Still not ready for Valentine’s tonight? February 13, 2012 Staying In & Going Out ENJOY THE PERFECT RESTAURANT MEAL – AT HOME | FROM £35 Get amazing takeaway. The key for this one is to make sure it’s ready when she gets home – you want the table set, the candles lit, the wine out. Chinese isn’t allowed: instead, opt for the very best [...]
First time buyers rise ahead of stamp duty increase February 13, 2012 The number of first-time buyers purchasing property increased by seven per cent at the end of 2011, fuelled by the impending increase in stamp duty. There were 18,700 mortgages – worth a total of £2.3bn – issued to new purchasers in December, an increase of seven per cent by volume and ten per cent by value [...]
Recruitment slump is hitting cost of London home rentals February 12, 2012 THE slump in the City job market is dragging down the cost of renting prime residential property in London. Rents in the best areas fell 0.2 per cent, equivalent to £80 a month, according to research published today. It comes after a halving in the number of vacancies in financial services over the last year. [...]
A Roman holiday… with snow and kids February 12, 2012 A LONG, long time ago, in a life far, far away, there was a young couple. Blissful, carefree, and most importantly childfree, they went on a romantic city break to Rome. They spent most of it in a bar, giggling at a sign: “Never mind the Trevi, come for a bevy”, and the rest of [...]
Art, history and pampering in New England’s capital February 12, 2012 Boston: the genteel city of academia, tea parties, clam chowder, Matt Damon, and for me at least, electric eels. I had come to Boston on a long weekend – a bit of sales shopping, sight-seeing and relaxing in this history-steeped city. Yet also to confirm something that had been a bit of a mystery for [...]
Put some soul into your soles February 12, 2012 Shoes matter. You can have the best suit in the world but if it is paired with scuffed, mismatched leather on your feet it will undo all of the good work. The debate is still ongoing over whether brown is acceptable in the City. The answer is probably: as suit etiquette gets less formal, with [...]
FASHION NEWS February 12, 2012 NEW YORK TRAILS AUTUMN 2012 STYLES New York Fashion week gripped the fashion world over the weekend, with top designers showing off their vision for the couture season ahead. The proceedings were dominated by rich fabrics, waist-defining jackets and some 1920s-inspired styles sparked by movies like The Artist. Dresses featured strongly among the 90 or [...]
Retail gloom takes toll on British Land February 9, 2012 BRITISH LAND has seen growth of its net asset value stall in the third quarter as the ongoing consumer downturn led to a slight dip in value across its retail portfolio. The landlord – whose tenants include Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Debenhams – said its retail estate, which accounts for 61 per cent of its property [...]
Repossessions forecast to rise February 9, 2012 HOUSE PRICES are set to fall in 2012 as unemployment rises and household income stays depressed, according to yesterday’s forecasts from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) and today’s LSL house price index and e.surv mortgage monitor. The weak economic outlook is also set to push up repossessions as more borrowers fail to keep up [...]
Give your home a dash of V-Day love February 9, 2012 PINK HEART PAPER DOILIES £3.95 www.dotcomgiftshop.com Incredibly simple and cheap way to make your table setting on Tuesday Valentine’s-ready: at under £4 for a set of 72, you can scatter them generously, then forget about them. STONEWARE DEEP-HEART DISH, LE CREUSET £42 www.lecreuset.co.uk Add some real heart to your Valentine’s dinner and future stews and [...]