Lifestyle Magazine January 2017

HAPPY NEW YEAR ! REACH FOR YOUR DREAMS IN 2017

ISSUE 105

• £PRICELESS

JANUARY 2017 • www.lifestylemonthly.co.uk \\ @lpool_lifestyle

sting O SAY YES T

ll JACk WHItEHA

MICHAEl FASSBENDER

ISTSED L A FIN OUNC ANN 1

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Everyday is a new start...dont waste it waiting for the new year!

Liverpool’s premier hair stylist, Andrew Joseph

Manion is hoping to become the first salon in Happy New Year!toI be don’t know about you, but can’t Merseyside certified

by PETA as I 100% waitvegan to getand this animal year started, after a well-earned rest last cruelty free. month enjoying the festivities with my family, it’s time to hit the ground to get lots oftheplans in place, Andrew, whorunning, is celebrating success of andLiverpool get on with making the most out of 2017.

For this Fashion Week as CreativemeHair is the most exciting of the – the possibilities Director alreadytime ensures allyear the make up and hair are colouring endless. products are not tested on animals, something he feels very strongly about.

I don’t make New Year resolutions, I don’t believe in them, are“Idoomed to failure and who wants to start Hethey said, have been in touch with PETA and a year with defeat?

Notofme.

I prefer They to make all have mya own range products. areplans looking yearinto round, and if I want change I don’t approving themtoand I amanything just waiting to wait hear to do it. MyThere aim this is simple, lots for of fantastic back. is year absolutely nomake excuse anyone memories only for me and tested my husband, but for our to usenot beauty products on animals.

It’s twinoutdated boys too.and To unnecessary. work hard, to The play pro harder enjoy cutsand used on as much as possible all the things thatthe oursame fantastic city, animals won’t necessary have reaction Liverpool, throws at me. It’s There so much going on in on humans anyway, justis cruel. andAndrew’s around the stand city in on 2017, that my calendar already animal cruelty hasis brought chock festivals, theatre visits, to hima block; a loyalfrom following of concerts, clients, who travel from eating established and new there as out far at asboth Yorkshire to have theirrestaurants, hair styled by is even him.a few new gin bars – surely it would be a crime not He to give those a visit?indeed got a lot of customers said, “I have who travel far and wide to see me. I take care Thistoisget the to bestknow that Liverpool has evertobeen, andwhat it’s my customers, know only getting better –they so bring on 2017 wantit and it’s Iacan’t verywait. special relationship between a woman and her hairdresser! My extensions are the best in the region.”

Andrew Joseph Manion’s salon has gone from strength to strength since he opened three years ago. He has led the hair team at Liverpool and Manchester Fashion Week for the last 2 years and recently embarked on a make up degree.

He added, “Yes all my make us is not tested on animals. But it’s very important that I develop my skills.I love learning and it can only add to the service I offer . If PETA do 66

Joy Lewis

Lifestyle

in the future add salon certificates, monthly we aim to be Meet the Team the first to get one in the Managing Director North West Amanda Moss of England. It amanda@amandamosspr.uk 07916332469 would make me so proud Editor Joy Lewis that we are joy.lewis@honestcat.co.uk providing hair and beauty services without 07729221922 harming any animals and the enviroment. Until Development that happens we Business will become a friendDirector of PETA Simonthe Moss and we will continue to make transition to a 07563192989 natural, cruelty free salon. #beautywithoutbunnies Sales Head of Sales Neil Woods neil.woods@btinternet.com To book an 07931812390 appointment with Andrew Lead Designer visit: Phaedra Samantha phaedra_samantha_bell@ 623a Prescot hotmail.com Rd, Liverpool L13 5XA Design Contributions Phone: Emir Koc 0151 254 2228 PLEASE HELP RAISE FUNDS FOR ONE OF LIVERPOOL’S TRULY SELFLESS PEOPLE: EMMA HORLOCK. A chronic sufferer of Lyme Disease she is bed bound and requires a wheelchair and carer for the simplest of tasks. She has a heart condition, neurology issues and acute muscle spasms which control her life. She cannot get funding for treatment in the UK, where this medications for Lyme Disease is severely underfunded and in some cases not recognised.

Emma deserves the quality of live you and I take for granted.She is a beautiful person inside and out, she never complains, she is always positive and campaigns tirelessly even from her hospital bed where she stayed for 3 weeks recently. Her doctors in USA promise her this but only with our help to raise money.

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CONTENTS 10 | Sting Interview 18 | Michael Fassbender 22 | Jack Whitehall 26 | RAF Stories 28 | Pete Price 30 | No second night on the street

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RETURN OF THE STING After thirteen years, critically acclaimed songwriter Sting returns to the forefront of rock and roll…

Never say never again, especially if you are an internationally renowned legendary singer song writer, Sting.

It’s been over a decade since he was last in the charts.

Has his time away changed him, what’s prompted his surprise return and have the world events and humanitarian crises of the past 3 years shaped his latest music as they have in the past?

“I never actually admit I’m making a record until very late in the process,” Sting explains – but he even by his own standards the announcement of his new album, 57th & 9th, came somewhat out of the blue. As the first musical offering from the former frontman of The Police in thirteen years, 57th & 9th – so called after the name of the junction that the singer “had to cross everyday on the way to the studio” – is a rocking return to the front line of the industry from one of its most respected songwriters.

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The 65-year-old Northumberland-native, however, is quick to mention that his recent album would not have come together through his unquestionable ability alone.

“So we booked some studio time and invited some musicians to come in, and we improvised,” he explains. “And this happened very quickly, very spontaneously. I work with extraordinary musicians who are very gifted and give me a lot to work with and my job is to make sense of it all.”

Despite his involvement in a combined total of over 100 million record sales, not to mention the sixteen Grammy Awards, three Academy Award nominations and CBE, Sting is still looking to “surprise myself and the people I’m working with and hopefully the listener.”

“To me the essence of music is surprise – both in the choices you make within a song and the choices about what you present to the public,” he agrees. “I don’t make music by any formulaic, magic process. I just follow my instincts, I don’t know where it’s going. On this album, we’ve ended up with something that is energetic and noisy but also thoughtful.”

The first single from the album to have been released, the barnstorming ‘I Can’t Stop Thinking About You’, is also a representation of how 57th & 9th is a journey through Sting’s own attitude to the artistry that has made his a household name.

“All I had was a blank sheet of paper in front of me, which looked like a field of snow with no clues on it as to what could be revealed there,” he says of the track’s origins.

“So that first song I wrote actually became the first song on the album.

It’s about that obsession, that obsessive search for inspiration, for a subject, for a muse, for the music to reveal something inside itself.”

As it turns out, this act of describing the artistic process through the art itself was just the catalyst Sting needed to churn out the further nine tracks that make up the album.

“I think you live in a permanent state of anxiety as an artist; you write a song and then suddenly you’re

empty - what do you do next? But, I wrote this song very quickly,” he muses. “I basically forced myself to keep doing it - finish song, start another one. Finish song, start another one. And I had a timeline given to me by my manager. I’m not normally presented with a deadline but I sort of enjoyed having that pressure. It just gave me the impetus to create something more spontaneous, with an energy that we don’t have all the time in the world, so let’s use the time well.”

