ISSUE 79
MARCH 2019 www.bloommagazine.co.uk
Bloom Bloom Magazine Magazine Belfast Belfast
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CONTENTS Find us
04. Latest News
From Your Area
City East Business Centre, 68-72 Newtownards Road, Belfast, Co. Antrim BT4 1GW
12. Increase your house value
Contact us
15. 130 years in East Belfast
Angela Campbell angela@bloommagazine.co.uk www.bloommagazine.co.uk 07719 104 862
wardens
Watson Property
14. Local expert
Eric Mercer
18. From the Ground up Be Social Bloom Magazine Belfast @bloommag BloomMagBelfast
20. New Business
Designed by: Nuala McIlroy nualamcilroydesign@gmail.com
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Any views expressed within are not necessarily endorsed by Bloom Magazine or WALL 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.
Side Kick
21. Stress Management
Credits
Another World Belfast
Simone Hadfield
23. Events
National Museums NI
NEWS Milkshake Live! Milkshake Monkey’s Musical is on its way to Bangor Children’s favourites Fireman Sam, Noddy and Milkshake Monkey will be singing and dancing their way to Bangor, the only Northern Ireland location on their tour, to put on the most dazzling musical performance families will ever see. The Milkshake Live musical will revolve around Channel 5’s iconic Milkshake Monkey, who needs a little encouragement from his best Milkshake pals when he gets stage fright. The Floogals, Digby Dragon, Nella the Princess Knight, Wissper and Shimmer and Shine will all be taking to the stage with two Milkshake presenters at the McKee Clock Arena in Bangor on Easter Saturday where children will be able to learn the songs and dances with their favourite characters. Milkshake Live! Milkshake Monkey’s Musical will take place at the McKee Clock Outdoor Arena on Saturday 20th April 2019 with performance times at 12 noon and 3.30pm. Each performance lasts approximately 90 minutes with interval. Tickets go on sale on Tuesday 19 March at 9am priced at £5 per ticket, available through www. ticketsource.co.uk/ardsandnorthdown Bangor Visitor Information Centre, Ards Visitor Information Centre and North Down Museum. Milkshake Live! is part of Ards and North Down Borough Council’s wider ‘Big Easter’ event on Saturday 20th April 2019 featuring boat tours, fairy tours, a roller disco, crafts and more. The full programme is available at www.visitardsandnorthdown.com/easter
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BloomMagBelfast
Aly Harte unveils Celebration of Women Collection Acclaimed artist Aly Harte has unveiled her new collection of 12 original artworks to celebrate women. Launched on International Women’s Day, Aly’s collection hangs in the Long Gallery in Parliament Buildings Stormont depicting women she has chosen because they are mothers and have, in some way, inspired her own journey in the ever fraught balance of career and family life. Aly said: “In a world where women find themselves swimming upstream to achieve gender equality - the women in my new collection of 12 portraits have shown me that it is possible to #balanceforbetter and for women to have a place in the home and in the workplace. As a mother, artist, fitness fan and wife, I actively thrive on belonging to a community and that’s why I chose to celebrate the women in my various communities as my subjects when celebrating International Women’s Day with this new collection.” Each woman in the collection represents the various pattern of Aly’s daily life and family – from mothers of her childrens school friends to women she encounters at the gym, women whom she has known since childhood and self employed mums building businesses from burning desires in their own hearts just like herself. “For me, the icing on the cake was the fact that all the women are mothers and each has had their own personal struggle and story to get them to where they are today”, added Aly. Following a private exhibition at Parliament Buildings Stormont, schools and women’s groups will be invited to see the collection at various public locations across Northern Ireland. www.alyharte.com; www.facebook.com/alyharte; www.instagram.com/aly.harte; www.twitter.com/alyharte.
