take the ultimate pictures of your pets, accentuating the finer details and bringing them to life on screen. They say that eyes are the ‘windows to the soul’, and this latest Sony update will enable you to achieve stunning, precise, crisp images of those ‘puppy dog eyes’ that will be sure to stop scrolling thumbs.

Caption Copy

Captions can further help bring your pet’s personality and narrative to life, giving their followers an insight into their thoughts. Witty, funny and sarcastic tones work well, depending on their nature of course. Incorporate trending hashtags into your posts to ensure they get the exposure they deserve.

Be consistent

Maintain the same tone and voice throughout with both your imagery and text to create a strong identity that people can clearly recognise. Also, be consistent with how often you post, giving your fans frequent updates to keep your audience’s attention.

Pierrick Masson, Interchangeable Lens Camera Product Manager Sony Europe said: ‘As more and more people are photographing their pets and sharing them with their followers on social media, it’s more important than ever that cameras are able to take strong, detailed shots of them. The new Sony Animal Eye AF technology on the α6400, α7III and α7RIII cameras allow you to focus your attention on your pet’s reactions and picture framing while the camera will do the rest for you. All you need to now is set up a winning shot.”

Sony want to see your pet portraits. If you are a Sony Alpha owner, get a chance to win a Sony α7RIII mirrorless camera by entering their Instagram Animal portrait competition. You have until 19th July 2019 to enter, find out more information at: s-digitalimaging.com/ILC-animal/en/

 

 

 

 

Win 2 x VIP to Robbie’s Rugby Festival with including complimentary tickets to the festival’s official after party, Party On The Pitch (worth £50) and a meet and greet with former England player and Leicester Tigers legend, Tom Youngs!

To enter send an email with the subject “Robbie’s Rugby Festival” to enter@intouchrugby.com and you will be entered to the draw which is happening this weekend!

Ben & Tom Youngs Appointed as Event Ambassadors for the 2019 Festival

The Leicester Tigers and England rugby legends will give their support to the largest 10s rugby tournament in the Midlands

Saturday 27th July 2019

Following ten years of successful fund-raising, Robbie’s Rugby Festival will make a welcome return for its eleventh year on Saturday 27th July 2019. Taking over Loughborough Grammar School Playing Fields, this celebrated charity rugby tournament has already raised in excess of £81,000 for the Robbie Anderson Cancer Trust and The Jake McCarthy Foundation. The Festival is expected to once again attract great crowds who will be supporting these two deserving charities.

This year, two Leicester Tigers and England rugby legends Ben and Tom Youngs have been announced as Event Ambassadors for the 2019. The Youngs brothers said of their appointment; “We are enormously proud to be able to support Robbie’s Rugby Festival as Event Ambassadors. This very special rugby tournament raises vital funds for The Robbie Anderson Cancer Trust and The Jake McCarthy Foundation, and we hope to be able to encourage more people to raise money and help make a real difference to those suffering. Together we can help fight against cancer, a cause very close to us both”.

0n 8th May 2019, a Therapy Room for the children’s oncology ward and Teenage Cancer Trust Unit at The Leicester Royal Infirmary was opened by Tom Youngs and a number of his fellow Leicester Tigers players, funding for which was facilitated enormously by money raised from Robbie’s Rugby Festival. The new Therapy Room will be a haven where young people undergoing treatment for cancer and often enduring long stays in hospital will be able to relax, unwind, have fun and feel very special.

Founder of ADDO Events and Robbie’s Rugby Festival, Georgie Fowle said: “We have received such tremendous support from teams and fans of the tournament over the past ten years, and we feel incredibly grateful for their continued generosity. To see the funds raised by Robbie’s Rugby Festival used for the Therapy Room is testament to the legacy Robbie’s Rugby Festival has – we are all immensely proud. It is fantastic to have the support of Ben and Tom Youngs this year and we very much look forward to working with them to raise the profile of the Festival.”

Over the past decade, Robbie’s Rugby Festival has raised record breaking sums for the charities who take inspiration from Robbie Anderson and Jake McCarthy, young boys who devastatingly lost their lives to cancer. In addition to helping facilitate the new Therapy Room, support from Robbie’s Rugby Festival has allowed The Robbie Anderson Cancer Trust to purchase two vital pieces of equipment for Ward 27. This includes an ultrasound bladder scanner and cannula scanner, both helping to reduce the trauma, stress and bruising for the patient while undergoing treatment. Funds raised have also enabled The Jake McCarthy Foundation to fund the recruitment and three-year placement of a dedicated Senior Research Associate to join the pioneering team at The University of Plymouth.

Whilst it is incredible to see the tangible results of Robbie’s Rugby Festival, the team are continuing in their efforts to make a real difference to those affected by cancer, with Robbie’s Rugby Festival continuing to raise funds in 2019 to build on the good work already achieved. The organisers, ADDO Events, are hoping that this year will smash last year’s figures to enable the charities to continue their vital work and are looking forward to welcoming both new visitors and familiar faces in what promises to be a fantastic tournament.

In addition to the Youngs brothers, former international rugby union player for England and the British and Irish Lions, Neil Back MBE, and British television presenter and newsreader, Anne Davies, are continuing in their roles as Event Ambassadors, providing valuable support to the Festival.

Visitors can expect not only a day of exciting rugby action, but a whole host of fun activities that will make this a fabulous day out for all the family, including The Rugby Village sponsored by The Loughburians. This promises to be the hub of the rugby action, housing not only an outside bar, but physio tent, hot tub, face-painting, ice-cream van and water tent. The Summer Garden is sponsored by The Little Retreat and will bring together all the elements of a typical British Summer celebration including jugs of Pimms, a fabulous gin bar, BBQ, raffle and afternoon tea stand.

This year, the festival’s eleventh year will be celebrated with the return of The Party on the Pitch – a full evening of entertainment, live music, photo booths and charitable fun activities.

Robbie’s Rugby Festival originally set out as an old boy’s reunion match by a group of school friends. Over the years, it has become the largest 10s rugby tournament in the Midlands, attracting 30 teams and thousands of spectators. The event has become a permanent fixture of the summer events calendar with rugby royalty including Clive Woodward, Eddie Jones, Dan Carter, Christian Wade, Warren Gatland, Sam Warburton, Richie McCaw, Sonny Bill and Billy Twelvetrees showing their support over the years.

Robbie’s Rugby Festival’s vision remains as it has done since the event’s inception: “to create an atmospheric, unforgettable and inspiring event that leaves a legacy to be remembered by uniting local communities, businesses and teams from across the country.”

The 2019 event is generously supported by a wealth of sponsors including The Loughborough Schools Foundation, ADDO Events, Rugby Village Sponsor The Loughburians and Group Sponsors The Little Retreat, Emery Johnson Astills, The Dixie Grammar School and Thomas Nicholas. Event Partners include EI Group, Oddballs, EFS Europe, Function Jigsaw Events, Buster Marquees, RS Print, Challenge Trophies, and Nottingham Rugby.

Robbie’s Rugby Festival 2019 will take place on Saturday 27th July 2019 at Loughborough Grammar School playing fields from 10am. Donations welcomed on the gate on the day. Team entry is now open, and a variety of sponsorship packages are available. For more details and to book tickets visit: www.robbiesrugbyfestival.com

www.johnrenken.com

“I am a single father of 4 wonderful kids. Professionally, I have worked for the US Army for the last 20 years training soldiers how to fight in Hand to Hand Combat and then 2 years ago my travel schedule with the Army began to increase. I knew if I could figure out how to cut the cost of travel I could put more money in my pocket. I love to travel and during my travels I started learning how to save BIG MONEY!!! It wasn’t to long after that I realized I could teach people how to travel at rates that are affordable to the everyday person.

Services: Mystery Weekends, Lowest Price Flights, Solo Traveling Security briefs and curated group adventures” John Renken

Sky Sports announces an incredible summer of women’s sport, as research reveals 78% of us want increased coverage of female sports across media and TV

· Research reveals that 78% of people would like to see more coverage of female sport on TV and in the media

· 63% think having women in sport will inspire the younger generation to be more athletic

· Sky Sports joins forces with Ama Agbeze, Aimee Fuller, Rachel Dunn, Annabel Dimmock, Amy Jones, Johnny Nelson and Harriet Pavlou to reveal an inspiring film in celebration of a huge summer of women’s sport

· Sky Sports to show 250 hours of live coverage across an exciting summer of women’s sport including free live streaming of the Netball World Cup on Sky Sports’ YouTube channel

New research from Sky Sports reveals that the British public is ready for an incredible line up of women’s sport this summer, as 38% say they are watching more female sport now than ever before, and a further 34% say they are avid followers of female team and individual sports.

