YOUR TOWN YOUR CHOICE : Issue 38 by INDEPENDENT NEWS LTD.

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Y O U R T O WN YOUR C HOIC E

ISSUE 38

BRINGING POSITIVE NEWS TO POSITIVE PEOPLE

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR VICTORY CITY! Feels great to be British again, doesn't it? ... Cool Britannia is back in fashion and the Union Jack flag is once again an icon to be proud of. The hugely successful Golden Jubilee celebrations prove that flag waving can be fantastic family fun as well as an excuse to indulge in a bit of old fashioned, unashamed patriotic pride. Although it's much more than a simple design label, the union flag has burst into blossom once again and our national flag has become the must-wear style trend of the summer ... Just like you, we want to support those staying true to the red, white and blue! You'll be pleased to know all our regional media groups are unashamedly backing Team Britain throughout the Olympic Games. We hope you will join us in raising a loud cheer in support of our 2012 athletes. Enjoy the spectacle - we're going for Gold!

ISSUE 38

CONTENTS 7

A brief history of pizza

Ryan’s Daughter - Movie Review

Expert bathroom advice

Olympics bring out London’s best

Fast trip to France...

Sherlock Holmes is alive

London’s hidden venues

Cheap travel to the Alps

Flood defences

A feast of summer football

Yours faithfully, YOUR TOWN YOUR CHOICE MAGAZINE OFFICE STUDIO C, 41 EDITH GROVE CHELSEA, LONDON SW10 0LB

Duncan Williams Editor

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0871 2341991 0871 2341992

EDITOR Duncan Williams (Mobile 07960 829 615) E-mail: duncan@inmagazines.co.uk PUBLISHER Independent News Ltd SALES Nacer Dib Jason Courage Louise Hill Andrew Pescud Bev Smart DESIGN Stef Hayes stef@localpublishing.co.uk

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MBA

tailor-made for busy executives THE Portsmouth Business School has re-structured its Executive MBA course to better suit the needs of professional business people in fulltime employment. A week induction session at the start of the academic term is followed by just 16 teaching blocks throughout the two-year course, a UK and European residential and six Master Classes. Students need only be on campus around 20 times over two years and can access all resources remotely.

MBA student Heather Short has nothing but praise for the course

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MBA student Heather Short, who is due to finish the course this April, said: “I know it’s a cliché but the MBA really has been a life-changing experience and one that I wouldn’t have wanted to miss. All the unexpected extras and eye-opening opportunities made the course for me.”

Having previously worked at IBM, Heather was running her own network marketing business, building a small investment into an international network of 700 traders. Despite being the driving-force behind this rapidly developing business she was still keen to do more: “I felt I needed to streamline my ideas, get up-to-date with the world of business again and learn the theory to back up my business experience. The MBA has helped me do exactly that.” To find out more please come along to the next Portsmouth Business School open evening on Tuesday 19 June, which will feature a guest presentation from Will King, the founder and CEO of King of Shaves.

For further details please visit www.port.ac.uk/pbsevents

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CITYLIFE YOURTOWNYOURCHOICE

The dish that conquered the world By our Foodologist favourite Anna Maria Volpi Pizza, the way we know it today, is a derivation from focaccia (from the Latin word for fire), flat bread that has been prepared since antiquity in different forms and garnished with herbs, olives, fat, raisin, honey, and nuts. The word pizza in Italian identifies any type of flat bread or pie-fried or baked. Although youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d find many types of pitas or pizzas around the Mediterranean, it is in Naples that pizza in the form we know it today first emerged, after the tomato appeared on the table in the 1700s. Naples has many records of pizza since around the year 1000; the first mentions call these flat breads laganae, and later they are referred to as picea. In those times, pizzas were dressed with garlic and olive oil, or cheese and anchovies, or small local fish. They were baked on the open fire and sometimes were closed in two, as a book, to form a calzone. In Naples is also where the first pizzerias opened up, with brick woodburning oven, covered with lava stones from the Mount Vesuvius. The chefs of those times ignored pizza because was considered a poor peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s food, but the new combination with the tomato, when it entered the kitchen around the 1770s, must have raised some curiosity, even in the royal palace. Ferdinand I Bourbon, King of Naples, loved the simple food of the people and went to taste the pizzas made in the shop of Antonio Testa. He liked it so much that he wanted pizza to