And if, ‘I Can’t Stop Thinking About You’ is an insular track, the rest of the album looks outwards to the recent major events that have had an effect on Sting, from tackling the refugee crisis on ‘Inshallah’ – “I think it’s really the crisis of the century”– to his “satire about climate sceptics,” ‘One Fine Day’. The track ’50,000’, however, was “a response to the passing of a lot of cultural icons this year” – something which has obviously affected Sting on a personal level.

“It’s really about how surprised we all are when one of our icons dies, because we’ve sort of invested them with immortality in a way, so that when they die it really brings our own mortality into sharp focus,” he remarks. “I wanted to respond to that as a rockstar myself. I’ve been in that position, I’ve had hundreds of thousands of people singing my songs back to me, so I know what that feels like. But it’s an illusion, we are no more immortal or no better than anyone else. We’re all human beings and we are all too fragile. So the song is about that.

It’s about those who die, but it’s also about me. And I think it’s a fairly honest look about what it’s like to grow old.”

But when it comes down to it, despite the critical acclaim and devoted fans, this rockstar business is still just a day-job for Sting.

“I don’t have a goal except to have fun and express something at the end of a day’s work,” he concludes.

“You know, to have something to just take home to my wife and say, ‘This is what I did today.’ Like most people who work, you need to have result at the end of the day and that’s all.”

Sting’s twelfth studio album, 57th & 9th, was released November 2016 on Polydor Records. For more information visit www.sting.com 13

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LocaL Lady feeLs super at 60 after not fitting Mri Machine After recently celebrating her 60th birthday, Linda Reeves of the Wirral feels better than she has in twenty years after losing an amazing 4st 3lbs with Weight Watchers.

In 2012, Linda was a size 22 and was recommended to lose weight after a health consultant warned her of developing a fatty liver.

The final straw came after attending an MRI scan and being unable to fit in the machine.

“I lay down and as I was just about to go in, one of the nurses realised I wasn’t going to fit. There are only two plus-sized scanners in the area and with it not being an emergency, I just had to get dressed and leave. I wanted to be swallowed up, it was really embarrassing”, Linda explained.

“To have to tell people what happened when they ask how you got on at your MRI was just horrendous.” Linda headed straight to the pub with her husband where she planned to binge on comfort food and forget the whole incident but with the support of her sister Susan and her Weight Watchers meeting, binges are a thing of the past.

With Weight Watchers meetings and online tools, you can lose up to seven times more weight than on your own and the support Linda received was instrumental to her success. “There have been ups and downs on my journey but the support from my Weight Watchers coach, helpers and group members has been incredible. Knowing everyone including my coach has been on the same journey as me is so motivational”, Linda added regarding her weekly meetings.

Following the SmartPoints plan, which is tailored personally to each member’s lifestyle, health, gender and BMI, Linda is now enjoying more home cooked meals made with fresh foods and keeping control of her portions, which her doctor is thrilled about. “I find the plan really easy to follow and have learnt how to handle my relationship with food, without feeling restricted.

I am now far more aware of the nutritional values of certain food and am able to make decisions within my SmartPoints allowance when eating

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out. I’m happy to say, since losing all the weight, having an MRI scan is no longer an issue.

And when I had my latest check up, my consultant said he wished he had more patients like me, who actually took his advice for the sake of their health. He was delighted with the changes I had made.”

Now at a healthy 11st 13lbs, Linda felt wonderful on her recent milestone birthday and is finding everyday life more enjoyable, with more of an interest in exercise, something that she would not have thought about before joining Weight Watchers. The plan encourages all members to be more active in any way they can.

“To keep fit and healthy, I now swim two or three times a week, and I walk the dogs twice a day. I love clothes shopping now too!”

Unlike fad diets and quick fixes, Weight Watchers provides a flexible and balanced approach to leading a healthier lifestyle without giving up the things you love.

The proven approach guides people towards smarter food choices, based on much more than calories alone, while helping people to be more active and providing the skills and techniques to get achieve the right frame of mind for long term success.

For more information about Weight Watchers, the SmartPoints plan or to find your nearest meeting visit: : www.weightwatchers.com/uk.

Join today

A selection of your local meetings LIVERPOOL CITY

WIRRAL / CLAUGHTON

WIRRAL / PRENTON

Our Lady’s Parish Centre

United Reformed Church

14 James Street, Liverpool L2 7PQ Wednesday 12:00pm

310 Park Road North, Birkenhead CH41 8AE Wednesday 6:00pm

Prenton Road West, Prenton CH42 9PX

LIVERPOOL CITY

WIRRAL / LISCARD

The Liverpool

The Britannia Adelphi Hotel

New Brighton Cricket Club

Ranelagh Place, Liverpool City L3 5UL Tuesday 11:30am

Mortuary Road, Liscard CH45 5DE Wednesday 9:15am, 6:00pm

ANFIELD

WIRRAL / BIRKENHEAD

The Sandon Pub, Oakfield House 166-182 Oakfield Road, Anfield, Liverpool L4 0UH Thursday 10:00am

WIRRAL / WALLASEY

Wallasey Royal British Legion

The Friends Meeting House Slatey Road, Birkenhead CH43 4UU Thursday 10:00am

WIRRAL / BIRKENHEAD St Josephs Centre

3 Withens Lane, Wallasey CH44 1BB Monday 6:00pm

Greenbank Road, Birkenhead CH42 7JY Tuesday 7:00pm

WIRRAL / LISCARD

WAVERTREE

Grosvenor Annexe

Wavertree Sports Park

Grosvenor Street, Liscard CH44 1AQ Saturday 10:00am

Liverpool Aquatics Centre, Wellington Road, Liverpool L15 4LE Thursday 6:00pm

WALTON

Methodist Church Hall Ludlow Street, Walton L4 3RH Monday 6:30pm

LIVERPOOL

Barclays Liverpool Contact Centre (Dale House) Wavertree Technology Park, Wavertree Boulevard,Liverpool L7 9PQ Wednesday 12:00pm

CLUBMOOR The Farmers Arms Pub Larkhill Lane (off Townsend Avenue), Clubmoor, Liverpool L13 9BL Saturday 10:00am

WIRRAL / OXTON

Wednesday 6:30pm

WIRRAL / WALLASEY VILLAGE Mosslands School (6th Form Centre) Wallasey Village, Mosslands Drive, Wallasey Village CH45 8PJ Thursday 6:15pm

WIRRAL / PRENTON St Stephens Church Hall 11 Prenton Lane, Prenton CH42 8LA Tuesday 9:30am Saturday 10:00am

CLUBMOOR Clubmoor Children’s Centre Utting Avenue East, Liverpool L11 1DQ Wednesday 6:15pm

STONEYCROFT All Saints Church Broadgreen Road Stoneycroft, Liverpool L13 5SH Wednesday 9:30am

BROADGREEN

St. Saviours Parish Centre

Oakvale Church Hall

Bidston Road, Oxton / Wirral CH43 2JZ Wednesday 10:00am

Edge Lane Drive, Liverpool L13 4AD Tuesday 6:00pm

FOR ALL YOUR LOCAL MEETINGS

text LOCAL + POSTCODE to 62223* weightwatcherslocal.co.uk • 0345 677 7788 *Standard network charges apply.