The growth in media coverage and support of women’s sport is certainly on the rise and 48% surveyed said they hope to see this growth continue. The results follow the success of the Women’s football World Cup, which Sky Sports News has been following throughout with a range of podcasts, digital coverage and weekly round-ups across Sky channels with Laura Woods.

This summer, Sky Sports has teamed up with some of the UK’s most talented athletes, to produce a trick-shot video that celebrates the skill and athleticism of women’s sport.

The video features top athletes, including international netball star Rachel Dunn, England cricketer Amy Jones, golf pro Annabel Dimmock, football freestyler Harriet Pavlou and netballer Ama Agbeze MBE. There are even cameo appearances from Sky Sports’ Jonny Nelson and GB snowboarder Aimee Fuller, who were keen to put their skills to the test, as well as presenters Natalie Pinkham and Rachel Brookes.

Sky Sports is hugely passionate about women’s sport, with a year-round rights portfolio including all women’s golf Majors and The Solheim Cup, England Women’s Cricket Internationals and The Ashes, the Vitality Netball World Cup, International Rugby, boxing, basketball and more.

The Ashes got underway with England’s first match against Australia taking place last week, with the entire series being shown on Sky Sports Mix throughout the month. Live coverage gets underway for the Netball World Cup in Liverpool on July 12 and continues through to the final on July 21st.

Bringing you the best build-up, live action and post-match analysis will be the Sky Sports presenting team including; ex-England Captain Tamsin Greenway, Bronze Commonwealth Games champion Pamela Cookey, ex-England International Camilla Buchanan and Director of Surrey Storm Mikki Austin. Ama Agbeze was also last week announced to be completing their line-up of talent.

Sky Sports Mix will become Sky Sports Netball showing all 20 matches from the World Cup. The dedicated channel will broadcast over 250 hours of live coverage, support programming and masterclasses throughout the 9-day tournament. All 60 matches from the Vitality Netball World Cup will also be available to watch via a live stream on Sky Sports’ YouTube channel.

Sky Sports presenter Natalie Pinkham said: “We have so much women’s sport to look forward to, with the Vitality Netball World Cup, The Ashes, Solheim Cup and so much more on Sky Sports this summer. The momentum behind women’s sport is at an all-time high, and it’s fantastic to see the positive impact it’s having on our younger generation.’

England Roses Goal Shooter Rachel Dunn said: “This summer is huge for sport, especially female sport, and it’s an honour to be so actively involved and to have the opportunity to work with such passionate and dedicated athletes. We can’t wait for the Vitality Netball World Cup!”

Positive psychology expert and author, Vanessa King, has partnered with the UK’s No.1 branded cheese slice, Leerdammer, to share simple tips to encourage everyone to get outside this summer, that can be easily implemented into even the busiest of days. This is to coincide with Leerdammer’s “Free Grazing” promise, which ensures all Leerdammer cows are free to go out to pasture whenever the weather permits.

These tips include;

The benefits just 20 minutes of “green exercise” can provide
Finding meaning and wellbeing within a community
Nurturing our relationships and connections in nature
The correlation between insomnia and getting outside
Utilising our natural environment to become more mindful

“Fresh air and daylight lets the outside in to our homes”
– Lone Feifer, architect & director for sustainability & architecture at The VELUX Group
Outside-in design principles reconnect us with nature

With the growing demand for natural materials in all parts of our lives, be it organic foods and drinks or wooden furniture and plants in our homes, VELUX introduces its ‘Outside-in’ design principles to guide on how to reshape and rebuild our indoor spaces with the nature in mind. Today people spend up to 90% of their time indoors and live in increasingly urban environments, making them less connected to nature. Our homes now not only need to be multi-functional spaces to relax and spend time with friends or family but should also be designed to be portals that reconnect people to the nature via light and fresh air and view to the outside.

VELUX’s Outside-in design principles encourage people to frame their spaces with daylight and introduce the sounds and scents of nature back into their home.

“The relationship between nature, architecture and interior design has existed for hundreds of years. But many of our homes have lost this connection. We want to inspire people to design so it feels like nature is close; that light changes the space from day to night. And get fresh air, the sounds of birds and leaves rustling into the home, to create a sensory experience of the seasons changing, with a positive influence on our wellbeing,” explains architect with The VELUX Group, Lone Feifer, director for sustainability & architecture.

Learn more about VELUX’s Outside-in design and how interior design consultant and journalist, Kate Watson-Smyth, has incorporated the design principles into her home here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dETJ0Dthje4

Outside-in design principles

1. Design with a view to the outside
   We tend to take windows for granted. But most of us have experienced losing a sense of time and space when we lose our view of the outside. A view of the outside gives us a view of the world, but also of our place in the world. We become part of nature as we watch day turn into night and witness the changing of the seasons. Looking up at the sky invokes an ancient connection with nature. Remember lying on the ground and watching the clouds rush by at the mercy of the wind? Or gazing at the stars at night?
2. Design with daylight
   Nothing compares to daylight. Even the best forms of artificial light rarely measure up to the power of daylight. The sun is a powerful yet sustainable source of light and energy. Daylight makes your home feel open and inviting, and your space seem bigger. Harnessing daylight from above is an extremely effective way of achieving a natural flow of light deep into your home. A shower of daylight in the morning is essential to staying in balance with the 24-hour circadian rhythm and is vital to our health and wellbeing.
3. Design with natural ventilation
   A space filled with fresh air is a space filled with the sounds and scents of nature. The rustle of trees in the wind, the patter of rain on the terrace deck and the birds singing. The smell of a freshly cut lawn and the scent of flowers. The freshness of the early morning, the warmth of the afternoon and the cool of the night. Opening windows and doors to the natural flow of air is a great way to create a healthy indoor climate. Fresh air is vital to our health, helping us feel better and think clearly.

VELUX’s Outside-in design principles are part of its new campaign, ‘Let nature back into your home’, which explores the risks of modern indoor-based lifestyles can have on our overall wellbeing. It notes how a shift to an increasingly urbanized population means that we are losing our connection with nature. Concerningly, the coming generation are likely to experience an even greater disconnect with nature, unless we begin to make some immediate changes. The campaign aims to inspire such a change, showing why we need to take steps to reverse this trend and let the outside, in.

To find out more information about VELUX’s ‘Let nature back into your home’ campaign visit: www.letnaturebackin.com

THANK YOU, TEACHER!

The One4all Gift Card allows teachers to choose something they really want
The gift card can be spent at more than 55,000 stores across the UK and online
Load the card with any amount between £10-£400

Each year Britain’s teachers help the nation’s children learn, develop and grow, but finding the perfect gift to say thank you can prove challenging. With the end of the school year just around the corner, those looking to express their gratitude need look no further than the One4all Gift Card.

One4all is the UK’s leading multi-store gift card and the perfect way to say thank you as it gives the gift of choice. The card is available in an exclusive Thank You Teacher design, or for that extra special touch, it can be personalised online with a favourite class photo and message.

Instead of gifting the class teacher the usual wine and chocolates the One4all Gift Card allows the recipient to shop at more than 55,000 stores and websites across the UK, so they can choose themselves a gift they really want this year.

Popular retailers include the likes of Marks & Spencer, John Lewis, Men Kind and The Perfume Shop, to name just a few.

The One4all Gift Card won’t break the bank either. It can be loaded with any amount from £10-£400 – why not club together with a group of parents to present the teacher with a higher value gift card so they can treat themselves to something really special?

For style conscious teachers, the gift card can be used at fashion favourites including Topshop, Oasis, River Island, Burton and many more.

For those more into their home tech and furnishings the balance can be spent at the likes of John Lewis, Currys, HomeSense and TK Maxx.

Alternatively, for those gifting on a lower budget, the teacher may like to stock up on the latest book releases and stationary from shops such as Waterstones or WH Smith.

Or for a more extravagant treat, teacher can even put the card’s balance towards an exciting day trip with the likes of Red Letter Days, SpaSeekers, Virgin Experiences and more.

The One4all multi-store gift card is available in an exclusive Thank You Teacher design, RRP £10-£400, and can be purchased in Post offices nationwide or online at One4all.com

For more information, visit: www.one4all.com.

The United Nations and Talent from The Angry Birds Movie 2 join forces on the ActNow Campaign to urge citizen action on climate change

(London, England – 11 July 2019) The Angry Birds and the green piggies have joined forces with the United Nations in support of its ActNow climate campaign, a global call for citizen action on climate change. Back with the UN and the UN Foundation after 2016’s successful #AngryBirdsHappyPlanet partnership, the birds are joined this time around by their longtime enemies (turned “frenemies”) the pigs and are looking to spread awareness about individual actions we can all take to combat climate change.

