East Belfast Issue 26 • March 2014
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Food • Cookery • Health • Beauty • Local Advice, Your Regular Faves and More! Breaking news on the Sam Thompson Bridge, Slimming World, Belfast Jazz Orchestra & amazing local artists.
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MARCH 2014
BLOOM Contents
m ater seems to have been the
W
businesses who we are sharing with
significant stage is a milestone at the
dominant force over the last
you this month. Once again there
heart of the £35m project, connecting
few weeks in the form of a constant
has been a phenomenal amount
Victoria Park to Airport Road, the
threat of rain from above and Bloom
happening and it can be difficult to
Harbour Estate and Titanic Quarter
readers in tears as they await the next
cram it all in without some overspill
but also opening up access to the 9km
edition. Ha. Funnily enough there are
but we’ve certainly done our best.
Connswater Community Greenway
usually a few tears at the end of the
And speaking of water, probably the
which is currently under construction.
month as we send the mag to printers. biggest news we have this month is Tears of joy, relief and confusion as the opening of the Sam Thompson
Come down for the opening on the 4th April and quite simply, Get Over It!
another edition becomes real. And
Bridge in Victoria Park. We have been All this and more in this month’s jam
we’ve certainly been keeping it real
bringing you regular updates on the
packed edition of Bloom and for those
over the last few weeks uncovering
Connswater Community Greenway in
of you already in flood of tears waiting
some amazing people, projects and
Bloom for a while now and this hugely
for the next one, get over it!
Bloom Magazine Belfast @bloommag Bloom Magazine 308 Albertbridge Road Belfast BT5 4GX www.bloommagazine.co.uk Editorial & Design : Stuart stuart@bloommagazine.co.uk Tel: 07977 144904 Advertising : Angela angela@bloommagazine.co.uk Tel: 07719 104862 Advertising & Accounts : Juanita info@bloommagazine.co.uk Tel: 07725 621642 Printed by Nicholson Bass Distributed by Speedpost NI Any views expressed within are not necessarily endorsed by Bloom Magazine or Newborn Media. Reference to any specific product or service does not constitute or imply its endorsement or recommendation by Bloom Magazine. Links and contacts are provided for user convenience and do not constitute or imply endorsement or recommendation by Bloom Magazine. Any reproduction without permission is prohibited.
4 Local News It’s all the stories that are new to you and us and come in the form of news.
30 cookbook Cook the perfect Ulster Fry with the guidance of St George’s Bar & Grill.
18 HEALTH AND BEAUTY 32 the bridge The Secret Day Spa prepare you for the It’s the big opening of the Sam incoming summer season. Thompson Bridge at Victoria Park.
20 SLIMMING WORLD
36 BELFAST JAZZMATAZ
The local groups are getting behind a brilliant sponsored slim for charity.
It’s the amazing Swing Era Saturday down at Shorts Recreation Club.
22 PHOTOGRAPHY Andrew from Dundela Photo Lab returns with his lense lessons.
38 GIRL LOVES VINTAGE Intrepid vintage explorer Rosie uncovers some Mother’s Day marvels.
26 WHAT’S ON All your events and goings on neatly packaged into one fell swoop. bloommagazine.co.uk 3
Local NewS & Views
Bloom News
Email: stuart@bloommagazine.co.uk Twitter: @bloommag Facebook: Bloom Magazine Belfast Web: bloommagazine.co.uk EAST BELFAST WOMAN WINS £3,000 WITH CENTRA Jackie Thompson from East Belfast won a year’s worth of shopping with centra Holywood! Centra Stores joined with Cool FM and Downtown Radio to offer listeners the chance to win a year’s worth
LOCAL BUSINESS INVESTs IN RENEWABLES
of shopping for 2014. Pete Snodden and store manager, Jonathan Boal, Centra
East Belfast-based ice
substantially reduce the cost
cream manufacturer Riada,
of heating at its Belfast facility
which also supplies desserts,
for the next 20 years through
patisserie and fine foods to NI’s
the Renewable Heat Incentive
centra vouchers. Jackie listened
hospitality industry, has invested (RHI). Brian Hood, Managing Director, BS Holdings said, £50,000 in a revolutionary
celebrity referred to in a Centra
renewable heating solution
“Our team installed a 66kw
brites pellets. A first for the ice
pays for itself in less than 12
cream industry in Northern Ire-
months, and will allow Riada
carbon emissions by 97% and
www.bsholdings.co.uk
Holywood congratulate Jackie on winning £3,000 worth of to cool FM and identified a Tannoy announcement for her
designed by local heat engineer- biomass boiler that along with chance to win. Centra gave away a total of £3,500 cash to ing specialists BS Holdings and the government’s RHI will 10 winners from across NI. ensure that the technology fuelled by locally produced
Congrats to Grosvenor Grammar School’s to get on with delivering for land Riada is reducing its busiMedallion rugby ness overheads and using these their customers in a sustainasquad who sealed ble and cost-effective manner.” increasing green credentials to a 12-3 victory over help them drive new business in For further information on how Coleraine Academical a biomass heating system can 2014. The design and installaInstitution in the benefit your business please tion of the innovative BS Holdfourth round of the ings modularised biomass boiler contact BS Holdings on 2014 Danske Bank 028 9073 2233 or you can system is enabling this busy Ulster Schools’ visit the website ice cream producer to cut its Medallion Shield. 4 bloommagazine.co.uk
Market proves it’s the best!
Barnardo’s is reminding all those successful New Year dieters from East Belfast who are beginning to see the benefits of their new healthy regime that one of the best places to find inexpensive good quality new sized clothes is at their local Barnardo’s stores at Cregagh Road, Kings Square Dundonald and Connswater Retail
St George’s Market has been named the best in the
Park. Barnardo’s Cregagh Road store
United Kingdom. The Victorian facility, which is
manager Julie Greer said: “We are
owned and operated by Belfast City Council, was
seeing a trend of customers who have
awarded the title of ‘Best Large Indoor Market’ at
lost weight on a January diet, but
the annual NABMA (National Association of British
because they’re hoping to lose more
Market Authorities) awards in Birmingham yesterday
weight don’t want to spend a fortune
(Thursday). NABMA is the trade body which
on a whole new wardrobe just yet,
represents 700 local authority operated markets
so they’re visiting Barnardo’s shops
across the UK, and its annual awards are regarded
to stock up on affordable in-between
as the most prestigious in the business. The ‘Best
sizes. We are delighted to be able to
Large Indoor Market’ is one of the most coveted
provide dieters an affordable option
titles, and the 2014 award the most keenly contested
for new clothes. All the items sold
in the history of the competition, with St George’s
are quality checked and the stock
beating off internationally renowned markets such
is rotated on a frequent basis. We
as Billingsgate, Borough and Spitalfields to lift this
are also keen to receive donations
year’s crown. Operating three days a week – Friday,
of clothes which no longer fit the
Saturday and Sunday – St George’s Market is home
successful dieter! All the money
to more than 170 traders, some of whom have been
raised in local Barnardo’s stores
there for several generations, as well as six shop units
goes directly to Barnardo’s NI work
and a restaurant, and sustains 385 jobs. It attracts
supporting local children who are
approximately 600,000 visitors a year, generating
less-advantaged and vulnerable.
