VALENTINE’s DAY
A Time to Indulge your Lingerie Fantasies
There’s no doubt that we’ve been spending more time than ever in the confines of our homes during these challenging times. But with the most romantic day of the year just
around the corner, what better time to get cosy in the bedroom?
DARETODESIRE is a newly launched company founded and led by women.
Whether you’re a woman who wants to look your most seductive on Valentine’s Day, or whether you’re a man who wants to surprise your beloved with an intimate gift, at
DARETODESIRE you’ll find a full collection of luxurious lingerie items that are sure to delight.
• Bras and Panties
Collection of bras and matching panties in ultra-feminine styles with a soft, silky feel and delicate details
• Nightdresses
Sweet dreams in short sexy nightdresses with removable padded cups and matching thongs
• Masks
Sleeping masks and face masks in pure mulberry silk.
It’s worth noting that according to research*, silk is an antiviral material while being breathable. Stepping out of your boudoir, the DARETODESIRE facemasks will keep
you safe everywhere you go without losing any of your seductive power.
View the full collection here www.daretodesire.store
Air Cooling 3d Mesh Motorcycle Seat Pad Butt Protector
Buy Now At :- www.amazon.com/dp/B08BT2FP14?ref=myi_title_dp
On sale for $28.86 USD
• ✅ UNLIKE A MOTORCYCLE GEL SEAT PAD, or a Foam, Beaded or sheepskin motorcycle seat cover WHICH ARE EXPENSIVE, require HIGH MAINTENANCE, or just COMPRESS and leave you in agony, BADASS MOTO 3D AIR MESH BREATHABLE motorcycle passenger SEAT CUSHION is a Buddy for your Butt. LOW COST, NO MAINTENANCE way to make your MOTORCYCLE MORE COMFORTABLE so you can ENJOY A LONG RIDE.
• ✅ STOPS HOT SEAT. Circulates Air to KEEP YOU COOL. Are you tired of having your motorcycle seat foam or gel motorcycle seat cushion stick to your butt & make you sweat on a hot day? Or burning you when you get on? Badass Moto gear Mesh Seat pad motorcycle is a cool cushion for motorcycle seat that helps flow air while you ride. KEEPS YOU NOTICEABLY COOLER. Breathable Mesh Material makes for great sun seat covers. Stays cool even in the hot sun so you won’t burn your butt when you get on.
• ✅ RELIEVES PRESSURE points. Springy Mesh Cushions WON’T CHANGE RIDING POSITION. Most OTHER MOTORCYCLE CUSHION PADS for seats are too thick and RAISE YOU UP like a hawk or strain your back. Our Badass Moto motorcycle air seat cushion has enough support to PREVENT LIGHT PRESSURE POINTS and is low profile so you stay in your natural MOST COMFORTABLE riding position.
• ✅ NON SLIP Underside STAYS PUT so YOU WON’T SLIDE on your seat. EASY INSTALL or remove in about a MINUTE with adjustable elastic straps. NO INSERTS, PUMP OR TOOLS to mess with. FITS Saddle or motorcycle Pillion pad. Open Mesh Protector DRAINS & SHEDS WATER and DRIES ALMOST INSTANTLY So you won’t get a Soggy Bottom if your bike gets wet. Compact size motorcycle accessory PACKS EASILY.
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With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, VO5 has everything you need to feel fabulous this Valentine’s Day – even if celebrations take a slightly different form this year!
Whether you have curls with a mind of their own, or a quiff that doesn’t quite stand to attention, VO5 has you covered with men’s and women’s products for every hair type.
With prices ranging from £3.59 to £4.39 these staples make great affordable gifts, or treats for yourself.
Womens Range
No.2 Flexible Hold Hairspray
A hairspray packed with innovation! The No.2 Flexible Hold Hairspray is one of the first hairsprays of its kind to be water-based, meaning you get a secure hold, without the usual crunchy hairspray feeling. It’s super quick and easy to use with an ultra-fine, fast-drying spray, and the best part, it leaves your hair smelling of coconut.
Perfect for keeping your Valentine’s Day look in place!
RRP: £3.59 (Superdrug)
Post-Gym Refresh Spray
The VO5 Post Gym Refresh Spray is the perfect non-hair-wash day solution. It contains starch to draw out any excess oil from the hair, fighting flatness and giving your locks a volume boost for that bouncy, freshly-washed look.
So whether you’ve been for a winter jog, or need a quick spritz to mask the afternoon Yoga session, the Post Gym Refresh spray has your back.
RRP: £4.39 (Superdrug)
Tame & Shine Spray
VO5 Tame & Shine Spray is designed to give a glossy, silky finish to your hair. It tames flyaways and adds shine in no-time. The perfect finishing touch to any party look, the Tame & Shine Spray gives every style a silky smooth effect.
It’s handy size helps you stay date-night ready, however you’re celebrating this Valentine’s Day.
RRP: £4.39 (Superdrug)
Coconut Hot Oil
Is a combination of cold weather and heavy styling leaving your hair in some need of a bit of TLC? VO5 has you covered.
VO5 Nourishing Coconut Hot Oil gives dry and damaged hair a boost of nourishment, penetrating deeply within the follicles to repair weak strands and reduce damage. This effective hair serum is enriched with all the goodness of 5 natural oils for deep treatment without the greasy finish.
RRP: £4.39 (Superdrug)
Curl Defining Mousse
Show off your curls this Valentine’s Day without the usual crunch or frizz!
This versatile curling mousse gives you just what you want – bouncy, frizz free curls that last. Use before drying your hair for all-day definition and hold and create chic and easy styles.
Style your curls loud and proud, and be ready to turn your date’s head this Valentine’s Day.
RRP: £4.39 (Superdrug)
Heat Protect Spray
With your hair under siege from curlers, irons, and blow-dry’s alike, give it the protection it needs with VO5’s Heat Protect Spray.
It helps protect hair against the daily damage caused from using hot styling tools, offering up to 230°C heat defence works to detangle and protect hair as you style it. With VO5’s heat protection spray your hair will be safe, soft, and shiny.
No matter how you choose to style your hair this Valentine’s Day, be sure to keep it healthy and safe with Heat Protect Spray.
RRP: £4.39 (Superdrug)
Men’s range
Matt Clay
The ultimate tool for creating a short choppy look this Valentine’s Day.
VO5 Matt Clay is ideal for creating sculpted texture with a choppy matt finish. It’s is great for short cuts and easy to work in, adding texture and definition and giving you back control. Gives hair a matt, non-shiny look.
RRP: £4.39 (Superdrug)
Flexible Wax Spray
Give your hair the support it needs with the Flexible Wax Spray.
With a hold support of 4/5, the Flexible Wax Spray supports your style all day, without leaving it feeling crunchy or stiff.
Give your quiff a quick spritz first thing and the Flexible Wax Spray will see you through your Valentine’s Day celebrations.
RRP: £4.39 (Superdrug)
Thickening Powder
Winter hats leaving your hair looking flat and lifeless?
VO5’s Thickening Powder gives your hair the boost it needs this winter. A quick shake through your roots, and the Thickening Powder will give you texture and instant volume, giving the appearance of thicker, fuller hair, and providing a good base for any solid style.
RRP: £4.39 (Superdrug)
Matt Rework Paste
The perfect one-shop tool for all your festive styling needs.
The Matt Rework Paste can be used on damp or dry hair, and combines a matt finish with fully reworkable long lasting hold.