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NEWS
It’s Lights, Camera, Action for Ashfield Actresses Three Year 11 Moving Image Arts pupils from Ashfield Girls’ High School in East Belfast were recently given the opportunity to produce a short film as part of a new project in conjunction with Cinemagic, Hagan Homes and Arts & Business Northern Ireland. Naomi McClurg, Amy Doak and Shannon Gregson worked with the Cinemagic team on all stages of the production from script to directing and sound/lighting and editing as well as Naomi and Shannon having starring acting roles. The theme of the film was ‘Home’ and filming took place at one of the Hagan Homes showhouses in Belfast. Head of Media and Moving Image, Ms Tracy Rossborough said, “This is a fantastic one-off opportunity for our students to gain real life experience of filmmaking under the guidance of professional filmmakers. The students developed new skills in film-making but also improved key skills in communication, team work, working to a deadline and working within budgets. This experience also contributed to their personal development and employability skills as well as equipping them with practical skills which will help them when completing their GCSE coursework. It was also fantastic to see former Ashfield Girls’ pupil Krizzah Policarpio leading some of the training and sharing her expertise. I look forward to seeing their movie, ‘Pancakes and Pyjamas’ in the near future.” Cinemagic and Hagan Homes have been working in partnership over the past 12 months and this is the next phase of the collaboration which also will unite the world of the creative industries with the business world.
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Could YOU foster? ‘My foster carers are great. They’re always there for me…’ Ronan 16
We need ordinary people in the
East Belfast area who have time and space in their lives to care for young people in need.
Call 028 9504 0057
www.adoptionandfostering.hscni.net
NEWS Know A Change maker? Nominations Are Now Open For The Diana Award 2019. Over the last twenty years, we at The Diana Award have been inspired by the countless young Diana Award winners who have taken action in their communities to make a positive difference. Our Award Holders are young campaigners, activists, fundraisers and humanitarians, awarded in memory of Princess Diana for demonstrating the strength and power of young people to change the world. A Co Antrim teenager who helps to raise awareness about domestic violence has been chosen as one of the new faces of the Diana Award. Daniella Timperley (18), from Randalstown, received her Diana Award in November after volunteering at a women’s refuge. She is now joining 11 other outstanding young people for a campaign which will celebrate the initiative’s 20th anniversary. Since 2016, Daniella, has also represented Women’s Aid on the BBC Children in Need Youth Panel and has made two educational films with other young people to raise awareness in schools. Currently preparing for her A-levels at St Louis Grammar School in Ballymena, Daniella hopes to study broadcast production at Queen’s University, Belfast. Holly Gray, who is the community investment manager for British Airways, said: “We are delighted to partner with the Diana Award as they kick off their 20th anniversary year and continue their work in recognising and inspiring the next generation of young leaders. She added: “We are proud to support projects and individuals who make a positive, lasting impact in their communities and are very much looking forward to welcoming the deserving winners on board as they travel to London for the awards ceremony.” Nominations are now open for young people aged 9-25yrs. The deadline is 29 March 2019. Visit www.diana-award.org.uk/nominate today and tell us about the young person you’d like to put forward. What are the Diana Awards: Established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, the Award is given out by the charity of the same name and has the support of both her sons, The Duke of Cambridge and The Duke of Sussex. The Diana Awards recognise exceptional young people who have demonstrated their ability to inspire and mobilise their own generation to service their communities through campaigning, volunteering, fundraising, tackling bullying or overcoming extreme life challenges. Although their causes and backgrounds are varied, what they all have in common is that they are changing their communities and the world as Princess Diana believed they could. Nominations are now open for young people aged 9-25yrs. The deadline is 29 March 2019. Visit www.diana-award.org.uk/nominate today and tell us about the young person you’d like to put forward.
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NEWS
Poetry Jukebox arrives at C.s.lewis square C.S. Lewis Square has a new feature – the Poetry Jukebox. Only 52 jukeboxes exist across global locations and this is Belfast’s second ( the other location is Crescent Arts Centre). The Poetry Jukebox is placed on street locations with the aim of making poetry accessible to all. For the C.S. Lewis Square Poetry Jukebox, the curators Maria McManus and Tade Ipadeola (Nigeria) put out a call for poetry based on the theme, ‘A Deeper Country’ which features in The Chronicles of Narnia by east Belfast-born author C.S. Lewis. Over 100 submissions were received from around the world, but only 20 could be included. The poets featured come from NI, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, England, Germany, US, Australia, Canada, Nigeria and Argentina. The project is supported by Arts Council NI from National Lottery Funds, EastSide Partnership, Belfast City Council and Connswater Community Greenway, and will be in place until 1st April 2019. To find out more, visit @poetryjukebox on Twitter
Avengers Assemble Only one month to go til the long awaited Avengers Infinity War - Part 2 ‘Endgame’, and we are getting excited to see what the next installment from Marvel brings!! Our line up will be attending the special Infinity War double bill and midnight screenings at Movie House Cinemas, with the full line up below......and yes there is a little spoiler in there, can you spot it*? (*No, it’s not the return of Spidey) Book your tickets quick, as this screening will fill up fast. Come along and meet the guys and grab a pic on Wednesday 24th April, 11pm to Midnight, before being one of the first to see the new movie!! What a night we have in store! For all private party, Birthday or corporate and PR event enquiries contact: Superheroesni@hotmail.com Stuart on 07725977492 Or visit our Facebook page at ‘Superheroes N.I’
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SIMPLE STEPS TO INCREASE THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME AS Northern Ireland’s house prices are predicted to keep increasing in 2019, a leading interior designer is urging people to take some simple steps and make the most of the spring trends to increase the value of their home.