Lose 8x more weight than on your own: Weight loss achieved at 6 months using Weight Watchers meetings and online tools. Results based on 6 month study of overweight / obese individuals. 147 following WW Smartpoints approach v 145 with no programme.

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M i c h a e l Fassbender An Interview so exclusive you need to pick up a free copy of Lifestyle Magazine to read it!

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WIN! Assasins Creed Goody Bag!

*** To enter: Email: editor@ lifestylemonthly.co.uk with the words “ASSASINS CREED” in the subject box, and your full name, address and contact numbers in the email.

The winner will be notified by email, the editor’s decision is final.

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21

Jack

Whitehall at Liverpool ECHO Arena on Sunday February 5. ¦ Interview by Dawn Collinson

He’s appeared alongside some of the biggest names in sport on Sky’s panel show A League of Their Own, and shared a big screen with two of Hollywood’s hottest leading ladies, Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston.

But it was an encounter with actress Eva Longoria, and a cheeky prank from Scouser Stephen Graham, which left comedian Jack Whitehall speechless for once.

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The three were filming a new comedy drama mini-series, Decline and Fall, for the BBC when Stephen decided to play a joke on his co-star.

“He’s so great, I loved working with him, he’s such a dude,” says Jack, who brings his 2017 tour to the Echo Arena in February.

“I’d met him about three or four years ago, we did Soccer AM and I got on with him really well and really wanted to work with him. He got me badly, though, when we were doing Decline and Fall.

“He stole a headshot of mine and wrote a message on it to her saying ‘dear Eva, it’s so wonderful to have you on this show, love your darling Jackie’ and he put it in her dressing room. And he told me but I didn’t get to it in time so she found it and never referenced it so she must have thought it was real.

“It was mortifying that she thought I’d signed a headshot for her and given it to her, on day one.

So creepy.”

Jack did eventually forgive him, and admits he’s actually a big fan of the Liverpool sense of humour. It’s one of the reasons why he loves to perform here.

“I really enjoyed it last time, I think Liverpool audiences are really good, although you’re always slightly wary because there’s the thing that Liverpudlians are too funny to be a good crowd. Bish always says that it’s the best place to get heckled, it’s when they come with their own jokes that you’re in trouble!”

The 28-year-old is preparing to bring his At Large show to the city on Sunday February 5 and, after a busy TV and film schedule, he says he’s looking forward to live gigs again.

Jack Whitehall is at Liverpool ECHO Arena on Sunday February 5.

ARE WE A NATION OF ‘KIDULTS‘?

LIVERPUDLIANS AREN‘T READY ‘TO ADULT‘ UNTIL THE AGE OF 33 Modern adults in Liverpool do not consider themselves an adult until they have reached the age of 33, it emerged recently.

Researchers polled almost 2,000 Brits over the age of 30 – and revealed that in the 1940s and 50s – respondents in Liverpool considered the adult age to be much younger at just 25.

According to a new poll, today’s generation are more reluctant to grow up than their parents ever were, with a staggering 73 percent admitting they struggle with ‘adulting’ and still act as if they were in their teens or early twenties.

And it seems the sexes are divided when it comes to adulting. 35% of women polled plan on continuing to wear their PJ’s during the day well into adulthood, showing that women are more likely to embrace their inner child for far longer than men.

The study also revealed a host of behaviours which Liverpool residents in their thirties, forties and even fifties deem acceptable, including bingeing all weekend on box sets, relying on parents for DIY and gardening assistance and using nicknames for all of their friends.

“Not considering yourself an adult until the age of 33 probably does seem old to previous generations. And we all know that getting a mortgage is harder than it ever has been, so it makes sense that these days, this is a major sign of ‘growing up’.

“It’s hilarious to see from the research what is considered grown-up in 2016. There is nothing wrong with being young at heart and if adults want to ride skateboards and wear ripped jeans then so be it – you only live once.”

And a quarter of Liverpudlians’ said that they would also never trade a big night out for a quiet night at home.

Other signs you are a ‘kidult’ (an adult yet to grow up) include staying up all night playing computer games, wearing band t-shirts, getting tattoos, owning novelty phone cases and raiding the sweetie cupboard.

Listening to Radio 1, attending stag and hen dos abroad and watching reality shows like TOWIE and Made in Chelsea were also on the list.

The poll, found two thirds of people in Liverpool over the age of thirty admit they are guilty of acting as if they are still in their teens and early twenties, with nearly half of those surveyed saying the most grown up thing they have done is get a mortgage, write a will or reviewed their pension arrangements.

Not surprisingly then – 17% claim they could benefit from being slightly more mature than they currently are.

Which is no wonder, when a quarter considered doing the ironing as a sign of ‘adulting’ – and more than 40% felt that knowing what day the bins go out was grown-up!

One of Britain’s most well-known Kidults, 80s children’s TV presenter Timmy Mallet, said:“Brits are getting married later in life and having children in their thirties and forties, suggesting that we are a nation who likes to stay younger for longer!

Having your own advent calendar and hunting for Christmas presents were also on the list of things that adults NEVER want to stop.

As were eating a kebab after a night out, playing air guitar to your favourite rock song and building sandcastles.

A quarter of those studied said no matter how old they got they would never listen to Radio 4, nearly one in five refuse to ever watch the Antiques Roadshow and 23 percent said they wouldn’t be seen dead in a pair of Crocs or “comfy shoes”.

A spokesperson for Tangerine Confectionery added:‘As manufacturers of some of the nation’s best-loved confectionery brands, the research didn’t surprise us – we knew there were lots of kidults out there secretly buying sweets or raiding the sweetie cupboard when children were not around.

‘This research proves that a fizzy Sherbet Fountain or Dip Dab are just as appealing to us as adults as they were when we were young!’

Image By: Jakob Owens

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SportW3.co.uk the G ‘ o-to Place‘ for local activities sPorts Doing more sport and exercise are top of so many people’s ‘to do’ lists … what often stops their good intentions is how to get started.

But a new Website promises to change that, bringing together hundreds of sports, classes, clubs and more, across Merseyside, Wirral and Cheshire.

SportW3 is an interactive one-stop shop for what you want, where you want it, when you want it.

Tina Burrows, owner and Managing Director of the business says, “SportW3 lists a host of different Sports & Activities, and hundreds of places where you can take part, detailing professionals, clubs, events, venues, camps and classes from larger gyms and activity centres to smaller sessions in the church hall at the corner of your road.”

“All people need to do is to go onto www.SportW3.co.uk.

Search via the local interactive map, select a category, or type in a chosen Sport, Activity or Area. Just click on your selected page for all the details – easy-peasy!”

“It can help people discover which Sport or Exercise might suit them, and then supply all the details so they can email the organiser, phone or text for further information.

People can be nervous about turning up to a Class not knowing anything about it, or anyone else who is going to be there, so being able to make that contact in advance takes that worry away. It gives people the confidence they might need to take that all-important first step, which can be the biggest obstacle, especially if it’s something they’ve not tried before.”

Tina, a mother of three, has spent her life getting people fit and active, with a variety of roles, including that of PE Teacher, North West Squash Development Officer and University Lecturer. She was also awarded Regional Coach of the year along with the Torch Trophy Trust for her services to sport.

“Too often, not knowing how to start, a lack of knowledge or information is a reason to put off doing exercise – but now you can find hundreds of local classes, sports, venues, events and activities, all on Sportw3.co.uk.”