Use it straight out of the shower, for a look that will last all day, or give your hair a quick boost after work before you head to your virtual date.
RRP: £4.39 (Superdrug)
Fall in love with nature this Valentine’s day with a virtual gift to see Spell Songs, streamed Live from the Natural History Museum
Give a gift that makes a difference; donate to download a gift certificate for this unique concert. All funds raised for the Urban Nature Project
Lost Words author and illustrator Jackie Morris will be painting live on the night
The Natural History Museum is asking (nature) lovers across the country to dig deep this Valentine’s Day and give a truly unique gift that makes a real difference; the chance to join the live stream of a one off, inspirational concert from the Spell Songs ensemble. By donating now, you can download a beautiful gift certificate featuring a Jackie Morris fox to gift on Valentine’s day, and share the experience of the Spell Songs concert on 27 April 2021 with your loved one, wherever they may be.
Created by authors Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris, Spell Songs is the musical companion piece to the iconic books The Lost Words and The Lost Spells created by authors Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris.
The evening will be a heady mix of rich spoken voice, whispers, accents, dialects, native languages, proverbs, sayings, birdsong, river chatter and insect hum, alongside beguiling music, song and visual beauty. One lucky guest will even get the chance to win an iconic Jackie Morris painting she’ll create live on stage on the night.
All donations to join the live stream will raise funds for the Urban Nature Project, which will not only help to transform the Museum’s five-acre outdoor site into a centre for conservation research, but crucially launch a UK wide urban biodiversity movement that will connect communities with urban nature and create advocates to protect our planet. All donors who give £10 and over will receive VIP virtual access to the experience on the night (27 April), which includes extended behind-the-scenes content with Spell Songs collaborators and a Museum scientist.
Sir David Attenborough, who supports the Urban Nature Project, described the project as an “open door for young people to fall in love with the nature on their doorsteps and develop a lifelong concern for the world’s wild places.”
Discussing Spell Songs, Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris say, “Undoubtedly one of [The Lost Words] most thrilling transformations has been into the music [of Spell Songs] brought about by the vision and brilliance of seven musicians, who have together taken The Lost Words and turned it into something diverse, hopeful, moving and new.” – Robert Macfarlane
“Robert and I found ourselves working with musicians who had been the soundtrack to our working lives. Spell Songs gives wings to the book. – words and images weave a spell, music created around both word and image carries that spell deeper into the soul.” Jackie Morris
While there is no set donation price for tickets, viewers are encouraged to give what they can to support the Urban Nature Project and will receive the following unique gifts when doing so:
Donations of £25 or more – Enjoy VIP virtual access to Spell Songs in concert, regular updates on the Urban Nature Project and a beautiful A5 postcard as designed by Jackie Morris, exclusively available to project supporters.
Donations of £40 or more – Enjoy VIP virtual access to Spell Songs in concert, regular communications with family activity suggestions direct to your inbox that can help protect your local biodiversity, and a cuddly fox.
Donations of £60 or more – Enjoy VIP virtual access to Spell Songs in concert, regular updates on the Urban Nature Project and a beautiful A2 concert poster designed by Jackie Morris, exclusively available to project supporters.
Donations of £100 or more – Enjoy VIP virtual access to Spell Songs in concert, regular updates on the Urban Nature Project and a beautiful A2 concert poster designed by Jackie Morris, exclusively available to project supporters and a credit acknowledgement in the broadcast.
Nature lovers, Museum supporters, Spell Songs and Lost Words fans around the world can watch this exclusive Spell Songs event STREAMED LIVE from 8.10pm on Tuesday 27 April from the Natural History Museum’s Hintze Hall. For further information on this event and how to join in please see updates on the Spell Songs website thelostwords.org/NHM and nhm.ac.uk/spell-songs
Praise for The Lost Words: Spell Songs
“rapturously received” BBC Music Magazine *****
“complex and beautiful and an absolute joy from start to finish” RnR *****
“beguiling”- The Sunday Times****
“a delightful homage to nature” The Times****
“A brave and magical creation” The Observer
VALEN-STAIN’S DAY – A FLIRTY NIGHT TURNS INTO A DIRTY MORNING AFTER
THE SEVEN DEADLY STAINS THAT ARE LEFT OVER FROM THE MOST ROMANTIC NIGHT OF THE YEAR!
With the challenges of the past year and the uncertainty of what lies ahead, there’s no better time to show our loved ones just how much we care. As Valentine’s Day approaches, due to lockdown restrictions, the nation will be spending it in the comfort of their own home.
Whether you’re hosting a candlelit meal for two, delivering breakfast in bed or feeding your partner chocolates, Valentine’s Day can be a loving yet messy occasion.
What is usually a night full of celebration can quickly turn the morning after into an untidy affair.
Cleaning and laundry experts, Dr. Beckmann have identified the seven deadly stains that are bound to be spilled this Valentine’s Day and how to show them the TLC they deserve!
SEVEN DEADLY STAINS
Candle wax
Candles ooze romance and sets the mood for a picturesque evening. If there is a spillage, allow the dripped wax to harden, then delicately scrape off excess wax with a blunt knife. Rub white vinegar using a damp cloth into the stain then leave to soak and keep your fingers crossed.
Red wine
Nothing says ‘I love you’ more than sharing a bottle of red wine with your partner, however after a few glasses have been consumed the night can quickly turn into a messy one and red wine stains can be difficult to get out of your carpets and furniture. If you have an unfortunate spillage, make sure you blot the alcohol with a cloth until the liquid is absorbed, then sponge with cold water. Dr. Beckmann’s Carpet Stain Remover is great to have in the cupboard ready and waiting.
Makeup
Getting dolled up for a date night in your own home whilst the romantic meal for two is cooking in the oven, could leave you rushing to get ready, where accidental spills become inevitable. If you catch the stain quickly a trusty baby/make-up remover wipe may eliminate the problem. However, if it has smeared into the carpet you’ll need to tackle it with a stain remover and keep scrubbing!
Chocolate
Chocolate is the token gift on Valentine’s Day, it can be gifted in a box, shaped like a heart or even given as body paint – it’s very versatile! Throughout the evening there is bound to be chocolate trodden into the carpet or spilt onto the sofa, but don’t panic this can be scrubbed right out. Scrape any excess chocolate off the stain, then blot the mark with a damp cloth. Finally apply a stain remover or detergent to the stain and scrub, scrub, scrub!
Lipstick
Valentine’s Day is the day to pucker up and share a kiss with your loved one. However, lipstick can be a nightmare to get out of clothing and bedsheets. Remove as much excess lipstick off the fabric as possible without smearing it further. Dab the stain with a warm, damp cloth, once this has been done apply a stain remover and this should do just the trick.
Coffee
Having breakfast in bed is a lovely treat, but this treat can soon turn sour with a coffee spillage. Tackle the stain as fast as possible by flushing it with cold water, then dab with a stain remover such as Dr. Beckmann’s Stain Devils Fruit & Drink. Make sure you act fast, as the older the coffee stain the more difficult to remove.
Flowers
The statement Valentine’s item can leave a permanent stain on your clothes if not treated quickly. Blot the stained fabric with a damp cloth then prepare to wash the garment. Use a stain remover to help break apart the stain.
On the top tips to help everyone tackle the seven deadly stains this Valentine’s Day, Dr. Beckmann spokesperson, Susan Fermor said: “The romance of the evening can soon turn into bickering the next morning, as you work together to tackle the mess from the night before. Follow our top tips to ensure your Valentine’s Day stains are quickly forgotten about and your day goes from cleaning to beaming!”
