Christmas Gift Guides / Ideas For Everyone Special Part 3

Lovebox, the world’s first love note messenger that uses technology to nudge people into brightening their loved ones’ days. lovebox.love

Give the gift of a Lovebox this holiday season to those you hold dear. Known as the world’s first love note messenger, the Lovebox allows you to brighten someone else’s day from a distance. With multiple options to choose from, you can select a customizable box for your significant other, parent, grandparent, or friend. Each physical device pairs with our mobile app to send your loved ones photos, colored messages, stickers, and drawings. Your loved one can then send you back a waterfall of hearts on the app by spinning the heart on the outside of the box. It’s the perfect gift to show your affection.

Founder Bio
Jean Gregoire is a French inventor, engineer, founder, and CEO of Lovebox. Jean was born in France and studied engineering and entrepreneurship in Paris. After graduating with his Ph.D., he moved to Boston to join MIT as a postdoctoral researcher in robotics. Jean initially invented the Lovebox to stay emotionally connected with his fiance and family living in France. Jean quickly identified a broad need for technology solutions to nurture relationships, and he left MIT to start a company with this mission.

The Lovebox is a connected, messaging device that pairs with an app to go beyond regular communication and deliver special expressions of affection. Since 2016, over 150,000 devices have been sold worldwide, and 500,000+ love notes are exchanged every month. In 2021, the company launched a standalone mobile app to nudge even more people into brightening their loved ones’ days, whether they have a Lovebox device or not.
Lovebox.love

In Your Dog House Gifts… Dog Products, gifts and homeware.. .#ecofriendly, #sustainable #BuyBritish #shoplocal #supportindy inyourdoghousegifts.com

IYDHG is a British company representing small independent UK designers who make high quality dog themed products for a large variety of different dog breeds.

Created by dog lovers for dog lovers we provide a personal, friendly & professional service.

In Your Dog House is an online marketplace for Great British designers & producers of high quality, stylish products for dog lovers. 100% of our profits go towards finding ways for people to enjoy the company of dogs.

In Your Dog House is the proud sponsor of the #GreatDogWalkTogether, The aim is to find ways for more people to enjoy the company of dogs to promote wellbeing.
Please join the Great Dog Walk Together Facebook group for more details.

Quality British made dog products, gifts and homeware all made by small independent UK designers.
.#ecofriendly, #sustainable #BuyBritish #shoplocal #supportindy
https://www.inyourdoghousegifts.com/

CHRISTMAS HAIRCARE ALL WRAPPED UP

Gorgeous, glossy locks are always at the top of our Christmas wish list. But turning mangled manes into crowning glories can be hard work; hours of styling and 101 products later, our hair can look dull and feel dry. Well, not anymore, thanks to Neäl & Wølf’s nourishing Christmas collections, featuring salon-approved bestsellers to make your haircare wishes come true.

The BLONDE Collection:
Neäl & Wølf BLONDE Shampoo & Conditioner Duo, RRP £27.00 £22.00

Brassiness and dullness stealing your shine? Get your brilliance back with Neäl & Wølf’s blonde-enhancing duo, infused with intense violet pigment to help kick brassy tones for a bold, bright and beautiful finish.
https://www.nealandwolf.com/products/blonde-purple-shampoo-conditioner-christmas-gift-set

The HARMONY Collection:
Neäl & Wølf HARMONY Shampoo & Treatment, RRP £33.50 £26.80

Cold, winter air can wreak havoc on your hair. Luckily, this intensive care duo works in harmony to inject shine into each strand, leaving damaged hair softer, stronger, and beautifully healthy-looking this Christmas.
https://www.nealandwolf.com/products/harmony-intensive-shampoo-treatment-christmas-gift-set-1

The RITUAL Collection:
Neäl & Wølf RITUAL Shampoo & Conditioner Duo, RRP £27.00 £22.00

Purify and prepare your hair for a season of perfect styling with Neäl & Wølf’s carefully crafted, daily cleansing duo. It’s enriched with nourishing proteins and shea extract, designed to reduce flyaways so you can revel in the radiance of clean, luscious locks.
https://www.nealandwolf.com/products/ritual-daily-shampoo-conditioner-christmas-gift-set-1

The CLEANSE & TREAT Collection:
Neäl & Wølf RITUAL Shampoo & HARMONY Treatment, RRP £30.00 £24.00

Hair feeling limp and lacklustre between salon appointments? A luxurious treatment might be all you need to revive parched strands and regain your shine. Neäl & Wølf’s deeply nourishing duo is uniquely formulated to refresh and repair damaged hair, leaving it soft, silky and ready for styling.
https://www.nealandwolf.com/products/cleanse-treat-ritual-shampoo-harmony-treatment-christmas-gift-set

For fabulously healthy hair all year round, head over to www.nealandwolf.com.

The Christmas Gift for Coffee Lovers that Gives Back Treat the coffee lover in your life to a gift they’ll really appreciate this Christmas: a year of amazing coffee to brighten their day throughout 2022.

Choose from a three, six or 12-month subscription to start them on their specialty coffee journey. The lucky recipient can then tailor their plan to their tastes and preferred brewing method. Loves caramel notes brewed in an aeropress? Perfect! Prefers a floral filter coffee. Fantastic!
They can then rate their coffees in their online journal to receive their favourites more often and discover new blends perfectly matched to their taste. What’s more, all six or 12-month gift subscriptions purchased for Christmas will come with a free Beans Coffee Club branded Keep Cup so they can enjoy their caffeine hit on the go!
So much more than just fresh coffee, a subscription to Beans Coffee Club is a voyage of discovery with 15 of the best UK roasters ready to share their coffee and passion.
As well as new coffees dropping through their letterbox, the recipient can also enjoy coffee masterclasses and
access live events to immerse them in the world of coffee.
A subscription to Beans Coffee Club also includes a donation to Project Waterfall helping to bring clean water, sanitation and education to coffee-growing communities across the globe. From tired parents fuelling their way through their sleep-deprivation to coffee connoisseurs who prefer their coffee sans caffeine, there’s a Beans Coffee Club subscription for everyone. The Gift Voucher Subscription can be emailed directly to the recipient, perfect for long-distance family and friends or a contact-free care package.

Three-month gift subscription: £34.99
(includes a £2 donation to Project
Waterfall)
Six-month gift subscription: £69.99
(includes a £3 donation to Project
Waterfall)
12-month gift subscription: £139.99
(includes a £4 donation to Project
Waterfall)

Finding the Purr-fect present for your cat this Christmas.

Here’s one for all the cat lovers who are feline-festive! From budget-friendly to budget-blowing gifts, ProtectaPet has something to suit all cat owners this Christmas. The cat safety and wellbeing company, based in Stoke on Trent have
put together a list of their favourite products that will help ensure cats across the country are well and truly spoilt this festive season!

Looking for the ideal stocking filler?
This beautiful but simple ProtectaPet handmade toy mouse is stuffed with high-quality Canadian Cat Nip that will drive your cat crazy and keep them entertained for hours! Sewn in Wales, the toy mouse comes in a variety of colours and is available for only £7! This very affordable toy will soon become a firm favourite with
your cat.

Clawing into homes this Christmas…
No Christmas Gift Guide would be complete without a ProtectaPet’s Wall Mounted Cat Scratching post. Ask any new or existing cat owner and they’re bound to mention scratching as a sticking point to owning a cat. However, save your sofa and other soft furnishings with this South American Sisal Rope (that can be replaced when it starts to get worn
down!) and Anodised Aluminium Post. Designed for outdoor use for creating enriching spaces, it can be mounted to the wall. There are also varying sizes available starting at 35cm going up to 1.3m, which can be used as a climber.

Prices start from £28.
The gift of the outdoors with ProtectaPet Cat fence barrier. For any cat owner, safety is paramount. Any fears of nearby roads or house cats escaping into the outdoors can be firmly put to rest as the ProtectaPet Cat fence barrier will help keep your cat safe all year round.
Designed and manufactured in Britain, the barrier is installed discreetly by connecting to existing garden fences or walls. Rounded corners ensure safety and the durable cat mesh has been designed to protect even the most agile breeds.
The kit allows for minimal maintenance once installed and the black gloss powder-coat allows for long-life use.
Prices start from £200 for a 10m kit and are available to buy as a DIY option. Alternatively, a professional installation service is also available.
Ultimate safety and luxury with the ProtectaPet Steel-framed Catio.
If you’re still worried that you have a little four-legged houdini, a Catio may just be the thing for you!
The ‘chew guard’ and high tensile polymesh is highly durable and discreet. A magnetic ‘paw proof’ latch allows for easy and secure closing, and many owners add additional stimulation items within their catios such as shelves and scratchers. .
Standard kit sizes are available and start at £850.
However bespoke options to fit those more trickier areas are available with professional installation.
Please visit the ProtectaPet website for more information.

SKEGNESS PIER LAUNCHES SUPER-SAVINGS!
THE SEASIDE VENUE IS OFFERING GUESTS AN IMPRESSIVE HALF PRICE OFF ACTIVITIES THIS NOVEMBER

One of the UK’s favourite seaside attractions, Skegness Pier is excited to announce its upcoming ‘November Madness’ deals at the family-fun venue.
Skegness Pier is guaranteeing this November is full of fun and belly laughs by offering half price off its attractions when visiting throughout the week.
Whether tackling the climbing walls at the state of the art, Clip ‘n Climb climbing centre, facing off with frenemies for a game of laser quest, taking to the lanes at the pier’s stylish 10-pin bowling area, or letting the little ones loose in Captain Kid’s, Skegness Pier is letting families spend quality time with each other on a purse-friendly budget this winter.
Paige Harris, Head of Marketing at Skegness Pier, said: “To thank all our customers for their continued support throughout the year, we’ve slashed our prices by a massive 50%.
“This mega deal is the perfect treat for all our guests, so we cannot wait to see them enjoying these super savings whilst having an amazing time at all our fun attractions”.
Head down to Skegness this winter and take advantage of this special steal each midweek for an afternoon of unforgettable memories at the iconic, Skegness Pier.

NOVEMBER DEALS
• Monday to Thursday, between 3pm – 9pm – 50% off Clip ‘n’ Climb, Captain Kids, 10-pin Bowling and Laser Quest
For further information and to purchase your discounted wristband, please visit the Skegness Pier website: skegnesspier.co.uk/

New Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Board Game With Digital Lifelines

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
Bring home the dollars with the popular game show and go head-to-head with your family and friends in the race to reach £1 million. Relive classic moments from the show and tackle the iconic money ladder using only your wits and digital lifelines (accessible through a smart device) to reach the top. But watch out! Get a question wrong and you fall back to your closest safety point. Do you have what it takes to win a (virtual) million?
Great fun for family game night or date nights you can see who has the skills to reach the top and claim the virtual pounds. Based on the popular game show this board game provides endless fun and excitement as you test your knowledge.
The Ginger Fox Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Board Game costs £29.99 from Smyths

Let’s Stay Healthy!

New Groundbreaking Picture Book!

Bestselling author, Bracha Goetz, helps children (and adults 😊) easily make healthy choices about eating less junk food, enjoying more exercise, getting enough sleep – and even good hygiene! With this treasure in your home to read over and over again, children can now clearly and cheerfully understand how – and why – to enjoy healthier habits that strengthen their immune systems!

“After getting this book, my children now WANT to put fruit and nuts in their lunches instead of junk!”

Here it is on Amazon: www.amazon.com/gp/product/1737094002/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2

Breastfeeding Blanket Hoodie £80

A perfect treat for a mum to be, or a breastfeeding mama.

It’s everything you would expect from a blanket hoodie – oversized, Sherpa-lined, a huge front pocket for toasty hands (and the odd dummy). But with two perfectly angled hidden zips on the front, it’s now super practical for us breastfeeding mamas, too. Get ready for the snuggliest feed ever!

This item will available soon from my online shop www.cleolaluna.com

Almost Award Winning Christmas Carols
Holiday Hilarity by Don Allison

A perfect and inexpensive way to create some holiday levity is the book “Almost Award Winning Christmas Carols: Holiday Hilarity by Don Allison”, a Faded Banner Publications title.

These are so thought-provoking the title is even censored on Amazon, at least for the e-book. That’s right, the Amazon e-book title is Almost [Censored] Christmas Carols!

How, you may ask, are these almost award-winning Christmas carol lyrics?
For going on two decades, veteran journalist, editor and author Don Allison has created modern lyrics set to the tunes of our most popular classic carols as part of his long running On My Mind column in The Bryan Times daily newspaper. Although the carol lyrics themselves have not received any awards, Don’s On My Mind columns have received overall honors in the annual Ohio Associated Press contest. So it’s no joke – well, actually the lyrics are nothing but one big joke – the carols really are almost award winning.
These lyrics shed a humorous light on our modern holiday traditions, trials and tribulations.
Readers tell Don they look forward to the Christmas carol column each year, and one reader was so taken by the lyrics that she asked for permission to perform them in a holiday skit!

Here’s a quick sample:
It’s the first week of Christmas, the earliest we’ve seen,
I’m still waiting for Halloween …
It’s the fifth week of Christmas, the sales we must explore.
It’s election day but Santa’s in the stores …

Or this:
We Can’t Wait
(To the tune of “Jingle Bells”)
We don’t need no turkey, no cranberry sauce.
Family can be spurned, it’s time for Santa Claus.
Black Friday into Thursday, very much has spread.
You might as well say Thanksgiving
As a holiday is dead.
Oh, we can’t wait, we can’t wait,
We can’t wait to buy.
So just forget Thanksgiving,
A tradition that can die. …

Only $7.99

fadedbanner.com/christmas-comedy

Owen Scott Bespoke collaborates with Ellesse to produce world’s first tailored tracksuit

Huddersfield-based tailors Owen Scott Bespoke has collaborated with sports fashion brand Ellesse to produce a one-of-a-kind, smart-casual tailored tracksuit which can be worn in the boardroom or a bar – or even on the football pitch sidelines.

Scott Hufton founded Owen Scott Bespoke in 2010 and has established a name for the brand making bespoke suits for both businesspeople and sports stars. He names Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Anthony Crolla as some of his clients, and his signature orange detailing, and scissor lapel pin have been seen on TV screens around the world.

Having witnessed the success of the brand, Ellesse’s commercial team approached Scott in 2020 about a collaboration – and he offered to design and produce a smart-casual suit which wouldn’t go amiss in any working environment, or even a sports pitch.

The result is a collection which combines the ease, comfort, and convenience of wearing a tracksuit with the sharp style of a suit.

The collection – named Sarto Collezione – is cut from high-quality Italian stretch fabric in navy blue, with an orange half lined jacket, tulip pockets and orange collar detailing. But this is where tradition ends and unique casual styling begins, with a muscle fit to the product, ribbed wrist and ankle cuffs, a stretch drawstring waist on the trousers and the removable gilet that provides a fashion-forward alternative to a formal shirt. It is also crease-resistant.

Owen Scott Bespoke website:
www.owenscott.co.uk/store/category/owenscott-ellese/

Viva Valeria is jewellery brand based in the UK, jewellery brand that emerged during the third lockdown.

Our top sold items are from our Personalised Edit collection. Spoil yourself with the “Everyday I’m Sparkling” necklace loaded with AAA quality CZ or the “Princess Silver 925” with birthstone necklace. Personalised jewellery make the perfect gift for friends and families, a gift they will cherish forever.
Complete your OOTD look with a sprinkle of sparkle!

Website: www.vivavaleria.co.uk
Instagram: www.instagram.com/vivavaleria.jwl

FORGET CRANBERRIES, BRING OUT THE
BLUEBERRIES THIS CHRISTMAS

Shake up the festive merriment this Christmas and get ready to welcome an exciting new tipple to enjoy over the holiday period. Step aside traditional wine brands crafted from grapes, there’s an exciting new player on the block with a fabulous array of award-winning English wines made purely and simply from British-grown blueberries.

Blue Aurora is made exclusively in the UK, using blueberries carefully grown at the family-run Lutton Farm in Northamptonshire – all handpicked by a team of skilled pickers.

There are three sumptuous uber fruity wines to tempt your taste buds:

Dusk

A medium dry, medium bodied blueberry wine with a crisp, fresh and deliciously fruity zing. Best chilled for 30 minutes before opening. Awarded Bronze at the Northamptonshire Food & Drinks Awards 2020 /21 – Artisan local drink. Gluten free and suitable for vegans. 75cl. Alc 11% vol. £11.95. Blue Aurora’s lightest blueberry wine and perfect for taking the edge off heavy Christmas food with its bright acidity and lovely fruit flavours.

Tasting notes
Nose: hedgerow mulberry & blackberry with a delicate hint of violet and rosemary.
Palate: fresh, clean and bright. The palate is full of dark berries with the crisp acidity balancing the slight residual sweetness. Subtle herbal aftertaste.
Finish: long, lingering, flavourful finish with a small kick of tannins.

Some suggested food pairings:
Small plates: serrano ham, olives, stuffed cherry peppers, sundried tomatoes.
Starter: ham hock terrine, asparagus wrapped in prosciutto or cheese stuffed Portobello mushrooms.
Post-Christmas Picky Tea: Graze on all the best tasty morsels left over from the big day including plenty of flavoursome cheese!

Midnight

As the name suggests an exquisite more intense, oak infused, beautifully rich and full bodied medium dry blueberry wine. Best served at room temperature, open the bottle 30 minutes before tasting to allow the wine to breathe. Awarded Bronze at its debut at the IWSC (International Wine & Spirit Competition) 2021. Awarded Bronze at the Northamptonshire Food & Drinks Awards 2020/ 21 – Artisan local drink. Gluten free and suitable for vegans. 75cl. Alc 11% vol. £11.95.

Tasting notes
Nose: ripe cherry and plum with a subtle hint of vanilla and thyme.
Palate: full bodied, ripe rich berries on a bed of vanilla notes and a slight warming spice.
Finish: Long smooth finish, with a healthy kick of tannin.

Some suggested food pairings:
Small plates: chorizo, mature cheddar, salted pretzels, honey & mustard sausages.
Starter: caramelised onion & goats cheese tart, chicken liver parfait or baked camembert.
Christmas main: perfectly pink Beef Wellington, traditional turkey or a flavoursome nut roast.