an estimated £15 million per annum for the Belfast economy. belfastcity.gov.uk/stgeorgesmarket
facebook.com/BarnardosNI or follow @BarnardosNI
The Mayor of Castlereagh,
charity, Fields of Life. The event
breakfast and lunch. To enter a
Councillor David Drysdale will
tees off at Castlereagh Hills Golf
fourball, contact the Mayor’s
host a charity golf day on Friday
Course at 8.30am with a shotgun
Office on 9049 4502 or email
25th April in aid of his chosen
start. £50 per person including
alisonwilton@castlereagh.gov.uk bloommagazine.co.uk 5
Bloom News
email : stuart@bloommagazine.co.uk
Ballyhackamore knitters get involved in Barnardo’s NI Big Knit for Barney Members of the Ballyhackamore Library Knit and Natter Club have joined forces with Barnardo’s NI to help create a range of unique jumpers for the charity’s Barney Bear. Individual Barneys wearing jumpers with the name of each knitter attached will be raffled later in the year in aid of Barnardo’s NI work with local children. Pictured with bears modeling their knitting creations are (l-r) Michelle Armstrong, Etta Moore, Martha Moore and Margaret Stewart from East Belfast. The team of
knitters worked with Barnardo’s NI to develop a knitting pattern for Barney which will be made available for other library Knit and Natter groups across Northern Ireland. Sarah Crowther from Libraries NI Health in Mind project said:“Knitting and doing good are two fantastic ways to look after your wellbeing. Libraries NI has over 80
knitting groups meeting regularly in libraries across Northern Ireland and we are delighted to bring them together in support of Barnardo’s Barney Bear initiative. It promises to be a truly rewarding experience for everyone involved.“ For further information about Barnardo’s Big Knit for Barney please contact your local library.
NI CONSERVATIVES CANDIDATE EXPRESSES PRIDE Mark Brotherstone: “I’m very proud to have been selected as the NI Conservatives’ candidate for this year’s European Parliamentary election. It’s an exciting challenge. I come from east Belfast originally and my father worked all his life in the shipyard. I now develop the curriculum at Belfast Metropolitan College and I’m a director of Argyle Business Centre, where I specialise in European Projects. I’ve also served my country for more than 25 years as a soldier. Through these experiences, I’ve become convinced politics in Northern Ireland is ripe for change. NI Conservatives are on the centre-right of politics and we’re proudly Northern Irish, but we’re also a full part of the UK Conservative Party. That’s why David Cameron recently addressed a business reception in the Park Avenue hotel in East Belfast, and spelled out his commitment to changing politics here. I think people here are sick of parties which are Orange, Green or something in between. They’re fed up with waste, inaction and division. We believe the focus should be on jobs, health and education instead. Naturally, in this election, European issues are critical. Northern Ireland benefits from the UK’s membership of the EU. However people deserve a bigger say and I’ll be the only candidate in Northern Ireland whose party can deliver a referendum on EU membership to voters. This election can also act as a referendum on whether people in Northern Ireland want more of the same, or whether there is an appetite for real politics, tackling issues and involvement at all levels of government. Wouldn’t it be great if, instead of staying at home, voters used next May’s European Election to give a clear message that they want better politics and change? That’s what I’m offering in my campaign and I hope that as many people in East Belfast as possible will get involved.” 6 bloommagazine.co.uk
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Bloom News
email : stuart@bloommagazine.co.uk
BEDROOM SPECIALISTs FUSION ROBES LTD OFFER BESPOKE STORAGE AND MUCH MUCH MORE!
Fusion Robes Ltd are introducing bedrooms with the widest range of colours, wood effects and design flexibility to Belfast and NI. Their new showroom opened at the end of Oct 2013 and they have already seen a great demand for their new exciting range and choice of Sliding Wardrobes and Walk-In Wardrobes. Sharon and Marcus, the directors of Fusion Robes Ltd, have been preparing for the business for quite some time, carefully seeking out the right products, materials and premises for the business and are delighted with the showroom opening on Castlereagh Road amidst local business, some of whom have been there over 40 years. Sharon says “We plan to live up to the reputation of the area and have a lifelong business presence as long as our neighbours.” Fusion Robes Ltd., were awarded the Belfast agency from Komandor Sliding Wardrobes systems in Sept 2013. Komandor Sliding Wardrobes is possibly the largest Bedroom Furniture Manufacture internationally, they manufacture in 27 factories, employing thousands in their workforce worldwide and supply their products in showrooms to over 30 countries. Originating from Canada, they are now being brought into the centre of East Belfast by Fusion Robes Ltd. Fusion’s newly opened showroom consist of a number of spacious Sliding Wardrobes, with a variety of doors in mirrors, wood effect and coloured glass. All wardrobes are made to order to any size and designed to any requirements, space or budget. Beds, Bedside lockers and Drawer Chests are available to match. Fusion Robes Ltd., are also specialists in WalkIn Wardrobes, whether this be a small unused box room or a specially designed room attached to your bedroom, they can create the storage solutions that’s right for you. So if your bedroom is looking tired and outdated or your moving home and just need new wardrobes, pay a visit to see what Fusion Robes have to offer. 6-8 Castlereagh Road, 028 9008 0068 fusionrobes.co.uk
Bombardier announces $230m order. The Canadian company’s east Belfast factory is responsible for the design and manufacture of the CS300’s wings and over £500m has been invested in it in preparation for
the new plane.Last year, the Prime Minister David Cameron opened a new facility at the plant specifically built for the fabrication of the new components for the plane. The latest announcement, worth $228m,
puts the order book to over 200 for the firm which has also received commitments from potential customers for another 250 planes. While the latest customer has asked not to be identified, it’s thought the order has come from a commercial airline or operator. Seating between 100 and 150 people, it is hoped the new
plane will help the company muscle its way into the smaller aircraft market dominated by industry leaders Airbus and Boeing. The aircraft is currently in the testing stages of development. 8 bloommagazine.co.uk
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Bloom News
email : stuart@bloommagazine.co.uk
Ashfield Girls SCHOOL In Touch with Technology! Anna Spiers, Principal Alison Mungavin
and Hayley Lanyon check out the new app.