be included in the menu at the court. He failed after the opposition of his wife, Queen Maria Carolina. His son Ferdinand II also liked all kind of popular food and he loved pizza to the point that he hired Domenico Testa, son of the now famous Antonio, to build a pizza oven in the royal palace of Capodimonte. Pizza became very popular, earning its place in Neapolitan folklore. Simple and economical, it turned into the food for all people, even sold on the streets, as shown in many illustrations of the time. A famous episode extended the popularity of pizza beyond the limits of the city of Naples. It was 1889, and Margherita, queen of Italy, was visiting the city. She was told about pizza and wanted to taste it. A famous cook by the name of Don Raffaele, helped by his wife Donna Rosa, was invited to cook pizza at the royal palace. They prepared three pizzas, typical of that time: one with cheese and basil; one with garlic, oil, and tomato; and one with mozzarella, basil, and tomato. The queen, impressed by the colors of the last pizza, which resembled the national flag, preferred that one. Since then this pizza is known as Pizza Margherita, and Don Raffaele is credited with its invention, even if we know that it already existed for a long time.

At the beginning of the last century, with Italian immigrants, the first pizzerias appeared also in the United States, where pizza has become a mass phenomenon. Yet, even today the best pizza is found in Naples, where it is rigorously made with buffalo mozzarella. Superior pizzas are considered those obtained by moderate variations of the simplest and most popular: Pizza Napoletana with tomato, garlic, oil, and oregano; Pizza Margherita; Pizza Marinara with tomato, anchovies, capers, and olives; and Pizza Four Seasons, divided in four quadrants, each dressed in a different way. Pizza with hot salami, the American pepperoni pizza, is instead found in the Calabria region south of Naples, where this type of hot sausage is produced.

Anna Maria Volpi is a cooking instructor and personal chef. Visit Anna Mariaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website http://www.annamariavolpi.com for step-by-step illustrated traditional Italian recipes for tiramisu, pasta, pizza, lasagna, risotto, gnocchi and much more, articles and food newsletter.

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n, Adultery io ss a P h it w le g n ia Tr A Love e Idiot! g la il V a d n a n io ll e b Re Ryan's Daughter **** 4 Stars (Excellent) "RYAN'S DAUGHTER" is a love story that evolves into a love triangle set in the epic splendor of an isolated village on Ireland's scenic Dingle Peninsula. Like all love triangles, it ends in a disaster that becomes a tragedy. Rosy Ryan (Sarah Miles) seeks to find that certain something that is missing in her life and thinks she finds it when she announces her love for her former schoolteacher, Charles Shaughnessy (Robert Mitchum), who is old enough to be her father. Unfortunately for Rosy, her marriage brings her love but not passion. It is passion she finds when she meets and instantly falls into the arms of Major Randolph Doryan (Christopher Jones), a young British officer assigned to the village. Major Doryan is a World War I hero who ends up in the village as part of the British occupation while the war continues on in Europe. The villagers resent the British presence and will jump at a chance to fight for their freedom. Tim O'Leary (Barry Foster) leads a resistance force that awaits the arrival of German weapons so they can finally arm and defend themselves against the British takeover.

Infidelity The villagers become aware of Rosy's infidelity through the village idiot Michael (John Mills) who is mute and considered a half-wit, but Michael is clever enough to steal away the major's uniform and medal while he is busy making love to Rosy in a secluded island cave. Michael adores Rosy but instinctively knows he has no chance. He feels a kinship with Major Doryan as they both suffer from profound limps. Both the limp and shell shock are from Doryan's war injuries. Tom Ryan (Leo McKern) is Rosy's father and owner of the local pub. He is a big freedom talker who is taken at his word to be a freedom fighter by the rebel leader O'Leary, who leans on him for support in gathering up the German weapons that are dropped off at sea and floating to shore. You just have to see the storm scene, huge waves are crashing against the rocky shore while villagers are scrambling to recover broken boxes of rifles, bullets and dynamite. When the rebels seek to haul off the weapons stash, they are met by British soldiers who have been tipped off by Tom Ryan. O'Leary is shot by Major Doryan and captured while trying to escape. It is assumed he will be hung for leading the rebellion. Once exposed, the villagers consider the unfaithful Rosy to be the "British officer's whore" as well as a disloyal and dishonorable informant when in fact it is her father. Ryan, whose wife has died, has spoiled his daughter growing up, and it is he who is the silent informer for the British that is never exposed, even when he has an opportunity to save his daughter from harm. The villagers become a mob and eventually beat up Rosy's husband Charles, strip Rosy naked and cut off her lovely long hair. This is apparently the ultimate disgrace in an Irish village, being ostracized and then humiliated. Major Doryan ends up on the beach with Michael who has recovered some dynamite. When Doryan realizes his affair with Rosy