THE FOOD OF LOVE ON A PLATE FOR SINGLETONS
TAKEAWAY FOOD EXPERTS LAUNCH THE LOVE HUB TO MATCH SINGLE BRITS WITH FELLOW FOODIES
As the most romantic day of the year for couples creeps closer, the UK’s third biggest online food ordering app, Foodhub, launches ‘The Love Hub’ to allow single people a chance to find love on Single Awareness Day (15th February).
Using the hugely popular dating app, Tinder, Foodhub is giving those solo singletons an opportunity to bond with fellow foodies over their love of delicious dishes and tasty treats!
By simply clicking on the Foodhub Tinder profile, the users will be transported to ‘The Love Hub’ and will fill out a questionnaire about their food preferences and what tickles their taste buds. ‘The Love Hub’ will then play cupid and match two supremely suited singletons based on their food desires.
Once matched up, romance experts at ‘The Love Hub’ will help organise a virtual blind date, so the singletons can chat and bond over their foodie favourites with a takeaway each, courtesy of Foodhub.
Wil Chung, Foodhub spokesperson, said: “Food is a common theme in the dating world, whether that’s having a first date over a candlelit meal at a restaurant or spending a Friday night watching a movie with a takeaway. The mutual love of good food helps to cement relationships and enables them to blossom.
“Valentine’s Day can be difficult for single people, so we wanted to help single Brits find their soulmate over their love of delicious food. What better place to do this than on Tinder?! We can’t wait to match up two love birds and hear how things develop. Next year they might even be celebrating Valentine’s Day!”
To be in with a chance of being set up with your perfect food match, scroll through Tinder on Single’s Awareness Day (15th February) and once you spot the Foodhub dating profile, simply click and it’ll take you to ‘The Love Hub’. Hopefully it won’t just be the food that tickles your fancy!
To celebrate Single Awareness Day (15th February) Foodhub are offering all customers 10% off across the Foodhub app and website – simply add code: SINGLE10 at the checkout*
Bring the romance home this year
Can’t go out for a romantic meal? Not a problem, bring the romance to your dining table with an exclusive 20% off on orders via the Just Eat app until 15th February. Set the mood with your partner’s favourite playlist completely un-interrupted with 3 months of ad-free music via the Deezer app, available until 28th February.
We’ve heard it said that the couple who work-out together, stays together. And with an exclusive 2 months of free workouts with Tru Connect by TV.FIT, you can join famous couples like Gemma Atkinson and Gorka Marquez for a couple’s work-out that could do more than just make your body stronger. The Offer is only available until 28th February 2021.
Huawei AppGallery is the official app distribution platform for Huawei smartphones and tablets and is the third largest app marketplace in the world. Available in more than 170 countries, users can easily and securely discover and download thousands of apps from around the world. There are currently over 81,000 apps with new apps joining daily.
Gift guide options
HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro
Don’t let your partner miss a beat of their favourite tunes this Valentine’s, thanks to the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro’s intelligent AI-powered noise cancellation technology.
Recognising ambient sounds intelligently, HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro switches the noise cancellation mode accordingly for a more suitable hearing experience. What’s more, the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro can provide two hours of ANC-enabled playback with just five minutes charge. The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro are available in three colours – Silver Frost, Ceramic White and Carbon Black.
Available for just £129.99 (RRP: £169.99) saving £40 from the Huawei Store
Bundle up for more savings! For a limited time only when you buy a pair of HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro earbuds on the Huawei Store you will be eligible for the following benefits:
A free HUAWEI Band 4 smartwatch worth £39.99! (offer valid from 27th January – 16th February) *
AND one of deal from the list below:
A 2nd pair of HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro earbuds in a different colour for just £99.99 (RRP: £169.99) saving an extra £70
A HUAWEI Watch Fit for £69.99 (RRP: 119.99) saving an extra £50
A HUAWEI Watch GT 2 smartwatch in Matte Black for £99.99 (RRP: £199.99) saving an extra £100
HUAWEI Watch GT 2 Pro
The HUAWEI Watch GT2 Pro is the ultimate stylish sports watch for your Valentine’s this year and comes with an extraordinary 2 weeks battery life.
Supporting precise data tracking for 100+ workout modes, such as running, rowing, climbing, golf, surfing or tennis, the smart watch helps track your movements wherever you go. Furthermore, the device can track your heart-rate, sleep and blood oxygen level so you can learn more about yourself and adapt your training as needed!
Available for just £229.99 (RRP: £299) from 4th February saving £70 from the Huawei Store.
OzBuggy Tours
PR: OzBuggy Tours presents your Tarzan and Jane Valentine’s Day
5th Feb 2021, Wednesday, Queensland: Get out of the city and off the beaten track this Valentine’s Day, driving deep into the depths of the jungle. Breakaway from the heart-shaped box of chocolates, it’s time for you to treat your special someone an unforgettable, nature-immersing escape with OzBuggy’s Valentine’s day adventure getaway.
Twist and turn through the heritage listed Scenic Rim rainforest on a 4×4 Buggy and end the day in a hot tub under a romantic sunset. It’s an adrenaline inducing adventure through Australia’s most breathtaking bush tracks offering a wild adventure for thrill seekers. Then a change of gear as you relax and unwind with a soak under the stars in your very own hot tub and snooze in a spacious glamping tent.
Limited capacity: limit of 6 places for 6 couples.
The itinerary includes:
· Welcome at 9am
· Waivers, Helmet Sizing & Induction
· Safari tour begins at 10am
· BBQ Lunch with a view from the Summit – German Sausages & Crispy Bread Rolls, Sauerkraut & Sauces
· Afternoon Safari Tour
· Guests are shown to Glamping Tents
· Champagne Sunset
· Campfire Dinner & Drinks
· Hot Tubs Campfire
· Checkout
Dates: 12-14th February 2021
Price: $1690 per couple, additional guests $200/head
Tents can sleep up to 6 people.
Book your tickets here: ozbuggy.tours/valentines-day
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Orgone Effects
PR: Give your Valentine the gift of EMF protection with Limited-Edition Stellar Dome® Ruby!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5th Feb, 2021, Wednesday, Melbourne: Forget about predictable chocolate boxes and long-stemmed roses, this Valentine’s Day indulge your loved one with the gift of health & wellness.
Orgone Effects, an Australian company that for over 21 years has developed Electromagnetic field (EMF) harmonizing products, has launched The Stellar Dome® Ruby, a healthy negative charge resonance field generator. The company mission is to create a crystal-clear living and workspace that supports your health and emotional well-being so that you enjoy your life in a happier, healthier and more vibrant environment.
The product has been hand poured in the Mornington factory to accurately resemble to radiance of rubies with a soft, glowing, red fluorescence. The Stellar Dome® Ruby is a healthy negative charge resonance field generator designed to balance the unhealthy positive charge resonance created by 5G and all forms of EMR, RF, Wi-Fi, Earth Radiation and human-generated Bioplasmic Radiation to the boundaries of a property. In fact, it is uniquely programmed to neutralise over 30 different types of noxious EMR fields with a harmonizing effect to the boundaries of a property.
The Stellar Dome® Ruby is also a compact device which makes it convenient to carry while you are on the go, and the newest addition to the range (available in green and gold colourways as well)!
In addition to this exclusive product, Orgone is offering 10% discount on their selective Valentine’s day range which includes a unique stellar pendant, harmonywear bracelet, Orgone Bamboo rejuvenation blanket.