A new craft event takes place in Belfast at the Ramada Plaza on Sunday 9th March, when TOTAL STITCH FEST – THE ALTERNATIVE CRAFT SHOW. Brought to you by the creative folks behind Frock Around The Clock, the new event brings together a community that fosters a burgeoning handmade and DIY culture, and will be the perfect place to shop for one-of-a-kind goods made right here in Ireland. The curated marketplace features around 60 designer makers and artisans who combine new and traditional craft techniques to produce fresh, innovative work not found at mainstream craft shows. The marketplace will include suppliers of craft materials as well as many stalls selling a wide variety of high quality, unique handmade products including clothing and fashion accessories, furniture, home décor & soft furnishings, art & photography, jewellery, gifts, toys, artisan foods, bath & beauty products, candles, and much more! 12-5pm on Sunday 9th March.Ramada Plaza, 117 Milltown Road, Shaws Bridge, BT8 7XP. Adm £5. frockaroundtheclockvintagefairs.com facebook.com/frockaroundtheclockvintagefairs 10 bloommagazine.co.uk
School App - Ashfield Girls’ High School in East Belfast has become the first school, locally, to launch its own smart phone app. The app, which is free of charge on iPhone and Android enables parents to stay in touch with school, keep up-to-date with term dates, news and events. Information will now be automatically available on their mobile device. Show My Homework The launch of the new app coincides with the school being the first in N Ireland to pilot Show My Homework - a simple, online homework calendar which allows teachers to set homework in advance and, more importantly, enables parents to monitor which homeworks are being set-and completed! Teachers post homeworks to the school calendar, and to the student’s calendar which appear on the student’s to do list. Once completed, the student can remove them. GCSE Pod Another exciting and innovative initiative which the school has invested in is GCSEPod which consists of over 3,500 audio-visual podcasts to aid learning and revision at GCSE level. This too is accessible on mobile device and tablets as well as PCs and it enables students to create personal podcast playlists to listen to in the run-up to exams or to help with homework. Consistent use in just 10 minute chunks is proven to support achievement right up to A* With the publication of their smart phone app, Show My Homework and GCSEPod, Ashfield Girls’ High School demonstrates that it is confident with the new technology to aid learning and revision-as well as communication-and is encouraging its pupils and parents to be confident too. Principal, Alison Mungavin says, ‘Ashfield Girls constantly seeks to improve learning opportunities for its girls and these new innovations will support both pupils and parents.”
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Bloom News
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A Week of Health Events HELD In East Belfast The Health Development and Connections Programme at East Belfast Community
Development Agency (EBCDA) delivered a
week of health themed events in East Belfast from Monday 3rd to Friday 7th February. The week kicked off with a 1920s themed tea dance at East Belfast Network Centre with music, dancing and some 1920s fancy dress. This was followed on Tuesday by a family health day at Willowfield Church which was supported by parents from Nettlefield Primary School. Lots of local people called in for free health checks, information, Turkish shaves for the men and make up demonstrations for the ladies. Wednesday saw Skainos host EBCDA’s Alternative
Approaches” event which highlighted emotional wellbeing, mental health and suicide. There was a drama performance by Belfast Samaritans and free taster sessions of activities which have been shown to improve emotional wellbeing including craft, yoga, boxercise, gardening, massage and other complementary therapies. This was followed by men’s health event at The Royal British Legion Centre on Montgomery Road on Thursday with
lifestyle advice, healthy hearts information and social activities. The week of events was rounded off with “Feel-good Friday” at Short Strand Community Centre; an event aimed at community workers in East Belfast featuring pampering, healthy eating and quizzes and games. To find out more about the work of EBCDA’s Health Development and Connections Programme visit www.ebcda.org or call 028 9045 1512.
Greenwood House Assessment Centre celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this month having first officially opened its doors to pupils with undiagnosed special education needs, and speech and language disorders in March 1964. The school has always catered for children from all sides of the community making this
landmark even more special. Staff at the school have decided to celebrate their success in style and have been working hard fund raising to enable everyone who has been part of the history of Greenwood House has the
chance to join in the celebrations. Principal Mrs Susan Sterling said: “Many of our pupils and their families have kept in contact over the years, and on the very special occasion of the anniversary of the school, we
would love to meet up again with anyone who has memories of Greenwood House.” The current pupils will
be celebrating with a school birthday party, a children’s theatre production, a circus skills demonstration and a trip to the Folk and Transport Museum. The school will be holding an open evening on 3rd March for all
past pupils and staff to come along to catch up with old friends and staff past and present. Located in Greenwood Avenue, behind Greenwood Primary School, it has been extensively modernised but is still based in
the original Victorian house. So far, the house has been traced back to 1901 by staff, however, they are finding it difficult to gather any information prior to that date and would appreciate if anyone has any information about the history of the building or photographs to please contact the school. 028 9047 1000. 12 bloommagazine.co.uk
A fresh voice, from the council chamber to the cabinet table What we stand for :
■ Fighting for hard-working people .
■ Giving Northern Ireland a voice at the top of UK politics. ■ Creating jobs and enterprise for East Belfast. ■ Saving your money and cutting waste in local government. ■ Combatting segregation and building a shared, stable society. ■ Holding Stormont to account for waste and inaction. ■ Giving people a say on the UK’s membership of the European Union.
How to contact your local East Belfast NI Conservatives’ team Write to us: PO Box 537, Belfast. BT16 1YF Email: To Join:
info@eastbelfastconservatives.com www.eastbelfastconservatives.com
Tel:
07808238714
David Cameron at Park Avenue Hotel.
@EBCA on Twitter East Belfast Conservatives Facebook
Mark Brotherston, prospective Euro candidate and Grant Shapps MP, chairman of the Conservative Party.
Scan me to learn more
Promoted by Owen Polley, on behalf of NI Conservatives, both of 84 High Street, Bangor, Co Down. BT20 5BA.
Bloom News
email : stuart@bloommagazine.co.uk
Happy Birthday Green’s Pizza! Green’s Pizzeria in Ballyhackamore is celebrating its first year of serving fantastic food, fun and
a friendly atmosphere in East Belfast. Plans are underway for the birthday celebrations in late
March so keep an eye on the Facebook page to find out about upcoming special offers and fun family events facebook.com/GreensPizza. Green’s is a real Belfast
is Great at Greens – and it’s a
giving a contemporary energetic
institution and has been
motto they live by. “We believe
feel to the restaurant. And Mr
serving arguably the best pizza
that a meal out in a restaurant
Clark added: “We’re really
in Northern Ireland for 18
shouldn’t just be good – it
pleased with the response from
years from its first restaurant
should always be great. From
the people of East Belfast to the
on the Lisburn Road. It’s well
the food, to the service to
restaurant. We’ve always aimed
known for its signature dish,
the relaxed atmosphere,” Mr
to be a part of the community
the wonderful dragon’s tongue
McConn explained. “We listen
and to serve people meals that
bread and Greens famous salad
to what our customers want
will make them happy.”
dressing. It’s the perfect recipe
and have brought in new types
Greens Pizzeria is located at
for a great night out. Owners
of pizzas and different sauces.”
283-285 Upper Newtownards
Manus McConn and William
The Ballyhackamore restaurant
Road, BT4 3JH.