is over, he uses the dynamite to commit suicide. Rosy's husband is aware of her adultery but hopes it will run its course, and he will be there when it is over. When he finds he is unable to handle it, he decides to leave Rosy. They both know that they must leave the village and are led out of town by Father Collins (Trevor Howard), the Catholic priest. Director David Lean had to wait a year before a storm dramatic enough appeared on the Atlantic Ocean to film the weapons recovery scene. This turned into a masterpiece of filming by Freddie Young who won an Oscar for his effort.

Spectacular Cinematographer Freddie Young captures the raw beauty of Ireland with its ocean cliffs, green countryside, lazy pastures and hidden forest love nest. Young shot the film entirely in a 65mm widescreen format and in Super Panavision. It was the last such film shot until 22 years later when Ron Howard filmed "Far and Away" in 1992. The storm scene is nothing short of spectacular as well as real. Leo McKern (as Rosy's father Tom) was injured and badly shaken up while filming the storm sequence and nearly drowned. McKern was so upset he vowed never to act again and did not for several years. The film includes a passionate love scene between Major Doryan and Rosy who was partially exposed (pretty hot for a film released in 1970). In addition to Young's Oscar, John Mills won an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor for his role as the mute half-wit. Mills bowed at the Academy Awards ceremony when receiving his Oscar and said nothing in the shortest acceptance speech in Oscar history. Sarah Miles received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress and the film earned another nomination for Best Sound. Mills also won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor. Sarah Miles (Best Actress) and Trevor Howard (Best Supporting Actor) won Golden Globe nominations.

Nominations A lot of critics at the time were not kind to David Lean as director of Ryan's Daughter. Lean was no slouch. He earned two Best Director Oscars for "The Bridge on the River Kwai" and "Lawrence of Arabia". Lean was also nominated for a Best Director Oscar for "Doctor Zhivago" which won 5 Oscars and had 4 other nominations. Robert Bolt wrote Doctor Zhivago as well as Ryan's Daughter and "A Man for All Seasons". Bolt was twice married to Sarah Miles. Lean would outperform his critics. He was voted the 9th greatest film director of all time in the BFI (British Film Institute) "Directors Top Directors" poll in 2002. Ryan's Daughter is a slow developing romance. The film runs for 3 hours and 16 minutes. Like almost all of Lean's films, Ryan's Daughter was hugely popular with moviegoers and movie lovers alike. Ryan's Daughter is a story about relationships and an epic film worth watching or at the very least, seeking out at your local DVD shop.

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When It Comes To Bespoke Bathroom Design Interior Design Experts Can Help You...

Report by Peter Brown

Whilst many people today are uncertain about putting their house on the market due to the difficult real estate climate and general uncertainty about moving from place to place, there are plenty of those who are considering a makeover. After all, if you're not willing to or not ready to move to another building, as such, why not make the place you are currently living in a new experience, instead? You might have been living in this home for quite a long time now without having put any real time and effort into changing its overall look. You'd be amazed at what you are able to achieve if you set your mind to it and don't mind just a little disruption. This is often a very enjoyable and fun activity for the whole family. You can do brainstorming first to see what ideas other family members have and try and incorporate all of these concepts in one way or another. In that way, you can get everyone actively involved and, once again, this will help you all to get through that period of disruption that will inevitably occur. family members may be a little older or infirm, you can get a safety shower unit complete with a seat. In this way, safety can be paramount whilst still paying attention to effective use of the space that you have. By being more creative with the room that you have you could extend the reach of the vanity area, put additional cabinets and storage areas in. Remember that by getting everyone in the family involved you'll be able to see what works best for the family unit and plan accordingly.