As part of the campaign, a public service announcement launched yesterday starring the Angry Birds, the green piggies and the English-speaking voice cast behind the film The Angry Birds Movie 2. Together, they are encouraging citizens to discover and track simple everyday actions that can make a difference by using the UN’s innovative new online climate action tool, the ActNow Bot.

“Climate change is already impacting our world today regardless of where we live,” said Maher Nasser, Director, Outreach Division, UN Department of Global Communications. “It is through climate action – built on cooperation and collaboration within and across communities – that we can confront the climate crisis. We see many people around the world sounding the alarm and demanding action by world leaders. We are grateful to the Angry Birds for adding their voice again to the call for each of us to lead by example and demonstrate that every action counts.”

Harnessing advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), the ActNow Bot is a fully interactive chat bot located on the UN’s website (un.org/ActNow) that connects with users and suggests everyday actions that can be taken to preserve the environment. Every action completed is counted to encourage others to join the campaign as well as to send a message to leaders in government and business that citizens want climate action and are willing to take it. The collective actions will be presented during the United Nations Secretary-General’s Climate Summit in New York in September 2019.

The Angry Birds and pigs themselves will be on hand for the first ever takeover of the ActNow Bot website from July 23-30, encouraging users with individualized suggestions – like traveling more sustainably, saving energy or eating less meat – in a campaign to highlight the impact that collective action can have at this critical moment in our planet’s history.

The new frenemies, the birds and the pigs, came together at the United Nations to celebrate the launch of the campaign on Wednesday, July 10th at 19:30pm BST at the UN’s SDG Media Zone. The campaign launch was live-streamed on webtv.un.org where the PSA was premiered.

“We are really proud that the United Nations and the Angry Birds continue to work on climate issues together through the #AngryBirdsHappyPlanet campaign,” said The Angry Birds Movie 2 producer John Cohen. “Even our beloved birds and pigs are putting their differences aside and coming together for this great cause. We all need to come together to help create a more sustainable world and I’m so happy that the Angry Birds will have a chance to help spread this universal message.”

Presented by Sony Pictures Animation and Rovio Entertainment,

The Angry Birds Movie 2 starts its global rollout in August 2019, with a UK release date of 2ND AUGUST 2019

PuroQuiet Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth headphone – Was £89.99 – Now £69.99 from Amazon

Available in pink and blue

Image result for puro sound labs puroquietThe PuroQuiet was developed by a father who realised his 10 year old daughter had sustained Noise-Induced Hearing Loss from listening to music too loud, for too long. Finding no one was addressing this issue adequately, the family set about designing and developing the highest-quality, studio-grade, volume limiting to 85 decibels children’s headphone whilst still at an affordable price.

Made from high-quality aluminium, with plush noise-isolating ear-pads, the latest Bluetooth profiles for CD-like quality wireless audio, a highly sensitive microphone for taking calls or gaming with friends and up to 16-hours of active battery life the PuroQuiet headphones certainly deliver on audio quality and style. In addition to the sleek new design, the PuroQuiet headphones have an active noise cancellation feature found on high-end headphones that suppress ambient noise levels and provides a superior listening experience in even the loudest of environments. It blocks out daily noise and background sounds up to 22 dB, complemented by 82% noise isolation.

Key Specifications:

• Active Noise Reduction Performance: Safe -22 dB

• Physical Ambient Noise Reduction: 82% at 1KHz

• Volume Limiting: 85dB Sound Limit

• Audiophile Headphone speaker: 40 mm Custom Dynamic Drivers

• Frequency Range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz with <1% THD

• High Quality Qualcomm CSR8635 Chipset

• Bluetooth v4.0 Wireless w/A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP Support

• Wireless Operating Distance: 30 Feet

• Battery Type: Rechargeable Lithium Ion

• Noise Cancelling Playtime: 16 hours approx.

• Long Play Battery Life: Up to 22 hours normal use, 200 hours standby

• Available Colours: Blue/Black, Pink/White

The BORA principle: the innovation behind the idea

The original BORA cooktop extractor is more effective than conventional extractor hoods – but why?

BORA stops cooking vapours and odours from rising in the first place by extracting them from the place they are created. The concept is based on applied physics and the basic principles of fluid mechanics: the lateral flow is greater than the rising speed of the cooking vapour from pots and pans. From a purely physical perspective, it is therefore easier to directly extract the vapour at the cooktop.

BORA Professional 2.0: revolutionising kitchen odour extraction, by removing vapours and odours directly from the cooktop

Steam and odours rise at a maximum speed of one metre per second. However, the BORA cooktop extractor instantly draws these off in a downward direction at approx. four metres per second. The result: vapours are fully extracted and odour and grease particles are unable to spread around the room, settle on unit surfaces or penetrate materials. Instead of spreading around the room, grease particles released while cooking are trapped in the stainless steel grease filter.

Original BORA cooktop extractors offer impressive advantages over conventional extractor hoods: they use far less energy and extract less of the expensively heated ambient air as the extraction concept is based on flow speed rather than air volume. They work more effectively as the vapour above the cooktop is unable to escape into the air as freely as with an extractor hood. The powerful yet energy-efficient motor uses less electricity and runs far more quietly.

For further information, please visit www.bora.com.

ARE WE THERE YET?

Whether you are travelling by car, boat, plane or train, Le Toy Van have a range of toys to transport your little ones growing imagination to a different world!

Compact, easily-packed-away and a bundle of fun, these brightly coloured, wooden toys are sure to make journeys more enjoyable for your little one (and yourself)!

You definitely won’t want to forget these travel essentials this Summer!

Counting book – £14.95 • Wooden Teething Beads – £7.95 • Stacking Veggies – £19.95 • Ladybird Binoculars – £14.95 • Party Camera – £14.95
Andes Stacking Tower and Bag – £14.95 • Forest Stacker & Bag – £14.95 • Petit Activity Cube – £29.95 • Vintage Phone – £19.95 • Doctor’s Set – £39.95
Space Rocket – £4.95 each • Holiday Campervan – £29.95 • Whizzy Pullback Racers – £4.95 each • Sweet & Treats Pullbacks -£4.95 each

All available from Le Toy Van – letoyvan.com

Open Day Success

The open day at Lourensford Wime Estate held on the 6th of July 2019 was a great success! The Art Curator gallery hosted complementary talks, demo’s and classes which included:

1. A portrait demonstarion by Tinus Horn
2. Oil Painting demondtration by Gerhard
3. A Clay demonstration by Charles Gotthard

We are grateful for all the artists who gave up their time to share theer talents and techniques at this open day.

Keep up to date with our newsletter and FaceBook posts to find out more about our next open day!

Vision Direct New FREE Product for travelling! Travel Case For Contact Lenses >>> So Helpful! www.visiondirect.co.uk/free-contact-lenses-travel-case ! No one else sells anything like this!

www.visiondirect.co.uk

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Vision Direct have launched a product for travellers, it’s a travel case for contact lenses. No one else sells anything like this!
It is free with a voucher code that is available for everyone. You can get this case free even if that’ the only item in your basket, you just need to pay for the delivery costs. The promotion is running for 6 weeks!

Here is the direct link to the Vision Direct Promo Page (it is also available on their home page) >> www.visiondirect.co.uk/free-contact-lenses-travel-case

Cover reveal from #1 New York Times Bestselling author, Natasha Preston #natashapreston #randomhouse #ya #thriller #coverreveal #march2020

After their parents divorced, 10-year-old twins Emmy and Iris were split up–Emmy lived with Dad, Iris with Mom. Now, after a tragic accident takes their mom’s life, the twins are reunited and Iris moves in with Emmy and their dad. Devastated over Mom’s death, Iris spends the first few weeks in almost total silence–the only person she will speak to is Emmy. Iris feels her life is over and she doesn’t know what to do. Emmy promises her twin that she can share her life now. After all, they’re sisters. Twins.

It’s a promise that Iris takes seriously. And before long, Emmy’s friends, her life at school, and her boyfriend, Tyler, fall under Iris’s spell. Slowly, Emmy realizes she’s being pushed out of her own life. But she’s just being paranoid, right? And Mom’s accident was . . . just an accident. Right? It’s not like she–or Dad–or Tyler–are in any danger. . .

bit.ly/2KFuI1i

Your little one depends on you for everything, most importantly, keeping them safe.

Whenever you are babywearing, don’t forget the T.I.C.K.S.

www.babyktan.com

Bond simply.

