Rail revolution opens new areas for commuters December 2, 2010 ASK any Londoner what irritates them most about the city and they will say two things. First, the transport is rubbish and second, it is too hard to buy a decent, affordable home. For families who want their children to grow up outside London, the misery of the commute has to be weighed against the [...]
The man adding colour and style to the City December 2, 2010 IT’S at this time of year that lots of us are reminded just what a frightful drag shopping can be. But of course, it doesn’t have to be – you just have to find the right shop. Take the new premises of men’s clothes and accessories brand Simon Carter on Bow Lane in the City [...]
Home-builders ramp up incentives to lure hard-up first-time buyers December 2, 2010 HOME-BUILDERS have always offered buyers deals, but some are more valuable than others. Take, for example, the West Bromwich Building Society’s offer in 2004 of a free Rover car worth over £7,000 – a year before the car-maker went into administration. The downturn has left house-builders with new-builds sitting empty all over the country, and [...]
Baubles to warm the cockles this Christmas December 2, 2010 IF there’s is one time that you can have a bit of fun in the house, it’s Christmas. Even the cold heart of the most ardent minimalist melts at this time of year, and starts yearning for things that glitter and flash. But it doesn’t have to all be about twinkly lights on a tangled [...]
FASHION NEWS December 2, 2010 TANYA SARNE HANDWRITTEN SAMPLE SALE Don’t miss the legendary Tanya Sarne’s sample sale this weekend, with her sumputous collection of natural fabrics and lovely knitwear from the Handwritten line going from £15. “I design to de-stress and give women confidence in their femininity and daily lives” says Sarne (pictured) – and who doesn’t want that? [...]
London apartments with classic stylings December 2, 2010 ANYBODY who wanders through the West End for any amount of time is taken with the stunning architecture, but many don’t get the opportunity to stay in these wonderful buildings. The new generation of serviced apartments, however, offers you the chance. These are proving increasingly popular for those who regularly spend time in London for [...]
European classics still all the rage if you want a place in the sunshine December 2, 2010 IF you fancy picking up a nice cottage in the Irish countryside, or a villa in Portugal or Greece, then now might be the time to start looking. In the wake of the financial crisis most potential buyers were put off by uncertainty, but now the eurozone is in crisis and the pound is relatively [...]
A family theatre bonanza December 2, 2010 BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, NATIONAL THEATRE A new version of the fairytale classic by Lucy Kirkwood, incorporating music, magic and puppets. The director is Katie Mitchell, who was behind last year’s enthralling Cat in a Hat. Until 4 Jan. Tickets from £10 from www.nationaltheatre.org.uk MY DAD’S A BIRDMAN, THE YOUNG VIC David Almond has adapted [...]
Children will fall in love with this evil alien December 2, 2010 Film MEGAMIND Cert: U EVERY superhero needs a supervillain to fight against, and vice versa. So when one defeats the other, what’s left for the victor to do? That’s the existential crisis confronting Megamind, a blue-skinned alien blessed with a huge brain inside his shiny, Mekon-esque bonce. His evil ambitions have the perfect foil in [...]
Stars in their pies: mincemeat magic December 1, 2010 WHILE turkey and Christmas pudding are held back for the meal on the big day, mince pies are the real staple of the festive season. People who wouldn’t normally dream of a mid-afternoon snack will suddenly find themselves gobbling down piles of pastry and fruity mincemeat, while every cocktail party and seasonal bash is overflowing [...]