Browsing: Lifestyle

Tickets go on sale this week for Keswick Film Festival, where movie lovers are to be treated to the biggest ever line up of global films at the event’s 25th anniversary, including 2025’s Golden Globe Best Drama Film, The Brutalist. Taking place at various venues around the Lakeland town of Keswick, Keswick Film Festival is a platform for showcasing independent films and shorts from around the world. The anniversary year will see movies from right across the globe including Iran, Palestine, France, Finland and China, plus of course, some British films, including ones created by local Cumbrian talent. Amongst the genres…

Winter is about warm and cozy ambiance and hearty, comforting dishes. Rich, bold red wines are the go-to choices for the season. However, white wines are not just for summer or warm weather. In fact, many winter dishes pair better with whites than reds. In the world of wine, there’s no shortage of full-bodied, creamy, and round whites that deserve their place in winter. Oaked Chardonnay Chardonnay is a classic, produced in many different styles. Refreshing, easy-drinking Chardonnays are ideal for summer, but the true beauty of Chardonnay lies in oak aging. As a naturally round, full-bodied grape variety, oak…

2025 is set to be a big year, with Lana Del Rey, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Olivia Rodrigo all announcing tours.   Meanwhile, Sabrina Carpenter brings her ‘Short n’ Sweet Tour’ to the UK and Ireland and Dua Lipa announced a new UK date for her ‘Radical Optimism’ tour – performing at Wembley Stadium in London.  For those already planning their outfit, online fashion retailer Boohoo has analysed the biggest venues for 2025 tours and picked out the perfect bag based on each venue’s policy.   Wembley Stadium, London  Huge pop stars including Dua Lipa, Guns N’ Roses, and Lana Del Rey…

The popular better-than-half-price offer returns nationwide, including London locations for the first time Bella Italia is kicking off 2025 with the return of its hugely popular £5 Pasta Deal, offering unbeatable value on comforting Italian classics throughout January. Running from 7th January to 30th January 2025, guests can enjoy freshly prepared pasta dishes, such as the creamy Carbonara, hearty Spaghetti & Meatballs, and flavourful Pollo Cacciatore, for just £5 – with savings of up to £11. This year, the campaign expands to include London locations, giving even more diners across the UK the chance to enjoy exceptional value on Bella…

The bedroom needs to be a calm, peaceful sanctuary so that you can instantly relax and drift off to sleep each night. This can be challenging if your room is filled with clutter, which is known to create stress. This post will provide a few practical strategies to help you declutter your bedroom and foster a serene, organised environment. Assess & Declutter Together First, you and your partner need to jointly evaluate your belongings and identify what is essential and what can be donated/discarded/sold/recycled. A collaborative approach is important to ensure both partners’ needs are considered, promoting harmony in…

As Christmas approaches, parents and gift-givers across the UK are seeking meaningful presents that won’t contribute to the 5 million tons of waste generated during the festive season (Note 1). Little Starts Gift Cards offers a sustainable solution with their digital gift cards, providing access to over 20,000 children’s activity classes nationwide. With nearly half of UK adults receiving unwanted Christmas gifts (Note 2), the trend towards experience-based presents is growing. Little Starts Gift Cards enable last-minute shopping by parents, grandparents and aunties and uncles to purchase meaningful gifts for little ones from the comfort of their homes, avoiding the…

As 2024 draws to a close, Petpals, the UK’s longest-established pet care franchise, is celebrating a year of growth, innovation and community impact. From spreading festive joy in Sefton to scooping prestigious awards in Milton Keynes, the Petpals network has shown the strength of its franchise model and the dedication of its franchisees. Suzie Mossman, who took over Petpals Sefton earlier this year, has been making waves in her local community with a heartwarming Christmas initiative. Partnering with Freshfields Animal Rescue, Suzie has invited her clients to donate gifts to support the charity’s vital work. Her efforts have been met…

Earlier this week, it was reported that 999 services were under extreme pressure and callers for even heart attacks and strokes were being asked to make their own way to hospital. Local entrepreneur and healthcare professional Dave Hawkins, founder of MET Medical, states the company’s Urgent Care at Your Door service is the solution for many. The service launched earlier this year is designed to address the growing crisis in emergency response times; the service offers rapid, expert care directly to patients’ homes. From advanced diagnostics to immediate treatment, the initiative ensures that those seeking urgent medical assistance can access…

Disability advocate and former Royal Navy Commander and barrister Penny Melville-Brown, has achieved another milestone in a life of incredible accomplishment having been recently elected as chair of her local beekeeping branch in Hampshire. Penny was still serving in the Navy when her sight started to fail, a health challenge that she refused to let hinder her ambition. She went on to launch a new career running her own business, as well as holding a wide range of public appointments and roles in voluntary organisations. She has since won an international prize for blind people, cooking around the world and…

Learning to play a musical instrument is an outlet for self-expressions and connecting with other musicians. It teaches patience, discipline, and collaboration, but most importantly, it is an exciting and rewarding experience. Starting out in music is thrilling, but for beginners, the number of musical instruments to choose from can feel overwhelming. However, there are plenty of instruments designed with beginners in mind and there is something for everyone. “It’s never too late to start learning something new. Playing a musical instrument is a fun way to learn a new skill” says Simon Bennett, Managing Director of musicGuard. Wanting to…