It’s all about the thick end of the wedge with this summer’s footwear May 5, 2011 ONE of the great joys of summer is having an excuse to splurge on footwear. Nothing improves bare legs like a majestic heel and an open toe. Whereas every year the gladiator makes its appearance, this spring/summer’s “seventies story” is a happy one for those who like heels without the agony of the stiletto. Wedges [...]
A circus of shmaltz and a hip, racy thriller May 5, 2011 Film WATER FOR ELEPHANTS Cert: 12A It’s the height of the Great Depression when Jacob (Robert Pattinson) loses everything: his parents, his house, his dreams of graduating veterinary college. En route to a new start in the big city, he hitches a ride on a passing railroad car. But it’s not just any railroad car: [...]
High SPF, high silk factor May 4, 2011 WITH this wonderful sunny spell, it’s tempting to strip off and pray to the sun god, sacrificing your pasty skin on the altar of tanning, in every spare minute. Skin damage? Who cares! It’s SUNNY. But it’s not worth playing that game. Make sure you’re well slathered while you’re out worshipping rays so you can [...]
A truly useful, if less than sexy, resource for the novice investor May 4, 2011 HOW TO BUILD A SHARE PORTFOLIO BY RODNEY HOBSON Harriman House, £16.99 Phillip Salter IF you own a handful of UK shares but lack a strategy beyond: “I like to shop at Tesco, so I bought a few of its shares,” this book will help you build a financial future upon more secure foundations. Written [...]
Gadgets to help you get groomed May 4, 2011 SITTING around with sensors clamped to your face emitting tingly vibrations may not be a great look (particularly in an office, let me tell you), but it just might make you better looking. That’s the proposition anyway with the Slendertone, a gizmo that’s intended to tone your facial muscles and tighten the skin, and which [...]
Travel apps for commuters May 4, 2011 TECH TALK IF late-running trains and Tubes are the bain of the modern communter’s life, at least there are apps which mean you don’t have to get as far as the station to be updated on your travel. Mxdata, for instance, aggregates all the live local travel data (live tube updates, traffic CCTV cameras, train [...]
When Volvo flirts with sexy May 3, 2011 BIG, boxy, boring was the image of past Volvos, particularly Volvo estates. Known for protecting passengers above all else, they were solid and reliable and were a safe, if unexciting, option for car buyers. But thanks to a fundamental rethink about how Volvo’s look and drive, Volvo cars have been evolving from a simple, practical [...]
CAR TALK May 3, 2011 SPECIAL EDITION CATERHAM SEVENS British sportscar company Caterham Cars has been bought by Formula One outfit Team Lotus and to celebrate, the company is building a limited run of just 50 Team Lotus Special Edition Sevens. For an additional £3,000, Seven buyers can buy a car painted in the famous green and yellow colours of [...]
Fuerte Grazalema 4* May 3, 2011 Surround yourself with the beautiful Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park at this lovely rural hotel. Nature lovers will adore being out in the countryside here, with so much to see and do. And if you’ve filled your day with outdoor activities, Fuerte Grazalema provides the luxuries you need to relax afterwards, like a splendid outdoor [...]
Hotel and Spa Sierra de Cazorla 4* May 3, 2011 Amongst the Carzola Mountains lies this luxurious hotel and spa. In such a serene location, with olive trees all around, you can’t help but feel totally away from it all. Take in the panoramic views from the terrace of your gorgeous room, available in four styles; Mountain, Moroccan, African and Tibetan, and then indulge in [...]