Ice Wine

A beautifully sweet and intensely fruity blueberry wine that delivers a sublime velvety smooth sensation on the tongue. Chill for an hour before serving. Awarded Silver at its debut at the IWSC (International Wine & Spirit Competition) 2021. Awarded Gold at the Northamptonshire Food & Drinks Awards 2020 / 2021 – Artisan local drink. Gluten free and suitable for vegans. 37.5cl. Alc 10.5% vol. £17.95. Enjoy as an aperitif with sparkling wine or as the perfect alternative to a traditional Port or Sherry.

Tasting notes:
Nose: dark berries and red fruits with a delicate hint of candied violet and rose petal.
Palate: velvety smooth and devilishly pure, ripe berry notes reminiscent of kirsch or blueberry jam.
Finish: the refreshing acidity lifts the sweet finish.

Some suggested food pairings:
Small plates: Christmas canapes such as brie topped with cranberry; stilton & walnut; smoked salmon and beetroot and goat’s cheese blinis.
Dessert: warm chocolate brownie with a raspberry compote or sticky toffee pudding!!
Post festive dinner: works wonderfully with all manner of after-dinner treats such as a decadent cheeseboard or a generous helping of Christmas pudding.

Seasonal Blueberry Cocktail anyone?

‘Tis the season to celebrate so, this year why not add a dash of Blueberry pizzazz to your repertoire of cocktails?

Blueberry Royale

Blue Aurora English Blueberry Ice Wine
Champagne or sparkling wine of your choice
Fresh English Blueberries

Method:
1. Pour a generous glug of Blueberry Ice Wine into the bottom of your Champagne flute, then fill to the top with your favourite sparkling wine.
2. Garnish with two or three fresh English blueberries

Blueberry & Basil Mojito

20ml Blue Aurora English Blueberry Ice wine
60 ml White rum
Juice of a lime
1 tsp granulated or brown sugar
Basil leaves
Mint leaves
Soda water
Blueberries to serve
Ice

Method:
1. Muddle the lime juice, sugar and several basil & mint leaves together in a jug, then place the mixture into a tall glass over ice.
2. Pour over the rum and the Blue Aurora Blueberry Ice wine and top up with soda water. Add in the rest of the basil & mint leaves, a generous handful of blueberries and give it all a bloomin’ good mix!

Magical Mulled Midnight

For four people, you will need:
1 bottle Blue Aurora English Blueberry Midnight wine
250 ml orange juice
2 oranges sliced
2 cinnamon sticks
4 cloves
2-star anise
75g sugar
Slug of Blue Aurora Ice (optional but very much recommended)

Method:
Slice your orange and stud the skin with the cloves
Add the orange and all other ingredients to a pan. Drench everything with your bottle of Midnight and bring to a gentle simmer (don’t boil or you will lose all that lovely warming alcohol)
Simmer for 20 minutes, making sure all the sugar has dissolved
Serve your magical Mulled Midnight hot in glasses or mugs and enjoy!

A Berry-Delicious Christmas gift

Share the love this Christmas and introduce friends and family to the wonderful world of blueberry wine by gifting a Blue Aurora mixed case comprising a bottle of Dusk, Midnight & Ice.

Visit www.blueaurorawine.co.uk to place your order. Last date for Christmas deliveries: 17th December.

Deliveries to the UK excluding Northern Ireland, free delivery on orders over £70 (or £8 delivery charge).

ALWRLD is a sustainable athletic clothing company dedicated to reducing their footprint, while providing high performance products for high performing athletes and workout enthusiasts! All products are made from recycled, natural, and biodegradable materials and are manufactured at their Gold WRAP certified factory, ensuring ethical and responsible business standards. As athletes and responsible citizens, the creators of ALWRLD decided to combine the world of athletic wear with sustainability. Not only is ALWRLD mindful of our planet, they offer the utmost quality and style for your activewear needs.

WLDKAT is a clean, sustainable, vegan skincare brand perfect for amping up your skincare routine this holiday season. The brand believes in leaving people, places and all things better than the way we found it, and not only are the products natural, the packaging is made from recycled materials and made in the USA to limit their carbon footprint. From the STARFLOWER + SNOW MUSHROOM ultra hydrating sleep mask to GINGER + KOMBUCHA skin tonic, WLDKAT has all your beauty needs and will keep you glowing all season long. Now with a new look, lower prices and the removal of CBD, these products are the perfect gift for the skincare royalty of the family!

In Common is a new environmentally conscious clothing brand for the common good, built for a community surrounding progress and positivity. In common Believes in making sustainability affordable for all, which is why they design basics for modern everyday living. Together, we can take small but meaningful actions that make the world a brighter place. Their first launch includes womens underwear for men and women and the world’s first non-toxic bra!

Christmas Gift Offers:
• 20 per cent discount on a room design by interior designer and TV presenter Julia Kendell
• Free tickets to Homebuilding & Renovating Shows in Farnborough (15-16 January 2022) and Birmingham (24-27 March 2022)

Room Design Discount
Having access to one of the UK’s leading interior designers to help you create your perfect home is easier and less expensive than you think. This is the perfect gift for anyone embarking on a renovation or refurbishment in 2022. Let celebrity designer Julia Kendell take the stress away and design a beautifully considered scheme for any room in your home. The online process is easy and fun and the results are sure to exceed your expectations! Get a Christmas discount of 20 per cent off all room packages until 31 January 2022. For more information and to contact Julia Kendell go to: www.virtualroomdesignservice.com/
Julia is the design expert at the South East Homebuilding & Renovating Show and is best known as the interior designer on BBC1’s hugely popular DIY SOS, and as a regular on ITV1’s 60 Minute Makeover series, and ITV’s Rebuild Our Home. She has regularly contributed to GMTV, This Morning, Live with Gabby, BBC Breakfast and the Alan Titchmarsh Show. Julia has just launched a new Virtual Room Design Service to provide her interior expertise online to those needing help to create well-functioning and fabulous rooms.
Free tickets to Homebuilding & Renovating Shows
The Homebuilding & Renovating Shows bring together thousands of products from hundreds of exhibitors and provide free daily seminars and masterclasses offering specialist advice on financial services, planning permissions, home extensions and conversions, eco and heating, architecture and design.
If you are planning a home build or renovation this is a great opportunity to seek inspiration, get practical advice and review the quality of products in person. Get two free tickets for any day of the shows by using this link: farnborough.homebuildingshow.co.uk/pr-christmas
South East Homebuilding & Renovating Show, Farnborough Exhibition Centre, 15-16 January 2022
National Homebuilding & Renovating Show, NEC, Birmingham, 24-27 March 2022

Please ‘like’ me…

It takes 5 meetings, 161 days, 29 private messages and 20 ‘likes’ to become a friend

• New data looks at the new rules of engagement for making friends as figures show the average person has 5 friends they’ve never met face-to-face
• Half of people in the UK now make friends on the internet – even over 65s have two friends they’ve never met in person
• A quarter of millennials (25-34 year-olds) say they now only make friends online
• Friendship Expert Kate Leaver reveals how the mechanics for making friends have changed, leaving many behind

It will not only take people an average of 5 meetings and 161 days for someone to consider them an official friend, but also 29 private messages and 20 ‘likes’ of their social media posts, according to new research out today.

The study by Konnect shows how rules of engagement for fledgling friendships are changing, as the average Briton now has 5 friends they’ve never met face-to-face.

In fact, a tenth (9 per cent) of people told researchers they make all of their new friends online, with a quarter (26 per cent) of millennials (25 – 34) saying they only ever make friends thanks to the internet.

Older generations aren’t alien to this either, with the average 45 – 54-year-old friendly with 5 people they’ve never met and those aged 65 and over having two such relationships.

The way we all make friends is changing so quickly that almost half (48 per cent) of all adults in the UK now make at least some of their friends through the internet.

Friendship through the ages
Millennials, those aged between 25 – 34, are the most reliant on the internet for forming friendships with just 18 per cent saying they never make friends online.

In fact, these millennials are also those with the most friendships with people they have never met face-to-face, 11 on average.

But online friendships are by no means exclusive to younger generations: Half (50 per cent) of those aged 65+ say acquaintances will have to ‘like’ at least some of their social media posts before they consider their friendship ‘official’.

On average, it will take those of retirement age 6 meetings, 181 days, 14 private messages and 9 social media ‘likes’ to class someone a friend.

According to the researchers, it takes longer to become friends with anyone in their mid-forties (208 days) and mid-fifties (219 days) than any other age group.

This compares to just 52 days for the youngest generation in the study, those aged 18 – 24.

As the UK’s loneliness epidemic continues, Friendship Expert, Kate Leaver, says it is vital that everybody in society is given the tools they need to make friends in the modern day.

She says: “The world has changed in the past 18 months, in so many frightening ways.

“A lot of us have noticed that our friendships have either become more precious and intense, or fallen by the wayside in the scramble to keep ourselves safe, make a living, look after our families and deal with a rapidly changing world.

“We’re now seeing people across all age groups and demographics appreciating the benefits and loveliness of connecting with people properly online.
“As we deal with isolation, working from home, changing social priorities and the logistics of modern life, we all deserve to have the tools to access friendships online.”
She, gives this advice for not falling foul of the new rules for engagement:

• Work out what your digital love language is with each of your friends. Some relationships need frequent, casual contact to maintain; others require long, meaningful chats, but less often. It really helps to know who needs what and be open about which format of communication you can handle on any particular day.
• Some of your friends might like to exchange memes and Tik Toks incessantly, others might prefer a personalised podcast in the form of a long, rambling voice note on WhatsApp. Sometimes you’ll need to keep your chat in text form, for mental health or time management reasons. Video call is wonderful, but Zoom fatigue is real and we have to just respect each other’s energy constraints.
• Try being vulnerable and honest with the people you trust. Especially if you’re not meeting in person quite as much, it helps to up the openness and candour of your digital conversations so you can still access that lovely intimacy and chemistry we need from our friendships.
• Don’t be afraid to make new friends online. The internet is obviously fantastic for reconnecting with people from a long time ago, and checking in with old friends, but it’s also a great way to make new friends. That could mean interacting with someone on Twitter because you share the same interests (maybe you both follow the #FreeBritney hashtag or enjoy swapping Harry Styles facts, for example) or perhaps you actually download an app like Bumble with the express purpose of meeting new people (they have a BFF setting to find platonic connections).

James Soames, Global Marketing Director for Konnect said: “Over the past year there’s been much focus on how reliable internet connections, especially in rural areas, are needed to support working from home help us stay connected to our friends and family.

But it’s been overlooked how important the internet can be in making solid relationships in the first place, especially at a time when we’re still feeling disconnected from normality.

“Although we continue to move towards a pre-pandemic life, our behaviours have changed and the research shows this by highlighting just how important the internet is in helping us make connections with people old and new.

“What’s great is there’s no need for anyone to struggle with a poor internet service no matter where they live, satellite broadband from Konnect provides a great option for those beyond the fibre footprint to receive affordable internet allowing them to enjoy the things they love with ease.”

Konnect is available throughout the UK and is currently offering a free 60 day home trial with no quibble cancellation and free standard installation. Just pay £1 activation fee. To find out more and check out the latest offers, visit: www.konnect.com.

Saarashades are unisex sunglasses with handmade wood arms, with “be a good human” engraved on the inner right temple. Our collections include both polarized and non- polarized options. (We even have a few rainbow pairs made of recycled skate boards 🛹)

Our sale is live, and will run through Cyber Monday. Use code “Black Friday” for buy one get one 50% off.

The Bearnola Bites from Charlee Bear are everything they’re baked up to be and perfectly sized for training or just for fun. These natural treats are crafted with real oats, honey and vanilla right here in the USA. Made without soy, corn, artificial flavors or preservatives, each crunchy cluster is bursting with irresistible aroma and taste. Available in fun holiday-themed flavors like Pumpkin Spice and Cranberry Cobbler, plus Blueberry Pie and PB & Honey. Thanks to Charlee Bear, granola isn’t just for pet owners anymore!

Charlee Bear’s Grain Free Meaty Bites are the perfect stocking stuffer! These raw, freeze-dried meat treats are comprised of only two wholesome ingredients: a protein and a fruit or vegetable, plus added probiotics! Made in the USA by a family-owned company, these natural treats do not contain any soy, grains, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Available in six mouthwatering flavors, including festive Chicken & Cranberries and Beef Liver & Sweet Potatoes.

Hound & Gatos wet food for dogs and cats have limited ingredients but unlimited taste. They feature 98+% protein from real animal sources for a complete and balanced meal to meet the nutritional needs of all ages and breeds. Made in the USA by a family owned company, they’re offered in flavors, like Duck & Liver, Gamebird Poultry and Turkey & Liver, so you can give your pet the holiday feast they deserve!

Award-winning dog bakery, Four Legged Fancies, has launched a new range of treats for pooches this festive season and I wondered if you’d be interested in including them in your Xmas gift guide?

ICED BISCUIT GIFT BOXES – £13 per box
• Natural and wheat free biscuits individually decorated by hand with special sugar free doggy icing.
• No use of additives or preservatives and all colouring comes from natural fruit and vegetables.
• Can be personalised with your doggie’s name
• Available to purchase from www.fourleggedfancies.co.uk

SNOW GLOBE BISCUITS – £5.50 each
• Wheat free biscuits made from our bestselling cheese recipe
• Each snow globe is then decorated by hand and personalised with your doggie’s name
• Available to purchase from www.fourleggedfancies.co.uk

Soho Street Cocktails. Small Batch Craft Cocktails… www.sohostreetcocktails.com

Soho Street Cocktails. Creating bar quality, small-batch cocktails to drink at home. Simply pour, shake, serve and enjoy.

Soho Street Cocktails makes the perfect gift. Many of us are drinks and cocktail lovers but absolutely do not want the stress of buying all the ingredients and recreating our favourite cocktail at home. This is where Soho Street Cocktails changes everything – all you have to do is shake, pour and serve!

Soho Street Cocktails
Soho Street Cocktails is a new brand that is revolutionising the ready-to-drink cocktail market. Each of their small-batch, craft cocktails delivers on bar-standard flavour and consistency for a fraction of the effort and price. These RTD cocktails have been handcrafted with a ‘taste-first’ approach, made with high-quality ingredients and no artificial flavours or colourings. The current Soho Street Cocktails range includes a Passionstar Martini, Espresso Martini, Raspberry Daiquiri, and a Piña Colada, which all come in quantities of 1.5 litres and range from 9.5-12% ABV.
£20.79 Comesto

Soho Street Cocktails |
Soho Street Cocktails is a new brand that is revolutionising the ready-to-drink cocktail market.
Each of their small-batch, craft cocktails delivers on bar-standard flavour and consistency for
a fraction of the effort and price.

Founded by Paul Scarratt, who has over 27 years of experience in the drinks industry, Soho
Street Cocktails aims to bring about the premiumisation of at-home cocktails. They currently
offer zero-waste pouches of the following: Passionstar Martini, Espresso Martini and
Raspberry Daiquiri. To enjoy any of their drinks, all you need to do is pour, shake and serve!
Paul says, “Soho Street Cocktails came about as an inspired alternative to the overly sweet
and low-quality cocktails available on the market. They are perfect for anyone who wants a
high-quality drink without all the ingredients and equipment that comes alongside it.”
The concept behind the name comes from the desire to pay homage to London and the drinks
created there. Both the Espresso Martini and the Pornstar Martini were created in Soho, by
drinks legends Dick Bradsell and Douglas Ankrah, respectively. Soho is a vibrant and decadent
place, filled with iconic cocktail bars, and Soho Street Cocktails seeks to replicate this energy
in their products.

There is truly nothing with this level of expertise and convenience out there, from the NFC
(not from concentrate) ingredients to the long shelf life, Soho Street Cocktails is set to become
one of the biggest names in ready-to-drink cocktails.

All Soho Street Cocktails are available in a 1.5L pouch and are between 9.5 – 12% ABV.
https://sohostreetcocktails.com

F: Soho Street Cocktails / I: @sohostreetcocktails
Please drink Soho Street Cocktails responsibly.

Gift for Her (Custom-Fit Tablecloth) for Mother’s Day and even Valentine’s Day ! www.loomandtable.com Custom Made Table Linenes… so gorgeous especially for foodie lovers…… www.loomandtable.com

This holiday season, there’s one thing every foodie or hostess needs to elevate their dining experience: Loom & Table’s sumptuous, custom-fit table linens. Prices begin at $89, and they’re available online at https://www.loomandtable.com.

Whether your looking for an everyday go-to or something to keep guests talking even after the party, Loom & Table’s linens can outfit any table and elevate the overall guest experience for holiday entertaining and serve as gifts. Their easy-to-use sizing tool eliminates the hassle and markups of typical online shopping, visiting a fabric store, or seamstress. Loom & Table offer a myriad of styles and prints, as well as gift cards that provide a thoughtful alternative without the decision fatigue of choosing styles for others.

They are a newly direct-to-consumer supplier of quality-crafted table linens which previously exclusively supplied top-tier hotels, resorts, and restaurants for decades. Manufactured by generations-old family-owned factories, Loom & Table uses the finest craftsmanship and fibers, such as long-staple cotton and premium polyester, to create durable, easy-care tablecloths, runners, and napkins.

Veo is the sustainable marketplace. An immersive lifestyle platform to shop unique independent #sustainable brands in Fashion, Beauty, Food & Home.