Clark, who also own Cafe Conor occupies 1300 square feet and seats 50 customers. The walls on Stranmillis Road, always
For more information ring Greens on 028 9065 0600 or
put food and customer service
are adorned with paintings from visit the website
as the top priority. Their ethos
Belfast artist Neil Shawcross,
THE ENGINE ROOM GALLERY : MARCH EXHIBITION Gerry Devlin. Gallery 1: Survey Selected Works 1999 –2012 Gallery 2: New Works 2013/14 Join the preview of Gerry Devlin’s exhibition at The Engine Room Gallery on Thursday 6th March from 7pm to 9.30pm The exhibition continues until Saturday 29th March Tuesday–Saturday 10am to 4pm. 414 Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 1HH. Tel: 02890 455184 engineroomgallerybelfast@btconnect.com
14 bloommagazine.co.uk
www.greenspizza.com.
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Bloom News
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City Centre Exhibition for Local Photographer East Belfast photographer, Michael Kerr, is exhibiting an intriguing series of images in March at The John Hewitt Bar, located in Cathedral Quarter Belfast. ‘My exhibition, The State of Things, is all about looking a little differently at the world on our doorstep’ says Michael. ‘The intricate details of our natural environment never cease to amaze me. Day to day, most of us never notice the complex architecture of a spider’s web or the dense fibres that make up a buttercup, but they’re there! The macro photography I love to do is my response to the scale and spectacle
of the tiniest details around us. In fact, many of the subjects of the exhibition actually hail from my own garden. Macro photography is often very scientific but my focus is always finding a great picture. For me, a successful macro image is about texture, colour and form. It’s about finding the unfamiliar in the everyday. Some of the images in the exhibition are renowned standards of beauty like the
delicate butterfly or the colourful poppy. I hope some, like the spiders and insects I’ve photographed, will challenge people to find beauty in non-traditional places…in the state of things.’ The State of Things exhibition will run from 3rd March until month end. michaelkerrphotography.com facebook.com/ michaelkerrphotography @MKerrPhotos
16 bloommagazine.co.uk
Deirdre Melly, NI Hospice Community Fundraiser preparing for the collection with Ruth Brown, Ballyhackamore Hospice Shop Supervisor.
GET INVOLVED WITH OPERATION PURPLE
Northern Ireland Hospice are holding an ‘Operation Purple’ Collection Day along the Newtownards Road and Ballyhackamore on Friday 14th March between 10am and 6pm to raise much needed funds to continue caring for terminally ill patients and their families, and are looking for enthusiastic locals to get involved. Ballyhackamore restaurants - Greens Pizzeria, Graze, Horatio Todd’s and II Pirata, are getting involved by asking customers to add £1 to their bills on 14th March which will go directly to Northern Ireland Hospice. The charity are also calling on local people to give up an hour of their time to help collect on the day. If you would like to get involved by helping to collect on 14th March, or if you would like more information on fundraising/volunteering opportunities, please contact Deirdre Melly on 07711377328 or email deirdre.melly@nihospice.org.
@ Ballyhackamore
Birthday Celebration!
Greens turns one this month, so celebrate with us by cutting out and presenting this Money-saving Voucher!
£2.50 OFF when you spend £30 £5 OFF when you spend £50 Cut out and present this voucher when ordering. Valid until 31st March, 2014
283/285 Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast
028 9065 0600 www.greenspizza.com
Great at Greens!
@greenspizza
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ALL FORMAL AND EVENING WEAR HALF PRICE Bridal gown/bridesmaids alterations service also available 1a Madison Avenue East, Holywood Road, Belfast, BT4 1PG T: 028 9047 1101/ 028 9065 5479 E: helen.robb@btconnect.com www.belfastbridalwear.com
BY THE EXPERTS
Health & Beauty
30 Belmont Road • 028 9067 1914 • secretdayspa.co.uk
Spring is Here! Warmer weather means it’s time to say goodbye to dark winter beauty looks and embrace a new, fresh makeup routine. Here are the top spring beauty trends you need to switch to:
1.The Cat Came Back The new eyeliner trend for spring is a cat eye shape. Wing out the ends of the eyeliner to make your eyes look bigger. Not only is it easy to apply, but the look can work for daytime and evening.
Youngblood eyeliner £9 Gel liner £16
Think of it as casual glamour.
2.Coral Reef Brighten up your cheeks with a coral shade to keep your skin looking fresh and dewey. The idea is to hide that dull, pale winter complexion until the sun naturally adds colour to your face.
Youngblood crushed mineral eyeshadow £16
3.Think Pink Winter was all about dark reds and deep purples. Spring moves away from those luscious tones and into a bright look: Pink. You can’t go wrong with this colour no matter what the shade. Here’s a tip: Add a Crushed mineral blush - £17
little bit of lip gloss in the middle of your lips on top of your lipstick to tone down the colour and make it more neutral.
4.The Windows to your soul
5.Don’t forget about your nails
Finish your whole look by layering on mascara to make your eyes pop
Loose the rich reds and opt for a paler colours like greens or yellows
Shellac Nails £25
All products available to buy : www.shop.thesecretdayspa.co.uk + free p&p 18 bloommagazine.co.uk
93 Bloomfield Road Belfast BT5 5LS belfast@century21uk.com Dedicated to providing buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants the highest quality of service.
SALE PROPERTIES URGENTLY REQUIRED DUE TO HUGE DEMAND! Fixed price sale fee £850 + vat
Tel: (028)90 763189 £0.00 finders fee for LANDLORDS on managed properties www.century21uk.com/belfast
Local, National, International each office is independently owned and operated
Join Slimming World... ...And slim for good!
A group of big-hearted slimmers from East Belfast are doing their bit for the local community and their own health by taking part in a sponsored slim to raise money for charity.
M
embers from Slimming World groups
Thanks to Slim for Good, members will also be able
across East Belfast, which are held every
to benefit their wider local community by raising
week, are taking part in a national Slim for
funds for their group’s chosen charity. Their weight-
Good campaign running across all 11,000 Slimming
loss will literally become their charity’s gain!” As
World groups in the UK and Ireland. The aim of the
a group of consultants in East Belfast we are also
six-week drive, is to help people to lose weight and
inviting other people in the local community to
improve their health while raising money for a good
join our groups slimmers in their fund-raising bid. If
cause in their local area.
you’ve struggled with your weight for a long time,
Deborah Long, who runs the group in Bloomfield
then making that decision to take control and slim
Presbyterian Church, says the Slim for Good
down can be a big one but hopefully knowing that
campaign will give members of the group an added
every pound you lose will go towards helping a
incentive to achieve their weight-loss dreams. She
good cause and will be a great incentive to make
says: “New Year’s resolutions can often become a
that step. And I would assure anyone who’s thinking
bit of a distant memory by now and the motivation
about losing weight that Slimming World is the
that you might have had at the start of January can
very best way to get started. Not only will you be
begin to dip. If anyone’s feeling that way, I’m hoping
able to follow a simple healthy eating plan that
getting sponsored to slim will give them the lift they
means you’ll never have to go hungry and be able
need. When it’s a cause close to your heart, like
to enjoy hundreds of healthy foods like fruit and
Segal House Nursery (run by mencap) for so many of
veg, pasta, rice, lean meat, fish and more without
us in the Bloomfield group, it’s even more of a push.
weighing, counting and measuring, you’ll also get
We know that making healthy lifestyle changes to
the best support to develop healthy habits for life
the way you eat and your activity levels makes a big
and overcome any potential pitfalls in your journey
difference to you, including improving your health
so you really can lose weight and keep it off for
and confidence, but it also impacts on your family
good. So, by the end of the six-week campaign you
and friends too as they enjoy the ‘new you’ and often
could be nearly a stone lighter and on your way to a
get encouraged to become healthier themselves.
slimmer, happier, healthier you.”