SportW3 (What, Where, When), ‘making the invisible, VISIBLE!’

at the Liverpool Tennis Tennis CenTre makes a itCentre back in October. I raCkeT aT awards wasn’t sure what to expect LIVERPOOL Tennis Centre has done the double and scooped two top gongs at an industry award ceremony.

The venue took gold for ‘Disability Tennis Programme of the Year’ and their head coach, Andy McGarry, took the title of ‘Lancashire Tennis Coach of the Year’ at the Lancashire in the 2016 British Tennis Awards, beating off competition from across the region.

Over the past twelve months the scheme has significantly increased the number of opportunities available for people with disabilities to enjoy tennis. This has included introducing new weekly wheelchair tennis and visually impaired sessions, supported by the Tennis Foundation, with players attending regularly from across Merseyside. The centre also runs a Downs Syndrome mini tennis activities each week as well as delivering taster sessions for local special schools.

George Ferguson, who takes part in the visually impaired tennis sessions, said: “‘I was a newcomer to tennis when I first tried

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when I first arrived, as I had never tried tennis before and thought it would be too difficult due to having a visual impairment. However, the coach who was assigned to deliver the visually impaired tennis sessions was fantastic with the group. He made us feel very welcome and comfortable during the session, which in turn helped us enjoy the session even more than we thought we would.

Liverpool Tennis Centre and Andy McGarry now progress to the regional section of the Aegon British Tennis Awards where they will compete against other winners from the North of England in the New Year.

What you want, Where you need it, When you want it.

Interactive site:

Find Local Sports, Professionals, Physical Activities, Clubs, Gyms, Events, Kids Camps, Exercise & Fitness Classes - all on one site!

Professionals, Clubs, Venues, Event Organisers - if you are not on the site yet, create your profile: add your details by registering; then log on.

www.SportW3.co.uk

info@sportw3.co.uk 25

Santa

at Royal a iR foRce On a cold and wet morning on Tuesday 16th December 2016, Santa and his Elves from the Royal Air Force, fought through the bad weather in order to deliver presents to the sick children at Alder Hey Childrens Hospital and the Royal Manchester Childrens Hospital.

Now in its Twelth year, the Royal Air Force Charity Santa Present Drop aims to help raise morale amongst the children in hospital over the Christmas period by delivering presents; normally by swooping Santa in on a helicopter.

Presents and hospital donations are raised throughout the year by the Royal Air Force team, along with students from Priestley College (Warrington), Cheadle College, Runshaw College (Leyland) and Blackpool& Fylde College. This years fund raising activities included a sponsored 13.5 mile walk, a gym’a’thon , a sponsored sit at Blackpool Football Club and a sponsored bike ride to Russia.

Whilst heartbreaking to see so many poorly children, this is a popular event amongst Staff at the Armed Forces Careers Offices in Liverpool & Manchester.

‘Elves’ are drawn out of a hat as everyone wants to be involved in spreading good cheer amongst the children; seeing the joy on their faces when they see Santa and the Elves makes everything worthwhile and puts your own lives into perspective! You make sure that when you get home that night your family get an extra big cuddle!

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We hope you had a fantastic New Year and all the best for 2017 from the team at the Royal Air Force.

Special thanks to the students who raised £4000, ToysRUs (Warrington) for discount towards the presents, Everton, Manchester United and Blackpool Football Clubs, Wigan Warriors and Team Sport Go Karting who provided prizes for the best fundraisers from the Colleges.

If you want to get involved in next years event, please contact Sergeant Collier on 0151 522 6645.

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0345 605 5555 Search online for RAF Recruitment /rafrecruitment

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PETEPRICE ‘LATE NIGHT CITY’ SUNDAY - THURSDAY 10PM TO 1AM RADIO CITY 2 & RADIO CITY TALK

LIVERPOOL’S BIGGEST STAR. PETE PRICE....

Inducted Into 'The Radio Academy Hall of Fame' 2014

May I wish all Lifestyles readers and and we are a magical people who live in a magical city. So let’s be strong and have the my listeners the happiest 2017!

We are living in a difficult world and we need to be a community and look after each other.

This part of the world is really quite special 1) Alesha Dixon, was around Liverpool in December filming a new exciting television show – what a charming attractive lady and I spent some time with her for the first time ever.

2) Sharon, it was fantastic to have time with, Mrs O – she will be back again this year I’m sure – what a hard working woman, who is now a dear friend – did you enjoy the X Factor last year?

3) Phil Redmond and Alexis. I was at the opening of the Garden Of Eden – I’m very fond of both of these people and always remember the ground breaking, Brookside that they created. So many people would love to have it brought back.

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best ever 2017. If you ever want to talk to me remember I’m here 5 nights a week on Radio City 2 & Radio City Talk from 10pm – 1am Call 0151 708 1059.

4) Danielle Lloyd and I. This lovely lady and this photograph has had something like 60,000 hits & looking at her I do question my sexuality.

5) Polar Express – Just before Christmas I became Tom Hanks & went on an amazing trip with some very poorly children from Alder Hey. It made my Christmas.

6) Natasha – loved Decembers edition of Lifestyle

Happy New Year!

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Homelessness and rough sleeping can be devastating. It can

cause disruption to family life, education, healthcare and employment. Liverpool City Council recognises this and is very committed to preventing and tackling homelessness and rough sleeping. The council recognises that when people have difficulties with their housing, it is often better for people to remain in their own homes when it is safe to do so. Therefore our main aim is to prevent homelessness whenever possible and when homelessness cannot be prevented, to ensure that people can be supported seamlessly into temporary accommodation until a more permanent solution can be found.

The council will spend £10.8 Million in 2016/17 on tackling homelessness and rough sleeping. The majority of this is spent on funding temporary accommodation (approximately 750 bed spaces) alongside significant investment in services to prevent people becoming homeless and services for rough sleepers. The council actually helps about 6,000 people a year with housing issues.

However, despite the best efforts of the sector, a small number of people end up sleeping rough. This happens for many reasons such as the breakdown of relationships, leaving prison, loss of rented accommodation, loss of employment etc.

The council and partners are fully committed to the No Second Night Out standard which is based on the principle that there are a range of reasons why people may have to spend one night out on the street, but there is no reason for anyone to spend a second night out. This is because there are services there to help them. There is an outreach team from the Whitechapel Centre, which is funded by the council, who actively go out and look for people who are rough sleeping. This team has access to a range of services, including accommodation. They also provide a building based service where people can have hot meals, showers, access laundry facilities and computers. They are also supported to write cv’s and seek employment. For people from outside the city, including from abroad, there is a reconnection offer, when it is safe for the person to return home. There is also help to deal with wider issues such as substance misuse and mental health issues.

One of the issues Liverpool is facing is the perception that there is a significantly more people rough sleeping than in reality there is. This is mainly due to an increase in other ‘street lifestyles’ mainly begging. In October this year, 43 people were identified as rough sleeping, whilst 47 people were seen begging. Of the people who were begging, only 9 were actually rough sleeping too.

If you are worried about someone sleeping rough, contact the NSNO team on

0300 123 2041 30

who will support the person indoors.