You don't have to be traditional anymore

This is just one area that could benefit from the professional input provided by interior design experts who are readily available and willing to come to your aid. By turning to professional interior designers you can benefit from their recent experience, know-how and ability to find virtually instantaneous solutions to some of your more perplexing questions. After all, whilst there's a lot of fun for the family involved in planning, sometimes it can be a little challenging and there is nothing wrong with asking for that piece of advice, when you need it most. -----------------------Increation is an interior design service based in London. For more information visit http://www.increation.co.uk/

Usually, a comprehensive home renovation will include the bathroom and kitchen, which are favourite areas for updates. When it comes to bathroom design a lot has changed in If recent you are years and you'd be amazed at the selection ofnot individual sure an components available to you now. You don't have to be acknowledgtraditional anymore and it's not always necessary to ment lay out this is room in a conventional style. important, listen to Many bathrooms, especially in older homes, are just a little smaller than you would like. Just because it's somewhat diminutive, doesn't mean that you can't "live large" by taking a completely different approach here. For example, did you know that you can get wall-mounted toilets now, where the tank itself is recessed into the wall? You'd be amazed what space this can save just by itself. Also, if you don't really use the conventional bathtub anymore but may need to consider your options as some

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2 1 0 2 n o Lond Olympics

est B s ' n o d n o L ut O g n i r B l l i W A report by D.W. Lee

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London 2012

Olympics

While London always has its doors open for visitors, the Summer Olympics 2012 will have the city's tourism machine in high gear. If you have ever considered England as a vacation destination, this will be the chance of a lifetime to see how adept the Brits are at putting on grand events. So, mark your calendar, get your tickets and pack your bags. Since London is already one of the most visited cities on the planet, organizers are anticipating and preparing for a massive turnout. The British are well known for their attention to detail and there is no doubt that the Olympic venues, accommodations and transportation facilities will impress the multitudes of tourists. Also, hundreds of local establishments will offer special entertainment opportunities.

Special attention will also be given to transportation needs for moving millions of people around the city. The celebrated black cabs will be out in force and the airport, rail and bus systems will be operating at peak capacity. Those who have a chance to visit during the games will certainly experience scenic London at its liveliest. The Summer Olympics 2012 in London promises to be one of the premier sporting extravaganzas of the century. However, the occasion will present a fantastic opportunity for everyone, fans and nonfans alike, as London rolls out the red carpet to visitors from around the world.

Naturally, the center stage will be the mammoth 80,000 seat Olympic Stadium. This is the central location where many of the games will be held, as well as the gala opening and closing ceremonies. In addition, numerous athletic events will take place all around town, giving visitors plenty of opportunities to see a variety of sites in this historic city while taking in the games. London is ideally suited for hosting the games, having plenty of existing facilities available outside the main stadium and many of these spots are notable attractions in themselves. For example, Wembley Stadium will welcome football fans and Wimbledon,of course, will host Olympic tennis. Famous Hyde Park will feature triathlon events, while Earl's Court will lend space for volleyball. Likewise, sightseers will be treated to competitions at the Lord's Cricket Ground, the Royal Artillery Barracks and Regent's Park. Greenwich Park, the Horse Guards Parade and scenic Hadleigh Farm will also provide settings for a variety of events. These are all renowned sites on the lists of regular travelers and will be all the more festive during the games. As anyone who has visited London knows, there are many accommodations options available and these will certainly be ramped up for the games. In addition to hotels that fit nearly any budget, there will be hostels, apartments and houses for rent to give guests a place to lay their heads. YOURTOWNYOURCHOICE

Renewable Energy Resou

No Ene In modern western world the demand for energy has increased dramatically in the past century and it will grow even further and harder in the near future than ever before. The need for energy rises with upcoming markets that also need more energy. Energy is needed for cars, buses, and other means of transportation, but also to run our appliances and provides us light. Energy is also important for our safety. At night or in the dark a lot can be stolen without proper lightning. Energy is therefore needed for our development and safety. The way we use energy today comes from knowledge that has it's foundations in the past century and before. Great men like Newton and Philips have set the path for us today to make proper use of energy. The sources which we use for our energy demand are known as non-renewable energy resources. These sources will be discussed here in the article.

An environmental report by Bryan Wong

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The name energy re recycled o fuels like mined re productio instance).

Fossil fue generate fuels are energy pr power a conversio fuels into

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on-Renewable ergy Resources

e really explains it very well. Non-renewable esources are natural resources that cannot be or re-grown. These natural resources are fossil coal, petroleum, and natural gas. It also includes esources such as the elements used in the n of electricity (uranium and plutonium, for These resources replenish itself in a quicker rate.