Where sustainable meets quality: the good stuff, no compromise. veo.world

Discount code they can get £10 off an order with: INTOUCHRUGBY10

Veo is the destination for conscious consumers, and a home for unique independent brands who create high-quality sustainable products. Discover unique statement brands in Fashion, Beauty, Food, Home: sustainable lifestyle luxury.
We believe in quality & sustainability; that they are intrinsically linked and one cannot exist without the other. So we can guarantee you’ll never have to compromise in your choices of style, taste, or lifestyle:
the good stuff, no compromise™

Veopolis Ltd t/a Veo. ®

veo.world

Here are some example products…

• https://veo.world/food/drinks/tea/cocoa-husk-tea/
• https://veo.world/food/drinks/non-aloholic/gift-box-pentire-adrift-70cl/
• https://veo.world/food/boxes-and-hampers/light-and-crunchy-gnawbles-taster-pack
• https://veo.world/food/chocolate/bars/euphoric-orange-organic-orange-chocolate-35g/
• https://veo.world/food/nutrition/protein-powder/bodyhero-powder-960g/

FESTIVE PIG-STOP: A RESTAURANT SERVING NOTHING BUT PIGS IN BLANKETS IS SET TO OPEN ITS DOORS THIS DECEMBER

• Masters of meat, The Jolly Hog, pay homage to the festive favourite – pigs in blankets
• In a world-first, the Bristol-based restaurant will only be serving food and drink made with the bacon wrapped sausage
• Fans can expect to pig-out on sweet and savoury Christmas classics with a porky twist, such as ‘PIBfiteroles’ and ‘Bucks PIBzz’
• Open from the 3rd – 5th December 2021, those who want to try the meaty menu will have to be quick for their festive fix

Meat lovers are set to go ho-ho-hog wild for the world’s first restaurant serving nothing but food and drink made with the nation’s festive favourite: pigs in blankets (PIBs).
Hailed by millions as the best bit of Christmas dinner, the bacon wrapped sausage leaves everything else on the plate trailing in its wake.
To pay homage to the hog treat, the meat masterminds at The Jolly Hog have put them centre stage and created a menu dedicated to the boujee banger.
The Jolly Hog sells award-winning, British outdoor bred, RSPCA assured sausages and bacon – including their extremely popular pigs in blankets – at supermarkets all over the UK. The independent company was started by three meat-mad brothers in their home town of Bristol with the aim to make only the best meaty delights.
The carefully curated menu is anything but boaring, featuring sweet and savoury Christmas classics with a porky twist.
Brits can expect to pig-out on scrumptious starters and meaty mains, such as ‘PIB Cocktail’, a take on the prawn and Thousand Island dressed dish, Mince PIB Pies, a throwback to the original recipe served in the early Middle Ages, and ‘Festive Fondue’, a baked camembert served with piles of pigs in blankets for dipping.
For those who plan to enjoy the festive feast with friends and family, the chefs at Pigsty – The Jolly Hog’s Bristol-based restaurant where the menu will be available – have also created a shareable, showstopping Christmas Dinner Trifle – containing layers of creamy mash, cranberry-soaked brioche and of course the star ingredient, pigs in blankets!
Those who have a sweet tooth will be as happy as a pig in muck once they feast their eyes on the weird and wonderful dessert options up for grabs, from PIBfiteroles bursting with bacon jam, to warm candy bacon and apple ‘Hognuts’ topped with a miniature version of the bacon and sausage side.
And to wash it all down, attendees can sip on bacon-spiked cocktails garnished with… you guessed it, more pigs in blankets! Made by the Pigsty’s in-house meatologist team, the restaurant will serve twists on cocktails usually favoured on Christmas morning, such as ‘Bucks PIBzz’ and the ‘Bloody Percy’.
However, those who want to try the limited-edition menu will have to be quick. The pop-up will be open for just three days in December, opening its doors on Friday 3rd until Sunday 5th (also National Pigs in Blankets Day).
Olly Kohn from The Jolly Hog said, “We love hearing how much our customers love our pigs in blankets, and we thought it was high time these porky treats get the attention they deserve in the run up to Christmas. Something so delicious shouldn’t be relegated to the side of a plate of turkey and sprouts.
“As well as being packed with PIBs, our chefs have made sure every item on the menu tastes as banging as our bangers, because our customers are used to getting the best!”

A Gift for Gin Lovers
Sing Gin – The Spirit of Christmas 2021

This Christmas gift the gin lover in your life something a little different – a bottle of their favourite tipple, unusually crafted with grapes rather than grain; or a Gin Lover’s Hamper, bursting with treats.
Sing Gin is a premium, small batch gin, beautifully presented in an elegant blue and gold glass bottle with a distinctive gargoyle logo – the perfect Christmas gift for a gin-thusiast!
To make things a little more special this year, the team at Sing Gin has curated five Christmas hampers containing some of the finest treats, alongside a bottle of their signature spirit.
Ranging from a Love Chocolates & Gin Box through to an Extravaganza Gin Hamper, each gift comes with a selection of delicious snacks and mixers that perfectly complement the citrusy, floral flavours of Sing Gin. Think chocolate and truffles, mixed nuts, fudge and Fever Tree mixers, all presented in either a Sing Gin-branded gift box or jute bag. Prices range from £34.50 to £79.95 and you can add a personalised message with every gift purchased so your loved one can feel thoroughly spoilt this season.
Sing Gin is the first ever grape-based gin to be made in Yorkshire, where it is created by the Thompson family in Kettlesing, deep in the Dales.
Co-owner of Sing Gin, Richard Thompson, says that as a family-run business they are passionate about their product. “Family means everything to us. It’s about love and it’s about people. What better time to celebrate family, in all its forms, than at Christmas? Our dad, Ian Thompson, created Sing Gin out of a passion for the spirit, as well as a desire to create a family legacy. We want this Christmas to be a time for joy and would love for people to share and gift the beauty of Sing Gin this festive season and beyond.”
Bursting with a blend of seven natural botanicals, including juniper, mint, orange peel and flax, all crushed by hand using a large mortar and pestle, the team at Sing Gin ensure only the essential oils are extracted. This process creates the signature fresh, citrusy flavour and floral undertones that are synonymous with Sing Gin. Grape spirit is added to the botanicals, enhancing the fruity notes of the gin, as well as creating a silky smooth finish.
For a cosy nightcap enjoy a hot toddy, mix Sing Gin with lemon, honey, winter spices and top with boiling water. Alternatively, enjoy a signature Sing & Tonic as a deliciously different aperitif this Christmas.
If you are looking for a gift for the gin fan in your life then look no further than Sing Gin this Christmas.
Sing Gin is available from www.singgin.com priced £38.50 per 70cl bottle.
Hampers and Gift Boxes are available from https://www.singgin.com/product-category/hampers/ priced £34.50 for The Love Chocolates & Gin Box; £39.95 for The Ultimate Nibbles & Gin Box; £49.95 for The Gin Lovers’ Dream Hamper; £69.50 for The Luxury Gin & Truffles Box and £79.95 for The Extravaganza Gin Hamper.
Orders must be placed by 22nd December at noon to be guaranteed in time for Christmas.

Are you struggling to think of a unique gift for someone special? What better way to show someone you love them than by giving them something that will last way beyond Christmas, the gift of Self-Love and Peace of Mind.

Product one

Kash Desai, a renowned Life Coach and founder of The Happy Club is giving 50% off his 22-day Be Love programme to spread some much needed cheer this Christmas (cost of £49.99, reduced from £99.99). Over 22 days the course will explore topics such as self-love, conscious creating, the power of thoughts and beliefs, energy and how the mind and ego works. You can read more about the course, hear a sneak preview and listen to testimonials here.

Product two

As well as the Be Love course we are also offering a pack of 5 meditations, Be Calm. The Be Calm collection provides a variety of meditations from a walking meditation, beginners awareness exercise, setting an intention (great before a meeting), gratitude and a full relaxation body scan. If you purchase the meditation pack at £19.99 we will also include access to Be Calm For Kids FREE. These fun stories and meditations will help kids expand their imaginations and focus their minds, leaving them feeling calm, relaxed and happy!

WINTER WONDERS: MERCHANT GOURMET LAUNCHES SPICED GRAINS & CHESTNUTS POUCH
Perfect for stirring into pant-based dishes to create healthy, warming and hearty meals

Merchant Gourmet – the healthy pulses and grains brand with an appetite for change – has launched its NEW limited edition winter pouch: Spiced Grains & Chestnuts with Wild Rice & Cranberries (RRP £2.00).

A delicious mix of pearl barley and wild rice with chestnuts and cranberries stirred through that add a hearty texture and a tasty seasonal twist, this is the perfect product for fans of Merchant Gourmet’s Whole Chestnuts. Flavoured with a mix of warming herbs and spices including nutmeg, cinnamon, rosemary and thyme, this limited-edition pouch will make every dish taste wonderfully wintery.

Ready in just 45 seconds in the microwave, the new pouch can be incorporated into delicious autumnal dishes such as stuffed squash, a winter salad or stirred in with some roasted vegetables to provide a rich texture to all.

Alternatively, why not use the pouch to create showstopping, plant-based festive dishes this Christmas without all the fuss. Mix the grains into stuffing, make a chestnut and mushroom wellington or have with Christmas leftovers on Boxing Day.

The Spiced Grains & Chestnut pouch is a good source of fibre and low in fat, perfect for those following a plant-based diet or simply trying to cut down on meat, thanks to its fantastic texture.

As with all of Merchant Gourmet’s products, there are no preservatives or artificial colours and the new Spiced Grains & Chestnuts pouch makes no exceptions.

The new edition to the range will be available from October in Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Morrisons and Ocado for £2.00 / 250g pouch.

Everybody loves sparkly new jewellery, especially when it not only looks beautiful, but also allows wearers to feel empowered and strong.

Tranquillity, a new breed of jewellery has been created as a way to give people the tools and mindset to deal with the sometimes crippling stresses of daily life. Do let me know if I can send any further information and images or if you would like to discuss samples.

findtranquillity.co.uk

Having personally experienced extreme levels of anxiety, founder Dan Kaminski drew on his background in psychology, and passion for mindfulness, to create an exciting new brand of spinning rings, perfect for days when the January blues creep in. Seamlessly coupling mindfulness with contemporary style, Tranquillity’s beautiful sterling silver rings subtly allow the wearer to diffuse daily anxieties with their discrete movable features. Striking yet soothing, each ring is designed to bring the wearer back to the present moment wherever they are and create a sense of calm.

Tranquillity also offers a further 6 jewellery collections, including a mens range. These include the beautiful ‘Balance Collection’ which is centred around cultivating stillness, self love and restoration. The beautiful green malachite stone, which features in this collection, has been used since Egyptian times to protect and is believed to clean toxins both emotionally and physically of the person wearing it.
Tranquillity lets you feel amazing both mentally and physically.

Meaningful Elegance.. contemporary, handcrafted sterling silver jewellery, pledging 50% of all profits to women’s charities… halojewellery.org.uk

By creator Supriti Vaidya, Halo Jewellery UK

Halo Jewellery UK’s handmade women’s jewellery

• Individually handmade from sterling silver, enamel and gemstones.
• Price range £25 – £70, delivered free within the UK
• All come in a gift box
• Last order date 15th December for delivery to the UK
• Can be ordered online at: https://www.halojewellery.org.uk

Below are some jewellery gifts that are simply perfect for Christmas.

Limited Edition Advent Calendar + Christmas gift £48. You make the earrings and bracelet, and get a Christmas gift from the bestsellers page on the website.

Rose quartz and sterling silver necklace. 18 inch chain. £32

Signature Halo Sterling Silver Textured Necklace and Earring gift set £50.00, items available separately.

Blue Enamel Necklace and earring gift set £62.50, items available separately

Waterlilies Enamel Earrings and Necklace gift set £67.00, items available separately

Waterlilies Circle Sterling Silver and Enamel Necklace £42.00

All of these and many more are available on the HALO website at https://www.halojewellery.org.uk

OptiCel – Heart Health, Glucose Balance & Joint Health -scientifically proven fight the triggers of disease, shield cells from oxidative stress and inflammation, and promote cells’ natural defense mechanisms. 100% natural. opticel.com

OptiCel Introduced by SIL
After years of years of research, SIL is pleased to launch OptiCel — a nutritional complex to help fight the triggers of disease, shield cells from oxidative stress and inflammation, and promote cells’ natural disease defense mechanisms. Backed by science and made with natural ingredients, OptiCel helps keep cells healthy. Healthy cells help protect against disease, fight back against infections, and promote overall well-being. When cells are healthy, it’s harder for disease to start. For broad access, OptiCel is available without prescription, online and at select doctors’ offices, over the counter. Learn more about OptiCel Heart Health, Opticel Glucose Balance and OptiCel Joint Health at https://opticel.com/

NEW GAFFER ON THE BLOCKS
LEGOLAND DISCOVERY CENTRE BIRMINGHAM PAYS TRIBUTE TO NEW ASTON VILLA MANAGER

Legoland Discovery Centre Birmingham is paying tribute to new Aston Villa boss, Steven Gerrard by honouring the Liverpudlian in brick form. The ex-English national team’s captain is taking his leadership skills off the pitch and to Villa Park for the foreseeable future.

Gerrard will be leaving behind his first manager job at Rangers, which saw him lead the team to victory by winning the Scottish Premiership last season. He leaves the club top of the Scottish league, as they prepare for the League Cup semi-final.

The new skipper is set to replace Dean Smith in the challenging role, with the aim to turnaround Villa’s five consecutive losing streak. Whilst it might be difficult for Villa fans to Lego of their old manager, the Villans will be looking to piece together their squad and impress the football icon, who won many trophies when he played for his home team of Liverpool.

The team at Legoland Discovery Centre Birmingham are again putting the bricks together to celebrate Gerrard’s signing by kitting him out and giving him his very own welcoming party inside and outside the Miniland’s Villa Park Stadium.

The Gerrard mini figure was dressed head to toe in Aston Villa’s home strip, with the number 4 on his back to pay homage to his England shirt number.

Amy Langham, Legoland Discovery Centre Birmingham’s General Manager said: “All of us here at the centre are thrilled to welcome Steven Gerrard to the Aston Villa family and wanted to show him a warm welcome, the best way we know how.

“He was a true leader at Rangers and became a national football star during his time as captain for England and Liverpool. Our new LEGO mini figure of Steven Gerrard is our way of wishing him good luck at the club, we hope he leads the squad to bricktory.”

For further information and to book your visit to Legoland Discovery Centre Birmingham

Last minute Christmas crafts

With only six weeks to go, LoveCrafts offers how-to’s, patterns and kits to make simple Christmas gifts

There’s nothing more heartwarming than the look on someone’s face as they unwrap a lovely piece of handmade joy – for makers, that’s what Christmas is all about. Now, with only six weeks to go LoveCrafts – the UK’s leading craft retailer – has rounded up an array of last-minute makes which are simple and budget-friendly.

Wrap me in a Rainbow by Chloe Bailey

The perfect stash buster shawl for any yarn scraps and leftovers, or mini skeins that you don’t know how to use! This fabulous little shawl scarf gets the number one spot for its simple beauty and stash busting power.

The World’s Simplest Mittens by Tin Can Knits

Mittens are not just for children, they’re for the whole family! We love the mitten shape and these are so gorgeous to knit – choose 4ply, DK, aran or chunky weight for these mittens, the pattern caters for all of those yarn weights, making it a great stash buster.

Audrey Gloves by Nanci Ricci

David Walliams’ latest book ‘Gangsta Granny Strikes Again!’ officially launched at The Works yesterday! And just in time for Christmas, it’s the perfect gifting option for the little book lover in your life.

At just £7.50(!) this extraordinarily brilliant and rollicking mystery adventure book – and the sequel to the much-loved and bestselling Gangsta Granny – is an affordable way to put a smile on your loved ones faces this festive season.

GREENE KING OFFERS THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF PRIZES TO REWARD DESIGNATED DRIVERS THIS CHRISTMAS

Greene King is stepping up its annual campaign to encourage responsible drivers this Christmas as part of Coca-Cola’s Hero the Driver campaign.

The partnership is now in its 12th year and went live from Monday 8 November in more than 1,500 of Greene King’s managed pubs across England, Scotland and Wales.

The campaign was originally based on a buy-one-get-one-free offer but has continued to expand year on year with 2021 set to be the biggest year yet, now offering exclusive prizes of up to £500 of shopping vouchers for customers in Greene King managed pubs, alongside a guaranteed prize of a free bottle of Coca-Cola, Diet Coke or Coca-Cola Zero Sugar.

Other prizes on offer include £100 Red Letter Days vouchers and £25 Greene King gift cards.

Ashleigh Egan, Trade Marketing Controller at Greene King, said: “Celebrating Christmas at the pub with friends and family is sadly something that many of us did not have the chance to do in 2020, and reuniting at the pub for Christmas this year is going to be incredibly special.

“That’s why we’re investing more than ever in Coca-Cola’s Hero the Driver campaign to champion the designated drivers from each Christmas party and family group who are choosing not to drink alcohol so they can safely drive people home at the end of the night.”

Karen Yates-Hills, Away-From-Home Sales Director at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners GB, said: “Coca-Cola’s brand purpose is about bringing people together and creating real magic – and after scaled-down festivities last year, we wanted to once again enhance the Christmas experience for consumers when socialising outside of the home.

“We’d like to thank Greene King for partnering with us for more than 10 years on the Designated Driver campaign, helping to promote responsible drinking in pubs up and down the country. We hope this campaign will help Greene King encourage more customers to visit its venues for some much-needed festive cheer, whilst rewarding the driver who is helping everyone get home safely.”

Everyone taking part is guaranteed to get a voucher for a free 330ml bottle of Coca-Cola, Diet Coke or Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and will also be in with a chance of winning additional prizes from there.

The campaign will also be supported by an extensive social media and email marketing campaign.

The campaign works as follows:
• A customer will need to buy a bottle, can or glass of Coca-Cola, Diet Coke or Coca-Cola Zero Sugar from a participating Greene King pub
• Participating pubs will be decorated with Coca-Cola Hero the Driver POS, which will include a QR code. The QR code will also be widely shared on social media and in an email marketing campaign
• Customer scans the QR code and enters their details to enter the competition and then scans the Coca-Cola logo on the bottle, can or glass
• Customer receives voucher for their free drink via email and also finds out if they have won a prize
• Customer shows the voucher code to the bar team who will serve the free drink
• Winners receive their prizes direct from Coca-Cola.

National Outdoor Centre at the foot of Mount Snowdon in North Wales, Plas-y-Brenin.

The perfect present for adventurers, thrill seekers and outdoor lovers, gift vouchers are now available to buy online for a Plas-y-Brenin adventure. The lucky recipient could hike, mountain climb, canoe, mountain bike and more in the beautiful Snowdonia National Park in the Sport England-backed UK National Outdoor Centre. Whether they are a beginner or a pro – there is something for everyone. From taster sessions to weekend adventures.

Gift vouchers for Plas-Y-Brenin start at £25 and you can choose a value of your choice. Vouchers can be redeemed against any scheduled course and are valid for two years from purchase so there is plenty of time for the lucky recipient to find the course for them. Vouchers can be purchased online and can be sent to yourself or directly to the recipient. For more information and to purchase a voucher visit https://www.pyb.co.uk/gift-vouchers/

Adventure sport introductions start from just £40 per person for half a day and, for those who want a longer stay at the centre, on-site meals and accommodation are included with overnight courses.