of Newtownards said: “If you’re thinking about selling your home, it’s important to consider which of your property’s features might be attractive or not. House prices on one street can vary hugely and small things, for example its interiors, can change how much viewers perceive your home to be worth. There are certain decorative trends that can instantly put potential buyers off, for example heavily textured wallpaper, patterned carpets, artex ceilings, brick fireplaces and wardrobes over the bed, so vendors should consider changing these to make their property more appealing to more people.
With more people putting their house on the market homeowners should be aware of some of the key reasons that could delay the sale of their home and some of the simple steps they can take to maximise the potential sale price. Siobhan McNeilly, Interior Designer from Northern Ireland’s leading independent department store, Wardens
When getting ready to put your house on the market, do your research and find out what can help increase the chances of selling your home or get advice from an interior designer. At Wardens of Newtownards we have experience
www.wardenbros.com
of working with people on modern apartments to period mansions and can help with just the one room or an entire home project. Whether you want to make the most of your living space or maximise the value of your home we can help you adapt your inspired idea into a practical solution,” Siobhan added. The Interior Design team from Wardens of Newtownards have put together their top tips for homeowners to consider when selling their home.
storage baskets or plants and add some contemporary shelving with co-ordinating accessories to bring some life to walls. Pay careful attention to furnishings. Don’t be afraid to mix textured fabrics in neutral schemes. This is a great way to add layers and depth to a scheme without going bold with colour. Don’t overlook the small details. Simple touches like statement console tables, modern light fittings, bespoke chairs and stylish duvet covers can be pleasing to the eye and enable potential buyers to envisage themselves living in the property. An eclectic mix of furnishings from different eras such as antiques in a contemporary setting will bring out the original features of houses and adds warmth to modern spaces. Wardens of Newtownards was established in 1877 and is one of Northern Ireland’s most vibrant independent stores with seven departments and over 50 employees.
Think neutral décor. Good interior design should be based on classic decor, with high-quality products and materials. This spring, there is a resurgence in stone and beige neutrals. We are seeing trends with greens and navy and blush is still a key trend. Clever use of these colours will make your home more inviting to potential buyers. Declutter. Ensure your house is organised and clear of clutter. Whether you are selling your house or want to create a better living environment, decluttering brings a sense of calm. Make better use of space. Look at the rooms in your house. Are you making good use of the space you have? Try moving furniture about, make the most of corner spaces by using stylish
T: 02891 81 2147 E: enquiries@wardenbros.com 45 - 47 High Street, Newtownards BT23 7HS Opening Times: Monday - Friday: 9am - 5pm Saturday: 9am - 5.30pm Sunday: Closed
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This year Watson Property celebrates 130 years as your local family estate agent in East Belfast, and we take a brief look at how estate agency has evolved to become the online market it is today. W.J. Watson began collecting rents in East Belfast in 1889, literally collecting rents, as the firm employed door to door rent collectors, on behalf of private landlords and Castlereagh Rural District Council. The City of Belfast was only born the year earlier in 1888, and was a rapidly growing industrial powerhouse, shipbuilding, weaving and heavy engineering industries drew in an influx of labour from the surrounding counties to Belfast, and all these new residents needed to be housed. Still a family business today, Watson Property is now in its’ fifth generation, something of a record for any business. During the early years of ‘The Troubles’, the only estate agency in the east of the city, W.J. Watson & Son as it was then known, was based on the lower Albertbridge Road, near were The Mount Business Centre now stands. Petrol bombs regularly flew through the air at this interface, and with frequent power cuts in the 70’s, the business sometimes continued by oil lamp in a private house in leafy Cyprus Avenue well away from the mayhem! In more