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ls are very versatile. One of their functions is to electricity. In order to generate electricity, fossil burned through the process of combustion. The roduced from the combustion process is used to turbine. The turbine is responsible for the n of energy produced from combusted fossil electricity.

as • • Natural g

Natural gas is also used to produce electricity. The electricity is produced through steam turbines and gas turbines. Because the gas contains methane the combustion emits less harmful gasses that have a negative effect on global warming. Thus natural gasses are better for the environment compared to petroleum and coal.

There is also another use for it and that is as fuel for cars. It is much cheaper that gasoline and produces less harmful gasses. The disadvantage of running your car on natural gas is that you need more fuel compared to gasoline and the car needs more maintenance. In countries like Argentina, Brazil, Pakistan, Italy, The Netherlands and India it is used as a fuel for cars.

• Coal •

Coal is one the most used fossil fuels. It is consider too be the most important energy source to produce electricity. The U.S. produces 50% of its energy supply through the combustion of coal. The coal itself is a brownish-black sedimentary rock which contains carbon and other assorted elements. It is extracted from the ground through underground mining or open-pit mining.

• • Crude oil

This fuel is the most talk about for the past year(s). The prices for crude oil have gone through the roof and will be rising even more. The demand is increasing while there is less crude oil available. The term black gold is now more applicable than ever before. The oil itself is very think in consistency and has a dark brown or greenish colour characteristic. It is a complex mixture of different hydrocarbons. Crude oil or petroleum has various uses. It can be used as fuel or cars and different industrial machines. It is also used as a raw material for products like plastics, solvents, fertilisers and pesticides.

Although the need for crude oil is high and the demand is rising the available crude oil is decreasing. That leaves us no other option than to look for alternatives. Non-renewable energy plays a very important role in our daily lives. Non-renewable energy will be needed today and in the future. Because this energy source cannot be recycled or re-grown the reserves are limited. The consequences of the shortages of fossil fuels are experienced today and tomorrow. We will need to use these fossil fuels wisely and will need to shift our focus to other renewable energy source. These are the sources that we need to focus on today and years to come.

...fossil fuels News and current affairs commentary by Lief Schneider.

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A report by Chris Haycock

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For many a literary fan it is fun and exciting to dress up and play the part of one’s favourite character but it seems that no other character is quite as popular as that of a one Sherlock Holmes. His quirky yet intelligent actions in the stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle make him among the top literary characters that are researched and requested today. Even in death, he was a popular character, and the public begged for his resurrection. Doyle finally did give him back to the world and the fans, which would be seen wearing black armbands around their arms in public to mourn for the loss of the popular character. The fans of Sherlock Holmes still play the part, dressing up as various characters in the stories on regular occasions to act out a tale once a week or once a month in a meeting of the fans. Such interest in him is still so common that the museum in his name still sees thousands of visitors each and every year. It is hard to believe that this character has survived for greater than one hundred years due to his fans. He is the immortal detective. He is one that was resurrected from the dead to once again grace the pages of Doyle’s novels and make his fans even more adoring. A society has even been started in his name. Members of this society regularly give updates and offer small tidbits of news for the viewing of the public. People interested in the great and glorious character can easily search the internet to find several topics related to the character or even fan groups and the all mighty Society of Sherlock Holmes. How many other literary characters have been so privileged as to have their fans create their very own society? This writer cannot think of any other than Sherlock Holmes. The fans adore him, the readers are amazed by him, and people still attempt to portray him. Sherlock Holmes is like the Elvis of Europe. He is reputed to still be alive even if only in the minds of those fans who so greatly adore him. He is still commonly portrayed in full dress and fans still try to become him if even for only a few hours. His popularity has never faltered due to this fan base. So, as a reader and a writer, I compare him to “The King” with his crazed but loyal fans and interesting impersonators and Europe or London to the Las Vegas strip where the action is played out day after day after day.

His adoring fan base has probably increased the awareness of his existence much more easily than his creator did in the past and they are also responsible for the great art of enactment of him. It takes a genius to portray the life of a genius. Sherlock Holmes is therefore still alive, even if it is only in memory. He really never died if the decision was up to the fans.