Be sure to check out our blog for additional tips on safe babywearing and so much more.

Get That Pearly White Shine

Oral health is an issue that accompanies us from birth to old age. It is therefore never too early, or too late to devote more attention to the maintance of your oral hygiene.

Baby teeth start coming out when they are somewhere between 4 to 7 months old. The first teeth to come in are the two bottom teeth. By the age of 3 preschoolers have around 20 baby teeth. Children then lose their baby teeth from as early as 6 years or as late as 12 years in which time they will have a mix of both milk and adult teeth, so it is important to treat both of them with just as much attention, and the PlayBrush Smart provides you with the tools to do so.

The set-up is totally fool proof, simply attach the Smart Playbrush cap to the base of any manual toothbrush, connect to your iOS or Android device via Bluetooth and children can then choose to fight tooth monsters, paint pictures or control planes in just a matter of minutes. From each session Playbrush measures speed, position of the brush head and brushing time, even evaluating their brushing with a personalized audio guide for children and with statistics for parents. So that while your child is treated to the games, parents have the reassurance that the Smart really is working it’s magic.

Developed to assist children aged 3-12 years old, you’ll only disappointed they don’t make one in your size. Each Playbrush attachment is rechargeable (no batteries, 2 weeks battery life) and waterproof. Users have access to two free games (Utoothia & Utoothia Paint). However you also have the opportunity to upgrade to have more games via a small games subscription available for iOS, Android and Kindle devices.

When it comes to maintaining good oral health, here are some things to keep in mind when maintaining your child’s oral health:

It is essential to at brush for 2 minutes twice daily especially after your children eat sticky or sugary foods.
Take them to the dentist twice a year to check for any tooth decay and avoid other tooth related complications.
Limit their consumption of night time drink. It is better to choose water over milk or juice when they ask for it.
The Playbrush Smart is available to buy online for £24.99 from Playbrush.

CAR SAFETY MADE EASY
With All New Car Seats By Silver Cross

With over half of parents* finding car seat shopping confusing, Silver Cross is helping to simplify the process with the launch of its first complete car seat collection.

Designed to make car safety simple, parents can now easily select the correct car seat for each stage of their child’s development, from birth through to 12 years.

Complete with pioneering safety technology, alongside beautifully designed soft breathable bamboo fabrics with diamond quilting, and an ergonomically contoured seat, this all new Silver Cross collection offers the utmost in style and comfort for your little one.

And, for extra peace of mind, Silver Cross is launching a unique mobile app linking to a QR code on each car seat, providing a simple five-step installation guide – ensuring car safety really is made easy.
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www.silvercrossbaby.com

Must Sees in the Middle East

Holidays to the Middle East offer the perfect combination of relaxation, fine dining and culture. With all-year round sunshine and manageable journey times, the Middle East continues to be an exciting destination for those seeking a relaxing break in a far-flung and exotic destination. Popular destinations include Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan and Qatar, all home to some of the world’s best hotels, leisure facilities and shopping. Not only does the Middle East provide the perfect break for some well-deserved R&R, but its cultural scene is thriving with the advent of several art galleries, museums, palaces and UNSESCO World Heritage Sites. Whether you’re planning a jam-packed trip or just to put your feet up, we’ve got you covered and rounded up the must-see things to do and see in the Middle East, allowing you to make the most of your holiday.

Ras Al Khaimah

A short drive north of Dubai International Airport lies Ras Al Khaimah, offering visitors pristine beaches, terracotta deserts, breath-taking mountains, hospital locals excited to share their culture, and a range of 5-star hotels and resorts at 4-star prices. And whether you’re young or young at heart, there’s plenty for families to do.
Visitors can choose from boutique hotels to luxurious five-star properties and resorts, including The Cove Rotana Resort, Marjan Island Resort and Spa, Double Tree by Hilton Ras Al Khaimah, Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, Double Tree by Hilton Resort & Spa Marjan Island, Mangrove Hotel, Hilton Al Hamra Beach & Golf Resort and Al Hamra Residence & Village.
For those with a quest for adrenaline fuelled adventure, the Jebel Jais Flight is a must. Located on Jebel Jais, the highest mountain in the UAE, Jebel Jais Flight is the Guinness World Record’s longest zipline at 2.83km long. Adventure seekers are propelled at speeds between 120 and 150kph from a height of 1,683m above sea level.
en.rasalkhaimah.ae/

Abu Dhabi

Must See: Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, conjures up images of beautiful blue skies and powder-white beaches, but it is also home to an array of must see historical and cultural attractions. Visit the Louvre Abu Dhabi, which celebrates the universal creativity of mankind through stories that transcend civilisations, geographies and times. Visitors to the gallery will have the chance to view some artworks by some of world’s greatest artists including Da Vinci, Monet and Picasso. Feast on the breath-taking architecture of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, home to 1,000 marble columns, 82 domes and the world’s largest handmade carpet. The green, oasis city of Al Ain – just 90 minutes east of Abu Dhabi city – is one of the world’s oldest continually inhabited settlements, and home to a number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, museums and palaces, making it a great day trip away from the main city.
visitabudhabi.ae/uk-en/default.aspx

Egypt

Must See: Couples seeking to immerse themselves in ancient history will delight in the magic of cruising down the longest river in the world, the Nile. Discover the myths of Pharaohs and legends of the Pyramids while taking in Egypt’s most captivating sights from the comfort of a river cruise, with shore excursions including a visit the Temple of Hatshepsut and Valley of the Queens. Travelers will be captivated as the time line of the Ancient Egyptian civilization unfolds during this iconic river cruise.
www.planetcruise.com

Prices and Packages: Planet Cruise offers an 11-night fly river cruise onboard Discover Egypt’s MS Tulip from just £1,097pp (full board on cruise) flying from the UK on 27th April 2020. The trip includes return UK flights and daily onshore excursions.

Qatar

Immerse yourself in Qatar’s rich cultural heritage at new National Museum of Qatar which recently opened to the public. The concept behind the museum was to evoke the life of the Qatari people and celebrate the country’s connection between the desert and the sea. Enjoy a leisurely lunch by the marina on The Pearl-Qatar or dine in one of the city’s many fine dining restaurants including the world’s largest Nobu, two Gordon Ramsay restaurants as well as the hip STK lounge and steakhouse at the newly renovated Ritz-Carlton hotel. Traditional dining options can also be discovered in restaurants such as Al Mourjan, which offers stunning views across the Corniche, or the Shay Al Shoomos restaurant in the heart of the Souq Waqif which serves Middle Eastern cuisine and traditional Arabic coffee. For an authentic taste of local life and traditional architecture, nothing can beat a wander through the bustling lanes of Souq Waqif. Besides the many treasures on offer to buy, it is a lively market area with cafés and food stalls and is ideal for people-watching. Spend the evening relaxing in Doha Bay on a traditional Dhow boat cruise and enjoy the panoramic views of the city’s glittering skyline before taking an evening stroll along the Corniche board walk.
Website: www.visitqatar.qa

Jordan

Cosmos’ sister brand Globus offers a 7-day ‘Passage to Petra’ escorted tour of Jordan, priced from £1,865 per person. Itinerary highlights for the platinum tour include a four-wheel drive through sand dunes and the chance to walk amidst the Roman ruins of Amman and the iconic Wadi Rum ravine. The trip is available for departures through 2018 and the price includes flights, transfers, accommodation, the services of a tour director, selected meals, porterage, excursions, all airport taxes and private home pick-up service. To book, call 0800 668 1365. Find out more: www.cosmos.co.uk/tours/Passage-to-Petra
Key Adventures
Enjoy an unforgettable experience walking down the Siq, the narrow gorge made famous in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Visit the Crusader Castle and Wadi Mujib, the “Jordanian Grand Canyon”
Explore Wadi Rum is the largest wadi (ravine) in Jordan and made eternally famous through the movie Lawrence of Arabia
Enjoy spectacular four-wheeling through the Jordanian sand dunes.

MOST INSTAGRAMMABLE BOUQUET

RRP: £24.99

This eye-catching arrangement includes three of the most instagrammed flowers in the world, to create the ultimate grid-worthy bouquet. Three sunflowers bursting with summer colour, contrast dynamically with petit cherry red roses. The addition of pure white lilies brings balance to this hashtag-friendly arrangement. What better way to bring some viral vitality to your Instagram?

Serenata Flowers offers the best possible prices and provides a fast and convenient way to gift fresh flowers to family and friends, whatever the occasion, offering FREE next day delivery seven days a week. Customers can order as late as 10pm for next day delivery.