recent times the popularity of home ownership and the way home movers search for sales and rental property has shifted off the high street to online, and with Northern Ireland property portals PropertyPal.com and PropertyNews.com displaying property listings from all local agents, there is no longer any need to visit individual estate agents to find a new home. Our sales and rentals packages are designed to make the best first online impression of your property, with professional full frame photography as standard and with innovative extras such as 360-degree tours, video presentations, drone footage and floorplans available to enhance your advertising. This is all a far cry from the world of quill pens and accounts ledgers in 1889, our marketing techniques might have changed, but the fundamentals of the business remain the same. It is a people business and we have always found that people prefer to deal with a well-established local family firm. If you are thinking of selling or renting call Watson Property on 028 9050 2845, or visit Watson1889.com
www.Watson1889.com
LOCAL
NEWS
EXPERT
ERIC MERCER OPTICIANS
Latest 3-D Eye Scanning technology Local optician, Eric Mercer, has recently invested in a revolutionary new piece of diagnostic equipment that can detect a number of common eye conditions like glaucoma and macular degeneration. It’s called a 3-D Ocular Coherence Tomography system (3-D OCT). Eric says, “I’m delighted to be able to offer this new service to clients. Our new 3-D OCT is a highly sophisticated, state-of-the-art scanning device. It uses advanced ultrasound technology to create high-definition, 3-D images of the retina at the back of your eyes”. 3-Dimensional imaging While a conventional retinal camera is great for checking the surface of the retina, an OCT scanner goes much further, producing detailed 3-dimensional images of the deeper layers of tissue below the retinal surface. And as Eric explains, “that makes a terrific difference to how confidently we can diagnose, manage and refer patients with all sorts of different eye problems”. Early detection of eye disease 3-D OCT is an invaluable tool for spotting the earliest signs of problems like macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, and vitreous or retinal detachments. And remember, the sooner eye diseases are diagnosed the earlier they can be treated and the better the outcome for you and your sight. Simple procedure Having your eyes scanned with 3-D OCT is a very simple and comfortable procedure. No drops are required, and images are captured quickly in just a few seconds. If you would like to know more about 3-D OCT eye scanning, please don’t hesitate to contact Eric’s practice. Eric and his staff will be happy to explain the procedure to you and show you what OCT images can tell us about your eyes. You can also check out the 3-D OCT page on Eric’s practice website: ericmerceropticians.com
CONTACT ERIC:
448 Woodstock Road Belfast, BT6 9DR. Tel: 028 9058 3030
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For more information check out the practice website at: www.ericmerceropticians.com
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SIDEKICK A NEW SERVICE ASSISTING THE BUSY LIVES OF EAST BELFAST Local businesswoman Beverley Brown has launched a new business to help the busy lives of East Belfast! Bloom caught up with Beverley to find out more about ‘Sidekick’ and what it will do to transform how we manage our precious time. Beverley, what’s the inspiration behind starting your own business? I’ve been on the corporate ladder in London and more recently managing a multi million pound business in Northern Ireland so I know what it’s like to have a personal to do list sometimes longer than my business to do list. The fear is real of missing birthdays, forgetting to collect the dry cleaning and even missing deadlines or keeping up to date with what the competition is doing. I have been giving serious consideration to starting my own business for a long time but I wanted to bring something rewarding to the market. In a world where we can’t buy back time I want actually make a difference to people and add value to businesses and lives by helping manage time.
So what is your business? I joke that I will do anything legal to help you make life easier. My business offers everything from researching a new gadget, to mystery shopping and collecting the dry cleaning, business development and document management, PA services and competitor analysis. I’ll even feed the cats or water the plants when you take the well earned holiday I’ve researched for you!