To learn more about the products click here – www.orgoneffectsaustralia.com.au/collections/the- valentines-day-edit
About Orgone Effects
Orgone Effects® has a long-standing history of developing Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) harmonizing products to neutralize the harmful effects of all forms of noxious energy emissions since its inception in 2000. Based in Melbourne, Australia, we are the sole manufacturer of the Orgonium® range of EMR harmonizing products. Their extensive range of products represents over 20 years of Intuitive Building Biology Consultancy experience and advanced knowledge of the types of harmful electromagnetic fields (EMF), which may exist within a space. Their products are either manufactured by Orgone Effects® or are sourced and infused with their unique Orgonium® Resonance Technology (Patent Pending), which has been developed and refined over many years of kinesiology-based research and field testing.
All their products produce a negative charge resonance, which is as close to nature as possible. It is vitally important because the correct negative charge frequencies are required to neutralize and balance the positive charge resonance successfully; the harmful component of an electromagnetic field, thus neutralizing any electromagnetic stress on the human meridian system. Orgone Effects® products are made from our exclusive Orgonium® process and will last a lifetime because the negative charge does not decay.
For more information visit Orgone Effects Australia – www.orgoneffectsaustralia.com.au/
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Tokar Estate
Romance your loved one with a Valentine’s Day dinner at Tokar Estate
Wednesday, 3rd Feb, 2021, Melbourne: Treat your loved ones to an unforgettable romantic getaway experience this Valentine’s day at Tokar Estate. Recently awarded a AGFG Chef’s Hat, this premium small winery is the perfect venue to celebrate the most romantic date of the year with your choice of a three-course A La Carte lunch or a once-off six-course Valentine’s Day Degustation for dinner.
In the Mediterranean inspired setting of the restaurant overlooking the lush vineyards and mountain ranges, couples can delight in a gastronomic adventure prepared by head Chef Maria Kabal. The Estonian-born, Melbourne-based chef promotes quality ingredients from small, local farmers to present to her sustainably sourced, minimal waste, nose-to-tail peasant fare cooking style.
Maria began her career as a chef at Caravan King’s Cross in London, where she trained under Australian chefs. During this time, she also cooked alongside the famous chefs from Copenhagen’s Noma. Upon making a move to Australia, she landed in the role of sous chef at Añada and spent three years in the kitchen with chef Jesse Gerner, before stepping into the role of Head Chef at Tokar Estate. A fierce advocate for women in the culinary scene, Maria’s first team, was an all-female kitchen at Añada.
Your exquisite six-course meal dining experience will begin with two starters – Tokar Estate Sourdough bread and Sydney rock oysters and house-made hot sauce. It will be followed by choice of entrees including Cured Duck Breast with Smoked Ricotta, hazelnuts and bronze fennel, or raw Scallops with Cucumber, Pomelo and Jalapeno.
The main spread of the degustation dinner adventure includes three curated courses starting with Rabbit and Black Garlic Ravioli and lamb sweetbread with green garlic followed by Kingfish served with Tomatillo, Beef Fat and White Soy. Enjoy the burst of flavours with the fifth course of Duck leg with Plum and Mustard Greens and Beetroot Terrine.
Conclude your elegant evening with our chef’s special degustation dessert of Ruby Chocolate with Beetroot, Raspberry and Lychee.
Tokar Estate is offering its Valentine’s Day patrons the opportunity to enjoy a complimentary wine tasting experience so make sure that you have enough time beforehand to truly immerse yourself in the winery experience.
About Tokar Estate
The Estate’s vineyard lies on the gentle north-facing slope that runs from the Maroondah Highway to the foot of the Coldstream Hills, surrounded by acclaimed producers like Yarra Yering and Coldstream Hills winery. has just 30 acres under vine, including Pinot Noir (12.6 acres), Cabernet Sauvignon (5.94 acres), Tempranillo (4.4 acres), Shiraz (4 acres), and Chardonnay (2 acres).
For those who wish to extend their stay beyond a sitting, there are limited spaces left at The Residence, Tokar Estate’s luxuriously appointed on-site Bed and Breakfast that comes complete with welcome chocolates, a bottle of wine, and a hearty cooked breakfast. During your stay, you can explore a multitude of Yarra Valley wine, food and entertainment options all just a stone’s throw from your front door.
Valentine’s Day Booking
Price: Three Course A-La-Carte Lunch $75
Six course degustation for AUD 90pp including a glass of sparkling wine on arrival.
Date & Time: Sunday, 14 Feb 2021, Sunday Lunch 11AM – 4.30 PM or Dinner from 6:30 PM – 11:00 PM
All enquires can be directed to bookings@tokarestate.com.au or
book at: estate.com.au/valentinesday2021/
50 People Who F***d Up South Africa : The Lost Decade by Alexander Parker and Tim Richman with cartoons by Zapiro
It took 350 years to come up with the list of shame for the original 50 People Who Stuffed Up South Africa, published to critical acclaim in 2010. But it’s taken only ten more years to come up with the next 50…
From Shaun Abrahams to Mosebenzi Zwane, 50 People Who F***ed Up South Africa is filled with the architects and beneficiaries of state capture who have defined The Lost Decade. There’s Dlamini, there’s Zuma and there’s Dlamini-Zuma. There are the Guptas, Geoghegan and Gigaba. There’s a malady of “M”s – Mabuza, Magashule, Mahumapelo (and many more mofos). There are the crony-corporate enablers and big business abusers. Importantly, there are clean takedowns of those who represent the scandals that will live in infamy when the history of this time is written: Eskom, Nkandla, Marikana, Life Esidimeni, Steinhoff, Bosasa, VBS Mutual Bank… And then there is the joker in the pack (Niehaus), the naked emperor (Survé), the zombie killer (Pistorius), the Twittering twit (Zille) and the twit who got past security (Thamsanqa Jantjie).
The end result is a readable, accessible, entertaining overview of South Africa’s recent political and socioeconomic landscape. Because sometimes humour (along with a clearly painted picture) really is the best coping mechanism…
Title: 50 People Who F***ed Up South Africa
Subtitle: The Lost Decade
Authors: Alexander Parker and Tim Richman, with cartoons by Zapiro
ISBN: 9781990956096
Publisher: Mercury
Distributor: Jacana Media
Genre: SA non-fiction / Humour / SA Politics / Satire / Social Commentary
Format: Softcover / ebook
Recommended Retail Price: R 285
Release Date: November 2020
Availability: Available in all good bookstores, from Takealot and other online retailers, and as an ebook and paperback from Amazon.
TREAT YOURSELF THIS SINGLES AWARENESS DAY
WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE BEST GIFTS FOR YOU, FROM YOU, NO MATTER YOUR BUDGET
FEBRUARY, 2021
MONDAY, February 15 marks ‘Singles Awareness Day’ and for those who have missed out on a rose from a loved one, here is the ultimate gift guide to celebrate being single and ready to well… not mingle.
Singles Awareness Day takes place on the day after Valentine’s Day and is designed as a day for single people to celebrate themselves. After all, those in love get the joy of Valentine’s Day, so why shouldn’t single people have a day as well?
For singles, Valentine’s day can be a simple and cruel reminder that they are alone. No stuffed animals, and no heart-shaped chocolate.
34.4% of the UK (16.3 million people) aged 16 and over are currently registered as single, that’s a lot of people in need of a little treat after the year we’ve all just had.