Plas-Y-Brenin is the place to visit for those who love the outdoors and want to broaden their skills in outdoor activity sports. It’s a place where anything is possible.

For Him: Sexual Mastery Activation Cards www.rebeccalowrie.com

Rebecca Lowrie is a Somatic Sex Therapist in the UK. This year she created The Sexual Mastery Activation Cards for Men and they are a fantastic addition to any gift basket for him!

Description:

How would it feel to have a magic wand that
• activates your sexual confidence and know-how
• awakens the sexual mastery ‘energy system’ already contained within you
• awakens your natural ability and capacity to be an amazing lover
• broadens and deepens your understanding and experiences of intimacy and sexuality
Imagine having 52 magic wands!

That’s exactly what the Sexual Mastery Activation Cards for Men are.

Why they should be included:

These cards will help men step into the fullness of who they are which ultimately benefits everyone around them (and the whole world!). They will let go of years of shame, fear, and conditioning around intimacy, pleasure, love, and connection and be able to create the life and love life they desire.

Wouldn’t the world be a more peaceful, joyful, healthier place if more men were open-hearted, embodied, and holding their power well?

The cards cost £30 + postage.

Find out more about them here.

LAND ROVER AND WORLD RUGBY GO ABOVE & BEYOND FOR THE RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023

• Above & Beyond – World Rugby and Land Rover join forces for the greatest game in the land as Land Rover continues as Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2023
• Shared values – Passion, integrity, leadership play out between the partners as they head to France 2023
• Positive Impact – RWC 2023 will set new standards in social responsibility, inclusion and sustainability for a major rugby event
• Platform for change – Land Rover ‘Defenders of Tomorrow’ – youth mascot programme announced, giving young people a platform to demonstrate their support for building a better future
• Committed – Land Rover has committed to support the tournament’s ambition to minimise its carbon emissions through its journey to full electrification

Land Rover and World Rugby will together write the next chapter of their successful relationship as Land Rover was confirmed as the fifth Worldwide Partner for Rugby World Cup 2023 in France.

To celebrate, Land Rover rugby ambassadors Dimitri Yachvili and Bryan Habana were joined by Land Rover’s first child mascot for the tournament, eight year old Arthur from Paris.

Since becoming a Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup in 2015, Land Rover has inspired thousands of children from all over the world through its extensive grassroots activities and Rugby World Cup mascot programme, allowing young rugby fans to join the team captains on the pitch ahead of every match.

Reflecting the joint commitment of Land Rover and World Rugby to a more sustainable future, the Rugby World Cup 2023 mascots will be known as ‘Land Rover Defenders of Tomorrow’ and will form a key element of the global Land Rover campaign. They will be selected for their passion and commitment to changing their world for the better.

Arthur was selected through Land Rover France’s long-term partnership with France’s Top 14 competition. He plays rugby for Racing club Asnières (sur Seine) near Paris.

Arthur said: “I am really excited to be the first Land Rover Defender of Tomorrow. I can’t wait for the Rugby World Cup 2023 to be in France, and to tell all of my friends at my rugby club that I am going to be on the pitch!.”

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “Land Rover is a true partner of rugby at all levels, and we are delighted to be extending our worldwide partnership for Rugby World Cup 2023 in France. As a tournament and a rugby family, we are committed to making a positive impact in France and more widely for our planet for future generations to enjoy.

“Our worldwide partnerships with Land Rover have always been purpose-driven. In Japan their active support of the Impact Beyond programme saw 10,000 children introduced to the sport. We are excited to share the same vision and commitment for France 2023 and look forward to working together to drive change for the future.”

Lennard Hoornik, Chief Commercial Officer at Land Rover, said: “Land Rover has been at the heart of rugby for two decades. As we write this next chapter, we share France 2023’s commitment to making a positive difference on society through rugby. The next three years represent a significant time for Land Rover as we journey towards electrification and Rugby World Cup will play an important part in that.”
France 2023 CEO Claude Atcher added: “We are very honoured to welcome Land Rover as Global Worldwide partner of Rugby World Cup France 2023. Beyond its historical commitment to rugby, from grassroots to the pinnacle of the game, Land Rover has set out an ambitious roadmap for electrification and positive societal impact which is totally in line with the ambition of our event. We are extremely happy to benefit from their knowledge and their support in the organisation of Rugby World Cup.”
Gerry McGovern Chief Creative Officer at Land Rover said: “We’ve long celebrated our shared values with the rugby community including passion, integrity and our commitment to go above & beyond. Rugby World Cup 2023 offers even more opportunity to demonstrate the power of rugby, with the players acting as inspirational role models for future generations.”

More information about the Land Rover Defenders of Tomorrow programme will be announced in Spring 2022.

About World Rugby
World Rugby is an international federation and a global movement comprising more than 500 million fans and 10 million players within 128 national member federations affiliated through six regional associations.
Located in Dublin, Ireland, World Rugby’s purpose is to grow rugby by making it more relevant and accessible, with a vision of a global sport for all, true to its values. The driving force behind the sport’s significant growth has been World Rugby’s portfolio of major events, from the flagship men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups and U20 Championship, that celebrates the future stars of the sport, to the excitement of the men’s and women’s Rugby World Cup Sevens and HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series which are instrumental in attracting new fans.
The financial success of the men’s Rugby World Cup enables World Rugby to invest record sums in the development and growth of the sport from the playground to the podium, ensuring that the sport is as accessible and enjoyable for as many people as possible. Between 2020-23, the international federation will invest more than £565 million in the sport, representing a 22 per cent uplift on the previous four-year business cycle.
www.world.rugby/vision

About Land Rover
Since 1948 Land Rover has been manufacturing authentic 4x4s that represent true ‘breadth of capability’ across the model range. Defender, Discovery, Discovery Sport, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Velar and Range Rover Evoque each define the world’s SUV sectors.
We have a portfolio of electrified products across our model range, embracing fully electric, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid vehicles as well as continuing to offer the latest diesel and petrol engines. All new Jaguar and Land Rover vehicle models offer the option of electrification, giving our customers even more choice.
www.landrover.com

About Rugby World Cup 2023
Rugby World Cup 2023 will take place in France from 8 September – 28 October with matches played in nine venues across 10 host cities. The tournament will be the 10th men’s Rugby World Cup and the second to be hosted by France after a memorable event in 2007.
RWC 2023 will take place in a year when the sport celebrates 200 years since Rugby School pupil William Webb Ellis was credited with inventing the game of rugby football by showing “a fine disregard for the rules” in catching the ball and running with it in 1823.
RWC 2023 will set new standards in social responsibility, inclusion and sustainability for a major rugby event, targeting four key pillars for the tournament’s legacy: acting for sustainability and circular economy, supporting education, training and employment, respecting and protecting the environment and promoting inclusivity by being a champion for gender equality.
The showpiece event in men’s 15s, Rugby World Cup 2023 will feature 20 teams – 12 of whom qualified directly by finishing in the top three in their pool at Japan 2019 and eight from a global qualification process – with 48 matches played across 51 days.

Jacked Foods create dried fruit products with a twist. Their fruits are infused with natural juice and spices in the drying process, giving each a delicious flavour combination.

Their brand new range – Jackfruit with Lemon & Lime, Mango with Lime, Banana with Cinnamon and Pineapple with Grapefruit – is going to be launched next week! Each product is vegan friendly, gluten-free, under 110 calories per pack and 100% natural, making it the perfect Christmas Gift.

A product in our previous range – Original Dried Jackfruit – previously featured in a Christmas Hamper selection by The Sunday Times.

100% natural snack company. Our dried fruit products help support transitioning farmers in rural Uganda. Based in London, founded in 2018. We’re involved in a tree planting initiative, through which we plant a tree for every pouch of dried fruit sold.

At Jacked Foods, we provide a dried jackfruit, dried mango, dried pineapple and dried banana snacks. You can purchase our products in stores such as Holland & Barrett and John Lewis. Our products are also available to buy through our website and other online online stores.

See the full story @ :- www.jackedfoods.co.uk

Clean Beauty by AnaK
Founded by medical aesthetician, Anakarina, Clean Beauty by AnaK is a collection that includes only the best components found in nature, is backed by rigorous research, and is designed to help individuals benefit from a customized regimen through identification of skin types and needs. AnaK strives to provide users with the confidence to express themselves through healthy, youthful skin that complements their beauty and personality.

Product to consider (perfect for all women):
Revitalize Lavender & Sage Sea Salt Body Scrub: $39.00
Awaken your senses and renew your dull skin with Revitalize Body Scrub. Pure Mediterranean and Israeli Sea salt, along with luffa fruit powder, organic sunflower seed oil, Vitamin E, lavender, and clary sage oils soothe body and mind as lemon peel and oils of rosemary and cajeput heal and improve skin clarity. Prepare to show skin that glows: revealing fresher, more vibrant skin.

Why it’s great for your skin
Body Scrub is essential to your skin because it exfoliates dead skin cells, moisturizes and softens the skin. Revealing soft, youthful and glowing skin.

and…

LIZ RETTIZ COSMETICS
Necessity is the mother of invention. After suffering from psoriasis and eczema and finding no relief from the leading skincare lines, founder Liz Rettiz needed a solution. As a result, Liz Rettiz Cosmetics and Skincare was born. Emphasizing the sole inclusion of clean and ethically obtained ingredients, Liz found the answer to her skincare problems, and in turn, discovered a newfound sense of confidence only obtained through natural and authentic beauty. Now, she is sharing her miracle products with the world in hopes of helping people worldwide discover their inner beauty while benefiting her community. Only furthering her dedication to ethical sustainability, Liz Rettiz Cosmetics also donates a portion of each sale to the animal rescue charity, Huellas de la Calle.

Product to consider:
Creamy Lipstick, $16.00

Hydroxycut is the scientifically proven, trusted and simple weight loss program that you can rely on. Hydroxycut’s active ingredients is made to support weight loss with little to no change in your daily routine. With Hydroxycut, you can feel your most confident this holiday season.

Arbor Day Coffee™

Change the world one sip at a time by gifting Arbor Day Coffee™ this holiday season. Grown under the tree canopy in Central and South America, the shade helps protect an entire ecosystem while also helping maintain fertile soil and provide habitat for wildlife. Expect a more rich, superior-tasting coffee too. For every bag purchased, one tree is planted.

Arbor Day Foundation Soy Wax Candle

This 9-oz soy wax candle includes an exclusive scent for the Arbor Day Foundation featuring a premium blend of plant based and ethically sourced fragrance oil. Scent notes include fresh pine, berry, red currant, juniper, light musk, sage, pear, and amber. The candle is hand-poured and 100% American-made. Each candle purchased plants a tree.

Give-A-Tree Cards

Give a gift that lasts a lifetime. For every card purchased, a tree is planted in honor of a family member, friend, customer or associate to help bring our nation’s forests back to life. Choose from different holiday card designs you can sign and deliver for a personal touch.

Klean Kanteen

Say goodbye to single-use plastic and hello to reusable stainless-steel products for everyday life. Choose from water bottles, insulated tumblers, food canisters, lunch boxes, coffee mugs, steel straws, or even kid and baby
bottles. Your purchase from this family and employee-owned business allows them to donate directly to nonprofits and organizations working to make the world a better place.

With more than 48 million kids (K-12)* returning to school this year and our world opening up again, fall trends indicate 1 in 4 of those kids have already or will return to sporting activity.** While sports provide countless physical and health benefits – health, teamwork, community, discipline – one drawback is the funky odors that come with it. The smelly equipment, clothes and bags can make your home and car unbearable. Cheryl Leahy, lifestyle mom expert, shares some easy mom hacks on how to clean and get funky smells out of sports gear quickly and effectively, a perfect solution for saving time and frustration.

FunkAway is a unique odor elimination solution perfect for kids going back to sports. Whether it’s sports equipment or jerseys – FunkAway’s unique OM Complex™ breaks down odors at the source and eliminates the odor versus covering it up.

Hacks…
• Make sure your washer is clean. Periodically run your wash cycle using two cups of white vinegar.
• Wash your kids’ jerseys inside out. If you wash the jerseys inside out, you’ll avoid wear and tear on any writing or artwork on the uniform.
• Remove the stinky smells – the first time! Use a max strength laundry booster like FunkAway along with your regular detergent, that breaks down the odors and eliminates them.
• Get a sports hamper. Buy a hamper for sports-only gear to keep the stink and bacteria into one spot vs. letting it spread to other clothes.
• Fumigate that smelly bedroom. Lots of times, the clothes don’t make it to the laundry room, they end up hiding in your kid’s room – which can lead to lots of funky smells. Use FunkAway odor eliminating beads to freshen up any stinky room.
• Don’t forget about the gear that can’t go into the wash! Don’t forget to treat the stains on gear that can’t go into the wash with products like FunkAway Aerosol Spray to prevent odors from taking over your space. Perfect for shin guards, football pads and any other sports gear that needs to be refreshed.

“This Fall, my kids are back playing soccer and basketball – and I love that they are outside interacting and socializing with friends. One challenge is the smelly cleats, shin guards and jerseys that take on a smell of their own,” says Cheryl Leahy, national lifestyle expert. “FunkAway is my go-to because it has a unique OM Complex™ that actually breaks down the odors vs. just covering them up. It’s worked to eliminate the odors on my kid’s stinky equipment – and saved us from having to throw away smelly gear.”

“The versatile OM Complex™ formula in our FunkAway products are essential must-haves this fall as kids are getting back to sports,” says Kyle Bolke, CEO, FunkAway. “This proprietary complex attacks odors on a molecular level, encasing it and eliminating the funky smells. It’s great for parents who are trying to eliminate foul odors from multiple uniforms and gear, allowing them to get the “funk” out by breaking down odor at the core and eradicating it at the source versus covering it up.”

FunkAway has a solution for anything that stinks, including powerful sprays for shoes and gear you can’t put in the wash, a Max Strength Laundry Booster, and supercharged Odor Eliminating Beads that work where others fail. FunkAway offers a family of products for any odor and retail for:

• Pump Spray for Shoes (8 oz.), $7.99
• Odor Eliminating Beads (12 oz.), $10.99
• Odor Eliminator Spray for Big Jobs (13.5 oz.), $9.99
• Max Strength Laundry Booster (32 oz.), $15.99
• More products coming soon!

FunkAway, with more than 10,000 5-star ratings, is the complete odor elimination solution, comes with a money-back guarantee and is made in the USA. To learn more, visit FunkAway.com.

About B2Z Products and FunkAway:
B2Z Products, Inc. is headquartered in Waukegan, Illinois, and creator of FunkAway, a line of odor elimination products that remove the horrible effects of bad smells. Guaranteed to work on clothing, shoes, gear, pet products, car interiors and more, FunkAway allows users to renew and refresh, rather than throw away. Find FunkAway on Amazon and at thousands of other retailers, including Walmart, Jewel and Meijer. To learn more about FunkAway, visit funkaway.com and connect on Instagram and Facebook.

GREEN SWING . Golf Tees… sustainably made from bamboo… innovation! www.greenswing.golf “Great Tees”

Green Swing manufacture golf tees from sustainably sourced bamboo in an effort to encourage golfers to make the switch from plastic by using our strong, sustainable and biodegradable alternatives.

Do feel free to check out their brand and their product range here > www.greenswing.golf

Their mission at GreenSwing is to promote sustainability within sport and while presently theyr are focused on the golf market they are looking to bring together new products in the future to cross into other categories – but no doubt many of you have a keen interest in golf too!

Green Swing tees are all packed in a sliding box which make them highly giftable whether new to the sport or a seasoned member.

How about the gift of wine?

Matching wine to someone isn’t too hard – do they love a certain place? Want to go somewhere on holiday? There’s a wine for it. If it has been a special year – or you want to find a wine from years before, vintages give you the option.
Environmentally friendly wine, vegan wine, celebration wine…but most of all, delicious wine that can be shared now or in the future.

A stocking filler that really does fit in the stocking:

The much-coveted Drouhin Dundee Hills Oregon Pinot Noir 2017 in the half bottle size (37.5cl) available from thelittlefinewinecompany.co.uk for £17.95

For something a little bit different, try a White Pinot noir, Aldi.co.uk has a great value Oregon White Pinot Noir at £12.99

Or for a really lavish gift which can be kept for years to come try the lavish yet superbly chiselled Lillian Cabernet Sauvignon for £277.60 from Hedonism.co.uk

CREAM OF THE CROP:
Luxurious new hand cream which naturally sanitises, launches nationally
Aussie make-up artist develops world-first sanitising hand cream

a world-first hand sanitising cream that revolutionises the way we cleanse and moisturise our skin.

Harnessing the genius of Mother Nature, esst sanitising hand cream combines plant-based ingredients with medical grade antibacterial properties to formulate a game-changing skincare product. This luxurious cream has a quintessentially Australian botanical scent, feels light on the skin, and provides deep nourishment, belying its germicidal efficacy (lab-tested) to kill 99.9% bacteria.

Botanic Alchemy

Settling for nothing less than botanic alchemy, esst’s synergistic formulation is pivotal to making it a world-first.

Macadamia Oil, White Cypress Leaf Oil and Shea Butter calm and condition tired, stressed hands. Sandalwood’s transformative properties ensure antiseptic, astringent and anti-inflammatory ingredients. Honey Myrtle Oil, is a leading antibacterial oil, tackling microbes, bacteria, fungus, and viruses.

Nerolina Oil reinforces this already formidable combination acting as a powerful disinfectant. In addition, its floral and slightly woody scent promotes the aroma therapeutic benefits of anti-anxiety and relaxation by calming and balancing racing minds.

Anchoring this sublime combination is Silver Citrate, a naturally occurring chemical element used medicinally for more than 2000 years, and precursor to antibiotics. Its ability to kill pathogenic microorganisms and speed cell-regeneration makes it a powerful panacea for skin damage and infection.

Essential Innovation

A nod to the word ‘essential’, esst is the brainchild of Melbourne based make-up artist, and founder, Emma Davis. Back in 2017, Davis was inspired to create a luxury hand cream that would also naturally sanitise.