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EVERTON U23s MANAGER UNSWORTH AND EITC LAUNCH 'HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS'’ David Unsworth has revealed his plans to launch a fundraising campaign to support young people on the brink of homelessness across the city of Liverpool.

Following a freezing-cold Friday night sleeping in the stands at Goodison Park with his entire Under-23 squad and backroom staff to raise awareness of homelessness, Blues legend Unsworth has spent time reflecting on the experience and is keen to make a long-term difference to the lives of people in Merseyside.

The Under-23s boss has worked alongside Everton in the Community Executive Chair Denise Barrett-Baxendale to look at how he and his squad of players can further support those most in need.

‘Home is Where the Heart is’ will see Unsworth and his team work throughout the season to reach a fundraising target of £230,000 to fund and develop a supported living initiative for young people in Liverpool, delivered by Everton in the Community. The funds raised will be used to purchase, and operate, a house close to Goodison Park which will offer 16-23-year-olds who have fallen on hard times, or have perhaps fallen out of the care system, a place to stay in Liverpool.

Aside from offering young adults a roof over their head in difficult times, the Club’s official charity will play a large part in their development by providing them with access to key services including health and wellbeing support and assistance with education employment and training as well as encouraging them to contribute to the local community through the NCS programme and volunteering.

Unsworth said: “Modern day footballers are in an incredibly privileged position and are supported by their club with everything including dietary and fitness support and psychological matters. ‘Home is Where the Heart Is’ will us see offer that same level of support to the most needy across Liverpool and draw upon all areas of expertise within Everton in the Community to ensure that those young people accessing the facility will be given tangible life skills to set them on the right path in life.

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“The Sleepout was a tough night and temperatures plummeted to minus four but we were all wrapped up with layers of clothing on. There are people out there doing this for real and that is the scary thing. That is why we are doing this - because we want to stop this. We want to give all those people on the streets of Liverpool a helping hand and get them off the streets and somewhere safe where they can get back on their feet again. Everybody should have a roof over their head and we are going to give our all

to this campaign to ensure that we can help as many young people as possible.”

Executive Chair Barrett-Baxendale added: “To have David and his team come to me with such a fantastic proposal is wonderful and further enforces the values and ethos of Everton Football Club and our charity.

David and his staff not only work tirelessly to nurture talented footballers for our first team but they also focus on producing well-rounded individuals who are good humble men.

“We want to operate this house in the heart of Everton and it is an extension from the work that the charity already does in supporting young people from all across the city with positive life choices and opportunities. This campaign will see us help young people who are perhaps on the cusp of following a path to destruction but by offering this supported living facility will see us catch them before life becomes too difficult and help them get back on the right track. To have the opportunity to play for Everton is lifechanging, to live with Everton in the Community could be life-saving.”

‘Home is Where the Heart is’ will see Unsworth, his backroom staff and his full cohort of players host a variety of events and activities throughout the season to reach the fundraising target of £230,000.

There are plenty of ways for you to get involved and support Unsy and his team with their fundraising efforts.

You can visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ EvertonU23s to donate directly to the cause or alternatively please contact the charity directly on 0151 530 5253 if you are able to support the campaign with items or services which could be used for developing the house or perhaps help a young person with their social development such as driving lessons or clothing for job interviews.

A-Level & GCSE Science & Maths Home Tuition Tuition is tailored to the students needs by specially trained university students and researchers.

All our tutors are currently studying or researching in STEM subjects and bring a passionate, creative and engaging approach to every session!

For more information, visit our website: www.inspiretutoring.org Text or call: 07850482786 Email: enquiries@inspiretutoring.org

District House review

by Joy Lewis The Sunday Roast is a British institution, which has made many restaurants attempt it, but so often if falls short and makes you mourn for your mother in laws perfect roasties. Cue District House and their new Sunday Roast menu under a ‘family serve concept’. Ah now this is good, so good in fact, that it does rival the Mother in Law’s – weighty accolade indeed.

The proof is not in the pudding, in this case it’s in the roast potato, and boy were those roast potatoes delicious.

What makes it so good? The family serve concept for one. Everything is served in dishes, from the meats which include a choice of whole roasted chicken basted in thyme and butter, glazed maple and rosemary gammon or 28 day dry aged Cumbrian beef sirloin, accompanied by roast

potatoes, stuffing, humongous Yorkshire puddings and seasonal vegetables and real gravy. But did it taste good? No, it was better than mere good, it was absolutely scrumptious.

We loved this meal and plans are already in place to visit once again.

District House is located on Liverpool’s iconic Water Street, the Family Serve Roast is served between 2pm – 6pm and for added atmosphere there is a live soul singer performing from the gallery. For a truly tasty treat, in stunning surroundings I couldn’t recommend District House more.

For more information and to book visit, hello@districthouse.co.uk (0)151 236 6141 18 Water St, Liverpool, L2 8TD.

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www.mexicanhouseofliverpool.com info@mexicanhouseliverpool.com

The Mexican house NEW MEXICAN RESTAURANT BRINGS MAYFAIR SERVICE TO MERSEYSIDE PULL on your poncho because a little bit of Liverpool has gone Latin!

The Mexican House is one of the newest restaurants to say hola to the city and, as well as a pinch of spice, it promises superb service fit for royalty.

The Mexican House, 122 Queens Drive, Lark Hill Place, Liverpool L13 0AJ Tel: 0151 345 6837 Opening hours: Monday – Friday, 5pm to 10.30pm; Saturday – Sunday, 2pm to 10.30pm.

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Facebook: Mexican House Liverpool Twitter: @mexicanhouseuk

Restaurant owner Mahesh Regmi has worked in some of London’s top establishments where he’s welcomed celebrities and society’s elite: “But no matter who came into any restaurant I worked in, the service was always the same – the best, and that’s what I want to bring to The Mexican House.

Although he has co-owned restaurants before, The Mexican House Bar & Grill in Queens Drive, West Derby, is the first solo venture for Nepalese-born father of two Mahesh, 45.

It will offer mouth-watering Mexican food from albondigas and enchiladas, nachos and burritos, chipotle chicken and chilli. There’s even a signature fajita dish with hot sizzling strips of marinated beef, chicken and prawn sautéed with mixed capsicum, onion and mushroom, served with warm tortillas, crispy salad, guacamole, sour cream and salsa.

The menu has been created by Mexican chef Deepak Khadka, and Mahesh can’t wait to share the dishes and five-star service with diners.

“The food is outstanding, but a meal is about more than just what is on the plate,” says Mahesh. “If that’s all you want, why not just get a takeaway? It’s about the ambience of the restaurant and the experience. We take people’s coats, we offer magic hot towels which they create at their tables, we want to see children here – we offer them balloons and lollipops – and we want everyone, their friends and families, to have fun.”

Book Now For Valentine’s Day!

Terms and Conditions Apply

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LiverpooL one, 14 paradise street, LiverpooL L1 8JF | www.odeon.co.uk Win a FaMiLY tiCKet*, an odeon FaMiLY MiX** & a set oF ‘sinG’ MerCHandise.

ODEON says...

‘Sing’ is the story of Buster Moon, a dapper, downon-his-luck koala whose theatre has fallen on hard times. In a last-ditch attempt to save it, he organises a singing competition.

