London, a melting pot of diverse cultures, has witnessed the convergence of artistic minds from various corners of the world, leaving an indelible mark on its rich tapestry of music and culture. In the heart of Mayfair, two legendary musicians, George Frideric Handel and Jimi Hendrix, found themselves living under the same roof, despite being centuries apart. Their shared residence, 23 Brook…
The Principal York Hotel: 4 / 5 stars.
Monica Costa and myself headed North to sample the joys of York and review The Principal York Hotel. The Telegraph gave it 4 stars and we concord with this rating.
For convenience / comfort
Adjoining York station, it really is spitting distance, with an easy-access entrance. For all its proximity, you never hear a train or smell one. It’s a delightful 10…
The Sleeping Beauty ballet is backat the ROH on its 99th performance, and now accessible to all in a cinema near you.
Choreography / Dancing
The ballerinas, for it is a female-heavy ballet, were outstanding in their mastery of the steps. The men had a few fire-cracker moments too, such as the superbly springy blue-bird. I was GOL gasping-out-loud at the difficulty and their…
This May half-term holiday will be challenging for parents and carers but equally an opportunity for families to get together and create lasting fond memories. London has plenty of exciting things to do for everyone and for every pocket. Whether you’re into culture or outdoor activities, London offers lots of family-friendly activities. Find out London Mums’ top 10 things to do in…
On Monday 22nd May, two of the most iconic and celebrated rock legends of all time, Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe, took the stage at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, delivering an unforgettable performance to a packed house. The energy in the air was electric as fans eagerly anticipated the arrival of these legendary bands.
Mötley Crüe was first to take the stage. With Vince Neil’s powerful…
Bell-ringing for beginners: or should I say Bell-swinging.
Did you know there’s a book listing every belfry (‘bell tower’) in the world with 3 or more swinging bells and 95% of them are in England? Swingers have the knobs on stalks (‘clappers’, as in, go like the ) inside that clang as the bell goes horizontal. There’s solo and twin bells, but they aren’t…
Becoming more sustainable and in-touch with nature can be nothing if not rewarding, even if it does take a little time to get there. Provided you have ample garden space (or even live semi-rurally), and have a reliable budget to work with, keeping certain animals can be a lovely way to achieve this.
Of course, a basic, hobbyist smallholding should always start small. Keeping hens and roosters can…
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” continues to captivate audiences with its timeless portrayal of the roaring 20s, and Northern Ballet’s production at Sadler’s Wells in Islington, London, brings this modern classic to life on stage. With artistic Director David Nixon CBE’s exquisite choreography, opulent costumes inspired by Chanel, and a captivating…
After my first blog on how to knit, here’s part 2 instructions and a recount of my progress.
Pulling it together
Once I had a few fistfuls of granny squares, the game was to work out how many I really needed to cover my upper body. I found a crusty imperial tape measure that kept crinkling back up, and noted my measurements.
Bloody unsquare. By my reckoning…I had to make 2 pieces of…
Have you heard of the use of motivational posters in classrooms? Inspirational quotes and mantras can do wonders for empowering us. Put up as posters; they catch our attention, remind us of their presence, and remind us of their existence.
There is growing momentum for using motivational posters in the classroom. But what about their effectiveness?
Here are a few facts about why you should…