Serenata Flowers sells affordable fresh flowers and bouquets prepared by floral artists and hand-delivered by couriers in the UK. For more information, visit www.serenataflowers.com.

Historic Royal Palaces launch exclusive “Little London” babywear range

The brand new “Little London” range of exclusive baby clothing will be released this summer by Historic Royal Palaces, the independent charity that cares for and conserves the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Banqueting House, Kensington Palace, Kew Palace and Hillsborough Castle & Gardens in Northern Ireland.

Created in-house by Historic Royal Palaces buying team, the multi-colour printed design takes a modern twist on traditional baby clothing with its gender neutral key colours of white and grey. The range is inspired by London icons, including the Tower of London and Big Ben together with the Tower’s famous Yeoman Warders, a red bus, a black cab, a red post box, green trees and the palaces’ own gold crown motif.

All items have been made in 100% cotton and include a vest, romper suit, hat, booties, bibs, as well as a hooded towel and a blanket all featuring the iconic London design. Complementing the main design, the new range also includes a grey marl cardigan with patterned trim and a grey marl bodysuit with an embroidered panel of 3 guardsmen. The gold crown design is also used on a vest and a set of two bibs. All items include a red bus price tag.

The clothing will be available in sizes 0-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months and 18-24 months with the hat and booties only in size 0-6 months. Prices will start at £6.99 for a baby hat to £24.99 for the hooded towel.

All items will be available online at www.historicroyalpalaces.com and from the main shops at the Tower of London and Kensington Palace.

Head of Buying at Historic Royal Palaces, Alareen Farrell, said, “We are delighted to be bringing out our first ever range of babywear at Historic Royal Palaces inspired by our palaces and London icons. Visitors to our both our onsite shops and online will be able to make a purchase knowing that the profits will be reinvested into the charity to ensure our sites continue to be well-maintained and open for all to enjoy.”

The Complaining Cow comments on latest Customer Satisfaction Index figures

Customer service is getting worse, according to the latest figures provided by The Institute of Customer Service (ICS). In figures released today, the ICS Customer Satisfaction Index (UKCSI) has shown an decline for the fourth consecutive year. And by a significant amount too. 14.3% of consumers said that they experienced a problem with customer service. This represents a rise of 1.5% since last year’s figures. [1]

The number of organisations failing to keep their promises or commitments alone has trebled in the last two years. At 17.2% this is the highest level ever.

The UKCSI is based on extensive in-depth research. Published twice a year, the latest figures includes 43,500 survey responses covering 240 brands across 13 sectors. Responses have been gathered from more than 10,000 consumers, answering an online questionnaire.

It will come as no surprise to consumers that the number who experience issues is at its highest recorded level ever.

Helen Dewdney, the Complaining Cow, says:

“One of the biggest bugbears with complaint handling cited by consumers, was companies that don’t keep their promises. Certainly I hear this a lot, along with being pushed from pillar to post, repeating oneself and not being able to complain using the format desired.”

Natalie Berg, Retail Analyst and Founder of NBK Retail, agrees. She says:

“You need to be on top of your game. You need to save customers’ time or enhance it. But enhancing time goes beyond a few instore gyms or beauty bars, retailers need to give shoppers a very compelling reason to ditch their screens and come into the store.” Companies that are not keeping their promises are not saving customers’ time!

First Direct continues to hold its first place for customer service in the latest UKCSI. The top 10 organisations in the July 2019 UKCSI are:

1. first direct (which scored 86% satisfaction and is number 1 for emotional connection and customer ethos and ethics.)
2. Debenhams despite the problems. [2]
3. Suzuki
4. John Lewis
5. Next
6. Amazon.co.uk
7. Ocado
8. Nationwide
9. Netflix
10. LV=

The Institute’s research evaluates companies based primarily on customer experience (such as getting things right first time) and customer ethos. In their view positive emotional connection and ethics can create a higher overall level of customer satisfaction.

Dewdney adds:

“Clearly businesses need to do more to improve their customer service and complaint handling if they want to survive. If they want to thrive they will need to do a lot more to respect customers and put matters right for them quickly and effectively. Every company makes mistakes, it is how they deal with them that matters.”

1. Link to ICS figures or website
2. Interestingly I wrote about Debenhams and whether customer service could have prevented Debenhams decline.

A Recipe For Play

Welcome to the Hape Pop-up Shop! What would you like to purchase today? Complete with all the components of a real life working shop it’s the Pop-Up Shop from Hape. Blip, blip, blip! A handheld scanner to read each item, with additional beeps and flashes to only enhance the shopping experience. A calculator to total up the shopping, then when it comes to payment swipe the debit card, and the reader will make a reassuring “beep” to confirm the payment has been processed. Not to mention the shelves for displaying items and two chalk board for personalizing a welcome message and displaying those daily specials. The back shelf is even illustrated with a number of food products so your shop will always appear full, while leaving plenty of shelf space to add your own products. Then when its time for closing the foldaway design makes it wonderfully convenient to store away at the end of a busy shift. The Pop-Up Shop is available to buy online for £119.99 from SmythsToys.

In addition to the Pop-Up Shop the all new ingredient sets are a must, here are three of our favourites!

Polish up on those cooking skills, and get children involved in dinner preparations with the Cooking Essentials Set, complete with a number of vegetables for trimming, peeling and chopping as well as cheese for grating and potato’s for peeling on your very own chopping board. When learning to cook you need the essentials and that is exactly what you get. Hape’s Cooking Essential Set is available to buy online for £24.61 from Amazon.

Capturing elements of sorting, slicing, combining and serving, it’s Hape’s Tasty Proteins. Helping build muscle this set includes chicken leg with removable flesh, fish to be scaled, bacon rashers, a prime cut of steak and lemon to be squeezed. Hape’s Tasty Protein Set is available to buy online for £22.42 from Amazon.

Love a sweet treat? Make your very own Cupcakes with this adorable playset from Hape. Includes four cases, four servings of cake with a selection of 10 tasty toppings to decorate. From birthday candles, a zing of fruit, to a dollop of icing or waffles allows you to mix up your cupcake flavours. Keep them all to yourself or distribute amongst family and friends. Hape’s Cupcakes Set is available to buy online for £18.66 from Amazon.

UK JOB SEEKERS SIGN UP FOR CAREER SUMMER CAMP TO BUILD SELF BELIEF – AS CRISIS IN CONFIDENCE HITS THE NATION

www.jobtoday.com

1 in 3 millennials are looking for Summer Jobs where they can earn money and become ‘Passion Professionals’
Despite this, the UK is suffering from a crisis in confidence with 70% of millennials not feeling that they have the skill set for their dream jobs
JOB TODAY has teamed up with leading employers to launch a free, training program, Summer Camp, to power more young Brits into their future careers
With July being one of the most popular months to go online and look for a new job, new insight from JOB TODAY reveals, a third of millennials are pursuing ‘Passion Professions’, as opposed to traditional careers. inspired by stars who have built multi-million businesses out of their passions such as Mrs. Hinch, Joe Wicks and Made in Chelsea’s, Alik Alfus, are careers centered around peoples interests.

Despite this, more than 70% of the UK’s under 35s state that they’re suffering from a crisis in confidence when pursuing these careers due to a lack of education – and the skills required – for these professions in the national curriculum.

However, employees are listening, and nearly half (40%) of job posts on JOB TODAY, don’t require previous experience – just a passion and thirst to learn.

According to the insight, the top five industries millennials want to work in:
Fitness
Photography
Content creation
Design
Personal Assistant
The insight comes from the UK’s leading hiring app, JOB TODAY that canvassed their six million users, to determine the state of the UK jobs market for under 35s today.

To help job seekers build confidence and begin their careers as ‘Passion Professionals’, JOB TODAY has teamed up with leading employers to launch a free, training program, Summer Camp, to power more young people into their future careers. Co-founder of JOB TODAY, Polina Montano explains:

“We want to remove the worry and frustration young brits face when they try to land that summer job with no experience – that’s why we came up with our Summer Camp and are partnering with some truly amazing brands to give job seekers fun and free work experience this summer so they can explore their passions, gain new experience and potentially walk away with a job for the summer!”

Helping this generation to land roles in new and exciting industries, JOB TODAY has curated a training program with four different employers including a leading health and fitness brand, a contemporary art gallery and artist in Chelsea, a content curator and a business improvement district in Fitzrovia, working with some of London’s leading restaurants and retailers.

Young Brits can apply for a spot in the London-based Summer Camp which will take place across four days in July. The program will give 40 job seekers (ten across each session) the chance to immerse themselves in a range of different industries so they can seek out where their passions lie and even be in with a chance to land a job at the end of the month.