CoMinG soon to odeon LiverpooL one Fast & FUrioUs 8 on the heels of 2015’s Fast & Furious 7, one of the fastest movies to reach $1 billion worldwide in box-office history and the sixth-biggest global title of all time, comes the newest chapter in one of the most popular and enduring motion-picture serials of all time: Fast & Furious 8.

It’s open to everyone, and everyone turns up: Rosita, a pig who used to sing but gave it up to have a family; Ash, a punk rock porcupine; and Johnny, a gorilla torn between his family’s criminal gang and his showbiz dreams.

Get up on stage and ‘Sing’ your heart out with an all-star cast including Matthew McConaughey, scarlett Johansson, reese Witherspoon and taron Egerton.

FROM THE CREATORS OF DESPICABLE

Now that Dom and Letty are on their honeymoon and Brian and Mia have retired from the game—and the rest of the crew has been exonerated—the globetrotting team has found a semblance of a normal life. But when a mysterious woman (Oscar® winner Charlize Theron) seduces dom into the world of crime he can’t seem to escape and a betrayal of those closest to him, they will face trials that will test them as never before.

From the shores of Cuba and the streets of new York City to the icy plains off the arctic Barents Sea, our elite force will crisscross the globe to stop an anarchist from unleashing chaos on the world’s stage…and to bring home the man who made them a family.

SCARLETT JOHANSSON is ASH

IN 2D AND 3D

SEE IT FIRST 21 & 22 JANUARY IN CINEMAS JANUARY 27 SingMovie.co.uk

/SingMovieUK #SingMovie

No online booking fees Book your visit with us online and don’t pay a penny in fees.

Project Details Film Title:

For Fast & Furious 8, Vin Diesel is joined by a returning all-star cast that includes Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Nathalie Emmanuel, Elsa Pataky and Kurt russell. in addition to theron, the series welcomes newcomers Scott Eastwood and Oscar® winner Helen Mirren. The film is directed by F. Gary Gray (Straight Outta Compton) and produced by returning producers Neal H. Moritz, Michael Fottrell and diesel.

ME

THE FEEL GOOD MOVIE OF THE YEAR!

Sing

Mechanical Set-Up Final Output Size:

1.016m (W) x 0.762m (H)

Placement:

International

Artwork Size:

1016mm (W) x 762mm (H)

Description:

In-Theatre Quad

Mechanical Built At:

1:1 of Final Output Size

Rocking Ash

Legal

Art Name:

1 Ly r i c S q u a r e , H a m m e r s m i t h , Lo n d o n W 6 0 N B T: + 4 4 ( 0 ) 20 3 5 42 8 1 1 5 W : x y i . c o m

Territory:

International OV

Billing:

Colours:

CMYK

Cast Names:

‘sinG’ is released at odeon Liverpool one on 27/01/16. advanced previews on 21/01/16 & 22/01/16. BooK noW at odeon.co.uk T&C’S - * A family ticket is valid for up to a max of 4 people. ** - ODEON Family Mix contains 2x Kids Mix, 2 Medium drinks and 1x medium popcorn

'Fast & FUrioUs 8' is released on 14/04/16 Win a FaMiLY tiCKet*, an odeon FaMiLY MiX** & a set oF 'sinG' MerCHandise.***

To enter: Email: editor@lifestylemonthly.co.uk with the words “SING” in the subject box, and your full name, address and contact numbers in the email. The winner will be notified by email, the editors decision is final.

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LifestyLes Music coLuMnist

967 1 s I d e e N u o All Y By: Martin Quirk 50 years on from the greatest year in modern music history, 2017 promises to be a year of historical and hysterical musical celebration. 1967 saw a psychedelic explosion of colour and musical creativity never seen before or heard since. January, a month named after the very Roman god of doors himself, opened accordingly with The Doors first album, the imaginatively titled ‘The Doors’. It was the first of a ridiculous number of timeless, classic and immensely influential albums that were to be recorded and released during that year.

There are just too many to list here in any great detail, but they include such landmarks as the birth of Funk with James Brown’s ‘Cold Sweat’, the Indie ‘bible’ made flesh with ‘The Velvet Underground & Nico’, Jimi Hendrix’s first album ‘Are You Experienced’ (we certainly are now thanks, James), as well as the debut albums of such future behemoths as Pink Floyd and David Bowie, among so many others. But the biggest splash of all was undoubtedly made on the first day of June when the Summer Of Love was heralded

by four cheeky local lads called The Beatles and the release of something that they called ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’.

Often hailed as ‘the greatest album of all time’, I, personally, don’t think that Sgt Pepper is even one of the best three Beatles albums, if I’m being honest, which I always try to be. ‘Rubber Soul’, ‘Revolver’ & ‘The Beatles’ (‘The White Album’s proper name) since you asked, and also even if you didn’t. Their acclaimed masterpiece may very well have rewritten the book on what could be achieved creatively in a recording studio in 1967, but I much prefer the songs on those other three albums. I also much prefer the songs on Magical Mystery Tour which was released later, in November that year. Strawberry Fields Forever, Penny Lane, I Am The Walrus, All You Need Is Love … What’s not to love? Either way we can expect there to be much hullabaloo when the inevitable ‘It was 50 years ago today’ tag-lines start to appear around June 1st.

Contact & DJ Bookings martinquirk365@msn.com www.weddingjam.co.uk

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Twitter @beverlymacca1 Facebook Beverly Macca Website - beverlymacca.co.uk Catch me on Wirral Radio 92.1FM DAB Free App or wirralradio. co.uk Weekdays between 7-10am or Saturday night’s 7pm – Midnight.

Happy New Year!

I can’t believe I’m typing 2017. Where did 2016 go?

A new year is always a good time to make fresh starts and set new goals. I hope you achieve all you wish this year.

What a Christmas I had, I was in Prawn Ring heaven!

They are seasonal, so I took advantage of this. It was great to spend it with my family and friends. It was also very busy at Wirral Radio too, we had so many events to host. One special one was the Heswall ICE Factor, I was a judge too.

One very talented young lady Yasmine Depledge won £1000! It was really tough judging such a high standard of talent. I was the Nicole Scherzinger of judges while Nik Ellis was the Simon Cowell, Mark Pollard was definitely my Louis Walsh.

The New Year gets off to a good start as the pilot for my chat show ‘Beverly Macca A Night On The Aisles’ is being filmed end of January beginning of February. I will also be treading the boards too!

More of that later as they say. I’m also pleased to say I’ll be re joining the lovely Wendy Turner Webster and Julie Peasgood in the new series of ‘Crafty Beggars In The House’ on Sky. So let’s see what this month’s crying bunch have got whinge about as they ‘Ask Bev’.

Here’s to a happy and healthy 2017.

Bev X

Dear Bev It’s like talking to a friend wh en writing to you and feel I can you anything. Do you have any tips for a recurring bout of thr tell ush?

Janet, Walton.

Dear Janet Walton, is that the prison fashioned yoghurt Janet. Avo or the place? Good old id strawb spend hours picking pips from erry or you’ll yer noo noo.

Bev X r Dear Bev eth for Christmas aftey I got new tef being ashamed of m years o with them m so happy m knashers. I’ iling. I have a proble the letter y sm sa p o I st n and can’t e with a whistle whe es to six pounds sixty. e? of wine com . Any advic y have left m though, the barmaid and 2 glasses getting embarrassing n, Southport.

It’s Susa .