To help celebrate, whether it be kicking back in the bath, treating yourself to a new outfit or splashing the cash on something no one else is going to buy you, this list of ‘gifts for you’ will give you some inspiration, no matter your budget.
Connor Bentley, Country Director at Ignite International, said: “Whether people are in a relationship and celebrating Valentine’s Day or happily single and treating themselves this Singles Awareness Day, we’ve seen an increase in online orders in the weeks leading up them. Whilst we would usually put these down to Valentine’s Day, who’s to say? We did see a slight spike in online orders last February 15th. So, it may be the case that singles are taking to this latest holiday and treating themselves to a much-deserved gift.”
FOR HER:
£0 – £10
Ignite 100MG Lavender CBD Bath Bomb [Relax] – £8.00
Are you looking to kick back and relax this Singles Awareness Day? Look no further than the IGNITE Lavender CBD bath bomb! Fully immerse yourself in a cocoon of CBD, aromatic salts, butters and essential Oils. The bath Bomb is ideal for a full body CBD submersion and topical application.
For best results fill your bathtub with hot water, drop in your bath bomb and enjoy! For best results allow yourself at least 30 minutes to soak and enjoy the full effects of CBD and essential oils. We recommend using one Ignite Bath Bomb daily. For optimum absorption allow the Bath Bomb to fully dissolve in your bath prior to use.
£10 – £40
Whites Non-Peroxide Teeth Whitening Kit – £39.99
Put a smile on your face and turn that frown upside down. Whites Non-Peroxide Teeth Whitening kit is designed to whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home. The whitening process has been formulated to deliver maximum results in 12 applications, with each application taking only 20 minutes.
The key ingredients ensure that there’s no pain or sensitivity caused throughout the process while delivering results of up to 8 shades whiter teeth.
£40 – £100
Rear Body Shape Neon Sign from You Turn Neon – £99.00
You can look but you can’t touch! The perfect gift to yourself to bring some cool lighting into your home.
Sometimes the glow from an LED signs is all we need to rouse our spirits after a long hard day in this world we live in. Available in an array of vibrant colours, the meticulously hand-crafted neon signs are each uniquely designed to radiate positive vibes and manifest feelings of joy and passion within you every single time you gaze at them.
The signs are built in such a way that they are a fraction of the cost of traditional neon, better for the environment & all come with the following as standard
£100+
Buster & Punch Machined Steel Vase – £109.00
Missed out on a rose from a lover? Buy yourself a couple and stick them in this machined plate, made out of solid brushed steel which comes complete with a hand-blown glass vase. This is the perfect treat for the interior lover this Singles Awareness Day.
Buster & Punch is one of the most forward-thinking homeware and accessories brands. From the light bulb, the dimmer switch and the pendant lamp to the door handle and the cabinet pull, they are constantly creating an innovative collection of unforgettable design details. Their work is inspired by London’s fashion, music and sub-culture scenes where they collaborate with street artists, bike builders and fashion designers to inject attitude into their crafted products.
FOR HIM
£0 – £10
Patch Plants – Spike 10cm – 20cm cacti – £6.00
Feeling like a bit of a prick this Singles Awareness Day? Happy being single, but need to give a little love to someone else? Give it to ‘Spike’ from Patch Plants, a great starter plant because it’s so easy to take care of. It will tolerate lower light conditions, but thrives in sun, and needs very little water. He’d much rather be too dry than too wet. Try to make him think he’s in the desert.
Patch want to help bring the joy of gardening to anyone and everyone. To do that, the bring customers fresh, personalised ideas, and source the best plants and products from the best suppliers, then deliver them to their new home, along with all the tips an urban gardener could possibly need to look after their new garden.
£10 – £40
Copenhagen Grooming 8AM Splash – £25.00
For the manly men out there, try 8AM Splash from Copenhagen Grooming. Finally, a beard wash that’s tough on dirt and mild on your beard. The 8am Splash gives a foamy explosion that will leave your beard soft, volumized and smelling fresh as a lemon field. It’s packed with Provitamin B5 that helps regenerate, moisturize, and protect your skin and beard.
The hair on your head and the hair on your face are two completely different things. Using regular shampoo on your beard can be damaging as it relies on natural oils to keep it from drying out. The 8AM Splash is a mild beard wash with natural active ingredients that will leave your beard in perfect balance.
£40 – £100
Beaufort & Blake Cowes Coral Stripe Shirt – £72.00
Are you’re looking to up-your-style this Singles Awareness Day? The Cowes Coral Stripe Shirt from Beaufort & Blake is a modern twist on a classic look. Soft, striped cotton linen that’s octopi lined. Seaside suitable but city savvy too. The Cowes shirt is working its maritime magic across the British Isles this summer.
Established in 2012, Beaufort & Blake is a lifestyle clothing brand, inspired by British heritage and time-off style. The brand is best known for signature hand-drawn prints that detail their shirts, swim shorts, boxer shorts and socks.
£100+
Kamado Joe – Joe Jr. – £459.00
Feeling hot this Singles Awareness Day? Create your own spark and keep the flame going (with yourself) with the Komado Joe Jr. BBQ. The unique kamado cooking experience is transportable for the first time ever with Kamado Joe’s innovative Joe Jr.
Perfect for picnics, pool parties, camping and more, Joe Jr. weighs only 31 Kg and boasts a 377 square-centimetre cooking surface—ample space for a full beer can chicken with vegetables. The thick-walled ceramic body locks in heat, moisture and flavour, and the heat deflector plate allows cooks to experiment with indirect heat for more flexible cooking.
Merrythought Launches Giant Version of Christopher Robin’s Edward Bear
The UK’s oldest remaining teddy bear manufacturer is celebrating the 100 birthday of Edward Bear – the teddy bear who inspired AA Milne’s Winnie the Pooh stories – by unveiling a giant version of the famous character.
As tall as the average three-year-old child, Merrythought’s brand-new ‘Giant Edward’ is an oversized version of the original bear, who was Christopher Robin’s cherished childhood toy, given to him by his mother Daphne as a first birthday present in August 1921.
Daphne’s husband and Christopher’s father, AA Milne, was so enamoured by the partnership he witnessed between a boy and his bear, that he began to write stories about their journey through life together – and Winnie the Pooh was born.
Hand-crafted in Shropshire, the premium teddy bear, which costs £1,095, is 39 inches tall and weighs 6.5kg.
Fourth-generation managing director Sarah Holmes said: “This special bear has been handmade in our factory in Ironbridge using the same traditional skills and natural materials as Christopher Robin’s original Edward Bear all those years ago.
“Now more than ever parents are recognising the value of traditional play, and encouraging children to use their imagination. The teddy bear is the perfect antidote for the digital world and a true companion for life’s journey.”
Featuring a rich, golden mohair coat and sandy-beige pure woollen felt paws, Giant Edward’s deep-set eyes, and hand-embroidered nose and friendly smile, give him real quintessential English charm.
Originally created by Farnell in 1921, Edward Bear was brought to life again for the 2017 Goodbye Christopher Robin film after Merrythought, which now owns the Farnell brand, was asked to recreate the bear that featured throughout the award-winning film.
Giant Edward is available to purchase from merrythought.com and harrods.com.
Merrythought’s original 18in Edward Bear is also available to buy throughout 2021, and sold with a complimentary gold-plated keyring that has been specially created to mark the character’s 100th birthday.