“As a makeup artist, I found my hands were constantly drying out and had a constant whiff of chemicals, due to the hand sanitiser I used in between each client consultation.” Davis said.

Davis’s uncompromising approach meant her criteria was non-negotiable. Clearly, 99.9% antibacterial and 100% nourishing were paramount, as was an invigorating scent. Brand pillars of sustainability, transparency, and science-backed performance championed Australian ingenuity and production, ensuring locally-sourced essential oils were 100% pure, natural and traceable botanicals.

Keen to develop a product which also respected the earth’s natural goodness Davis’s commitment to the planet led her to find packaging produced using sugar cane which is FDA approved for direct food contact and does not contain undesirables, such as Bisphenol A.

The tubes are made at a facility in NSW, featuring one of Australia’s largest privately-owned solar farms. This energy harvesting verifies the tubes leave virtually no carbon footprint. Additional packaging components are also recyclable, and Davis accepts used tubes mailed back to the team to be professionally recycled. This ethical stance guarantees the hand cream and complementary new products (launching 2022) be vegan, non-toxic and cruelty-free.

Conceived over four years ago to support a safe work environment, esst products are multitasking for modern times. Health and wellbeing are now priorities for those on the move, so for sanitised, supple, sensational skin, esst is a self care movement.

ESST is available for purchase from today for $39.00 (AUD) from the website: www.esstlife.com.au

Largest collection of Fabergé Easter Eggs in a generation go on display in major V&A exhibition on the master goldsmith and his London branch
Fabergé in London: Romance to Revolution

Gallery 39 and North Court
20 November 2021 – 8 May 2022
vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/faberge
Images available at pressimages.vam.ac.uk
Full press pack attached
Opening this Saturday 20 November, Fabergé in London: Romance to Revolution is the first major exhibition devoted to the international prominence of the legendary Russian goldsmith, Carl Fabergé, and the importance of his little-known London branch. With a focus on Fabergé’s Edwardian high society clientele, the exhibition shines a light on his triumphs in Britain as well as a global fascination with the joyful opulence of his creations. The largest collection of the legendary Imperial Easter Eggs in a generation are on display together as part of the exhibition’s dramatic finale, several of which are being shown in the UK for the first time.
Showcasing over 200 objects across three main sections, the exhibition tells the story of Carl Fabergé, the man, and his internationally recognised firm that symbolised Russian craftsmanship and elegance – an association further strengthened by its connection to the romance, glamour and tragedy of the Russian Imperial family.
Unknown to many, the exhibition explores the Anglo-Russian nature of his enterprise with his only branch outside of Russia opening in London in 1903. Royalty, aristocrats, American heiresses, exiled Russian Grand Dukes, Maharajas, financiers with newly-made fortunes, and socialites flocked there to buy gifts of unparalleled luxury for each other. Fabergé works were as popular in Britain as they were in Russia.
The first section of the exhibition highlights the important patronage of the Romanov family. A miniature of the Imperial Regalia, lent by the Hermitage Museum, made for the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle will capture Carl Fabergé’s role as official goldsmith to the Imperial family. Its members often gave each other intimate Fabergé gifts, and this will be explored through bespoke, ornate objects including flowers made from rock crystal, gold and rose-cut diamonds and exquisite family portrait miniatures. This section also touches upon Carl Fabergé’s youth, his travels throughout Europe, and entry into the family firm.
Commissioned by Emperor Nicholas II, a figurine portrait taken from life of the private bodyguard of the Dowager Empress is on display – a sculpture on a level of rarity with the Imperial Easter eggs. A prayer book gifted by Emperor Nicholas II to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna on his Coronation Day also sits alongside early photography of the Imperial family with their prized possessions.
Next, this section explores the mastery of techniques and intricate detailing that became synonymous with Carl Fabergé and his firm. Creating a culture of creativity throughout his workshops, Carl Fabergé’s restless imagination inspired daring material choices and designs, while the integration of designers, craftsmen, and retailers under one roof galvanised creative collaboration. The dazzling beauty of Fabergé’s work is shown by a sparkling aquamarine and diamond tiara – a token of love from Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin to his bride Princess Alexandra of Hanover and Cumberland on their wedding day. The only known example of solid gold tea service crafted by Fabergé is also on display, one of the most magnificent items to emerge from the firm’s Moscow branch.
The nurturing spirit of Fabergé is shown in the work of one of his best-known female designers, Alma Pihl. Some of her most innovative and enduring works are on show including a scintillating ‘ice crystal’ pendant made from rock crystal, diamonds and platinum.
The second section of the exhibition tells the story of Fabergé’s time in London, including how the firm flourished under royal patronage, and how its creations became a social currency for gift giving and ostentatious displays of wealth, amongst the cosmopolitan elite who gathered in the city.
Huge success at the 1900 Paris Exposition made it clear that Fabergé would have a keen customer base outside Russia, should he expand. Fabergé’s choice of London for its new premises was partly because it was the financial capital of the world, a luxury retail destination able to draw a wealthy and international clientele. It was also the home of Edward VII and Queen Alexandra who were already avid Fabergé collectors, making royal patronage in London highly likely. A transitional section in the exhibition transports visitors from Russia to a bustling London and highlight the strong links between the British and Russian Royal Families. Royal photography in Fabergé frames, and gifts presented by Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna to their British relatives are shown, including a notebook given by Tsar and Tsarina to Queen Victoria for Christmas in 1896.
Fabergé carefully tailored his works to his British clientele. He created hardstone portraits of the farm animals King Edward and Queen Alexandra bred at Sandringham, their favourite country estate, and objects enamelled in The King’s horse racing colours. Highlight objects include a commission from The King of his faithful wire-haired fox terrier Caesar, a silver model portrait of Persimmon, his most loved and successful racehorse, and one of the firm’s rarest creations – a figurine of a veteran English soldier.
Fabergé became the most exclusive and fashionable place to buy gifts. The King’s mistress, Mrs George Keppel, gifted The King an elegant art-nouveau cigarette case with a snake laid in diamonds biting its tail – a symbol of unbroken and everlasting love. Snuffboxes decorated with topographical views, buildings and monuments were also popular. A nephrite cigar box, set with a sepia enamelled view of the Houses of Parliament, was bought by Grand Duke Michael of Russia on 5 November 1908, the day of Guy Fawkes, and given to King Edward VII. Other highlights include a sumptuous rock crystal vase that was presented to King George V and Queen Mary on the day of their coronation.
The end of the exhibition’s second part moves towards the fateful impact of the Great War and Russian Revolution on Fabergé. With Russia’s entry into the war in 1914, Fabergé’s production suddenly shifted. The workshops focused their output on the war effort and went from creating exquisite objects to producing munitions. Their meticulous craftsmanship switched from jewels and precious metals to copper, brass and steel. In 1917, as the Revolution hit Fabergé’s workshops in Russia, its outpost in London ceased to operate.
The final section of the exhibition will celebrate the legacy of Fabergé through the iconic Imperial Easter Eggs with a kaleidoscopic display of 15 of these famous treasures. This is the largest collection on public display for over 25 years.
The collection on display includes several that have never before been shown in the UK including the largest Imperial Egg – the Moscow Kremlin Egg – inspired by the architecture of the Dormition Cathedral, on loan from the Moscow Kremlin Museums. The Alexander Palace Egg, featuring watercolour portraits of the children of Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra – and containing a surprise model of the palace inside – also takes centre stage alongside the Tercentenary Egg, created to celebrate 300 years of the Romanov dynasty, only a few years before the dynasty crumbled. Other eggs that feature include the recently rediscovered Third Imperial Egg of 1887, found by a scrap dealer in 2011 – one of the ‘missing’ eggs created by Fabergé that was lost for many years. The Peacock Egg of 1907-8, shown on public display for the first time in over a decade, containing a surprise of an enamelled gold peacock automaton and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna’s Basket of Flowers Egg, lent by Her Majesty The Queen from the Royal Collection will also be on display.
While the Russian Revolution and the war irrevocably changed the social order in Russia and Europe, the taste for Fabergé survived, especially in London, where the firm’s works continued to be prized. From the 1920s, dealers and auction houses in London acquired confiscated Fabergé objects sold by Soviet Russia. In the 1930s, the art dealers Wartski purchased several Imperial Eggs, which it sold to Fabergé’s London clients and to new generations of collectors in Europe and the United States. Lately, motivated by patriotic repatriation, Russians have become significant collectors of Fabergé’s work.
Although Carl Fabergé’s firm ceased to exist, the myth crystallised around the Imperial Easter Eggs and the demand for Fabergé pieces has endured with his designs continuing to inspire, captivate and delight.
Kieran McCarthy and Hanne Faurby, Curators of Fabergé in London: Romance to Revolution, said: “The story of Carl Fabergé, the legendary Russian Imperial goldsmith, is one of supreme luxury and unsurpassed craftsmanship. Celebrating Fabergé’s extraordinary achievements, this exhibition focuses on the over-looked importance of his London branch, the only one outside of Russia. It attracted a global clientele of Royalty, aristocrats, business titans and socialites. Through Fabergé’s creations the exhibition explores timeless stories of love, friendship and unashamed social climbing. It takes the visitor on a journey of sublime artistry and patronage towards the revolution that tragically closed Fabergé – but sends visitors away on a high, by honouring Fabergé’s greatest legacy, with a dazzling final display of his iconic Easter Eggs.”

NOW WHAT TO BUY THIS CHRISTMAS?
NOW WHAT NAPKINS CHRISTMAS RANGE AND GIFTING.

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas…or just one where we can enjoy time with friends and family and everything feels a little more normal! Whatever peoples plans or party size NowWhatNapkins can help make it special with two festive sets, designed to bring a smile or sparkle to your table.
With both sets named after lyrics within two of our most loved Christmas tunes all NowWhatNapkins, priced between £12 and £35, are 100% cotton, hand dyed in London.
The first Christmas set, “Star of wonder”, is a striking set of tie dye blue napkins with a scattering or silver, gold or both stars in the corner of each napkin. Beautifully subtle, with just a touch of festive sparkle, there’s definitely no need to limit these napkins to Christmas day.
In addition to the napkins, within the range matching table runners or cloths, with complementary stars at either end, are also available from £35 to bring an extra statement to the table. Tea towels ensure the festive feeling is continued into the kitchen (from £8) or if you need to take a bottle to Christmas parties as a guest the matching wine holder might be the perfect solution (from £8)
The second set, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” are bound to bring smiles to the faces of your guests, both big and small. Using tie-dye techniques and fabric paint these cute reindeers each have their own personality. Available with all red noses, or just one with the others black, you can decide if Rudolph plays the starring role or Dasher, Dancer, Vixen et al get a place at the table too.
Made by Pippa Erskine, from her Battersea Kitchen, since founding her napkins have won praise from people including Nadia Hussain, Pippa Middlehurst and Rosie Fortescue to name a few.
Or maybe it’s unique gifts you are after? From sets of napkins for the enthusiastic dinner party host, tea towels and aprons for the chef and tote bags to collect your shopping in Now What Napkins products are all handmade and available in a variety of sizes and designs including rainbow, single colour and tip dye packs.

New festive collection from Serenata Flowers below. Perfect as last minute gifts or for Christmas decorations for the home.

Woodland Wonder – £26.99

Inspired by a festive woodland covered in a layer of morning mist, this spectacular foliage bouquet wrapped with red hypericum berries, spruce, conifer, Latvian pine and a touch of cinnamon transforms your home into a winter wonderland.
Gingerbread Dream – £39.99

An enchanting bouquet of ginger roses and fluffy marshmallow lilies with white stocks and golden berries with glittering gold pinecones
Christmas Carol – £39.99

A Christmas classic of flaming grand-prix roses and ravishing red carnations surrounded by fragrant natural pine, pinecones, and Ilex. Staged in Salal and Conifer foliage, this festive sparkler makes an inspired seasonal present for those close to your heart.
Christmas Glamour – £39.99

Like a warm glass of mulled wine this superb bouquet offers a warm fuzzy feeling, with oriental white lilies, ravishing red roses, white stocks, red hypericum berries surrounding a statement glittering white brassica. This glamorous arrangement is filled with Christmas spirit.
Frosted Kiss – £49.99

Like a morning walk on a winter’s morning, frosty blue eryngium, hydrangea and delphinium bring an uplifting icy touch to this festive bouquet
Serenata Flowers is an independent online florist delivering quality, sustainably grown flowers across the UK with free delivery 7 days a week.

Serenata Flowers prides itself on delivering value & quality to its customers and believes that every single flower should be handled with the care, attention and love it deserves.

Give the sparkling gift of Christmas at Wollaton …

Treat someone this season with an unforgettable experience

This festive season why not chose an enchanting and unique gift experience that the recipient will treasure, with tickets to Nottingham’s only lights installation, Christmas at Wollaton.

Last year, Nottingham’s Wollaton Hall & Deer Park was transformed into Christmas at Wollaton Hall, a sell out event that captured the hearts of thousands.

As twilight descends Wollaton Hall (located just three miles from the city centre) will again transform into an enchanting world of stunning lights with atmospheric music. The formal gardens around Wollaton Hall will become a magical wonderland to captivate visitors of all ages, with awe inspiring illuminations providing a stunning multi-sensory experience.

Christmas at Wollaton opens on Friday 26th November 2021 until 9th January 2022. Bigger, brighter and the most beautiful lights again will shine brightly over the grounds of the hall and formal gardens.

Adult off peak tickets start at £19.80 including booking fee and make a perfect gift experience for friends and families, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

A new Twilight Viewing Package, which starts at 4pm and will run every day from Friday 3rd December to Saturday 1st January would make the perfect Christmas treat.
With a limited capacity visitor will be able to view the illuminations at your leisure at the magic hour. This package includes entry ticket, car parking and a drinks voucher, redeemable against mulled wine or hot or cold beverages.

For anyone wishing to travel further afield as well, the team behind Christmas at Wollaton has also launched a new Christmas at Trentham at Trentham near Stoke on Trent. The estate includes the famous Trentham Gardens which will have an illuminated trail is designed to sprinkle a little Christmas magic, accentuate the flora and fauna, and see the stunning historic landscape in a new light.

Twitter and Instagram – @wollatonlights Facebook @wollatonhall

www.christmasatwollaton.org

GREASE NAMED THE UK’S FAVOURITE MOVIE SOUNDTRACK
• GREASE TAKES TOP SPOT WITH DIRTY DANCING AND MAMMA MIA! ROUNDING OFF THE TOP THREE
• WHITNEY HOUSTON’S “I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU” NAMED BRITAIN’S FAVOURITE SONG FROM A FILM SOUNDTRACK
• “THE BARE NECESSITIES” AND “CIRCLE OF LIFE” TIE FOR FAVOURITE SONG FROM AN ANIMATED MOVIE

Tell me more, tell me more… Grease has been named the UK’s favourite movie soundtrack of all time, according to new national research published today.

The study, carried out by Showcase Cinemas to celebrate the release of Ghostbusters: Afterlife starring Paul Rudd and Finn Wolfhard, sees nearly a quarter of Brits (23%) opt for the iconic 1970s musical, with dance classic Dirty Dancing (18%) and ABBA extravaganza Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (16%) rounding off the top three.

Whitney Houston claimed top spot when it came to the UK’s favourite song from a film soundtrack as nearly 1 in 5 (18%) voted for her iconic power ballad “I Will Always Love You” from The Bodyguard. The 90s smash hit narrowly beat competition from Bryan Adams’ “Everything I Do (I Do it For You)”, from 1991s Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (17%) and “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers, synonymous with 1990s movie Ghost.

In the battle to be crowned the UK’s favourite tune from an animated movie, the top two could not be separated. Singing bear Baloo from 1967’s Jungle Book took joint top spot with “The Bare Necessities” (26%) alongside the Elton John composition “Circle of Life” from Disney favourite The Lion King. Support from the younger generation saw 21st century favourite “Let it Go” from Frozen propelled into the top three (23%).

Perhaps the most surprising result from the study saw over 1 in 5 people (22%) choose “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” from Evita as their favourite song from a musical. The Andrew Lloyd Webber composition edged its way to the top of the list despite fierce competition from Grease’s “Summer Nights” (21%) and “Grease” (20%), which both landed inside the top three.

In honour of the latest instalment of the Ghostbusters franchise, Showcase Cinemas polled Brits to find out just how iconic the Ghostbusters classic “Ghostbusters (Who Ya Gonna Call?)” really is. A whopping 80% of those surveyed said they knew the iconic song from the 1984 film.

However, 1 in 3 Brits identified the James Bond theme as the most recognisable movie song/instrumental, with Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic accounting for more than a quarter of votes (26%) and the disturbing Jaws (25%) theme landing in third place.

The older generation tended to opt for songs from older movies, with 25% of over 65s selecting The Bodyguard, Ghost and The Graduate as their favourite movie soundtracks, whereas at the other end of the spectrum, 18 – 24-year-olds chose “My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic as their song of choice.

There was also a gender divide when it came to choosing a favourite song from a movie soundtrack. More than one in five women (21%) selected “I Will Always Love You”, while men (17%) primarily went for Simon & Garfunkel favourite “Mrs. Robinson” from 1967’s The Graduate.

Mark Barlow, UK General Manager for Showcase Cinemas, said: “The big screen has provided us with so many iconic soundtracks over the years that it is near impossible to choose a favourite. However, with its enduring popularity Grease took top spot, having maintained its status throughout several generations.

“Elsewhere it was interesting to see the UK was unable to decide when it came to their favourite song from an animated movie, with both “The Bare Necessities” and “Circle of Life” providing a heart-warming dose of nostalgia whenever they are heard.

“We are looking forward to the release of the latest instalment of the Ghostbusters franchise, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and it was great to see a huge amount of people still recognise the iconic song “Ghostbusters (Who Ya Gonna Call?)”.