For more information visit www.jobtoday.com.

THE TRUE COST OF BEING A MEMBER OF A WEDDING PARTY

The average Brit will be a member of the wedding party four times in their lifetime
Wedding party members spend £2,809 and almost a month planning and celebrating the nuptials of their loved ones
UK couples typically spend £17,674[i] on their big day, but it’s not just the happy couple who fork out for their nuptials as new research reveals the true cost of being a member of the wedding party.

A survey of 1,003 UK adults carried out by One4all Gift Cards has found that the average Brit is a member of a wedding party four times, spending an average of £2,809 and almost a full month (27.8 days) planning and celebrating their loved ones special day.

The study, which examines the time and money invested by those closest to the couple found that the average wedding takes up over a week of their time (7.7 days) and costs £776. This is almost double (98%) the average spend for a wedding guest (£391)[ii]

The most time-consuming tasks for bridesmaids, ushers and parents of the bride and groom were revealed as assisting with the planning of the big day itself (18 hours 34 minutes) engagement party celebrations (10 hours 11 minutes) and hen and stag parties (18 hours).

The research revealed that 71% of wedding party members were asked to cough up for outfits costing £104 and 65% had to pay for their travel and accommodation, spending an average of £99. This was closely followed by 56% of wedding party members who funded the traditional hen and stag party, costing an average of £89.

The study also revealed that more than 1 in 10 (11%) declined being a member of a wedding party due to the cost involved with 7% regretting being a member of a wedding party.

Despite the huge investment the research found that 93% of Brits enjoyed being a member of the wedding party while more than 1 in 3 (34%) stating that being asked to be a member of the wedding party is a huge privilege.

Time and effort planning a wedding does not go unnoticed by the newlyweds as 90% of the bridal party surveyed received a thank you gift from the newlyweds.

When asked which present wedding party members would most like to receive, gift cards or vouchers came first (44%) followed by something handmade (30%) and jewellery (27%).

Aoife Davey, group marketing manager at One4all Gift Cards, commented: “We all know that weddings are a costly celebration but it’s incredible to see the huge amount of time and money those closest to the bride and groom are dedicating, to ensure they have the best day possible.

“It’s encouraging to see the investment of time and money of the bridal party doesn’t go unnoticed, with so many receiving thank you gifts from the happy couple.”

Those in Bristol were found to invest the most time and money in their best friend’s weddings spending and average of 225 hours and £1,081, followed by Manchester residents who spend an average of 206 hours and £971.

The One4all Gift Card can be spent in more than 55,000 outlets across the UK and is available to buy from Post Offices nationwide and online at www.one4all.com.

ALWAYS ON THE (B)RIGHT SIDE

Add a pop of colour, pattern and style to your home, with these gorgeous, reversible scatter cushions from Royal Opera House shop.

Commissioned by the Royal Opera House, Margo Selby has created woven textiles inspired by the bold linear wood panelling of the new Linbury Theatre and the rich, decorative elements of the original building.

There’s no easier interior update than a cushion, and with different designs on the front and back, just reverse it when you fancy a change

• it will always be on the right side!

Carmen Cushion – £60 • Boheme Cushion – £60

Royal Opera House shop – shop.roh.org.uk

The United Nations and Talent from The Angry Birds Movie 2 join forces on the ActNow Campaign to urge citizen action on climate change

(London, England – 11 July 2019) The Angry Birds and the green piggies have joined forces with the United Nations in support of its ActNow climate campaign, a global call for citizen action on climate change. Back with the UN and the UN Foundation after 2016’s successful #AngryBirdsHappyPlanet partnership, the birds are joined this time around by their longtime enemies (turned “frenemies”) the pigs and are looking to spread awareness about individual actions we can all take to combat climate change.

As part of the campaign, a public service announcement launched yesterday starring the Angry Birds, the green piggies and the English-speaking voice cast behind the film The Angry Birds Movie 2. Together, they are encouraging citizens to discover and track simple everyday actions that can make a difference by using the UN’s innovative new online climate action tool, the ActNow Bot.

“Climate change is already impacting our world today regardless of where we live,” said Maher Nasser, Director, Outreach Division, UN Department of Global Communications. “It is through climate action – built on cooperation and collaboration within and across communities – that we can confront the climate crisis. We see many people around the world sounding the alarm and demanding action by world leaders. We are grateful to the Angry Birds for adding their voice again to the call for each of us to lead by example and demonstrate that every action counts.”

Harnessing advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), the ActNow Bot is a fully interactive chat bot located on the UN’s website (un.org/ActNow) that connects with users and suggests everyday actions that can be taken to preserve the environment. Every action completed is counted to encourage others to join the campaign as well as to send a message to leaders in government and business that citizens want climate action and are willing to take it. The collective actions will be presented during the United Nations Secretary-General’s Climate Summit in New York in September 2019.

The Angry Birds and pigs themselves will be on hand for the first ever takeover of the ActNow Bot website from July 23-30, encouraging users with individualized suggestions – like traveling more sustainably, saving energy or eating less meat – in a campaign to highlight the impact that collective action can have at this critical moment in our planet’s history.

The new frenemies, the birds and the pigs, came together at the United Nations to celebrate the launch of the campaign on Wednesday, July 10th at 19:30pm BST at the UN’s SDG Media Zone. The campaign launch was live-streamed on webtv.un.org where the PSA was premiered.

“We are really proud that the United Nations and the Angry Birds continue to work on climate issues together through the #AngryBirdsHappyPlanet campaign,” said The Angry Birds Movie 2 producer John Cohen. “Even our beloved birds and pigs are putting their differences aside and coming together for this great cause. We all need to come together to help create a more sustainable world and I’m so happy that the Angry Birds will have a chance to help spread this universal message.”

Presented by Sony Pictures Animation and Rovio Entertainment,

The Angry Birds Movie 2 starts its global rollout in August 2019, with a UK release date of 2ND AUGUST 2019

Crash Bandicoot XL

Crash Bandicoot This is the gadget for all Crash Bandicoot fans. The amazing, stunning and collectable figure is crafted to perfection in full oversized XL glory. His hands hold a Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, Smartphones and game controllers.
The Official License is bright, bold and will look great in any room. Designed by leading gaming merchandise brand Cable Guys, It holds devices central and perfectly balanced, meaning it won’t topple over. Comes complete with a 2M charging cable it enabling it to recharge devices.

Features:

Styled on your favourite marsupial, Crash Bandicoot.
Holds PlayStation and Xbox Game Controllers.
Holds devices whilst charging.
Holds Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite and the XL.
Works with all models of smartphones
Officially Licensed Crash Bandicoot merchandise
Includes a 2M Micro USB Charging Cable.
The Cable Guy Crash Bandicoot XL costs £24.97 from Amazon

Dual Purpose NEW Storage Ottomans from MY Furniture

MY Furniture knows that storage is a crucial part of any design project. No one wants their gorgeous furniture and decor hidden under mountains of clutter. MY Furniture’s stunning NEW range of storage Ottomans means that no matter what your style, you can find the perfect piece for you.

The right storage not only provides a place to hide away the debris of everyday life but can enhance your interior scheme. The new ANTOINETTE Storage Ottomans are one such solution and are perfect for anyone looking to save space and provide a spectacular centre piece to your room. These Ottomans are ideal for any room in the house, whether small or large and priced at £99.99 they also provide a perfect footstool, dressing stool or occasional seat and come with two elegant ring handles for easy repositioning.

The larger MYLIA Storage Ottoman is a new circular, buttoned ottoman, available in four colour options and has a diameter of 1 metre. Priced from £249.99, this large scale centrepiece Ottoman can be used as a coffee table or footstool and is perfect for storing blankets, cushions, toys and general clutter.

For those looking for a standard Ottoman there is also the new NEVIA ottoman. This plush velvet buttoned ottoman is available in four colours and priced at £149.99.

For further information visit www.my-furniture.com or call 0800 092 1636.

Super Spirals

From the resounding success of Hape’s Quadrilla wooden marble runs, arrives the new and deluxe Super Spirals suitable for children aged 4YRS+. For hours of family, fun filled play throw the rule book out the window, as each build is bound to take on new direction as limitless possibilities are right at your very fingertips. With a whooping 129 pieces you’re sure to keep the family entertained for hours as you enjoy valuable quality time together.

Full of exciting twists and turns Super Spirals is jam packed with a collection of brightly coloured building blocks, accelerators, roulettes, xylophone rails, see-saws and curved rails not to mention the transparent stairway and the four special control blocks which add additional elements of surprise, randomly distributing the marbles from every direction.