The business has a quirky name. Sidekick! What’s the meaning behind this? Well we all need a superhero in our life don’t we. We need that one constant who is always there at the other end of the phone, whatsapp message, direct twitter message or email who can drop everything and either solve a problem, restore calm or get things done and Sidekick embodies all of the above. At Bloom we can certainly think of a few things you could help with! We wish you well with your new venture Beverley. If you think Beverley can help restore calm to your busy life, follow her on facebook at www.facebook.com/ SidekickNI; or on twitter at www.twitter. com/sidekick_ni
MY TOP TIPS FOR THE MONTH: • Go Outside - Getting outside is a wonderful way to start lowering stress levels, taking deep breaths, walking and changing our location is one way we can alter our stressed state.
We all experience feelings of stress but thankfully there are things we can do to help keep ourselves calm and bring about a rested, positive mindset. As the spring flowers start to bloom and the days become longer there is hardly a better time to get outside and have some fresh air. We spend so much of our day in our headspace; our mind just chattering away, sometimes spurting out negativity left right and centre, which simply creates more stress.
• Moving - Moving the body is important as when we’re stressed our body holds a lot of tension and we’re often not even aware we’re doing it. We can clench our jaw, tense our shoulders, hunch our posture, and this can all lead to more serious problems further down the line. • Breathing – Deep breathing is one of the fastest ways we can access our parasympathetic nervous system, which is the calming, restful state, opposite to how our body operates when it is stressed and in in fight or flight mode. Deep breathing lowers our heart rate and changes our brain waves allowing us to access the part of the brain that can process our stressors. One breath I love is to inhale for a count of four, hold for a count of four and then exhale for a count of four. Repeat this around 8 times and you should feel a difference in your stress levels and ability to cope. Simone Hadfield Life Coach and Stress Management Therapist hello@simonehadfield.com www.simonehadfield.com
www.simonehadfield.com
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Leonard da Vinci: A Life in Drawing at the Ulster Museum
to Earth from the ISS and is voiced by the astronaut himself.
To mark the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci, twelve of his greatest drawings are on display in an exhibition at the Ulster Museum. Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing is part of a nationwide event by the Royal Collection Trust and features twelve drawings to reflect the full range of the Renaissance master’s ‘s interests – painting, sculpture, architecture, anatomy, engineering, cartography, geology and botany. Famous works exhibited include The Head of St Anne (1510), and The Skull Sectioned (1489).
The exhibition is on display at the museum until Sunday, May 12, 2019. Tim Peake’s spacecraft is free to visit, and Space Descent VR will be available to visitors aged 13 and over for £6. For more information about the exhibition, visit nmni.com.
The exhibition is on display at the Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast, until Monday 6 May 2019, admission is free, for details visit nmni.com Tim Peake’s Spacecraft at the Ulster Transport Museum The spacecraft which transported the UK’s first European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut, Major Tim Peake, to and from the International Space Station (ISS) has landed at the Ulster Transport Museum. Presented by Samsung and the Science Museum Group, The National Tour of Tim Peake’s Spacecraft includes the Soyuz TMA-19M capsule – complete with equipped interior and char marks on its outer body from its re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere – and is displayed along with its 25-metre diameter parachute, and the Sokol KV-2 emergency suit Peake wore during his Principa mission. Accompanying the spacecraft is the unique Space Descent VR experience which places visitors at the heart of Tim Peake’s historic 250-mile return voyage
St Patrick’s Day at the Ulster Folk Museum Celebrate St Patrick’s Day on Sunday 17 March with a festive ‘hooley’ for all the family at the Ulster Folk Museum, Cultra. Enjoy some traditional music and dance performances from musicians and Irish dancers throughout the day. Learn more about a host of traditional crafts from the museum’s team of visitor guides including basket making, tweed weaving, straw rope making and blacksmithing. Food enthusiasts can experience traditional open-hearth baking and sample the very best of Irish cuisine with champ, potato bread and drop scones available to visitors on the day. Normal admission prices apply. For more information visit nmni.com. St Patrick’s Day at the Ulster American Folk Park Celebrate St Patrick’s weekend the timehonoured way with a day out for all the family with traditional music, dance and food to enjoy. Meet an array of costumed characters with traditional crafts to show and taste some good old-fashioned fayre. Enjoy the finest of local traditional music on the quayside, by the emigrant sailing ship the Brig Union, and take your partner for a dance as we celebrate the big day! Normal admission prices apply. For more information visit nmni.com.
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