‘S’. I’m a Dear Susan (I whistled

w

Remember if you have a problem then please email it in to me and I’ll do all I can to help. Plus it gives me something to chat about at work too. I do have a confidential (ish) hotline if you prefer to talk to me. It’s manned for half an hour a year if I can remember.

I’m all about giving back to the people.

I’m like a modern day Mother Theresa, without the tea towel.

Take care!

Love Bev x

ttle!

ll them a bo

at) Just se hen I said th

Bev X

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‘

it s not just A till Business new Year’s resolutions ’ everY Business owner should Consider!

Karen Shaw, Fashione’s business Development Manager and former Fashion Retailer shares her New year’s resolutions for businesses.

The New Year can offer business owners the catalyst for business growth. For the fashion industry January to Easter can be a very quiet time in store with customers being frugal after Christmas spending and the weather being too cold to initiate the desire to invest in their spring/summer wardrobe which has just landed in store.

AnAlyse Business Costs.

whAt we know retAilers wAnt from An epos soloution.

* Quick & Easy * Keep tabs on orders * Custom Barcodes * Get to know your customers * Simple to use POS system * Enhance customer experience * Assist buyng decisions * Ability to link stock to online sales places * Recieve support from a help desk who understands the industry * Access a system from multiple devices and locations including instore, on locations or abroad

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Utilise this time to analyse your business outgoing costs such as rents,rates,electricity,telephone and broadband and use comparison sites to see if you can get a better deal. The small saving amount up over a twelve month period. The same goes for card machine rates and business banking - can you negotiate a better price ? If so be proactive and make the change your business will reap the rewards in the long run. invest in AnAlytiCs And it

It may be tempting to only review all of your operating metrics a few times a year but this can make it difficult to foresee what changes might need to be Implemented before it is too late. By Implementing a good retail management system you can take action before a small spark becomes a wildfire.

With the Fashione epos system you can view daily weekly and monthly reports on those metrics that affect your business the most. You can analyse stock lines which are performing well and more importantly those which are not and adjust your buying strategy and budgets accordingly. Simply getting this area of your retail business correct dictates your cashflow turnover and overall business success.

Get to know Customers Better.

your

Getting to know your Clients is one of the best way to improve your product or service. Personal touches like remembering an individuals preferences can be an effective way to set yourself apart from others in the industry.

With the Fashione EPOS you can view your customers spending history at the touch of a button making in store sales easier and giving a generally better customer service. stop proCrAstinAtinG

The new year is the perfect opportunity to re commit to any factors that matter the most to your business success. The Fashione epos system is not just a till. It is a business management solution for Fashion retailers. Our software has been designed to suit the needs of the fashion industry and our staff have good industry knowledge and experience. Enquire now and let fashione visit your store with a free demonstration of the benefits. This time next year you could be glad that you did.

You know your business better than anybody. Whatever measures you decide to take as your New Year Resolutions – Good Luck and Happy New Year from all at Fashione!

If you would like more information call us now on 01257 220 205. sales@fashione.co.uk Connect with us on social media! @fashione Visit our website at www.fashione.co.uk

Sophie Bowman is our inTernaTional journalisT and Blogger discovering The BesT ciTies and parTies The world has To oFFer you; currently residing in MiaMi.

New Year’s Resolutions to look and feel really ridiculously good-looking? Read on…

We may well all be a little bored of all those ‘New year, New me’ posts; we’ve only just got past those lengthy Facebook synopsis posts summarasing everyone’s 2016. However, it’s a fact that the end of each year is an important time for reflection in order to set new goals that will enable us to achieve our ultimate life goal; happiness.

Didn’t stick to or achieve all of your goals this year? It doesn’t matter; today is a new day, it’s a new year and it’s time to change whatever isn’t making us happy…

Here are a few fabulous superheroes and brands that will help you fulfil this year’s ambitions, so that you don’t end 2017 feeling anything less than amazing…

www.silvertownhealth.co.uk The Mediterranean Diet has long been known to be the diet of eternal youth and vitality. Enjoy all the benefits in a scoop from this first ever Mediterranean Super Mix. Just add to your favourite smoothies or juices.

www.Meiwellness.coM

Tyson Brown FiTness

If improving your skin, diet, health and overall inner peace is a big part of your self-improvement plan in 2017, contact nutrition and wellness guru Mei. Your body will most definitely thank you for it from the inside-out!

After 2 years of partying and a questionable diet living in Morocco, I panicked as the relocation to Miami loomed.

Enter Tyson; within just 5 weeks of training with this fitness guru, I was skipping around pool parties in South Beach in a bikini without a care in the world… Feeling slimmer and toned really is the ultimate confidence boost. www.shuMailas. coM Before your next trip to London, check out the special offers on microblading and laser hair removal amongst other beautifying services! Microblading frames your eyes and make them pop; pair with semi-permanent lashes to wake up feeling gorgeous every morning.

www.trulyorganic.coM ;

The older I’ve grown, the more I’ve started to understand the importance of organic food and skincare for hair, skin and general health. I’ve seen huge improvements to my troubled skin since I started using Truly Organic products; my skin has never been softer, clearer or more radiant.

Follow me on Instagram @SophieCBowman

@fashione - twitter // fashione.epos - facebook // fashione.epos - instagram

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Business news www.bondmediaagency.com

New ChiNatowN iN LiverpooL One of the most important and exciting developments in the UK today, Liverpool’s £200 million New Chinatown, is well underway and attracting international investment into the city, thanks to the commitment of local property developer North Point Global.

The development, which broke ground in April this year, will transform Liverpool’s Chinatown, creating a vibrant mixed use area with 790 residential units, a 131 bedroom hotel and 120,000 square feet of commercial space. Liverpool’s large Chinese community had been an important part of the city for over 200 years and a recent increase in Chinese investors acquiring a taste for international buy to let property has attracted further ties between our city and The Orient. North Point Global, the development company behind New Chinatown, is reporting that over 50% of phase 1 ( there are 3 phases to the project ) units have already sold to a mixture of foreign investors and local owner occupiers.

For more details see www.northpointglobal.co.uk

Mee DeMolition – 8 water Street Mees Demolition has now finished first stageof the decommissioning of 8 Water St. Works started just over 8 weeks ago and are ahead ofschedule. Initial works where to decommission the main building from mainseries.

8 Water St is to be converted into 96apartments and Mees Demolition have completed works to separate the residentialsection of the building which takes up about 80% of the space and thecommercial aspect which fills the final 20% across parts of the ground, firstand second floors. The strip out has been completed and the demolition teamwill now be offsite passing over to builders who will start on the site inearly 2017.

Plans for the 1970s building include acomplete overhaul of the building’s façade, the installation of featurelighting throughout and, subject to planning, an addition of two further floorsand roof terrace.

Thomas Mee, Managing Director of MeesDemolition said “We where that impressed with the site and its

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the Peacock – SeeL Street LiverpooL Location : Peacock, 49-51Seel Street, Liverpool, L1 4AZ. Bigger Space, Extendedbar, insane sound system & new overall industrial makeover of the originaltwo neighbouring Georgian townhouses into one unique Seel Street venue.