As your children’s engineering skills sore once the big build commences get family and friends involved as the interaction and co-operation between peers helps you work as a team to find the answers to allow the marble to run freely through the track.

Hape pride themselves on creating toys that are not just for play but to also aid learning. Something that is evidently in Super Spirals, to help children build and experiment with their own creativity. Encouraging 3-D thinking, forward planning, spatial reasoning, developing necessary engineering skills with hands on fun.

Using the finest natural materials and brightly coloured water based paints which match the energy and speed of the Super Spirals, Hape provide only the best for your child transforming your traditional wooden toys into something that leaves children with problems to be solved not unanswered questions – an investment that children can love and parents can trust!

Hape’s Super Spirals is available to buy online for £160.55 from Amazon.

MasterPieces Acquires Baby Fanatic

Tucson, AZ – (July 9, 2019) – MasterPieces, Inc. today announced the acquisition of Baby Fanatic, the leading sports licensed baby product company.

MasterPieces is uniquely positioned to bring the extensive line of baby products to a wider fan-base. The MasterPieces sales team will manage the existing Baby Fanatic retail customers as well as expand the availability of the products through its dynamic network of sports merchandise channels. In addition, online product sales availability will be linked into the MasterPiecesInc.com shop as well as directly from the existing www.BabyFanatic.com site.

David Rolls, President of MasterPieces, said, “Baby Fanatic has been an industry leader in sports team fan-gear for babies for over 15 years. We’re thrilled to add to our sports category with these exceptionally high-quality products.”

Appropriately, the acquisition allows a genuine fulfillment of the Baby Fanatic classic tagline, Where Little Ones Become Big Fans. MasterPieces now becomes a one-stop shop for sports fans to find fan gifts and gear suited for ages 0 to adult. “From pacifiers and sippy cups to games and playing cards, there is something for every sports fan,” Rolls said.

The Baby Fanatic line currently includes professional and collegiate sports team Bibs, Pacifiers, Bottles and Sippy Cups, Security Bear Blankets, adorable Pre-Walkers, and Gift Sets. Complementing the existing MasterPieces’ MLB, NFL, NHL and NCAA licenses, these new fan favorites will join the award-winning MasterPieces’ sports stadium panoramic puzzles, checkers, dominoes, playing cards, matching games, FANPANS bakeware, and many other toys, games and housewares accessories.

About Baby Fanatic: Grown from a love of kids and sports, Baby Fanatic has grown to become the premier manufacturer of officially licensed NFL, MLB, NHL, and collegiate baby and toddler products. In 2003, Baby Fanatic founder, Tricia Woodson, was looking for the perfect baby gift for a fellow sports fan. Tricia soon developed and presented to the market place a product line that quickly became the one-stop-shop for quality licensed baby goods. Sports fans cheered!

About MasterPieces: MasterPieces Inc. was founded in 1995 by David Rolls, a former 8-year minor league baseball player for the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers. Twenty-five years later, MasterPieces remains laser focused on the success of its retail customers to ensure the company’s growth and longevity. MasterPieces is now an established toy company focused on jigsaw puzzles, wood crafts, games, and sport licensed products. Headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, MasterPieces values long standing integral relationships with worldwide everlasting brands, the finest manufacturing facilities, and personal relationships with its network of vendors and employees. Committed to ensuring value, quality, and excellent customer service, MasterPieces has earned dedicated and worldwide consumer loyalty. For more information about MasterPieces, visit the company website at MasterPiecesInc.com and to interact with the company, please like and follow MasterPieces on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.

INTRODUCING THE SUPER SOFT SOPHIA BLANKET
from Wool Couture

Sophia Gigantic Felted Blanket – from £59.00

On chilly summer nights, the Sophia Blanket from Wool Couture is the perfect accessory to ensure you stay warm and cosy!

Made from the all new Gigantic Felt Yarn, combining 50% Super Soft Lambs Wool and 50% Romney Wool and spun in the heart of Yorkshire, this stunning blanket comes in eight fabulous colours – so it’s sure to suit everyone’s taste.

www.woolcouturecompany.com

LONDON BY LIGHT!

Iconic sign now available in Mini Underground Lightbox, exclusively from London Transport Museum shop

The globally recognised symbol of the UK’s capital is now available in a brand NEW Mini Underground Lightbox. On exclusive sale* from London Transport Museum shop (in store and online) the Mini Underground Lightbox is certain to light up any room it is placed in.

With a choice of interchangeable classic signs, ‘Mind The Gap’, ‘London’ or ‘Underground’, the free-standing lamp is certain to add a quintessentially London vibe. A quirky addition to your desk, lounge, bedroom, hallway or even as a welcome sign when visitors enter, the Mini Underground Lightbox is a must-have accessory for 2019.

Mini Underground Lightbox, £25 from the London Transport Museum shop at ltmuseumshop.co.uk
220mm x 180mm x 43mm

Show Stopping Candle Creations

For so long now candles have just been a low flickering light, a subtle scent and a nice jar in the corner of the room but there is more to it than that thanks to Icelandic designer Thorunn Arnadottir, founder of 54 Celsius.

Recognised for their abstract, geometric cute animal exterior, while they may look just like an innocuous wax ornament strike a match, light the wick and you will soon see Ugla the PyroPet Candle for what it really is. A truly theatrical performance to reveal an aluminium skeleton with fire glowing eyes.

Whether it’s a dinner party amongst friends or movie night for two, on the mantel piece or by the bedside table nothing sets the mood like candles do. So as the sun sets on a busy day in the office, let all your stresses and strains wash away. Just light the wick and watch Ugla slowly transform from an innocent, adorable looking owl to a brooding predator at it’s core.

Each Ugla PyroPet Candle comes beautifully packaged in a geometric printed gift box. A wonderful housewarming or birthday gift idea for he or she who takes great pride in their surroundings, to create a cosy, snug living space.

Measuring 4 x 4 x 4.3 inches in size, Ugla is available in two varying colors; Dusky Blue, a hue of timeless, elegance, for versatile usage round the home and Grey which offers a classic, sleek and refined aesthetic that molds to your surroundings effortlessly. Made from the highest quality each Ugla PyroPet Candle is made from Paraffin wax, with a cotton wick and aluminum skeleton.

Ugla (the Owl) is available to buy online for £22.00 from 54 Celsius.

We might just add from each of the PyroPet Candles, every one of the eight animal shaped candles including; Kisa (the Cat), Bíbí (the Bird), Hoppa (the Rabbit), Einar (the Unicorn), Dýri (the Deer), Dreki (the Dragon) and Voffi (the Dog) would make a Spooktacular addition to your home as Halloween festivities get underway. To find out more about the whole PyroPets range visit 54 Celsius.

WOOD IS GOOD

Shopping Trolley – £59.95

In honour of Plastic Free July, let your little one join you on your eco-friendly shopping trip with Le Toy Van’s stylish wooden Shopping Trolley.

Equipped with a cotton reusable ‘bag for life’, this is bound to teach them sustainable habits from a young age.

Write a list on the mini chalkboard, load up the trolley and push it around the supermarket – the Shopping Trolley will encourage creative long-lasting play and allow your little shopaholics to get lost in the world of make believe.

Le Toy Van believe in a world of play without plastic. Since 1995, Le Toy Van’s wooden toys and most packaging have been biodegradable, with the aim to be 100% plastic free by 2021.
Ethically made from sustainable tactile materials and painted with non-toxic paints, Le Toy Van has become a trusted partner in the world of wooden toys.

Le Toy Van – letoyvan.com

Rugby World Cup in Numbers: inc. 13m rugby fans in Japan, driving between stadiums takes 39 hours and England rank 2nd and 4th in the world for tries and points scored.

With just two months to go until Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, I wondered if you might be looking for exclusive comments and/or features from England Rugby Travel (www.2019.englandrugbytravel.com), GB’s exclusive travel agent for the tournament.

There are some fantastic pieces of content ready to use:

· Are You Japan Ready? is a great tool to learn more about Japan (there’s even a mini quiz at the end to see how prepared you are for your journey) – www.japanready.englandrugbytravel.com/

OmniFob™ by Keyport will be launching on Kickstarter on Wednesday, July 17th.

OmniFob is a smart key fob that transforms any standard keychain into a connected life remote.

www.omnifob.com

Open your garage, unlock your door, turn on your lights, start your car, find your keys, call for help, and more all in one very smart fob. OmniFob provides quick and easy one-handed access to your favorite connected functions – smart home, connected car, personal security

without having to lug around multiple cumbersome remotes,
without having to pull out your oversized smartphone each time, and
without having to use both hands when you’re on the go or have your hands full.