Air Cooling 3d Mesh Motorcycle Seat Pad Butt Protector
www.amazon.com/dp/B08BT2FP14?ref=myi_title_dp
On sale for $28.86 USD
✅ UNLIKE A MOTORCYCLE GEL SEAT PAD, or a Foam, Beaded or sheepskin motorcycle seat cover WHICH ARE EXPENSIVE, require HIGH MAINTENANCE, or just COMPRESS and leave you in agony, BADASS MOTO 3D AIR MESH BREATHABLE motorcycle passenger SEAT CUSHION is a Buddy for your Butt. LOW COST, NO MAINTENANCE way to make your MOTORCYCLE MORE COMFORTABLE so you can ENJOY A LONG RIDE.
✅ STOPS HOT SEAT. Circulates Air to KEEP YOU COOL. Are you tired of having your motorcycle seat foam or gel motorcycle seat cushion stick to your butt & make you sweat on a hot day? Or burning you when you get on? Badass Moto gear Mesh Seat pad motorcycle is a cool cushion for motorcycle seat that helps flow air while you ride. KEEPS YOU NOTICEABLY COOLER. Breathable Mesh Material makes for great sun seat covers. Stays cool even in the hot sun so you won’t burn your butt when you get on.
✅ RELIEVES PRESSURE points. Springy Mesh Cushions WON’T CHANGE RIDING POSITION. Most OTHER MOTORCYCLE CUSHION PADS for seats are too thick and RAISE YOU UP like a hawk or strain your back. Our Badass Moto motorcycle air seat cushion has enough support to PREVENT LIGHT PRESSURE POINTS and is low profile so you stay in your natural MOST COMFORTABLE riding position.
✅ NON SLIP Underside STAYS PUT so YOU WON’T SLIDE on your seat. EASY INSTALL or remove in about a MINUTE with adjustable elastic straps. NO INSERTS, PUMP OR TOOLS to mess with. FITS Saddle or motorcycle Pillion pad. Open Mesh Protector DRAINS & SHEDS WATER and DRIES ALMOST INSTANTLY So you won’t get a Soggy Bottom if your bike gets wet. Compact size motorcycle accessory PACKS EASILY.
✅ TRY THIS BEFORE taking a risk on an expensive custom motorcycle seat. You could SAVE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS. This pad improves comfort in almost all cases. If it makes you more comfortable You’ll feel savvy like a ninja and can put that extra money toward some other motorcycle accessories instead. It’s a no brainer. Satisfaction 100%
www.MyChocolateGirl.com
Find romance and relaxation with
💗THE LOVE SPELL KIT💗
Luxury health and beauty brand The Organic Pharmacy have collaborated with London-based fashion and beauty company, House of Roxy this February, bringing a decadent bath and body set to romantics everywhere. Appropriately named The Love Spell Kit (www.theorganicpharmacy.com/love-spell-kit/) , the luxurious box retails at £95 and contains everything you need for a night of sensual relaxation, whether you’re practicing some well needed self-love or plan to spend the evening in with a partner.
The carefully crafted box includes:
House of Roxy’s bathing ritual with candle magic and a spell that will attract love into your life.
The Organic Pharmacy’s Love Potions
The Organic Pharmacy’s Rose & Jasmine Body Oil
The Organic Pharmacy’s Jasmine Bath Oil
“Self-love starts from within, if you’re feeling relaxed and at ease on the inside, this naturally radiates on the outside too. This collaborative beauty box was put together with self-care in mind as it’s important to feel your best self, especially during such unusual times. All we can do is take of ourselves and one another and what better time to do that than Valentine’s Day. Whether you’re sharing this luxury experience with a partner or saving it for some precious alone time, it could be exactly what’s needed to ensure romance exudes itself into your life this February.”
– Margo Marrone, Co-founder of The Organic Pharmacy
SWATCH RELEASES VALENTINE’S DAY
EDITIONS FOR THE BROKEN HEARTED
Heartbreak has never looked so good
Time is what you make of it. Many believe it can also heal a broken heart. That’s why Swatch is celebrating all the singles and love cynics this coming Valentine’s Day with a new collection and campaign that bring a fresh and twisted spin on love’s most important day of the year.
Instead of the usual romantic messages, four Swatch watches feature the opposite sentiment. Each tells a heartbreak story with perfect comedic timing punctuated with style and a hint of sarcasm that’s almost therapeutic for the unattached.
P(E/A)NSE-MOI
The special edition P(E/A)NSE-MOI has a red strap with the well-known heart symbol applied to the strap’s back layer. That’s not all. The watch comes in a first aid box complete with band-aids to peel and heal the
HATE 2 LOVE has more than one side to it
and is a rollercoaster
HATE 2 LOVE
e you.” However, as night falls, the words “I love you” glow
from the watch dial. Sound familiar?
BEATING LOVE BEATING PINK
There is something about the 70s that never goes out of style, and Swatch’s love for all things retro never misses a beat. Both the New Gent BEATING LOVE and the Gent BEATING PINK capture the mood with rainbow-colored lines that follow the wearer’s pulse from the white strap to shape a heart on the dial.
Swatch is going to make people cry this Valentine’s Day… with laughter. Don’t have a date planned? Don’t panic. The Swiss made brand has just the thing. Elena Gabrielle will premier her new live comedy show on Swatches IGTV and YouTube on Sunday, February 14 at 7.00pm. The Australian comedian, TEDx speaker and talent behind the YouTube video “How to date a French guy,” viewed 2.8 million times, will make even the most heartbroken crack up with laughter.
London based firm Pinks & Roses who produce the most amazing flowers uniquely presented in a hat box
The team behind Pinks & Roses are mother and daughter Lisa (38) and Rose (18) who took up the challenge of creating their business in the middle of the pandemic. Lisa has worked in floristry since she was 17 years old and over the years has done everything from bouquet preparation to huge events and corporate gigs. She ran flower arranging classes for Harrods and has worked with brands including the Apollo Theatres 10th year anniversary of Wicked, Claridge’s Hotel, The Savoy, The Queen’s box at Ascot, Wimbledon and people including Mary Berry and Sarah Jessica Parker. Four years ago Lisa was sadly hospitalised and left fighting for her life and had to give up her work for a while, however not one to give up on her dream when Rose left school together the two of them decided to set up Pinks + Roses and do something explosive and unique on the floristry scene and even though they only began last April they already have a lot of fans (including celebrity regulars)
They have a unique selection of products available for Valentine’s Day including hampers, which start from £160 as well as straight bouquets and roses which start from £65
pinksandroseslondon.co.uk/valentines/
Pawfect Presents? Brits to Give Pets as Gifts This Valentine’s Day
10th February 2021: Over a third (36%) of loved-up Brits have revealed that they intend to gift a dog or cat to their significant other this Valentine’s Day, a study has revealed today*.
According to the research of 1,000 Brits, commissioned by raw and natural pet food expert Natures Menu, dogs (19%) were more popular than cats (11%) as a potential gift for their partner on February 14th.
Welcoming a furry friend into the relationship was most common amongst those aged between 25 and 34 years old (54%). Men (41%) were also more likely to be planning to purchase or adopt a dog or cat for their partner compared to women (31%).
The regions where Brits were most likely planning to get a dog or cat for their loved one were the South East (44%), Midlands (34%) and the South West (31%).
The findings follow reports of a huge spike in Brits opting to purchase or adopt a pet since the UK went into lockdown in March last year, with an alarming 29 per cent of dog owners admitting that they regret purchasing their pet already and one in ten going as far as considering putting their dog up for adoption**.