Chris Haycock is an information publisher, one of whose many hobbies includes crime fiction. Early detective fiction in particular. A great favourite is Sherlock Holmes. If you would like to know more about Sherlock Holmes and an excellent offer, why not go now to http://www.sherlockandwatson.com

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London offers plenty of places to hold events

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A report by Ronnie Harper London's hotels, stadiums and racecourses offer conference organisers plenty of places to hold their events. The heart of British urban life offers history, modern style and infrastructure to meet the needs of conference organisers. Since London's conference venues are so diverse, industry groups and companies use the city as a meeting place each year for their conferences. A peek at the various groups that use London to stage their conferences can give other organisations inspiration when planning their events. The medical and pharmaceutical industries in the United Kingdom bring in billions of pounds each year due to the constant demand for medical care. National and international pharmaceutical groups have the resources to reserve conference venues in London with modern amenities and luxurious accommodations. The typical pharmaceutical conference involves presentations on new technologies and drugs by industry experts along with vendor relations with the public. Pharmaceutical conferences allow private healthcare agencies and businesses to acquire the latest technology from medical suppliers, requiring a massive amount of space to facilitate these events. Since drug companies, medical suppliers and other medical businesses are big business in the United Kingdom, these conferences represent a major boon to hotels and other venues each year.

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Another consistent revenue stream for conference venues in London is the constant demand from industry groups for event spaces. Conference venues in London work with industry groups peddling toys, electronics, clothing and home wares to arrange these massive events. Industry group conferences can be insider affairs where vendors and buyers work out retail arrangements for the next year. These conferences can also involve the public by showcasing prototypes, speeches by famed designers and allowing consumers to speak to vendor representatives. While industry group conferences vary greatly in size, conference venues in London can rely on multiple events each year if they offer quality amenities and resources. Human resources departments at major companies and job recruitment firms use conference venues in London to hold job fairs. These fairs allow employers to meet with eager applicants, hold quick interviews and present available jobs to the public. Job fair organisers use conference venues in London because they offer projectors, large ballrooms for separated spaces and enough room for streams of applicants to move comfortably. Each job fair has to be held at a conference venue located close to public transit lines as well as high-traffic areas like universities and office buildings to maximize the impact of the event.

In the same vein as a job fair, book fairs are large undertakings that use the best conference venues in London. Book fairs can be separated into industry events and genre-specific conventions with different requirements from the venue operator. An industry event featuring magazine and book publishers allows authors, freelance writers and book agents to promote their latest projects, hoping to find a home for their artistic expressions. Since publishing industry events can lead to contract signings and negotiations, conference venues with office spaces and private meeting rooms are prized by event organisers. Genre-specific conventions in London allow sci-fi, romance and historical fiction fans to meet their favourite authors in the comforts of a hotel or conference centre. These conventions are more traditional than industry events with simple booths for book signings and a large stage for breakout sessions with authors, agents and industry experts. Commercial organisers are not the only users of conference venues in London. Non-profit organisations, universities and think tanks hold policy conferences at venues in London because it is a central location for minds around north-western Europe. A policy conference's agenda depends on the topic area in question but most events feature paper presentations, keynote speeches by luminaries and panel discussions. Since policy conferences have dynamic agendas with varying space requirements, conference venues have to be flexible enough to change room configurations from hour to hour. Professors, politicians and writers need to have access to computers and presentation equipment to communicate their ideas effectively to attendees. A final group that uses conference venues in London on a regular basis is the country's various political parties and action groups. Labour, Conservatives and other parties in the British political world frequent conference venues in London to gather supporters in a central location. The demands of political parties on hotels, conference centres and stadiums are significantly higher than industry groups due to the organisational requirements for political action. For example, the Labour Party may use a London football stadium to hold a rally for its leader as well as down-ticket candidates who need to mobilize voters. In this scenario, Labour Party organisers may need space for reporters to issue dispatches and booths for British luminaries in support of the party's candidates. Since political parties in the United Kingdom are followed closely, venue operators need to be careful about crowd control as well as ensuring that maximum occupancy laws are followed. Conference Venues in London UK http://www.jigsawconferences.co.uk/ or call +44 (0)800 158 44 00

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" Our teams can guarantee to boost your Newspaper or Magazine advertising sales revenues... Or we promise to buy-in your unsold advertising placements ourselves!" Media Buying Advertising Solutions Brand Building Conferences & Events www.ozonemarketing.co.uk Studio C, 41 Edith Grove, Chelsea, London, SW10 0LB

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We offer leaflet drops, newspaper and mail distribution services at excellent price rates in each of these key UK cities London, Portsmouth, Poole & Plymouth.

