Volvo at its heart-warming best August 30, 2011 THE current Volvo V70 is the descendant of the big, cumbersome boxy Volvo estates of my childhood. Which is one reason why I’m keen to test this DRIVe model, the most eco-friendly version of Volvo’s big estate. The engine capacity is just 1.6 litres – albeit a 115PS turbodiesel – so I don’t expect much [...]
CAR TALK August 30, 2011 BENTLEY’S CONTINENTAL Bentley has released the first images of its new Continental GTC ahead of its Frankfurt motor show introduction. The second generation GTC is sportier than its predecessor; is lighter in weight, has a wider track and engine power is increased too. A new six-speed transmission means gear shifting times have been halved and [...]
Mortgage approvals up but borrowing weak August 30, 2011 Lenders approved the highest number of mortgages since May 2010 last month, but unsecured consumer borrowing was unexpectedly weak, Bank of England figures showed. Separate figures showed the Bank’s preferred money supply gauge – M4 excluding intermediate other financial corporations – picked up to show growth of 0.6 per cent on the month, after a [...]
Bovis sees profits double August 30, 2011 Housebuilder Bovis Homes expects to deliver further improvements to investors after strong trading in 2011 enabled it to post a 19 per cent increase in private home reservations. Bovis said revenue during the first half of 2011 was up 16 per cent to £134m, with operating profit at £10m with an operating margin of 7.5 [...]
America’s very own slice of the Caribbean, plus plenty of rum August 29, 2011 WELCOME to the United States of America,” says a groundsman as I land on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, introducing me to the first of many contradictions here. The island is, I find, a cocktail of the tropical Caribbean, American high rise (it is a commonwealth of the USA) all mixed with a huge [...]
TRAVEL NOTES August 29, 2011 Victoria Falls adventure Action-loving travellers take note: Tongabezi Lodge in Zambia has teamed up with Bundu Adventures to offer an “Above and Below” package at Victoria Falls (see pic). You start with swimming in the Devil’s Pool, a natural lake at the end of the Zambezi river positioned above the boiling pot, right on the [...]
Yet more steak venues, and Ramsay comes to the City August 29, 2011 WOLFGANG PUCK’S CUT What: Austrian-American super-chef, restaurateur and friend of Hollywood Wolfgang Puck has a large number of acclaimed restaurants in the US and the Far East, and is opening his first European venue at the hugely anticipated new hotel, 45 Park Lane. Across the road from the Dorchester and operated by the same company, [...]
Keep the relationship rolls at bay August 29, 2011 FIT IN THE CITY SO last week, I was mildly amused to read that there is now scientific evidence, care of Ohio State University, that marriage and divorce can both trigger weight gain in men and women. Relationships, it seems, can have a negative effect on the scales. So here are my top tips for [...]
EPISODE 25 : The best mate with youth on his side August 29, 2011 IT’S ridiculous Dave,” says my best friend Nick, thumping our fourth pint onto the table. “Taxpayers across the globe bail you guys out and then you just run the markets down again.” “Don’t be naive,” I snap. “Naive?” roars Nick, incredulously. I’m feeling woozy. “We didn’t used to have this kind of conversation,” I mumble. [...]
Get smart for Autumn August 25, 2011 IT hasn’t been much of a summer, but with the cold and rain this week it definitely seems to be time to start thinking about that autumn wardrobe. This year’s autumn/winter trends are subtly inspired by the masculine side of 1970s fashion (as opposed to the pimped-up, checks ‘n’ flares side). “The trick is to [...]