To combat the issue of pet owners not having enough advice on training, Natures Menu has launched a podcast to address the key concerns for new dog owners, from weaning puppies to socialising with other dogs and humans, as well as top training tips for misbehaving dogs.
Melanie Sainsbury, Veterinary Education Manager at Natures Menu, said: “Everyone deserves to receive a little love this Valentine’s Day, but welcoming a pet into the home is a massive commitment. Before getting a dog or cat, people should really consider the impact it will have on their lives, how much of a responsibility it is and whether their relationship can handle being pet parents! For those that are struggling with a new pup, our Pupcast gives tonnes of helpful advice to help with the pressures of dog ownership.”
‘The Pupcast’ is available to listen to and download from Spotify, Acast, Google Podcasts and iTunes. New customers can receive a 20% discount on orders over £30 when quoting PUPCAST20 at the checkout.
For further information, please visit the Natures Menu website, www.naturesmenu.co.uk.
The pet lady
Fresh Cut Roses Pet House Candle: Pet Odor Candle with 100% Soy Wax – One Fur All
www.onefurallpets.com/products/fresh-cut-roses-candle $21
One Fur All Pet House Candles make awesome gifts! There are over 40 fragrances to choose from to find the perfect smell for the special someone on your list. Choose from full size candles, mini candles, wax melts, car fresheners and air sprays. They are made in the USA with soy wax. They smell amazing and get rid of any unpleasant odor. www.onefurallpets.com/products/pumpkin-spice?_pos=10&_sid=d1602b647&_ss=r
The Supplements Cesar Millan’s Dogs Take:
HAPPYBOND.com, Amazon, The Healthy Spot, Petco.comand Chewy. In addition to their innovative collagen supplements, HAPPYBOND offers treats and accessories on their website. Learn more at: https://happybond.com/.
BooDog Lifestyles
www.boodoglifestyles.com/
Gift A Box – Dog Mom Lifestyles
The ultimate dog mom subscription box
dogmomlifestyles.com/gift-a-box/
inClover | Because Pets Do Deserve More
inclover.com/
Pet fashion designer named Stella launched Tuxie Luxie – cute stuff for pooches for Valentines Day: www.tuxieluxie.com/shop
With screen-time at an all time high, encourage the “Digital Detox” movement with the Unplug Box in rustic wood, www.etsy.com/listing/594164637/unplug-box-rustic-wood-planter?ref=shop_home_feat_1&frs=1
Bow Wow Labs – the Bully Buddy – Solving the Bully Stick Problem
Get this: over half a million dogs each year are estimated to choke on or swallow an object that’s too big for them to digest. In fact, veterinarians everywhere can attest that gastrointestinal distress is the most common reason for emergency vet visits, and even more troubling, bully sticks are often the culprit. Beware the tail-end of the bully stick! Dogs and dog owners love bully sticks because they are easy-to-digest, natural, healthy, stimulating and delicious. But as dogs chew the stick down, they increase the risk of choking on the tail end of the treat. If that little nub gets swallowed whole, your dog could choke or develop an intestinal blockage – both of which are serious medical emergencies. This is not a small risk either – it happens All. The. Time.
bowwowlabs.com/
New Book: “52 Fridays: A Polyamorous, Queer, Kinky, Tantric Love Story” available on Amazon September 8th: www.amazon.com/52-Fridays-Polyamorous-Queer-Tantric/dp/1627783008/ by KamalaDevi McClure
Girl Gang items for all of your GALENTINE’s and VALENTINE’s DAY gifts.
@GirlGangTheLabel. www.girlgangthelabel.com
Celebrating Galentine’s Day but have no idea what to give to your girls? Don’t worry! – Girl Gang The Label is taking the guesswork out of gift-buying. This best-selling, eco-friendly line featuring accessories like hats and pins, day-to-day apparel like comfy sweats and tees, has the perfect gifts with inspiring and empowering sayings and phrases that will have your friends, family and loved ones saying #SUPPORTYOURLOCALGIRLGANG!
ABOUT GIRL GANG THE LABEL
‘About Girl Gang the Label’ – Founded in Los Angeles, CA by female entrepreneur Amy Will, on a mission to inspire women to reach their highest potential, together. ‘Girl Gang the Label’ started with a signature collection of the “Support Your Local Girl Gang”sweatshirts and has since grown to seasonal collections that customers can shop via their online store, girlgangthelabel.com. They recently created a collaboration with Peanuts exclusively for Nordstrom, established a retail partnership with The Beverly Hills Hotel, and created an eco-friendly sweat set with the female-owned athleisure brand, Nourish Sweat Soul. A percentage of all profits are also donated to charities that focus on female education, health, and empowerment.
As a result of the social community that was built around ‘Girl Gang the Label,’ Amy Will launched a podcast in 2019 as a brand extension,’Girl Gang the Podcast,’ where she interviews inspiring and creative women on their brands, projects and endeavors. Marie Claire featured them as “33 Best Podcasts of 2020,” (2020 Marie Claire Link) paired with various other Industry and peer recognitions. In 2020, this also branched off into an IG Live Series, expanding their audience reach.
A percentage of the profits are donated to charities that focus on female education, health, and empowerment.
LOVE ME DO – BRITAIN’S MOST ROMANTIC CITY NAMED
LIVERPOOL COMES OUT ON TOP AS THE NATION’S MOST LOVED UP CITY
NEW RESEARCH FROM SHOWCASE CINEMAS REVEALS WHICH UK AREAS LOVE ROM-COMS THE MOST
MAMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN RANKED AS THE TOP ROMANTIC MOVIE BY FILM FANS
Liverpool has been named as the most romantic city in the UK after new research revealed it is the capital of rom-coms.
The study, by Showcase Cinemas, shows that residents of the north-west city – home to The Beatles and their famous song ‘Love Me Do’ – flock to the cinema to watch more romance and rom-com movies than anywhere else in the country.
Kent and Cardiff ranked second and third in the rom-com love charts respectively, rounding off the top three cities for lovers of romantic movies in Britain.
Film experts at Showcase Cinemas analysed the sales of nine recent romantic movies across all their cinema locations, relative to their usual average attendances, to reveal which cities have the most love in the air.
The 2020 viral hit After We Collided, Wham-music inspired Last Christmas and Danny Boyle and Richard Curtis’ Yesterday were the top movies that Liverpudlians looking for love headed to the city’s Showcase Cinema de Lux to watch.
Fifty Shades of Grey is the movie which most sets film fans’ temperatures rising in Bristol, Derby, Dudley and Leicester. And Book Club scored highest amongst a more mature audience in both Bluewater and Reading.
Yesterday and Last Christmas were also high in the rom-com charts – and most popular in Southampton and Reading.
Mark Barlow, UK General Manager for Showcase Cinemas, said: “Valentine’s Day is usually a traditional time for a cinema date with a loved one, it’s also a time for some romance and comedy. And it seems that Liverpool loves its romantic films more than anywhere else. It is of course already well known as a city full of passion and fun, and now ranks as the most romantic city in the UK.
“Movies can make us laugh, cry and sometimes feel a little hot under the collar, so we aren’t surprised to see Fifty Shades of Grey make it into our list of popular romance films. There’s no place quite like the big screen to watch your favourite film, or the next big blockbuster, and we can’t wait to welcome guests back. We are looking forward to reopening our doors as soon as the government allow us to, with all our cinemas operating the Be Showcase Safe programme that we successfully introduced last year.”