One of Liverpool’s mostestablished and well known cocktail bars has had a serious upgrade...Bringingyou the best in Craft Cocktails (new menu) - New Pizzas & fries & over40 Boutique Gins 7 days a week. No pretension, good times with great service,if you’re looking for where the great nights out in Seel Street started, thenPeacock is ready to remind you. We’re open daily from 12 and go all theway until the early hours.

See https://en-gb.facebook.com/peacock.liverpool/for more details.

fantasticlocation that we have now taken offices here ourselves and made this ourLiverpool Head Office. We see the business district of Liverpool only goingfrom strength to strength over the coming few years with lots of excitingprojects in the pipeline.

See http www.meesgroup. co.uk/

£Christmas LunCh raises £20,000 for radio City£s Cash for Kids Carolyn Hughes’ annual charity lunch at the start of December on at GUSTO Albert Dock, to support Radio City’s Cash for Kids, gave the Christmas season a kick start.

The lively lunch was hosted by Pete Price along with Radio City 2 Breakfast Presenter Simon Ross.

After a drink on arrival guests enjoyed a 3 course festive feast, before Pete Price hosted the auction, which included EFC’s Romelu Lukaku singed boots, LFC corporate hospitality courtesy of Liverpool Football Club, Gold Circle tickets for Radio City Live, a signed Paul McCartney back catalogue and other memorabilia.

The fun-packed afternoon included a visit from Father Christmas, a Mannequin challenge, a ‘Selfie with an Elfie’ competition a DJ and Saxophonist, a drag artist and a singer Arron Reece rounding off the afternoon with a party set of dance floor fillers.

Event organiser, Carolyn Hughes said “The lunch is the official start of the Christmas party season for many of my guests, so they come along to have a party. We had a great time and raised over £20,000 for Radio City’s Cash for Kids, who do so much to help so many children in the area. We are grateful also to Barclays and Barclaycard for their generous support.’

Cash for Kids responds to the needs of children in our communities so they can live life to the full and realise their individual potential.

Based across 22 areas in the UK, at the heart of your favourite radio stations, we support children aged 0-18 who are disabled, disadvantaged or suffering from abuse or neglect. For more information visit www.cashforkids.uk.com photography by Diane Thompson

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Hello Lifestyle Readers, I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and no doubt you will be back at work feeling the festive blues. For me the lead-up to Christmas was a busy one with lots of filming and attending events.

For two days the Ricoh Arena in Coventry played host to the 2016 National Painting and Decorating Show and I was thrilled to be able to attend. The venue showcased some of the latest products which professional painters and decorators can expect to find in the future. I was there with WAGNER on their stall where I helped to show case and demonstrate their new, upcoming products.

You may remember in the last blog I detailed how I was working with WAGNER filming a number of videos for the Ideal World shopping channel, well the live filming for these continued at their studio in Peterborough and were a great success.

I travelled to Yeovil in south Somerset where the Silverline Tools HQ is based for a very productive meeting. The fantastic partnership between myself and Silverline continues into the New Year and so the meeting was to discuss a number of exciting projects which are in the pipeline for 2017 – watch this space because I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

The month was not all work and no play however and it was not short of social events, one of the highlights was the exclusive launch party for the quirky restaurant and bar Cosy Club which landed in Liverpool in early December. I love watching Liverpool continue to grow and welcome new and exciting restaurants and bars!

Christmas is about spending time with family and that is exactly what I did. I ate lots – I still feel full! – and I had a great laugh with all of my loved ones. I am feeling really positive about what the future holds for me this year and I can’t wait to share with you all what I have lined up.

If your New Year’s resolution is to get a bit more DIY done around the house then perhaps this month’s DIY tip will be helpful to get the ball rolling.

All the best,

Craig.

Craig Phillips is an ambassador for Checkatrade.com.

If you have a job that’s too big or complicated for you to do yourself, visit the website to find a reviewed, approved and reputable tradesperson

REPAIRING HARDWOOD FLOORING PANELS THAT HAVE COME APART THINGS YOU WILL NEED: • • • • • • • •

Tools Circular saw Strap clamps Hoover Flat head screw driver Materials Glue Coloured wood filler

Repairing existing hardwood floors can save hundreds if not thousands of pounds.

Inspecting your existing solid wood flooring you may find there are a number of defects in the joints with gaps appearing and the tongue and groove joints could be coming apart! Now if this is the case and you don’t take action, you could end up having to take up and replace your entire floor, so remember prevention is always better than a cure.

Start off by clearing out the open joint with an old flat head screw driver and a small powerful hoover.

Now to enable you to clamp and squeeze the tongue and groove floor panels together you are going to have to cut a small accurate line in two areas of the flooring on each side of the room, as close to the skirting boards as possible. The cuts must be made directly were the floor panels already meet, to reduce any visible damage to your flooring.

Fit the clamps in place, apply glue to the opened joints and start to wrench the clamps together until the gap disappears, wipe off any excess glue.

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Remove clamps and fill holes with coloured flexible filler available at all god DIY stores.

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MEETING “I would be great at meeting people if knew what to say” This is a common statement, and yet to be great at meeting people and networking you need to be great at asking questions. People and Businesses are more interested in themselves than they you. So why not work with this truth. Allow people to tell you about what interests them. Let people tell you how great they are by asking them about themselves. Questions can unlock a great conversation.

do however need to practice being confident. The act of walking up to people and saying hello my name is Darren, what’s yours? Can and does give the impression of a confident person. Try it and practice it and be sure to use your own name.

Networking has been a buzz word for growing your business for 30 plus years. Networking truly became a buzz word when people started to make a business from setting up Networking Events and meetings.

Networking as the definition says, is in essence the coming together of individuals for the mutual benefit of all.

When attending a Networking Event be prepared. Be prepared by having a goal, how many people do you want to chat with. Look at the attendance list and decide who want to meet. Be prepared with an answer to the question most commonly asked, “What do you do”. Be prepared by having business cards. Be prepared to move on from someone. Be prepared to make contact quickly after the event with people you meet. Be prepared with open questions. Open questions warrant an explained answer eg. Tell me about your business? Tell me about yourself? Can you explain to me how your business works?

For some people, networking comes really naturally, but others have to work on it. Experts in networking have no end of opportunities to grow their business. I believe great networkers build their network and meet people all the time. Communicating and asking questions is a habit and a habit that’s worth forming, but it does and will take practice.

The best networkers are the ones that ask the best questions and pay a real interest in other people. Some of us have a natural fear of meeting people and uncertainty of what to say. It’s what you ASK not what you say about yourself that is critical to successful networking.

Meeting new people can challenge our comfort zone and by definition can feel uncomfortable, like a duck out of water.

So we have to overcome the FEAR of rejection, FEAR of failure and the FEAR of uncertainty and remind ourselves that most people have the same FEARS. Remembering this can really help.

You don’t have to BE confident to ACT confident you

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The skill of remembering a person’s name can have a real impact, just use their name 3 plus times as you have your opening dialogue to embed their name.

A great tip that I use is to use the acronym when meeting new people FORM = Family, Occupation, Recreation, Message. Asking questions about these 4 key conversational areas can really help the conversation feel natural and follow a comfortable path.

Ask questions, be interested, be clear on your message, challenge your comfort zone, take action and follow up.

If you have any questions reference this article please drop me a line and we can arrange a meeting to discuss.

Darren@dasala.co.uk, @dasaladarren

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