Visit www.slimmingworld.com or telephone Deborah on 07708 373567 20 bloommagazine.co.uk
Sewing ROOM
The
YOUR COMPLETE SEWING SERVICE
ALL GARMENT ALTERATIONS
• Bespoke Curtains • Soft Furnishings • Roman Blinds • Bridal Alterations
Open
Mon, Wed Fri: 9-6 Tues & Thurs: 9-7 Sat: 9-5 Unit 16, Hanwood Business Park, Old Dundonald Rd
Tel: 9048 9642 or Mob 077 0615 6331
SNAP HAPPY
CAPTURING THE BEST IMAGE: LOCAL EXPERT ADVICE Our photographic expert Andrew Foster has covered the importance of backing up and printing your images, and explained why a proper camera will give better results than phones or other mobile devices. This month he shares advice on how to capture the best image.
“
W
hen you get a new digital camera, spend a little time acquainting yourself with its features. It will all have an “AUTO” setting; choose this initially and most of your photos will turn out fine. But learning the different modes will give you more control and ultimately better results. All cameras nowadays have auto-focus and this is fine in most situations. The most important functions can be altered depending on what sort of photo you’re taking are: •SHUTTER SPEED – the shutter opens and closes again (this only takes fractions of a second) to let light through the aperture – the shutter speed determines how long the shutter is open for, which determines how much light gets into the camera to form the image. Shutter speed is expressed in fractions of a second. •APERTURE SIZE – the size of the tiny hole which light reflecting off the subject passes through to get into the camera and form the image. Aperture size will
22 bloommagazine.co.uk
determine your depth of field. Larger aperture, smaller depth of field - the distance between the nearest and farthest objects in the picture which appear in focus. Aperture size is expressed in “F-stops” – the bigger the F-stop, the smaller the aperture. •ISO SETTING – this determines how sensitive the camera is to light – a higher ISO number is more sensitive to light. A lower ISO number means less sensitive to light and will give a smooth, sharp image. Higher ISOs (more sensitive to light) are needed for low light conditions, but will make the image more grainy. Adjusting any of these will change how the photograph comes out, and different permutations of each will be best for different situations. Cameras s do all the thinking for you – there will be different settings for different conditions. The common ones are Landscape, Sports, Portrait and Macro. •LANDSCAPE – (obviously) best for landscape pictures – both foreground and background stay
in focus. Also use this setting for taking pictures through glass to prevent the camera from occasionally locking focus on the glass itself. •SPORTS – captures a fast moving subject without appearing blurred. •PORTRAIT – great for close-up images and will give a softer effect to the background. •MACRO – used for very close up shots such as flowers or insects - allows you to get close to the subject without going out of focus. Have a play about and see how the different settings effect the end result. That’s the great thing about digital cameras – you can delete anything you don’t want. Once you get the shots you want, the best way to make them last forever get them printed “to keep it, print it!” Dundela Photo Lab is in-house at Dundela Pharmacy, 17-19 Belmont Road. From 10p each for 6”x4” prints on 24 hour service. Fast service is also available. If you need any advice, pop into Dundela Photo Lab and ask Andrew!
NOW PRINTING DIRECT FROM ALL PHONES SMART PHONES & TABLETS Dundela Pharmacy Ltd 17-19 Belmont Road BT4 2AA Tel: 9047 2845
FULL DIGITAL SERVICE & STILL PROCESSING FILM!
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KEEPING YOU BUSY
What’s On
Toddler Groups Mondays Sydenham Parent & Toddler
Mon 10-11.30 £1 per family Tea/coffee/juice/toast. Inverary CC BT4 1RN Tel: 028 9047 1456 St Finnians
10-11.30 Cregagh Park, BT6 9LF 028 9079 2793.
Wandsworth Mums & Chums
10-11.45am Wandsworth CC 26a Belmont Church Rd BT4 3FF £1 per family. Calvary Mums & Toddlers.
10.30-12.00am. £1 per family. 100 Dee St, BT4 028 9073 2331
Tuesdays Albertbridge Congregational 10.30-12.15 Woodstock Link Donation £1
CFC Mops & Tots
9.30-11am (term time - alternate Tuesdays) £1 for one child, £1.50 total for more.Tea, coffee, juice and snacks provided.
CFC Mops
9.30-11am (term time - alternate Tuesdays) £3.50 per mum including breakfast and creche provided. 10 Belmont Rd, BT4 2AN Tel: 028 9067 1838 www.thisiscfc.com
Mersey Street Presb. Parents & Toddlers
£1 for adults.Tea/coffee/juice
Strandtown Baptist Tots 10.00- 11.30am (term time) Strandtown Baptist Church, 1 Clonallon Court BT4 2AB Tel: 028 9080 8380 £1 per adult
Tots & Co
10.15- 11.45am (term time) Cregagh Methodist Church £1.50 per family per morning (incl juice/ snack & tea/coffee/snack for the adults. 28-30 Cregagh Rd BT6 9EQ Tel: 028 9045 7564
Wednesdays Busy Bees
10 -11:30am Knock Methodist Church, Knock Road, BT5 6JA Tel: 028 9065 3413
Luncheon Club
For senior citizens. Cregagh Methodist. 12 noon. £1.50. Pre bookm meals at the church office on 028 9045 7564.
Orangefield Baptist Church 37 North Road, BT5 5NE Mothers & Toddlers 10.30-12
smallTALK @ orangefield
10-11.45am O’field Church & Community, 464 Castlereagh Road BT5 Tel: 07745 076911 www.orangefield.org.uk Willowfield Mother & Toddler
10-12pm W’stock Rd, BT6 8PR Tel: 028 9045 7654 office@willowfieldchurch.co.uk
Thursdays Bloomfield Methodist Church
10-11.45am term time Mersey St Pres BT1 1EX Tel: 028 90 657025 aburcombe@gmail.com www.merseystreet.org.uk £1 donation
10-11.30am £1 per family
10am-12 Bloomfield Avenue Tel: 028 9065 2321 www.stdonards.com
Parents & Toddlers. 10-11.30am Upper Newtownards Rd £1 donation www.kirkpatrickmemorial.org
St Donards Church
26 bloommagazine.co.uk
Grand Parade 028 9065 8946.