The survey also revealed that over 7 in 10 people (71%) said a good film soundtrack is important to them, with only 1 in 5 saying it doesn’t matter to their enjoyment of a movie.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife hits Showcase Cinemas on Thursday, with tickets available now: www.showcasecinemas.co.uk/film-info/ghostbusters-afterlife

BEST MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS OF ALL TIME

1. Grease (1978)
2. Dirty Dancing (1987)
3. Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018)
4. Saturday Night Fever (1977)
5. The Greatest Showman (2017)
6. The Bodyguard (1992)
7. Top Gun (1986)
8. Pulp Fiction (1994)
9. The Graduate (1967)
10. The Wizard of OZ (1939)

BEST MOVIE SONGS OF ALL TIME

1. Whitney Houston – “I Will Always Love You” – The Bodyguard
2. Bryan Adams – “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” – Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
3. The Righteous Brothers – “Unchained Melody” – Ghost
4. The Bee Gees – “Stayin’ Alive” – Saturday Night Fever
5. Simon & Garfunkel – “Mrs. Robinson” – The Graduate
6. John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John – “Summer Nights” – Grease
7. Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes – “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” – Dirty Dancing
8. Elton John – “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” – The Lion King
9. Celine Dion – “My Heart Will Go On” – Titanic
10. Huey Lewis and the News – “The Power of Love” – Back to the Future

MeatStick Mini – the newest high-tech wireless meat thermometer to make it easy to cook the perfect steakhouse quality steak, juiciest turkey or chicken, and more!

It’s the perfect item for those that love the newest high-tech toy, for the foodies that want to cook the perfect steak, and for those that cook in the kitchen that need another useful kitchen tool, it can even be used for outdoor cooking.

From $69.99-99.99, MeatStick Mini allows you to:
• cook steakhouse quality steaks at home by making sure they aren’t overcooked
• spend more time with friends and family instead of babysitting the chicken in the oven as the MeatStick Mini will let you know when it’s cooked perfectly.
• become a chef by cooking perfectly cooked meats in all types of ways, from the oven, deep-fryer, air-fryer, or just on the stove.

We developed the MeatStick Mini from personal experience. At a dinner party with friends, we accidentally overcooked expensive steaks while we all were busy entertaining our guests. Now we have the MeatStick Mini, which guarantees the freedom for a perfect meal without all the hassle!

MeatStick Mini is available at TheMeatStick.com and Amazon.

Number One with Popmaster

This fun game is inspired by the game played live on Ken Bruce’s popular BBC Radio 2 show, the exciting card game puts players’ musical knowledge to the test with a series of pop-themed trivia questions. The game is a must-have for all music fans and has a keen fanbase who tune into it.

Will you freeze when the pressure is on? Can you name 3 hits for Take That or Sister Sledge? Do you who sung the ‘Shoop Shoop Song’? Can you name the year ‘Eye of the Tiger’ was number 1?

Are you up for the challenge or will you be ‘one year out’? The Ginger Fox Popmaster Quiz Game cost £7.99 from John Lewis

INTRODUCING DECO BY LUSSO STONE

LUSSO STONE UNVEILS BRAND NEW COLLECTION INSPIRED BY THE 1920s

One of the UK’s leading suppliers of luxury home products, Lusso Stone, has released a brand new collection inspired by the 1920s.

A century since it was first popularised, the iconic Art Deco movement is the key inspiration behind Deco, the first Lusso collection to feature traditional home products, alongside vanity units, roll top baths, brassware, and accessories.

Deco is the third collection to launch from the luxury living brand, following the success of the initial range of natural stone products and the Pietra collection of flawless marble baths, basins and vanity units.

Influenced by the stylish Art Deco movement, the collection showcases over 100 lavish products created in celebration of the distinctive style. Featuring marble topped traditional vanity units, polished nickel brassware, mirrors, and accessories plus the brand’s first ever range of cast-iron roll top baths that offer unrivalled heat retention.

The design of the Deco collection takes inspiration from the affluent style of New York’s Empire State, the Chrysler building, and London’s Senate House, offering beautiful symmetry, geometric shapes and ornamental elements to provide beautiful additions to any bathroom.

Designed to elevate space, the Deco collection also provides practical solutions for day to day living, with vanity units combining stunning aesthetics with functional storage points for bathrooms large or small. Available as wall mounted or freestanding, the Deco collection vanity units deliver 1920s glamour complemented with luxurious Italian Carrara marble.

Wayne Spriggs, Lusso CEO and Founder, comments: “This is an incredibly exciting launch for us as it’s one of the first major steps we’re taking to expand into new markets.

“With our Lusso Stone and Pietra ranges we’ve focused on offering a clean and contemporary aesthetic which appeals to homeowners and hoteliers that prefer minimalist design, whereas our Deco collection is inspired by the bold lavishness of the timeless Art Deco movement.

“The resulting range offers something completely different, combining traditional design notes with our signature style of modern luxury, along with the unrivalled quality and flawless craftsmanship that we’ve built our reputation on.”

As part of the Deco collection, the brand is soon to launch its latest campaign, Lusso Creative. This includes a range of primed products that allow homeowners to embrace their creativity and customise them with the colour and finish of their choice to perfectly complement their bathroom spaces.

The exclusive Deco collection is now available to pre-order online at:
www.lussostone.com

The V&A have created a range of fabulous gifts and decorations to accompany the exhibition Fabergé in London: Romance to Revolution (20th November – 8th May 2022). From vintage jewellery, to handcrafted key rings and recycled cotton tote bags inspired by the V&A’s collection of Edwardian patterns.

A beautifully illustrated book explores the history and legacy of the House of Fabergé, from its origins in Russia – and its role in the glamorous world of the Romanovs – to global recognition. Featuring over 120 pieces, from delicate flowers to Imperial Easter eggs, and with contributions from leading experts Fabergé: A Russian Love Affair celebrates the enduring fascination with this master craftsman’s works.

CERAMICHE REFIN
WINNER AT METROPOLIS LIKES AWARDS
DURING NYCxDESIGN WITH COLLECTION AFFRESCATI

The charm of mural painting and of the rich Italian artistic heritage, interpreted in an eclectic way by Ceramiche Refin’s Affrescati collection, wins the prestigious recognition at the Metropolis Likes Awards 2021.

Metropolis Likes Awards, sponsored by Metropolis Magazine, celebrates the best collections and most innovative trends launched during NYCxDESIGN, New York’s annual Design Week.

The Affrescati collection is one of the 12 best products of 2021, selected by a jury of expert editors from the U.S. magazine Metropolis from hundreds of submissions from around the world and chosen for their focus on environmental responsibility, material innovation and creative expression.

For the creation of Affrescati, Ceramiche Refin has made an exciting journey into the beauty of Italian art, into the rich history of frescoes, immersing itself completely in the ancient techniques of mural painting to give life to an original surface with great character that can cover various types of surfaces, adapting perfectly to any context thanks to the versatility of stoneware.

Merry Morning
The Fragrance

A sparkling infusion of citrus blended with jasmine and fresh pine, warmed by an intoxicating mix of cinnamon, ginger and clove. Gently descending into sensuous hints of woods and musk.
Why you’ll love it…
Warm spices, cinnamon sticks and orange capture the essence of the festive season. Winter walks, steaming mulled wine, snowflakes and sparkling trees in every window. This fragrance will fill your home with the joy of Christmas.
Medium candle – £19.50
https://www.coveredcreations.co.uk/product-page/scent-6-candle

Christmas Tree
The Fragrance
Siberian Pine combines with Eucalyptus & Precious Woods, creating that perfect Christmas Tree fragrance
Why you’ll love it…
Nothing beats the smell of a just-cut Christmas Tree and this fragrance gives you just that. Whether you have an artificial or real tree this fragrance fills the air with the just cut smell we all love.
Medium candle – £19.50

www.coveredcreations.co.uk/product-page/christmas-tree-medium-candle

Perfect for any room in your home. Bring the fragrance of Christmas in.

Book and Online Course Teach Veterans How to Market Their Value and Secure Their Futures

San Francisco, CA, November 18, 2021 — After nearly a decade as an Air Force aviator, Graciela Tiscareño-Sato is now a marketing professional and entrepreneur who knows first-hand the military-to-civilian transition chaos that all service members must navigate as they become veterans. Her groundbreaking new book, B.R.A.N.D. Before Your Resumé, and companion online course deliver a solution that is described by Tiscareño-Sato as “counterculture to the institutionalized, ineffective, outdated way the DoD and DoL ‘prepare’ people to exit the service via the Transition Assistance Program.”

B.R.A.N.D. Before Your Resumé readers will complete the “extracting product attributes” exercise, see nearly 30 examples of great branding created by veterans Tiscareño-Sato has personally coached, and learn how to write their own AUTHENTIC personal branding to influence their intended target audience. Tiscareño-Sato teaches readers a repeatable marketing messaging process that will be useful for years to come.

Asked about the book’s title, Tiscareño-Sato said, “I created the B.R.A.N.D. acronym to emphasize that military veterans must first Become Relevant, Authentic, Noticeable and Differentiated, instead of writing resumés that nobody will read. We are professionals with diverse, transferable skills earned during our military service. We must, however, first intrigue potential employers and networking partners with our distinctive value.”

The book has already reached No. 1 on Amazon’s Hot New Releases in the Military Family category, and the Military Writers Society of America recognized B.R.A.N.D. Before Your Resumé with a 2021 Silver Medal.

If you’re a veteran or transitioning service member who has difficulty communicating the distinctive leadership experiences and achievements earned on active duty, Tiscareño-Sato’s guidebook and online course can equip you with the skills you need to demonstrate your worth, secure those job interviews, and achieve post-military success.

Author Graciela Tiscareño-Sato is an Air Force veteran, award-winning author and bilingual public speaker who has coached over 5,000 veterans, service members and professionals with live and virtual Authentic Personal Branding workshops. She is a highly decorated USAF aviator and was a 2014 White House Champion of Change honoree, which recognizes individuals, businesses and organizations whose extraordinary accomplishments positively affect communities. She completed her Air Force ROTC Aerospace Studies and her degree in Environmental Design/Architecture from U.C. Berkeley as a scholarship cadet. During Operation Southern Watch, she became the first Latina Air Force aviator to earn an Air Medal for combat air operations.

Tiscareño-Sato has won numerous literary awards for three prior publications, including a bilingual children’s book series inspired by her decade of military aviation service. Good Night Captain Mama/Buenas Noches Capitán Mamá and Captain Mama’s Surprise/La Sorpresa de Capitán Mamá are the first-ever bilingual children’s books about women flying airplanes in our nation’s military. She has been featured by NPR, USA Today, the NBC News website, CNN en Español, Univision and Telemundo.

For more information, please visit www.gracefullyglobal.com/commerce/?page_id=971, or connect with the author on Instagram (graciela.tiscarenosato) and LinkedIn.

B.R.A.N.D. Before Your Resumé: Your Marketing Guide for Veterans & Military Service Members Entering Civilian Life.
Publisher: Gracefully Global Group
Hardcover Release Date: November 11, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-9973090-7-2
Available now in paperback (ISBN-13: 978-0997309065) and Kindle (ISBN: 978-0997309067) formats from Amazon.com

New Collapsible Water Bottle from the Royal Opera House

Functional, practical and, most importantly, kind to the planet, the new collapsible water bottle from the Royal Opera House Shop is designed to encourage more environmentally-conscious behaviour, whether visiting the venue or out-and-about in daily life.

The climate crisis is the most important issue facing the globe today, and the Royal Opera House has vowed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, working towards net zero by 2035.

As part of their mission to help reduce plastic waste, the Royal Opera House has also installed free water stations around the venue, inviting guests to fill up reusable bottles for use during productions and the latest addition to their accessories range is an ideal way to do your bit.

A fabulous souvenir from a memorable performance, that will also remind you to reduce and reuse every day, this statement refillable water bottle is made from bright turquoise silicone, ensuring it’s easy to clean. Flexible and collapsible, to easily fit into your bag, the bottle is leak-free, with a stainless steel screw top lid, engraved with the iconic Royal Opera House Crest. Help us on our journey towards a more sustainable future.

Silicone Collapsible Water Bottle, 550ml (BPA & PVC free)
Introductory price £13.00
From the Royal Opera House Shop shop.roh.org.uk

STOCKING FILLER FOR GRANDPARENTS: GIVE THE GIFT OF MEMORIES THIS CHRISTMAS – CREATING A BETTER FUTURE FOR PEOPLE AFFECTED BY DEMENTIA

18th November, 2021…Memory Lane Games (MLG) supports care and quality of life for people living with dementia by reigniting memories through simple, frustration-free digital reminiscence activities. Ideal stocking filler for your grandparents or someone you love with dementia!
For Families and Carers:
• Connect and engage with loved ones
• Create diversion to provide short respite or time to focus on other tasks
• Provide loved ones with a frustration-free activity to support their cognitive wellbeing at zero cost

Memory Lane Games: A free app for people with dementia and their carers, offering localised reminiscence games. Winner of KPMG’s, “Top Tech Innovator in North West UK – 2021”. ORCHA-certified, CE Level 1 marked and endorsed by Alzheimer’s Disease International and Alzheimer’s Disease Association of the Philippines, the app is a simple tool that can be used by anyone around the world. MLG’s vision is to improve the lives of people with dementia and their families and carers around the world with its scalable, personalised digital health approach to care.
Memory Lane Games is a free, personalised memory app designed to improve cognitive performance and support those suffering with dementia and Alzheimers. By turning personalised memories into games Memory Lane Games aims to create a better future for people affected by dementia with memories of their past.

The app helps to improve the quality of life of those living with dementia little-by-little everyday by reigniting memories through gamification. The app enhances relationships between people living with dementia and their carers, families and healthcare professionals through playing the games together.

Based on the Isle of Man, Memory Lane Games is led by a best-in-class team whose mission is to create trusted digital health technology solutions. Driven by data and purpose, the team continuously strives to improve the quality of life of the elderly community, their families, friends, carers and healthcare professionals.

Introducing Sky Glass, the new streaming TV from Sky

The first TV with Sky inside. No dish, no box, no fuss.

Sky has finally announced the launch of Sky Glass, dramatically simplifying the way customers watch TV by integrating hardware, software and content. Sky Glass will be the only TV with award-winning Sky inside.
For the first time in the UK, you can now get Sky TV over Wi-Fi, with no satellite dish, no box, and no fuss. The new streaming TV from Sky is available to buy in the UK from 18 October and will launch in Sky’s other European markets from 2022.

Sky Glass, the streaming TV from Sky – key features:
• The only TV with Sky and all your favourite apps inside
• Buy your TV like you buy your mobile phone with flexible payments
• Cutting-edge design available in five colours and three sizes
• Ultra HD and Quantum Dot technology producing over 1 billion colours
• 360° Dolby Atmos® sound with powerful built-in speakers and sub-woofer
• Talk to your TV: just say “Hello Sky” to find what to watch
• The world’s first TV to be certified as a Carbon Neutral® product

Simply plug, pair, and play to enjoy stunning screen quality and cinematic sound, with everything you need built in, so you will be ready to go in minutes. With easy access to stream your favourite content and apps using your voice and incredible search, Sky Glass makes it simple for you to find and watch the TV you love.
Speaking at the launch, Dana Strong, Group Chief Executive, Sky said: “Sky Glass is the streaming TV with Sky inside, providing the total integration of hardware, software and content. Built on over 30 years of understanding what our customers want, this is a TV that only Sky could make. We believe this is the smartest TV available, and that customers will love it.”

Redefining the TV market

Sky has always aimed to give people what they want before they know they want it, and to make things easy for customers. That’s why Sky is redefining and creating a new category within the TV market to reach even more households. By taking this step, Sky will operate across the whole value chain, from content production, through to connectivity and aggregation, all coming together on the Sky Glass screen.

Sky Glass is designed to make life easier with a range of innovations:

TV never looked so good
Sky partnered with Map Project Office, one of world’s leading design agencies, to create the elegant design. Sky Glass comes in a choice of three sizes (Small 43”, Medium 55” and Large 65”) and five rich colours. Choose from Ocean blue, Ceramic white, Racing green, Dusky pink, or Anthracite black, with matching remotes and customisable speaker facias for extra personalisation. It has a mounting bracket cleverly integrated into the TV, or a sleek colour matched stand. With a single wire and just one plug, Sky Glass makes clutter a thing of the past, while the woven acoustic mesh used to optimise sound performance and millimetre-perfect perforations help Sky Glass sound as good as it looks.
Spectacular screen and spine-tingling sound
With over a billion colours, a 4K Ultra HD Quantum Dot screen delivers crystal-clear picture, while the 10-bit HDR screen supports HLG, HDR10 and Dolby Vision® to produce vibrant, more intense colour. Whether you’re cheering on your team in the Premier League or getting stuck into the latest blockbuster, Sky Glass knows what you’re watching and optimises sound and picture for you, while Intelligent Zonal Technology works to bring you darker darks and brights that look brighter.