Call our regional teams today on 0871

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Cheap Travel to the Alps A report by Jamie Forrest

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INDEPENDENT travel to the Alps is not something to be wary of any more. One of the biggest changes in the ski industry over the last ten years is the shift from tour operators with flights provided, to independent companies and easily arranged transport. It's now estimated that around a third of British skiers and boarders (350,000) are travelling independently, so how's it done?

Your options are fairly simple: Planes, Trains, Auto mobiles... and Buses By Plane: flying to the Alps is still the easiest and cheapest way to do things. Though to get the best deals you must know what you're doing. Luckily for you, now you do! Early Early Early. Book everything as early as possible. Even better, sign up to the airlines newsletters and they will tell you as soon as the new prices are released. This is when you get the £30 flights! - this happens in the summer, normally in July and August for the budget airlines. If you can't commit to booking early, then you can gamble on a last minute package deal. This has good and bad points; As well as some great low prices, it means that you can see where the snow is and hold out for those resorts; but of course your choices will be limited and you may not get the exact type of accommodation you wanted. But hey, that's why its a gamble, and if you know what you're doing and research well, then there's no reason you can't get a great deal. Common sense stuff, weigh your bags beforehand, and check them against the airline's limits. Tie a bit of ribbon or string on your bag so you can identify it, and label every bag. Get to the airport with LOADS of time to spare, at peak season there are massive queues, and airports can be stressful enough as they are, no need to make them worse. By Train: Travelling by train to the Alps doesn't always jump out as peoples first choice, but its a comfortable and quick route if you plan it well, and you entirely miss out all the stress of the airport! France has an excellent high-speed train network called the TGV, these can get from Paris to the mountains in 5 hours, averaging over 170mph! Combine this with the EuroStar, and you can go from London to the Alps in 7 ½ hours, door to door. The prices on French railways are fixed, they don't go up last minute, and you can book a maximum of 3 months in advance. The best route for the Central Alps (Chamonix, St Gervais, Megeve, Verbier, Morzine...) goes direct form Paris to St Gervais train station. There are then connecting trains or buses to the nearby resorts. By Car: With the excellent French motorway system, you can get from Calais to your resort in under 9 hours. The French toll roads will add up to about €100 from Calais to Chamonix or St Gervais, and with a couple of tanks of petrol, the price will add up a bit. But considering you can take your whole family for that price, it's not bad at all. You then also have the option of stopping off on the way, or maybe taking a couple of days over the journey and spending a nice night somewhere en route. -Ferry companies: The most common route is of course Dover to Calais, but don't overlook Dunkirk (Dunquerque in French) or Boulonge as alternative routes that can often provide cheap deals. If you live further West, there are also Crossings from From Poole, Portsmouth, Plymouth, Weymouth, and Newhaven, with many of these crossings having the overnight option which breaks up the journey nicely if you've travelled from too far North. To book a ferry, the best method is to use a price comparison website first, then have a look at the respective ferry company's

website, you may get it cheaper if you book direct. Or why not take the Euro Tunnel, with current offers (at time of print) of £44return. Its a quick and painless journey, you don't get the chance to wander around and get refreshments like on a ferry, but is a very quick crossing, and works out cheap for big groups, as you only pay for the vehicle, it doesn't matter how many passengers you have.

By Bus: Hours and hours on a bus to the Mountains sounds like many peoples idea of hell, but with new luxury coaches, and some great prices, it's really an option worth looking at. Companies now offer an overnight drive, so you sleep through the main chunk of the journey, and arrive in resort in the morning fresh. Prices start from just £94 for a return, or for a little more you can opt for 'Royal Class' for a touch more comfort. There are also Friday departures, so you can get to resort in time to ski on Saturday!