Cregagh Mums & Tots 10-12pm Cregagh CC Mount Merrion Avenue Tel: 028 9040 1444
Kirkpatrick Memorial Presb
Knock Parent & Toddler 10-11.45am Knock Presbyterian 53 Kings Road, BT5 6JH Gillian 07803 117619. knockpresbyterian.co.uk
Fridays Tots ‘R’ Us
10.30am House of Worship 127a Orby Drive, BT5 6BB Tel: 07791 776307/07980 984506
St Columba’s Mums & Tots 9.45-11.45 (term time) St Columba’s Parish Church 29 Kings Road 028 9065 1412
Events Etc MONDAYS Ballyhackamore Library
1-3 Eastleigh Drive 028 9050 9204 Books R Us 9-11 yr olds reading group (third Mon of month) 3.30-4.30 Knit & Natter (2nd & 4th Mon) 2-4pm Bedtime Stories. 7pm. MeTime (Last Mon) Group for busy women
Bean Blessed
Bloomfield Ave Congregational Church FREE tea/ coffee, scones & pastries. 10.30-12 Everyone welcome.
Harding Memorial
Rainbows girls age 4-7 Monday 6pm, Brownies girls age 7-10 Monday 7pm Guides girls aged 10-14 Mondays 7pm. Contact Clare 07905 556825. Orangefield Baptist
Ladies Coffee Morning. First Monday of each month. 10.30am. All welcome. 37 North Rd. BT5 7NE. 028 9065 7876
Skainos Building skainos.org
Badminton 2-3pm Crosslinks - Cross Community Arts 7-9pm 14-21 yr olds. Contact Andy Hill.
Strand Cinema & NI Stars Holywood Road, BT4 .nistars.com Singling & dancing 7-8pm
for perftehce t gift.
nt onr Couw e Conns at
this
s ’ r e h Mot y Da Mothers Day Sunday 30th March
| Perfume | Flowers | Gifts | Cards |
www.connswater.co.uk
KEEPING YOU BUSY
What’s On
Wandsworth Community 028 9065 1668 Zumba 6-7pm Aerobics 7-8pm Yoga 8.15-9.30pm
Tuesdays Belmont Tower
www.belmont-tower.co.uk Core fitness 9.30am-10.30am Childrens dance classes 4-7pm Zumba Classes 6-7.15pm Pregnancy Yoga 7.30-8.30pm
Skainos Building skainos.org Compass Womens Group 7-9pm Zumba 12.30-1.30pm
Lily’s Bistro
223 Castlereagh Rd. 028 9045 4287 Curry & Quiz Night - First Tues of each month.
Wandsworth Community Kids Irish dancing 4-6.30pm, Aerobics 7.15-8.15pm Tai Chi 8.15-9.30pm
Wednesdays Girls Brigade
Bloomfield Ave Congregational Church Ages 3-7 yrs 6.15 pmAges 8 yrs upwards - 7.30 pm bloomfieldcong@gbni.co.uk All girls welcome.
Over 60’s Lunch Club
Bloomfield Methodist Church 12.30pm. 3 courses for £3. Grand Parade.Tel: 028 9065 2314 to book.
Skainos Bulding skainos.org Compass Kidz Gap - Parents, guardians, toddlers - crafts, games, stories 10am-12 Going Green Gardening 2-4pm Yoga 5.30-7pm
Strand Cinema & NI Stars Holywood Road, BT4 Drama 6-8pm www.nistars.com
Belmont Tower
www.belmont-tower.co.uk Baby massage 10am-1pm Yoga with Eleanor 5.45-7.45pm 39th Old Boys 7-9pm 28 bloommagazine.co.uk
Newbridge Football Club
The club invite 5/6/7 year old boys and girl to play football.Training every Wednesday at Avoniel Leisure Centre 7-8pm. Everyone welcome.
Belcanto School of Singing 10-1pm
Line Dancing
Bloomfield Ave Congregational Church £3 per person.
Skainos Building skainos.org
Sewing Group 10am-12noon Flower Arranging 1.30-3.30pm,Yoga 7-8.30pm
Fusion - Weekly programme of games, crafts & fun for p1-p7’s. 6.30-8pm £1 per person. Contact Tanita Robinson. Free Zumnba tasters 7th &1 4th March 11.30am-12.30pm
Thursdays
Wandsworth Community
Wandsworth Community
Ballyhackamore Library
1-3 Eastleigh Drive 028 9050 9204 Rhythm & Rhyme (first & third Thursdays of the month) 11.15am Book Pack (1st Thur) Adult reading group Game On 6-8pm for games galore
Belmont Tower
www.belmont-tower.co.uk Art classes 10am-1pm Baby Sensory Classes 7-13 mths Thurs 10-11am 0-7 mths Thurs 11.30-12.30 Yoga with Sharon 6-8pm E Belfast Historical Society 13th Mar Newtownards Road Grav Yard
Skainos Building skainos.org
Vibe Academy - Weekly streetdance programme. p1-p4 3.30-4.30pm P5-P7 4.30-5.30pm 1st yr+ 6.45-8pm. £6 per class. Contact Lisa 07736 315420. Compass Mens Group 7-9pm 50+ Gardening & Crafts Thurs 1-2.30pm
Wandsworth Community
Busybees musictime for babies 9.45am10.45am £3.95 per family. Computers for beginners 10am-12 and 1-3pm, Childrens Ju Jitsu 7-8pm Fitness & Boxing Class 8.30-9.30pm
Shiloh Hall
07712 299206, 76 The Mount, BT5 4ND Coffee Morning 10:30-12 Children welcome.
Saturdays Orangefield Baptist Church 37 North Road, BT5 5NE Searchlight Club p1-p7. 10.30-12.
Skainos Building skainos.org
Walking Trips from 10am Ulster Scots Cultural Night 8th Mar 7pm
Strand Cinema & NI Stars
Holywood Road, BT4 Stage school 10-1pm www.nistars.com
Wandsworth Community
028 9065 1668 LA Dance (kids Hip Hop) 5-6pm Aerobics 7-8pm. Core Combat 8.30-10pm
028 9065 1668 Jump Jiggle & Jive 9.30-12.30, Childrens Art Class 10am-11am & Ignite teens dance 1.30-4.30pm
Fridays
Sundays
Albertbridge Congregational
SD Bells-Java Jive Jazz Brunch
6 Woodstock Link 028 9045 7434 Friday Friendship - Everyone is invited for a cuppa and a chat anytime between 10.30am - 12.30pm.
Ballyhackamore Library
1-3 Eastleigh Drive 028 9050 9204 Chill Out Family Story Time. 3.30pm.