Transform your living room into a cinema, concert, or stadium with six powerful, integrated speakers in optimal positions to deliver edge to edge Dolby Atmos® sound and a sub-woofer designed in for a rich, deep bass – all without buying a separate soundbar.
The smarter TV with Sky inside
With far field voice and Glance Motion Technology, just say “Hello Sky” or walk past to bring the streaming TV to life. A new home page makes it easier to find, watch and play the TV you love. It brings all your favourite content from across Sky, BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Disney+, ITV Hub, All4, Spotify, Peloton, PlayWorks and more. Use your voice to find what you want in a flash and to turn on the TV, control the volume or switch to connected devices.
At the press of a single button, you can now create a personal Playlist of your favourite shows, movies and more across apps and channels, live and on demand. The new plus button on the remote adds to your Playlist for you to stream any time you want – all in one place.
You never need to miss a show again with live Restart, you can jump straight back into anything that’s on now and available to watch from the start.
Doesn’t cost the Earth
Sky Glass is the world’s first TV to be certified as a Carbon Neutral® product. Sustainably designed, it has low power features built in such as auto-switch-off and auto-adjusting screen brightness helping it to be more energy efficient. It is the only TV to come in recyclable packaging, free from single-use plastic and by using a TV with everything built in, you reduce electricity consumption by up to 50%[i].
Hi-tech. Low price.
Sky Glass is made to be affordable. Choose to buy your TV like you buy your mobile phone by paying in one go or spread the cost with interest-free monthly payments. It is available from as little as £13 per month, exclusively with Sky TV, starting from £26 for Sky Ultimate TV and for the first time HD is included as standard. That’s £39 per month to get the 43” Sky Glass TV plus every episode of award-winning Sky Originals and Sky Exclusives, all your favourite channels and a fantastic line up you won’t find on Freeview, as well as Netflix. For just £4 more a month you can increase the size of your TV to a 55”, or £8 more for a 65”.
It comes with a full two-year warranty and a free delivery service that includes unboxing and packaging removal.
For those that enjoy watching Sky in multiple rooms in your house, the Whole Home pack puts Sky Glass inside any TV using the Sky Stream Puck for £10 a month.
Coming soon…
Sky Glass has been built as a platform which can be deployed by other Telco and subscription television operators so they can bring the Sky Glass experience to their customers too. Sky today announces the Foxtel Group, Australia’s leading subscription TV company as its first Sky Glass syndication partner. Sky Glass will launch in the Australian market as an element of the Foxtel Group’s future roadmap for its Foxtel brand and will contain both Foxtel and third-party content. This is the first of many collaborations as Sky Glass is scaled across the globe.
Sky Glass will get even better in 2022, with the launch of a high spec 4K smart camera that works seamlessly with Sky Glass and will unlock a range of exciting new services for the whole family. It will transform how we chat, play games, workout and share entertainment at home.
Leveraging Comcast’s technology strength
The streaming TV from Sky is built on technology borne of the collaboration as part of the Comcast Corporation – using the same operating system, and with shared knowledge and expertise. A great example of how Sky and Comcast are together accelerating innovation across the company. Added to Sky’s successful history of innovation gives the perfect combination of scale, capability, and brand power.
Strongest line-up of products
In 2022, Sky will offer its strongest ever line-up of products and services to sit alongside Sky Glass. In addition to Sky Glass, customers can enjoy the award-winning Sky Q with all your favourite channels and apps in one place, and with Sky Go you can now access an even better experience on your devices. Sky TV has new channels, new shows and new deals with Peacock, Paramount+ and more. Sky Mobile was voted Best Pay Monthly and Best Value Pay Monthly network by Uswitch, and with Sky Broadband we’re offering our fastest speeds yet.
For more, visit sky.com/glass

As Christmas fast approaches why not adorn your walls with these idyllic Christmas-scapes of London’s iconic landmarks, or send the gift of travel with Victoria’s fabulous travel guides.

Victoria Stories range of prints, guides and calendars are the perfect alternative decoration or Christmas gifts this season.

Unforgettable Experiences to Gift this Christmas

What do you buy someone who has everything? Get them an experience they can enjoy in the weeks after the festivities are over and you’ll be the hero of Christmas.

For the Chocoholics
Everyone wants chocolate for Christmas. Give someone a real treat! Book a Chocolate package at Hotel Indigo York for a city break in the home of the sweet stuff. The hotel’s chocolate-inspired rooms have panels that resemble chocolate squares, lampshades formed from antique jelly moulds and ‘Smarties’ cushion covers.
Rates start from £86. To book please visit hotelindigoyork.co.uk or call on 01904 231 333.

For a Bit of Christmas Sparkle
Treat the angel at the top of your tree to a Sparkle Package at The Townhouse Manchester, which includes a surprise bottle of prosecco in the room for added fizz. The Townhouse is perfectly positioned to explore this vibrant city and its quirky neighbourhoods, whether for a January sales splurge at the shops or a New Year gig at the GMEX. Rates start from £89. To book, visit townhousemanchester.com or call on 0161 222 8748.

For a Victorian Elegance Escape
Bed, Breakfast and Afternoon Tea package at The Crown Harrogate – treat a loved one to an indulgent escape in a hotel dating back 300 years, complete with the most decadent Afternoon Tea. Rates start from £99. To book visit crownhotelharrogate.com or call 01423 567755

For a Bit of Action
For an action-packed treat, book a Land Rover experience through the Malvern Hills at The Cottage in the Wood Malvern. The experience includes an overnight stay at the hotel with breakfast, dinner in the award-winning 1919 Restaurant, plus a half day driving experience for two with Land Rover at nearby Eastnor Castle. Starts from £459 for two people sharing a room. For more information call 01684 588860 or email reception@cottageinthewood.co.uk.

For the incurable Romantic

Earn brownie points, whilst spoiling yourself by gifting a Couple’s Retreat Package at Bridgewood Manor Hotel & Spa in Kent. The package includes a welcome drink on arrival, Afternoon Tea with a glass of prosecco, a spa treatment each and dinner in Squire’s Restaurant. After a good night’s sleep, breakfast is served, the spa is open for chilling and there’s even a late check out included. From £189 for two people sharing a room. To book, visit bridgewoodmanorhotel.com or call 01634 201333.

For a Highland Fling
Give the ultimate bucket list getaway gift this Christmas with a voucher for a Highland escape at The Torridon in Wester Ross. The five-star resort located on the North Coast 500 driving route through Scotland’s stunning scenery really is a place like no other, with fine dining, sumptuous accommodation and outdoor activities for all to enjoy. Gift Vouchers start from £50. For more information, visit torridon.com

Taste Kaleidoscope teas are the ultimate gift for your tastebuds.

Hand blended by founder Kuan Chen in our Sydney botanical workshop. We celebrate nature in every cup with our dedication to clean, modern and unique botanicals.

Our teas have the power to completely transport you to another time and place. Take our Australian Campfire blend for example, featuring wattle seeds and foraged cinnamon myrtle this brew has captured the essence of the Aussie outback in the most delicious way.

What better gift to give your loved one than a trip around the world from the comfort of their teacup? From the rose fields or Persia to the Christmas markets of Germany there’s a blend for everyone.
We have attached product photography and you can find our full range on our website taste-kaleidoscope.com.au

Give the gift of art: New limited editions and publications arrive in time for the holidays

Inspire loved ones this festive season with all new limited edition artworks and publications by pioneering creatives. Perfect for art-lovers of all ages, a collection of affordable prints, interactive sculptures and wearable objects are available from artists Yoko Ono (b. 1933, Japan), Simone Fattal (b. 1942, Syria), Sol Calero (b. 1982, Venezuela), Francesca Anfossi (b. 1980, Italy), Beca Lipscombe (b. 1973, UK) and more.
Generously donated by these artists to support the Gallery’s Exhibition and Education programmes, all editions are available to Whitechapel Gallery Members at a discount. A Gift Membership further offers the opportunity to see exhibitions first, gain exclusive access to events and engage with professional development opportunities.
A selection of illustrated publications have also hit the shelves, including the new companion to Simone Fattal’s sculptural commission, Finding a Way, and a distinctive exhibition catalogue from Kai Althoff (b. 1966, Germany). These titles and more are just one click away at whitechapelgallery.org.

New Artist Editions

Yoko Ono, Mend Piece For John, 1968/2021, Broken ceramic cup, glue in metal tube, digital print on paper, cotton twine, satin ribbon, plastic bag, box, 17.8 × 17.8 × 5.2 cm, Edition of 100, Accompanied by artist stamped certificate. £175 (£157.50 for Members).

Inspired by the Japanese art of kintsugi, this work is prompted by a simple set of instructions, urging the reader to think of ‘mending the world’ whilst repairing the broken fragments of pottery. This work references Ono’s original made in 1968, and accompanies her installation, MEND PIECE for London, currently on display at the Gallery.

Simone Fattal, Young Woman Reclining, 2021, Bronze, 10 x 7 x 3 cm, Edition of 20, numbered, accompanied by a signed certificate. Contact for pricing.

Accompanying the exhibition, Finding a Way, Simone Fattal’s edition pays tribute to Henry Moore and his depictions of Londoners during WWII, resonating with the artist’s own representations of conflict in her native Syria.

Sol Calero, Frutas y culebras, 2021, Digital pigment print onto Somerset Photo Rag 300gsm, 48.8 x 42 cm, Edition of 45, signed and numbered. £350 (£315 for Members).

This print derives from the artist’s 2019 painting of the same name. Sol Calero’s distinct visual language draws upon visual clichés and imported ideas that one might associate with Latin America. She employs stereotypically ‘tropical’ imagery such as exotic fruit and salsa dresses, inviting the audience to reconsider notions of creation, privilege and cultural appropriation.
Francesca Anfossi, Toolkit, 2021, Stoneware ceramic, Approx. 30 x 20 x 10 cm, Series of 11 (each unique), accompanied by a signed certificate. £450 (£405 for Members).

Toolkit is a wall-based ceramic holder made for utensils, eggs, and kitchen instruments. Following the artist’s residency in which she worked closely with the Gallery’s Education team and students in local primary schools, this edition celebrates and promotes creativity and experimentation through the simple activities of cooking, playing and sharing.

Beca Lipscombe, Head Gear, 2021, Hand printed silk crepe scarf and leather visor, Scarf: 90 x 90 cm, Visor: 24 x 20 cm, Edition of 24, Accompanied by signed and numbered certificate. £350 (£315 for Members)

Lipscombe takes inspiration from a number of sources: Ivan Lendl’s legionnaire’s hat from 1990, the support structure created by the V&A’s conservation department for the display of Eileen Agar’s Ceremonial Hat for Eating Bouillabaisse, a lucky horseshoe leather stamp and Agar’s famous Angel of Anarchy. Intended to be worn together, the scarf and visor ensemble is a nod to Agar’s wearable hat sculptures and elegant wardrobe.

Publication Highlights

Simone Fattal: Finding a Way
October 2021, Paperback, £16.99

For her first solo presentation in the UK, Simone Fattal leads visitors on a journey of transformation. Imagining the large, brick-lined gallery to be a giant kiln, Fattal fills the space with a procession of ceramic figures who embark on a spiritual and physical metamorphosis. This dynamic publication documents her new work and includes specially-commissioned photography of Fattal’s Paris studio and an essay by Canadian poet Lisa Robertson. Kai Althoff Goes with Bernard Leach, edited by Kai Althoff and Iwona Blazwick, with Emily Butler and Cameron Foote
August 2021, Swiss bound hardback, £75

This unique catalogue brings together 90 works spanning Kai Althoff’s career, including childhood drawings, photographs, textiles, paintings and selected ceramics by British potter Bernard Leach. The book features original contributions from writer and artist Dominic Eichler; curator Kathy Halbreich; artist and musician Hanayo Nakajima; Olympic snowboarder Iouri Podlatchikov; author Kolja Reichert; curator of the Leach Pottery in St Ives, Matthew Tyas; and young visitors associated with the Gallery’s education programme.

This is the Night Mail: Ida Ekblad selects from the Christen Sveaas Art Foundation
September 2021, Paperback, £12.99

This catalogue includes a written response by Ida Ekblad to WH Auden’s poem ‘Night Mail’, plus a new interview with Ekblad, full-colour plates of all selected works and installation photography of the display at Whitechapel Gallery, drawn from Norway’s Christen Sveaas Art Foundation.
Magic, Documents of Contemporary Art, edited by Jamie Sutcliffe
November 2021, Paperback, £16.95

Part of the acclaimed series of anthologies which document major themes and ideas in contemporary art, this anthology of writings by artists, magicians, historians and theorists, illuminate the vibrant correspondences animating contemporary art’s varied encounters with magical culture, inspiring a reconsideration of the relationship between the symbolic and the pragmatic

Shopping Information
Whitechapel Gallery Members receive a 10% discount on all editions and publications. Membership costs from £30 per year and includes exclusive access to exhibitions and events. Visit whitechapelgallery.org/membership for more information.
For the full range of Whitechapel Gallery Editions visit whitechapelgallery.org/shop
E MailOrder@whitechapelgallery.org T +44 (0)20 7522 7888 W whitechapelgallery.org
Visitor Information
Whitechapel Gallery, 77 – 82 Whitechapel High Street, London E1 7QX
T + 44 (0) 20 7522 7888 | E info@whitechapelgallery.org | W whitechapelgallery.org

Old Tom Gin 1821

Bringing you the best of Italy, grounded by our Scottish roots

About:

Created in the historic golfing destination of St. Andrews and distilled using the finest Sicilian ingredients, Old Tom Gin 1821 symbolises a harmonious marriage between founder Giorgio Cozzolino’s Italian homeland and his love for the iconic Scottish town, where he currently resides.

Supplier & Licensee of the Ryder Cup 2023:

Old Tom Gin 1821 is set to become the gin brand of choice for consumers at prestigious venues and iconic sporting events worldwide, affirmed by its upcoming involvement with the Ryder Cup in 2023. Under official ‘Supplier & Licensee’ status, Old Tom Gin 1821 will supply all gin and gin-based cocktails at the renowned sporting event taking place at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club just outside Rome.

The Range:

Ryder Cup – Limited Edition

Contains juniper berries from the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines pounded in Carrara marble mortars and blended with some of the finest “cold extract” botanicals including fresh, handpicked Sicilian blood oranges, Syracuse lemons and Genoese basil.

Smooth and slightly spicy with a warm mouthfeel, the citrus notes are carefully balanced with hints of ginger and pepper, while rounded flavours of cardamon and mace provide charisma and depth.

The limited-edition embossed decanter-style bottle incorporates the official Ryder Cup branding and a one-of-a-kind bohemian crystal golf ball stopper. The packaging interior is lined with a luxurious, soft-touch Italian fabric, finished off with a metallic foil stamp cover and magnetic closure.

Bottled at 43% ABV (70cl)
RRP – £180.00

Clubhouse Edition

Contains juniper berries from the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines pounded in Carrara marble mortars and blended with some of the finest “cold extract” botanicals including fresh, handpicked Sicilian blood oranges, Syracuse lemons and Genoese basil.

Smooth and slightly spicy with a warm mouthfeel, the citrus notes are carefully balanced with hints of ginger and pepper, while rounded flavours of cardamon and mace provide charisma and depth.

Presented in a patented transparent bottle and crystal stopper with copper inlays. Features an embossed hand-adhered label finished in a matt pearl varnish.

Bottled at 43% ABV (70cl)
RRP – £42.00

Available to purchase from www.oldtomgin1821.com

The Cubii Compact Seated elliptical allows its users to keep fit while they sit! Its ergonomic design provides a low-impact exercise that can be done from the user’s favorite chair. It is also whisper-quiet, so the user can watch their favorite show or work without distraction.

Made for all fitness levels, the Cubii Compact Seated elliptical is great in any home to help kids, parents, and grandparents get moving. It’s also great for those who sit at a desk all day and want to get more movement in their lives.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS GB LAUNCHES FIRST SOCIAL ENTERPRISE WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF NIALL GUITE – ART WITH A SPECIAL GOAL

Special Olympics GB is delighted to announce the launch of its first Social Enterprise – among one of the first within the Special Olympics movement – with the introduction of a new Special Olympics GB athlete led online art business called Niall Guite – ‘Art with a Special Goal’.
As of today, Special Olympics GB athlete, leader and talented artist Niall Guite’s distinctive and beautiful drawings of well-known and iconic sports stadiums from both home and abroad will be available for purchase across a range of products including prints and mugs from Niall Guite – ‘Art with a Special Goal’ at www.niallguite.com. Bespoke commissions are also available on request.
The launch of Niall’s website is the culmination of 18 months of hard work and drive by Niall which started out in March 2020. During the pandemic, Niall came up with the idea to start drawing football stadiums from across the UK to raise funds for Special Olympics GB during the nationwide 2.6 Challenge, which the organisers of the London Marathon launched on what would have been the 40th anniversary of the London Marathon.
With an original target of £260, through a combination of Niall’s striking artwork and his brilliant ability to market himself, his drawings and to connect with people on social media, Niall not only smashed that target raising more than £6,000, but his artwork also caught the attention of world-famous artist, Grayson Perry who posted on Twitter that he “loves” Niall’s drawings. Niall also received video messages of support from Man City midfielder Rodri, former Sheffield Wednesday player Kadeem Harris; and Sevilla manager and Special Olympics Global Ambassador Julen Lopetegui, to name but a few. Not to mention the dozens of messages of encouragement from sports organisations, celebrities, and Special Olympics GB athletes right across the UK.
Niall Guite, who is a Special Olympics GB World Games gold medal-winning basketball player turned cyclist from Sheffield said: “I’m so excited to launch my business. It means the world to me. This is a social enterprise business, and I am hoping to show that people with intellectual disabilities can be successful not just in sport but in employment too. It’s a dream come true.”
Grayson Perry, contemporary artist, writer, broadcaster, generous supporter and now friend of Niall, said: “I love Niall’s drawings. He’s a brilliant artist with a beautiful signature style. I’m the proud owner of a Niall Guite original he drew for me of the London Olympic Velodrome, and I love it. Niall is a lovely man and it’s been a pleasure getting to know him recently. If you want to make a difference to someone’s life and support a worthy cause, then please visit Niall’s website.”
Niall’s website, which was built with support from Special Olympics GB and Childish Design is Special Olympics GB’s first step as an organisation into establishing its own Social Enterprise to help provide more meaningful employment opportunities for more of our athletes like Niall. With 94% of people with an intellectual disability not in paid employment* this is a great step forward and one we hope others will embrace.
Tom Casson, Athlete Leadership and Enterprise Manager at Special Olympics GB, who has been working with Niall in the build-up to launch, said: “At Special Olympics GB our athletes are at the heart of our organisation, and we continually look to provide opportunities for them to showcase their skills and talents both on and off the field of play. Seeing Niall grow and thrive and the purpose and drive his idea has given him, made us want to do more to support Niall and the entrepreneurial skills of our athletes, hence the move into social enterprise.”
“The aim of our social enterprise is for our athletes to receive as much of the profit as possible. Any profit received by Special Olympics GB will be re-invested into the development of further Athlete Leadership and Social Enterprise projects for other Special Olympics GB athletes and to help provide more employment opportunities for more of our athletes.”
Paul Richardson, Chair of Special Olympics GB said: “This is an exciting day for not only Niall and his family but also for Special Olympics GB and combines several aspects of our new four-year strategic plan – Inclusion in Action.
“We particularly love that this whole project from the start to this point has come from Niall, been driven by Niall and is a real passion project for him and we couldn’t be more delighted to support him in this way. This is Niall’s time to shine, to build on and demonstrate the many abilities and skills he has, and Special Olympics GB will be with him every step of the way.
“We know first-hand how difficult it is for our athletes to secure meaningful paid employment and for us to be able to help in this way just goes to prove what people with intellectual disabilities can achieve through transferable skills gained through our Athlete Leadership programme with the right help.
“This is only just the beginning of our Social Enterprise and we’re looking forward to being able to help other budding Special Olympics GB Athlete entrepreneurs out there. So please show your support for Niall and visit his website. Christmas is coming and his prints really do make excellent gifts!”
* Source: NHS Digital 2018

Demijohn, the liquid deli

www.demijohn.co.uk

The Demijohn News – Beautiful Christmas Baubles

~ More than Gin Baubles (set of 6) ~

It is starting to feel pretty Christmassy here, so we thought it high time to introduce to our latest idea…

We have used our rather beautiful, teardrop shaped Goccia 100ml bottles to create some alternative Christmas baubles to help decorate your tree.