RECENT ROMANCE FILMS RANKED BY POPULARITY
1) Mama Mia! Here We Go Again
2) Fifty Shades of Grey
3) Last Christmas
4) Yesterday
5) After We Collided
6) Book Club
7) Crazy Rich Asians
8) Love Simon
9) The Long Shot
A Very Cherry Valentine’s Day
The ultimate Valentine’s Day weekend menu
As we are set to spend Valentine’s Day at home this year, whether it’s galantines, with flatmates, family or your other half – make sure to truly indulge with these tasty recipes that take you from breakfast in bed to a dinner and dessert for two. These delicious dishes are the perfect way to pamper your loved one or to enjoy with your friends and family (…whatever your situation is!) from Love Fresh Cherries, the UK’s national cherry association, and Masterchef finalist, Giovanna Ryan.
Not only do cherries ooze sexiness, they are also packed with lots of powerful antioxidants… known to help boost performance and recovery faster – whatever your Valentine’s plans may be… This cherry magical menu!
Follow these step-by-step recipes for the perfect Valentine’s Day weekend and find high-res images here. You can also find all our recipes on our website www.lovefreshcherries.com/.
Brunch: Buttermilk waffles with cherry sauce, chantilly cream and candied almonds
This is a truly indulgent way to start Valentine’s day. You can make the batter, sauce and the cream in advance so, if you want to treat someone, you can whip this up in a flash!
Ingredients (for 2)
150g flour
60g butter, melted then cooled slightly
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
250ml buttermilk
1 egg
200g fresh cherries, stoned
50g sugar
150ml double cream
Seeds from 1 vanilla pod or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 tablespoons caster sugar, divided
Handful blanched almonds
Method
Start by making the cherry sauce. Place the cherries in a large saucepan with 50g sugar. Bring to the boil then turn down to a medium simmer. Cook until you have a syrupy sauce that coats the back of a spoon.
2. To make the candied almonds, place 4 tablespoons of sugar in a saucepan with a tablespoon of water. Bring to the boil and keep on the heat until the sugar has a syrupy consistency but is’t yet browned. Tip in the almonds and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon. The sugar will start to crystalise and stick to the almonds. Remove from the heat as soon as this happens and leave to cool.
3. For the waffles, mix together the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda. Add the egg, melted butter and buttermilk and whisk vigorously until smooth. Lightly oil a waffle iron and place a ladle of the batter inside. Cook until golden brown on the outside but still fluffy in the middle. Repeat with the rest of the batter.
4. Whisk together the vanilla, double cream and the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar until thick.
5. Serve the waffles with a generous dollop of chantilly cream, a big spoonful of cherry sauce and scatter over the almonds to finish.
Dinner: Cherry glazed lamb shanks with jewelled rice
This is a gorgeous alternative to more classic Valentine’s Day recipes. It’s packed with flavour and looks beautiful on a plate. It’s surprisingly easy to make but is still an impressive supper for someone special.
Ingredients (for 2):
2 french trimmed lamb shanks
2 tablespoons flour
150g fresh cherries, stoned
300ml red wine
400ml chicken stock
1 cinnamon stick
3 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper
200g basmati rice
1 cardamom pod
2 tablespoons butter
Handful flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
2 tablespoons dill fronds
2 tablespoons dried cherries or cranberries
50g shelled, unsalted pistachios, roughly chopped
Method
Place the flour in a shallow bowl and season well with salt and pepper. Coat the lamb shanks in the flour and dust off any excess.
2. Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan with a lid and brown the shanks on all sides. Remove from the pan and set aside.
3. Peel and finely slice the garlic and cook gently for two or three minutes in the same pan. Add the lamb shanks back to the pan along with the wine, chicken stock cherries and cinnamon stick. Bring to the boil then turn down to a very low simmer. Cook for around two hours with the lid on until the lamb is very soft.
4. Remove the shanks from the pan and bring the sauce to a boil. Cook for a further 15 minutes until the sauce is thick and shiny. Turn off the heat and put the lamb shanks back in the sauce to glaze.
5. Cook the rice with 300ml water and a large pinch of salt with the lid on. Once cooked, stir in the butter, herbs, half the pistachios and the dried cherries.
6. Serve the lamb shanks on a bed of the rice. Finish with more sauce and the remaining pistachios.
Vegan Dinner: Roast aubergine with cherry sauce and jewelled rice
This vegan alternative to the cherry glazed lamb shanks to suit all for a Valentine’s Day dinner. It is just as packed with flavour and beautiful as the above meat option.
Ingredients (for 2)
2 medium aubergines, cut lengthwise into quarters
150g fresh cherries, stoned
300ml red wine
400ml vegetable stock
1 cinnamon stick
3 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper
200g basmati rice
1 cardamom pod
2 tablespoons olive oil
Handful flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
2 tablespoons dill fronds
2 tablespoons dried cherries or cranberries
50g shelled, unsalted pistachios, roughly chopped
Method
Peel and finely slice the garlic and cook gently for two or three minutes in olive oil until soft but not too browned. Add the wine, vegetable stock, cinnamon stick and cherries. Bring to the boil then turn the heat down to medium. Cook until the sauce is thick and shiny.
2. Preheat the oven to 200C. Place the aubergine quarters on a large baking tray, drizzle generously with olive oil and season with salt. Roast for 30 minutes, turning halfway through, until dark golden brown and crisp on the outside.
3. Cook the rice with 300ml water and a large pinch of salt with the lid on. Once cooked, stir in the butter, herbs, half the pistachios and the dried cherries.
4. Serve the aubergine on a bed of the rice and finish with a big spoon of the cherry sauce and the remaining pistachios.
Dessert: Cherry chocolate fondants with cherry ripple ice cream
Fondants get a bit of a bad rap. Yes, they’re retro but they’re also delicious. Adding fresh cherries to the centre of the mix adds a surprise when you cut into it and the cold ice cream is a lovely contrast to the hot pudding.
Ingredients (for 2)
For the fondant:
60g butter, plus extra for the moulds
1 tbsp cocoa powder
60 dark chocolate
1 egg plus 1 egg yolk
60g caster sugar
1 tbsp plain flour
8 fresh cherries, stoned and halved
For the ice cream:
300ml double cream
3 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
150g sugar, divided
150g fresh cherries, stoned
Method
Start by making the ice cream. Gently heat the cream in a small saucepan with the vanilla until just boiling. Whisk together 50g of the sugar and the egg yolks until pale and fluffy. Pour the hot cream onto the eggs and whisk until fully combined. Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and churn until frozen. Transfer to a tub and place in the freezer to fully set.
2. Place the cherries and remaining sugar in a large saucepan. Bring to the boil then turn down to a medium simmer. Cook until you have a syrupy sauce that coats the back of a spoon. Leave to cool completely then swirl into the ice cream. Place back in the freezer until ready to serve.
3. To make the fondants, gently melt the butter and chocolate in a small saucepan. Leave to cool slightly. Whisk together the eggs and sugar until pale and thick. Whisk in the chocolate mixture, then the flour. Generously butter the inside of two pudding moulds, then dust with cocoa powder.
4. Fill the moulds halfway with the mixture, add the cherries, then fill the moulds until ¾ of the way up with the rest. You can cook them immediately or you can place them in the fridge until ready to eat.
5. When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 200C. Place the puddings on a tray and bake for 12 minutes (14 minutes if chilled). Remove from the oven and leave to rest for 30 seconds before turning out onto plates. Serve with a scoop of the ice cream.