Belmont Tower
www.belmont-tower.co.uk
516 Upp N’Ards Rd. 028 9047 1774 - 11am
Strand Cinema & NI Stars Holywood Road, BT4 Singling & dancing 1.30-3.30pm www.nistars.com
stuart@ bloommagazine.co.uk
Order Now for Mother’s Day! 30th March 2014
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259 Castlereagh Road, BT5 5PL 028 9045 4448
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CONTACT ANGELA 07970 404421 angela@bloommagazine.co.uk OR JUANITA ON 07725 621642 info@bloommagazine.co.uk
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Early Bird Menu
Tues-Thurs 5pm-6.30pm Starter & Main Course £12.50 Tuesdays 5pm-9pm Wed-Sat 12pm-3pm & 5pm-9.30pm Sundays 1pm-4pm
221 Upper Newtownards Road Belfast BT4 3JD TEL: 028 9065 6976 for reservations
Bistro Este
THE PERFECT ULSTER FRY! Served up by St Georges Bar and Grill
It’s the meal that made Ulster.
how to cook Ulster’s favourite dish
our door step at St George’s Market.
The traditional fry up that set
by launching an easy-to-follow
You won’t find cut-price sausages,
up millions for a day of hard
guide. Head Chef James Bell
supermarket breads or any second-
work or play. Two fried eggs, the
stresses the importance of using the
rate ingredients. What you will find
all-important lightly browned
right ingredients to get the perfect
is the best Ulster produce, cooked to
potato and soda bread, perfect
end result. He said: “The Ulster Fry
perfection. The real skill in a great
pork sausages, crispy bacon, black
has always been one of our top
end result is cooking the entire meal
and white pudding and a juicy red
selling meals at the restaurant –
in the one pan, thus securing and
tomato– a great start to any day.
and one which we are very proud
sealing the flavour throughout
It’s also the perfect recovery the
to serve. Tourists and locals flock to
the whole cooking process. Timing
morning after an evening of over
us on a Friday and Saturday for an
and preparation is the key — play
indulging in the legendary Ulster
Ulster Fry – and we are continually
around and see how you like your
hospitality. But getting an Ulster
asked for tips on creating the dish,
breakfast and adjust your timing
Fry just right is a very delicate
which is why we have launched
accordingly. So to get your bacon
art. To celebrate their brand new
this easy to follow guide. The secret
crispy, your sausages brown, your
sumptuous brunch menu and
is using the absolute best quality
breads crispy and not dripping in oil
Sunday opening, one of Belfast’s top
products available to us – we have
and your tomatoes firm not soggy,
restaurant’s, St George’s Market Bar
sampled and selected the very best,
follow our guide to mastering the
& Grill, is seeking to teach people
local suppliers all available right on ultimate Ulster Fry.”
St George’s Bar and Grill is nestled in the eaves of one of Belfast’s oldest and most beautiful buildings, St George’s Market featuring high beamed ceilings, discreet booths and outdoor terrace area For menus and bookings visit: www.stgeorgesbargrill.com 30 bloommagazine.co.uk
THE METHOD 1. The Oil We pan fry in cold pressed rape seed oil. It’s clean, taste free, has numerous health benefits and has an extremely high burning point which is important when cooking all of your ingredients in one pan. It is best to place your large heavy based frying pan on a low and slow heat, producing a light sizzle, and above all you do not want your oil spitting. Cook your ingredients thoroughly which takes time.
Don’t flip your bacon too early, wait for the colour to appear on the edges first. Colour = flavour. If you’re after something a bit healthier, grilling it is a good option. Either way, cook it until it’s crispy, but not brown and burnt.
4. Brilliant Breads
plate but also a real contrast in flavour. Tomatoes should always be a little crispy. This will be achieved if you place them alongside your breads and cook for several minutes.
6. Black & White Pudding The Black Pudding is an acquired taste, but the flavour and texture is so rich and interesting. White pudding is very similar to black pudding, but does not include blood. Consequently, it consists of pork meat and fat, suet, bread, and oatmeal formed into the shape of a large sausage and sliced. Pop both your black and white pudding in the pan and continue to cook everything for a couple more minutes – after 2-3 minutes, flip everything over.
We source our sausages, bacon, black and white puddings from local, free-range farm Pheasants Hill – their ethical approach to farming, combined with flavour is second-to-none. Begin with your small drizzle of rapeseed oil in the pan, when it’s hot, place your two sausages in gently, turning occasionally to colour all the way round for a nice even flavour, do this for approximately eight minutes.
The breads are above all what sets the humble fry up apart from the famous Ulster Fry – Perfectly prepared potato bread, made as our grandparents would have in their parlour kitchen and of course the wonderfully sumptuous soda bread. We source our bread from Chrissie, a local baker and stall-holder at the Market who uses oldfashioned, recipes using butter milk, delivered from the local milk man, all hand-made, on her farm on Ballymacashen road in Killinchy. These two are your next ingredients to add, place them in the pan to absorb the wonderful flavours. The soda will soak up the delicious favours and the potato bread will brown on the outside and soften wonderfully the in the middle.
3. Beautiful Bacon
5. Tasty Tomatoes
James concluded: “The beauty of
Bacon is next in the pan. Add two rashers of bacon to the pan – we use thick-cut back bacon, as it’s less fatty than streaky, but everyone has their preferences.
If you can buy them on the vine do so, as they retain their firmness and flavour for longer, and delicious on your plate. A juicy red tomato not only adds colour to your
for breakfast, alunch or dinner.
2. Sizzling Sausages
7. Excellent Eggs After a further 2 minutes cooking, move all the ingredients into a warmed oven, on a warmed plate to keep hot while you quickly clean your pan. You want fresh oil to fry your eggs. Crack two free-range eggs into your pan, pop a lid on to cook the top, voila!
the Ulster Fry is that it can be eaten But while eating one is one of life’s delights, cooking one perfectly is no easy task, which is why we have produced this easy-to-follow guide.” bloommagazine.co.uk 31
Sam Thompson Bridge at Victoria Park...
Get OVER IT
Photography by Jonathan Clark
...Opens on 4 April 2014 - Get Over It! On Friday 4th April the Connswater Community Greenway will officially open the landmark Sam Thompson Bridge. Join in the celebrations and be one of 2014 people to ‘get over it’ anytime between 12noon - 4pm.