OmniFob also includes a built-in Bluetooth locator powered by Chipolo so that you never lose it.

Just click a button and control your everything.

With OmniFob, you can create your own ultimate everyday carry solution. Attach it to any keychain, clip it to your pocket, combine it with our Anywhere Tools modules, or connect it to one of our award-winning key organizers – Slide 3.0 or Pivot – for keys, tools, and tech all-in-one.

NOW MUSIC RELEASES PERFECT SUMMER AND THROWBACK ALBUMS WITH NOW 103 AND NOW 3

Release Date: 19th July 2019

RRP: £12.99

www.nowmusic.com/album/now-103/

NOW Music strikes the balance perfectly between a great tune and a throwback with NOW 103, its second numbered compilation album of the year. It features 44 chart-topping hits and treats listeners to a bonus four throwback tracks from NOW 3 making it the biggest two-disc NOW CD with more tracks than ever before. In addition, NOW Music will re-release NOW 3 in all its glory CD following on from the overwhelming demand for the classic hits of yesteryear.

Peter Duckworth, Managing Director of NOW Music said: “Our latest album, NOW 103, has 48 songs on its two CDs and that’s more songs than any (numbered) NOW album has ever had before. The reason that we can fit more songs on is simply that hit singles these days are on average shorter than at any time since the early days of the single, since the days of artists such as Elvis in the 1950s.”

The UK has recently reveled in a whole host of events from Glastonbury to Pride to the Women’s World Cup and NOW 103 continues to be the Nation’s musical time capsule, showcasing everything from historic Pyramid stage performer Stormzy (Vossi Bop) to Country Hip-Hop newcomer Little Nas X (Old Town Road) and representing powerful women everywhere the likes of P!nk (Can We Pretend) Billie Eilish (Bad Guy) and Little Mix (Bounce Back).

The album also celebrates this year’s biggest blockbuster movie soundtracks sung by some of the UK’s breakthrough actors including Taron Egerton’s version of Rocket Man, from the biopic of Elton John’s life and Himesh Patel’s version of Yesterday, from Richard Curtis’ latest Summer smash.

NOW 3, originally released in 1984 coincided with Prince making his acting debut in Purple Rain and is stuffed full of incredible cross-generational tunes from Queen I Want To Break Free, Tina Turner What’s Love Got To Do With It and The Weather Girl’s It’s Raining Men. Even Bananarama, The Guinness Book of Records’ most successful female group of all time, made their debut with Robert De Niro’s Waiting. On top of all that NOW 3 introduced fans to the famous Pig artwork which became synonymous with the brand and was a nod to the original Danish Bacon poster that gave way to the brand’s name.

From the original curators of pop music comes the NOW Music App, the only app with the most current chart toppers to the nostalgic superstars of the past four decades to the hottest breakthrough artists of 2019, and everything in-between. For only £4.99 a month with no contract and no adverts the NOW Music App is the easiest and most enjoyable way to access music on your mobile.

NOW 103 and NOW 3 are available in physical and digital format and on the NOW app.

NOW 103

TRACK LIST

CD1:

1. Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus – Old Town Road (Remix)
2. Ed Sheeran feat. Chance The Rapper & PnB Rock – Cross Me
3. Billie Eilish – bad guy
4. Avicii feat. Aloe Blacc – SOS
5. Katy Perry – Never Really Over
6. Ariana Grande – break up with your girlfriend, i’m bored
7. MEDUZA feat. Goodboys – Piece Of Your Heart
8. Stormzy – Vossi Bop
9. Shawn Mendes – If I Can’t Have You
10. Mark Ronson feat. Camila Cabello – Find U Again
11. Mabel – Mad Love
12. Sigala & Becky Hill – Wish You Well
13. P!nk feat. Cash Cash – Can We Pretend
14. Jess Glynne & Jax Jones – One Touch
15. Zara Larsson – Don’t Worry Bout Me
16. CamelPhat & Jake Bugg – Be Someone
17. Jax Jones, Martin Solveig & Madison Beer – All Day And Night – Jax Jones & Martin Solveig Present Europa
18. Martin Garrix feat. Macklemore & Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy – Summer Days
19. Little Mix – Bounce Back
20. Jonas Blue feat. Theresa Rex – What I Like About You
21. The Chainsmokers & 5 Seconds Of Summer – Who Do You Love
22. Miley Cyrus – Mother’s Daughter
23. Jonas Brothers – Cool
24. 5 Seconds Of Summer – Easier
25. Steel Banglez feat. AJ Tracey & MoStack – Fashion Week

CD2:

1. Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello – Señorita
2. Lewis Capaldi – Hold Me While You Wait
3. Ariana Grande & Victoria Monét – MONOPOLY
4. Avicii – Heaven
5. David Guetta feat. Raye – Stay (Don’t Go Away)
6. Bastille – Joy
7. Elton John & Taron Egerton – (I’m Gonna) Love Me Again (from “Rocketman”)
8. Kylie Minogue – New York City
9. Ellie Goulding – Sixteen
10. OneRepublic – Rescue Me
11. Dominic Fike – 3 Nights
12. Lighthouse Family – My Salvation
13. Emeli Sandé – Sparrow
14. Sam Fender – Hypersonic Missiles
15. Liam Gallagher – Shockwave
16. James Arthur – Falling Like The Stars
17. Westlife – Better Man
18. Taron Egerton – Rocket Man (from “Rocketman”)
19. Himesh Patel – Yesterday (from “Yesterday”)
20. Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel – White Lines (Don’t Do It) (BONUS: NOW 3 Throwback)
21. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Locomotion (BONUS: NOW 3 Throwback)
22. The Weather Girls – It’s Raining Men (BONUS: NOW 3 Throwback)
23. Nik Kershaw – I Won’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me (BONUS: NOW 3 Throwback)

NOW 3

TRACK LIST

CD1:

1. Duran Duran- The Reflex
2. Nik Kershaw- I Won’t Let The Sun Go Down
3. Sister Sledge- Thinking Of You
4. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark- Locomotion
5. Ultravox- Dancing With Tears In My Eyes
6. Howard Jones- Pearl In The Shell
7. Blancmange- Don’t Tell Me
8. Phil Collins- Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)
9. Frankie Goes To Hollywood- Two Tribes
10. Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five- White Lines (Don’t Do It) (Furious Five)
11. The Special AKA- Nelson Mandela
12. Womack & Womack- Love Wars
13. The Style Council- You’re The Best Thing
14. Bronski Beat- Smalltown Boy

CD2:

1. Queen- I Want To Break Free
2. Cyndi Lauper- Time After Time
3. Alison Moyet- Love Resurrection
4. The Bluebells- Young At Heart
5. Bananarama- Robert De Niro’s Waiting
6. Propaganda- Dr Mabuse
7. Tina Turner- What’s Love Got To Do With It
8. The Flying Pickets- When You’re Young And In Love
9. Wham- Wake Me Up Before You Go Go
10. The Thompson Twins- You Take Me Up
11. The Weather Girls- It’s Raining Men
12. The Art Company- Susanna
13. Madness- One Better Day
14. David Sylvian- Red Guitar

Ed Sheeran’s new album 7/4 to be most successful yet

Friday 12th July 2019 – Ed Sheeran’s new album ‘No.6 Collaborations Project’ is 7/4 with Betway to be the singer’s most successful to date.

The 15-song album features collaborations with a number of music’s biggest stars including Eminem and Justin Bieber and the odds suggest it could have more sales than the 3.3 million that ‘X’ had.

Betway also offer just 1/3 that between one and five singles from the album go to number one in the UK, while it’s 3/1 that between five and ten top the charts.

Betway’s Alan Alger said: “The wait is over for the next collection of Ed Sheeran tracks, and with all the big names involved we think this could be his biggest success to date.

“Sheeran’s second album, ‘X’, smashed the charts with 3.3 million sales in the UK and it’s just 7/4 for ‘No.6 Collaborations Project’ to surpass that.

“One of the 15 tracks on the album, ‘I Don’t Care’ with Justin Bieber, has already hit the number one spot, and it’s odds-on at 1/3 for Sheeran to score at least five UK chart-toppers. The possibility of him scooping five to ten number ones isn’t out of the question either at 3/1.”

Betway – Specials – Music

How many UK number one singles from album:

1-5
1/3

5-10
3/1

10-15
16/1

Best ever selling Ed Sheeran album in the UK (3.3m sales)
7/4

Memento Exclusives

Best of British – Silverstone Heroes

Lewis Hamilton 2019 1:2 Scale Helmet

www.mementoexclusives.com