These boxed sets might also make a fun Christmas present?

~ The 12 Tastes of Christmas (set of 12) ~

~ More than Gin Baubles (set of 6) ~

There are two sets available currently. A set of 6 (More than Gin Baubles) or a set of 12 (The 12 Tastes of Christmas).

Each set would arrive in an eco-friendly kraft box with some natural raffia to allow you to then attach the bottles to any object you like, whether that be tree or wreath or furniture.

One last thought, our standard delivery service is free for either of these sets to any UK mainland address.

~ The 12 Tastes of Christmas (set of 12) ~

Personalized bike maps fit for your walls, designed for those obsessed with a life on two wheels. 😃🚴😃🚴

at https://www.velographs.com/custom-cycling-prints

Dedicated To Delighting You.

Designing and delivering a stunning cycling map that delights their customers is their #1 mission. As well as sneaking out from work to ride.

Egg Friends Set Good ‘Eggsamples’ for Readers and Help Children Stay on the Sunnyside
Easton, PA, November 19, 2021 — An active imagination is something worth celebrating, and a new book from CK Gregory, Mr. Sunnyside: Imagination, shows young audiences that there is an “eggciting” alternative to screen time: the power of their own minds.
Written for ages 5 to 10, Mr. Sunnyside: Imagination introduces young readers to Tommy, a boy stuck at home on a rainy day. There is nothing to do; his mother is busy making breakfast; and Tommy has grown bored with his toys. What will he do to entertain himself?
An “eggstraordinary” character named Mr. Sunnyside comes to Tommy’s rescue and saves him from boredom by taking Tommy on one adventure after another. Tommy is the only person who can see Mr. Sunnyside, and he’s the only one who needs to, in this charming story that gives new meaning to the power of an active imagination.
With clever wordplay, colorful illustrations and subtle lessons, Mr. Sunnyside: Imagination shares the story of a delicate egg who enters Tommy’s life as a play friend and turns Tommy’s mood from blue to “eggcellent!”
Author CK Gregory worked in many areas of theater and the media, both in front and behind the scenes. Now, he is embarking on a new career as a children’s author. Mr. Sunnyside: Imagination is his first book in a series of “eggstra” adventures to come!
“The world can seem, at times, scrambled,” Gregory said. “I hope my egg friends will set good ‘eggsamples’ for the readers and help children stay on the Sunnyside.”
Mr. Sunnyside: Imagination
Publisher: Gatekeeper Press
ISBN-10: ‎1662912595
ISBN-13: ‎978-1662912597
Available from Amazon.com

CARVERY REVEALED AS THE CURE FOR FESTIVE FATIGUE

• Brits take an average of 5.7 hours to recover from a December party session
• Less than 2 in 10 Brits say they’d prepare food themselves when suffering from the after-effects of some full-on festivities
• Farmhouse Inns offers takeaway carveries to help Brits bounce back following festive celebrations
• Nutritional expert Suzie Sawyer names carveries as the ideal festive reviver

This December will be a month of celebrations like no other according to new research by Farmhouse Inns, with 44% of Brits saying they’ll go out more in December than at any other time of year.

When celebrating over the festive season, 43% of party goers say they’re likely to overindulge in December. As such, it’s essential they know the best food to help bounce back from a session of celebration.

After a night out, it takes 5.7 hours to recover on average, with a fifth of Brits (20%) staying in their PJs all morning when feeling delicate or tired. We also like being alone after an abundance of socialising but hate the thought of cooking for ourselves, with less than 2 in 10 (19%) saying they’d prepare food themselves when suffering from the after-effects of some full-on festivities, and a further 41% saying they prefer to be alone following a night out.

When it comes to recovery food, Brits believe traditional takeaway food is the best option when feeling flat after a festive night out, with 28% of respondents saying Pizza is their number one choice, with carveries taking second place.

However, according to nutritional expert Suzie Sawyer, a carvery is far superior in helping you recover the day after that big night out.

Nutritional expert Suzie Sawyer said: “The main after-effects of a night out are primarily caused by dips in blood sugar, dehydration and digestive disturbances. Whilst the brain naturally looks for ‘reward’ foods, grabbing sugar, fat and calorie-laden foods is certainly not the answer.

“A high protein, carvery takeaway is a much better option than pizza, which is generally high in salt, fat and spicy meats, the combination of which are going to further antagonise an unhappy tummy. Cheese is also highly acidic, which is certainly not going to help either.

“A carvery is loaded with blood sugar balancing protein in the meat, with fibre from the vegetables, both essential for calming dizziness, brain fog, low mood and anxiety. Plus, those veggies provide vitamin C which helps the body recover from the effect of toxins, as it speeds up liver metabolism.

“Root veggies including potatoes, carrots and parsnips, are in season now for a reason; they’re packed with antioxidants, helping to reduce the internal inflammation that’s making those post-partying symptoms so much worse.”

Luckily, Farmhouse Inns’ classic carveries are available in takeaway form, so if you are feeling the effects of the Christmas party at work the morning after, or you’ve partied like it’s 2019 with your friends, you don’t have to go through the stress of making a roast yourself.

The takeaway carveries are available at all 70 Farmhouse Inns across the UK, so if you want to bag yourself a delicious carvery with 14-hour slow-roasted meats, fluffy yorkies and crispy, best-ever roasties – just click and collect using this page.

Also available via click and collect is the Farmhouse Inns signature baked in pub giant cakes such as Marz Attack & the incredible Funfetti cake.

Across the UK, there’s a clear divide in partying habits, with people in Wales taking the longest on average to recover following festive celebrations (7.4 hours), followed closely by revellers in the North West (7.2 hours), both well above the national average of 5.7 hours.

On the other hand, those in the South West and the East Midlands are statistically the fastest to recover from a night of celebrating, both taking just 4.4 hours to recover.

Emma Smith, Senior Marketing Manager at Farmhouse Inns said: “A carvery is one of the most comforting meals around, and according to top nutritional experts they’re also perfect for helping you recover from night of festive fun. We are the best in carvery all year round not just for Christmas and our Farmhouse to your house takeaway offer is ideal for anyone who wants to enjoy a fantastic carvery or cake but doesn’t fancy getting dressed up for an afternoon at the pub.”

To order your Farmhouse Inns Takeaway carvery visit: www.farmhouseinns.co.uk/takeaway/

Recognised. Recognised brings together beautiful jewellery with powerful causes to help people feel recognised around the shared experiences in life we face.

It was launched in 2018 and to date, the brand has launched a number of ‘Statement Popons®’ in support of key global issues, including mental health, fighting modern slavery, as well as supporting those affected by cancer. One hundred percent of the net profits from the sale of Recognised Popons goes to chosen partner charities, with over £68,000 raised so far.

Recognised jewellery is perfect to gift to a friend, family member or loved one.

The search is over for the perfect Christmas gift for the Golden Boldie in your life!

Bold Health Protein Plus is Australia’s premium pro-aging health powder scientifically formulated for people 55+. Created in conjunction with a nutritional scientist our blend is packed full of the essential vitamins and minerals that your body needs for good health.

You can take it daily or just when you feel you need a top up. This makes it perfect for the festive season to help you avoid the guilt over an extra slice of Christmas pudding.

Please let us know if you require any further information or more lifestyle or product photography, we look forward to hearing from you soon.

www.boldhealth.com.au
www.boldhealth.com.au/products/bold-health-protein-plus-single

Gloves Off in Haptics – Meta’s New Prototype, Discussed by IDTechEx
Friday 19 November 2021
IDTechEx
Cambridge, UK

Gloves Off in Haptics – Meta’s New Prototype, Discussed by IDTechEx

On Tuesday 16th November 2021, the Reality Labs (RL) team at Meta (formerly known as Facebook) released a selection of media showing a prototype haptics glove product, including videos of Mark Zuckerberg trialing various demos. The prototype utilizes pneumatically controlled microfluidic systems to deliver local haptic feedback to different areas of the hand, along with what appears to be additional kinaesthetic feedback on each finger, anchored against the wrist.

Meta and HaptX

Every now and again, you see a new technology product which gives you déjà vu for other products that have come before. To those that have been following the haptics industry, Meta’s prototype has several areas of similarity to the products developed by HaptX. In fact, having not seen many other examples of this technology displayed commercially, my initial instinct was to check whether HaptX had announced any partnership or relationship between the two companies. However, HaptX have subsequently released a clear statement from their Founder and CEO Jake Rubin alleging that many core aspects of the prototype “appear to be substantively identical” to their existing patented approach.

The subsequent media coverage of this story to date has been nearly ubiquitous in suggesting that Meta are in the wrong. However, the less-discussed aspect of this is that Meta hold a significant number of their own patents related to haptics in VR. This includes groups of patents filed by Facebook from 2015-2017 and granted in 2019 discussing microfluidic channels, hard/soft touch simulation, use of pneumatic bladders to form touch arrays, integration into gloves, and specific reference of use for interaction with virtual objects. Examples are as follows:
– Switchable fluidic device – dated March 2019
– Haptic devices that simulate rigidity of virtual objects – dated June 2019
– Pneumatically controlled haptic mechanisms with nested internal structures for haptic feedback – dated August 2019

The point here is, regardless of the potential for an easy critical narrative, the simpler side of this story is showing more investment and development towards advanced haptics from a key player. The IDTechEx report on the topic shows the market growing steadily, passing $4bn in revenue in 2021 and reaching $5bn by 2025.

IDTechEx analyst trialing a demonstration of HaptX’s gloves in 2020. Source: IDTechEx

As an analyst at IDTechEx, James Hayward has repeatedly described HaptX’s haptic glove products as his favorite haptics demo, and the closest thing we have today to the kind of science fiction haptics which many will imagine for a truly immersive metaverse. The fact that development teams at Meta or in any other large technology companies are building and testing prototypes using this technology (as well as other promising options using EAPs, smart textiles, and more) should not come as a surprise to anyone following the space. Indeed, Meta are not the only large technology company with an interest in this area.

Either way, an announcement, which should have been a fairly routine teaser of one technology project they are working on as part of their journey towards the metaverse, has certainly achieved the effect of increasing interest in haptic technologies.

The broader context for Meta and haptics

The haptic glove demonstration comes as part of the wider rebrand, which has seen Facebook become Meta and focus their branding and technology development alike on the metaverse. Along with the headline glove demo, the announcement also saw the RL team describe a number of important and predictable technology areas that they are working in, including several areas of haptics (e.g. pneumatic/microfluidic systems, electroactive polymers, and other related areas), alignment with audio and visual feedback, and even through to related areas like smart textiles and new material development. The announcement fits very well within the current PR strategy for the company, publicizing some of the most exciting development work which will form the building blocks for the suite of hardware products which will be the physical gateway for users into the metaverse.

Regardless of any potential issue with HaptX, this announcement is great news for the haptics space as a whole. For such a large and influential company to have invested so heavily and developed high-end haptics platforms shows the broad opportunities that are available in this space into the future. This will help to spread awareness and accelerate the progress towards wider adoption of advanced haptics, whether using microfluidics or otherwise. There are many other start-ups developing new products within important technology niches, which together form the future of the haptics technology landscape. They are met by similar internal efforts and early patent development from throughout the technology giants, and testing the boundaries of each of these patents is a normal part of the process as the industry develops.

IDTechEx have been covering the haptics industry for the past 5 years, releasing annual reports covering the core technology, key players, and market sectors as they evolve. IDTechEx have also covered related areas such as smart clothing, AR, VR & MR, and more. For more information about these reports, or IDTechEx’s ongoing subscription service, please visit the IDTechEx website or email research@IDTechEx.com.

About IDTechEx

IDTechEx guides your strategic business decisions through its Research, Subscription and Consultancy products, helping you profit from emerging technologies. For more information, contact research@IDTechEx.com or visit www.IDTechEx.com.

Official Suzuki Grand Prix Wooden Balance Bike

Official replica of the Suzuki World Champion GP motorbike complete with replica Suzuki colours and branding. Made from sustainable birch plywood, this official replica balance bike features details such as a twin ‘exhaust’, style tank and tails and a sculpted rear swinging arm. The handlebar grips are designed to rotate for the complete MotoGP experience, pneumatic tyres, full safety testing to EN71 UK and European standards, and limited steering to 30 degrease to prevent jack-knifing.
Age: 3 years+
RRP: £119.99 – Free next day delivery (on orders over £45)
kiddimoto.co.uk/collections/official-suzuki-range
Matching accessories: Matching Bell – RRP £11.99, Gloves – RRP £12.99

Marc Marquez Replica Wooden Balance Bike
Official MM93 Kiddimoto balance complete with replica Marquez’ signature and his signature, number 93 and ant emblems. Made from sustainable birch plywood, this official MM93 balance bike features details such as a twin ‘exhaust’, style tank and tails and a sculpted rear swinging arm. The handlebar grips are designed to rotate for the complete MotoGP experience, pneumatic tyres, full safety testing to EN71 UK and European standards, and limited steering to 30 degrease to prevent jack-knifing.
Age: 3 years+
RRP: £119.99 – Free next day delivery (on orders over £45)
kiddimoto.co.uk/collections/the-marc-marquez-collection
Matching accessories: Matching Helmet – RRP £34.99, Bell – RRP £11.99, Gloves – RRP £12.99

Retro Evel Knievel Balance Bike – Official signature and colours
Official Evel Knievel Kiddimoto balance complete with replica signature and EVEL stars and stripes livery. Made from sustainable birch plywood, this official Evel Knievel balance bike features details such as a twin ‘exhaust’, tank and tails and a sculpted rear swinging arm. Pneumatic tyres, full safety testing to EN71 UK and European standards, and limited steering to 30 degrease to prevent jack-knifing.
Age: 3 years+
RRP: £119.99 – Free next day delivery (on orders over £45)
kiddimoto.co.uk/collections/the-evel-knievel-collection
Matching accessories: Matching Bell – RRP £11.99, and Gloves – RRP £12.99

Athlete-Driven, Patriot-Inspired fitness apparel and accessories. Owned and operated by an active-duty military family.

https://bornprimitive.co.uk/

Let’s face it. Our generation has gotten soft. Too many people in modern society just want entitlements, quick thrills and instant gratification, without wanting to put in the hard work that we all know is necessary for anything truly worthwhile. Born Primitive was created for the modern savages out there who reject this notion and refuse to accept the mediocrity that society now fosters. Whether it’s at the gym or in life, our beliefs are simple. Set goals, relentlessly strive to achieve them, and never make excuses. Look people in the eye and give them a firm handshake. Your word is your bond. Throw your conventional limits out the window and realize your true potential.

Born Primitive is owned and operated by an active duty military family. We are extremely grateful to those who serve or have served this great nation (especially our fellow military, firefighters, police, and first responders), and we are proud to support various charities, including the Navy SEAL Foundation and 555 Firefighter Fitness. Most importantly, we hold a special place for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while downrange or in the line of duty.
Lest we forget.

Planning a festive surprise doesn’t always come without hiccups.

This is why Messenger has compiled a guide to planning the perfect Christmas surprise on the app, using its unique features to help navigate every step – whether gift shopping or arranging festive reunions.

From using disappearing messages to show off your wrapping skills with those ‘in on it’, to using App Lock to keep your Christmas brunch plans for your eyes (and fingerprints) only, this guide will ensure your big gift or heart-warming gesture remains perfectly under wraps. The only thing yule worry about is capturing the magic moment on camera!

+++
Keeping Surprises Top Secret
• Messenger’s Secret Conversations function allows you to keep your Christmas gift shopping or party planning completely under wraps. These conversations are end-to-end encrypted, which means only the sender and recipient can see the messages.
• But wait, there’s Myrrh. Within Secret Conversations, you can activate Disappearing Messages – just tap the timer and decide how long you want your message to last. After this period, your message will disappear. Rest assured, the clock won’t start until they’ve seen the message!
• Disappearing Messages are a great way to keep your information protected – whether sharing your bank details with your sibling for your parents’ big present or your Prime password to secure that next day delivery – your information is secure and can be set to automatically disappear if you want.

OOPS! Unsend Message
• Planning surprises can be a little hectic, meaning it’s easy to hit send to the wrong person – snow thank you! Messenger’s Unsend Feature allows you to unsend messages – whether accidentally sharing the screenshot of the surprise holiday booking or a snap of the received parcel.
• Simply tap on the message you want to remove and select the option to ‘Remove for Everyone’. The removed message will be replaced by text alerting everyone in the conversation that the message was removed. Magic!
Prevent the pop-ups with Mute Chat
• When hanging out with the person you’re surprising, it could be a good idea to ‘mute’ any related Messenger conversations. Nobody wants the surprise puppy for your mum to come out while you’re showing her your grocery list!
• Users can mute conversations by simply tapping the information icon at the top right, then select the Mute button. You can personalise how long to mute the conversation to suit you; from 5 minutes of silence to indefinitely. Don’t worry – the participants won’t know you’ve activated the feature.
Get Organised with Rooms
• Sometimes, showing is easier than telling – especially when it comes to organising surprises. Messenger’s screen share feature allows you to instantly give friends a live view of your computer or phone screen while video chatting on its video-calling services, Rooms.
• With screen sharing, you can do virtually anything together. Whether sharing inspo from your camera roll or shopping together online for the perfect gift, screen sharing makes it easy to stay connected with your loved ones, even when you’re physically apart

No Peeping: Facial Recognition Software
• To stop any curious Christmas cats out there, Messenger’s App Lock feature utilises your device’s fingerprint or facial authentication capabilities to prevent others from gaining access to your messages if your device gets into the wrong hands – no surprises ruined here!
• Once activated, you can set how often the app requires a Face ID unlock. They range from every time you’ve left Messenger up to one hour after your last visit.
• You can find this feature in the new Privacy settings section. Rest assured, a person’s touch or face ID is not transmitted or stored by Facebook, so you can feel even more confident in protecting yourself.