T
he opening of this bridge signifies a very important milestone for the £35 million Connswater Community Greenway (CCG). The Sam Thompson Bridge will not only connect Victoria Park to Airport Road, the Harbour Estate and Titanic Quarter but it will also open up access to the 9km Connswater Community Greenway which is currently under construction. The landmark footbridge was named Sam Thompson Bridge after you, the public, were asked to ‘Name the Bridge’ last year. Sam Thompson (19161965) was a local east Belfast shipyard worker and playwright. 32 bloommagazine.co.uk
His plays including ‘Over the Bridge’, cover themes such as school days, neighbourhood friendships, life in the shipyard and the trade union movement. The Connswater Community Greenway is one of only three ‘living landmarks’ in the UK that successfully received funding from the Big Lottery Fund. It is also funded by Belfast City Council, and the Department for Social Development. Some elements of the East Belfast Flood Alleviation Scheme have been integrated into the Greenway project which has been developed by Rivers Agency and is funded by the Department of Agriculture and
Rural Development. We encourage everyone to join in on the celebrations by visiting Victoria Park on the day, crossing the Sam Thompson Bridge; being one of the first to ‘get over it’. There will be lots to see and do in the park including the chance to win some amazing spot prizes! You can access the bridge via Victoria Park or Airport Road. To find out more about the ‘Get Over It’ event visit: •communitygreenway.co.uk/ GetOverIt •facebook.com/ ConnswaterCommunityGreenway •Twitter @ConnswaterCG #GetOverIt
love
Slimming World Join a warm and friendly group today…
MONDAY
GLENBURN CHURCH HALL
Glenburn Methodist Church Hall 6 Glensharragh Gardens, BT6 9PE 5:30pm & 7:30pm Contact: Ann 07889 256259
CASTLEREAGH
The Royal British Legion, Montgomery Road, BT6 9JD 5:30pm & 7:30pm Contact: Esther 07804 095409 THE PAVILION
THURSDAY
BRANIEL PRIMARY SCHOOL
Ravenswood Park, Braniel BT5 7JU 5:30pm & 7:30pm Contact: Ashleigh 07731 420680
Stormont Estate, MORNING GROUPS Dundonald BT4 3TA 10am, 5:30pm & 7:30pm ROSETTA TUESDAY Contact: Iris Knockbreda Methodist CREGAGH 07752 980720 Church, PRESBYTERIAN 60-66 Rosetta Road, 102- 104 Cregagh Road, WEDNESDAY BT6 0LU BT6 9ER BLOOMFIELD 5:30pm & 7:30pm 10:30am PRESBYTERIAN Contact: Kerrie Contact: Esther 447 Beersbridge Road, 07895 668311 07804 095409 Junction of Cyprus Ave, Bloomfield, BT5 5DW DUNDONALD THE PAVILION METHODIST CHURCH 9:30am, 3:30pm, 5:30pm Stormont Estate, & 7:30pm Islay Gdns (off Rank Rd) Dundonald BT4 3TA Contact: Deborah Dundonald 10am 07708 373567 BT16 2WZ Contact: Iris 5:30pm & 7:30pm 07752 980720 GILNAHIRK PRIMARY Contact: Iris SCHOOL 07752 980720 WEDNESDAY 148 Gilnahirk Road, BLOOMFIELD BT5 7QQ TUESDAY PRESBYTERIAN 5:30pm & 7:30pm BALLYHACKAMORE 447 Beersbridge Road, Contact: Ashleigh Bloomfield Collegiate Junction of Cyprus Ave 07731 420680 School, Astoria Gardens Bloomfield BT5 5DW BT5 6HW 9:30am 5:30pm & 7:30pm Contact: Deborah Contact: Sally 07708 373567 07738 713436
scan here or visit the website to read Alix ’ s story
slimmingworld.com 0844 897 8000
save £5 – half
price membership
Just £9.95 on yo ur first night then £4.95 a week. See website for details.
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Big Band Cocktail Club and Dance Workshops
SWING TIME
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Look beyond the façade of the Shorts Recreation Club on the Hollywood Road, and you will find a dance venue, waiting to fill with the sounds of the Swing Era.
ith a nod to its dance hall past, on the 22nd March, the venue will host a ‘Swing Era Saturday’, with afternoon Dance Workshops and an evening ‘Big Band Cocktail Club’, presented by the Belfast Jazz Orchestra and featuring Swing Diva, Caroline Brown. In a special twist to the night, mixologists will serve up amazing cocktails, to match the vintage theme, which will also show case performances from Swing Belfast, and International Showgirl, Missy Fatale. The Belfast Jazz Orchestra have dedicated their 24 year history to the performance and nurture of Big Band Swing and Jazz music. They are guaranteed to have you dancing your socks off, or tapping those toes to a rousing set of timeless classics from the American song book,
36 bloommagazine.co.uk
including the music of Count Basie, Glen Millar, and Duke Ellington. There’s just something about swing music which still strikes a chord today. The melodies, the lyrics, the old Hollywood glamour….all create an appeal which spans generations. The band’s last event, thronged with dancers from 20 to 70 years old, all having the time of their lives, because when the music is this good, age just becomes irrelevant. Swing Dancing is a growing scene in Belfast, with several groups offering weekly classes. Classes are fun, friendly and attended by a wide range of people. With a little patience, many become hooked, and stock their wardrobes with vintage clothing, which they show off at events like the Big Band Cocktail Club. It is a thriving community, which is why Swing
Belfast will host dance workshops on the afternoon of 22nd March. London based Hayley Harvey (Missy Fatale), Swing Dance teacher, and exclusive International Showgirl,will be teaching a series of workshops, on Ladies Burlesque, Solo Jazz and Lindy Hop. Classes will finish at 5.15pm, just in time to pin up those victory rolls, or slick that Bryl cream for the Big Band Cocktail Club opening its doors at 8.30pm until 1am with a late bar).
Big Band Cocktail Club – Tickets, £10 from swingbelfast.com, skiddle. com visit-belfast.com or from at Shorts Recreation Club. facebook.com/BelfastJazzOrchestra Swing Dance Workshops – Start at £10 from skiddle.com, or at Swing Belfast classes. swingbelfast.com or facebook.com/pages/Swing-Belfast
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Mums the Word! If you’re anything like me, you have a sweet and selfless Mum who, no matter what you get her, always says ’you shouldn’t be doing that’ when you buy her a gift! But, like many people, I take my Mum for granted all too often and I enjoy getting her a little something that she will love on Mother’s Day.
A Gardeners delight Having a root though your local charity shops often makes you think outside the box for gifts. It’s simple to order some flowers or buy a box of chocolates, but a charity shop present takes time and thought. On my recent thrifty travels, I popped into the Barnardo’s NI shop at Connswater and found a really pretty hardcover 4-year gardener’s diary for green-fingered Mums. It’s full of beautiful illustrations and room for lots of notes. It Gardener’s diary, 99p from Barnardos NI, Connswater
would be perfect with a selection of bulbs or seeds on Mother’s Day.
OH SEW BEAUTIFUL
Just a hop and a skip down the Newtownards Road is one of my favourite charity shops, Re:Store. It’s always full of treats and treasures and the staff never fail to have time
Selection of vintage sewing items, £1.25 from Re:Store, Newtownards Road
for a chinwag! I picked up some interesting sewing bits and bobs which had previously belonged to a friend of one of the assistants in the shop. With the recent resurgence in sewing, Mums who have a love of needlework will appreciate these useful items and love the fact they’ve been much loved and treasured over the years. Vintage enamel brooch. £1.50 from Re:Store,
BROOCH THE SUBJECT
And while in Re:Store, I also found this vintage enamel brooch. It’s a (welcome) reminder that spring is just around the corner. Even though the enamel is faded in places, it’s merely a nod and a wink to the fact that it has been treasured for years by someone else and is now moving on to another happy home!
Whatever you find for your Mum this Mother’s Day, she will undoubtedly love and appreciate it. And your gift, no matter how large or small, will show her how much you love and appreciate her too! 38 bloommagazine.co.uk
Rosie x
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Terra Firma Tile & Bath Grand Parade Belfast
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