So there are more options than just the standard airport run, I hope I've helped. Jamie Forrest is a passionate skier and chef, who has been running private Catered Chalet Holidays for 8 years. He now runs three in St Gervais sleeping from 4 -10 guests, and offering friendly service and great food. See why 'The Guardian' called him "the sweetest and most devoted chalet host in the Alps" http://www.ski-bliss.com

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Types and benefits of flood defences By Kevin Williams PROTECTING your home or business from flooding is a fairly simple concept. Any objects that adequately block encroaching waters can make good flood defences but some things are more appropriate for the purpose than others. Because floods can occur with little or no warning, the method you use to protect your home should be quick and easy to set up. This is the reason why today's preferred modes of flood protection are so similar to those used a century ago. The first thing that may come to mind when you think of flood protection is the humble sandbag. These simple defences are able to be stored flat and quickly filled as soon as flooding becomes an imminent threat. However, their efficacy is heavily dependent on your ability to find a large amount of sand and possessing the time and manpower needed to get them filled. Fortunately, modern innovation has provided a quicker and easier alternative in the form of an instant sandbag. To use these flood defences, just fill them with water and within a few minutes, you will have an effective flood barrier. Best of all, they will save you precious time and effort and prevent you from having to locate and store a huge mound of sand. This ease of use can be a critical factor when you need to protect your family and property from flooding on short notice. Some kinds of flood protection must be installed prior to flooding, but can easily be taken down and stored once they're no longer needed. For example, door guards can be installed when flooding is expected and can be removed to either for storage or to allow you to pass through the doorway. Using flood protection barriers is another popular way to safeguard your property against flooding. These barriers are usually composed of glass and aluminum and are so lightweight that

only a single person is needed to install them. Besides protecting against flood waters, they also offer considerable defence against hurricanes. Some types of protection barriers are permanent and meant to be installed around businesses. Others are portable and designed for easy installation, removal and storage. There are other methods of flood protection you can use to buy yourself some time until flooding subsides. One of these is flood seal tape, which can be used around vents, doorways, windows and other possible entry points to temporarily stop water from getting in. This can provide you enough time to protect furniture and valuables or to install other flood protection measures. If you're in an area that is frequently threatened by flooding, you may want to consider investing in a toilet seal. Even if your property's exterior is adequately protected from floods, water can still come up through the sewer system and run out of your toilet. Naturally, this creates both a health hazard and an unsightly mess that can ruin your home. Toilet seals prevent sewage and water from flowing up through your toilet, saving you a lot of time and money. For 15 Years Kevin Williams has restored flood damaged properties ranging in size from domestic dwellings to commercial factories.In 2010 He set up Floodsense offering his expertise in Flood Prevention Techniques, Systems and Services.For free E-book, further info on Flood Defences, and professional advice on flood prevention from a leading UK flood protection company, visit http://www.floodsense.co.uk

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EXCLUSIVE

EURO 2012

A FEAST OF SUMMER FOOTBALL EXCLUSIVE

By FRANK WORRALL EURO 2012 begins with the first group game on Friday June 8 and concludes with the final on Sunday 1 July. That first group game sees co-hosts Poland taking on Greece – and, I concede, is hardly the most attractive fixture to get the ball rolling in the tournament. But I would

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add that there WILL be many more games that will be superb and I am really looking forward to it getting underway – as I am sure are all football fans.

It is not being too over-the-top to claim that the European championships are a better event

over the course of four weeks than the World Cup is during a similar period. Sure, the World Cup is more glamorous and colourful – essentially because it includes the wonderful Brazilians! – but there are many group games early on that pit weak teams against the mighty.

Picture by Rob Purbeck

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weekly sport preview In the Euros there are almost no weak teams – the 16 in the finals are almost all teams who could pull off a win against others on their day and that is confirmed by the fact that the last World Cup final saw two European teams doing battle in South Africa … Spain beating Holland to the trophy. Of the 16 teams in the Euros I would argue that only two fall below the level of the rest – the two in that opening fixture, Poland and Greece . At the next lowest level I would put Denmark , Ukraine and the Republic of Ireland . Then you have the Czech Republic , Russia and Sweden . Then it would be Croatia and England hovering at a mid table level – with a top table of Portugal , Italy , France , Germany , Holland and Spain . So how will England and Ireland do, who will win it and what are the best early games to watch?

Undecided

Well, starting with England – I am not the kind of pundit who likes to sit on the fence or hedge his bets…but I must admit I really am unsure how it is going to go for Roy Hodgson and his team. One part of me says they could make the last eight if luck goes their way – the other says they could finish bottom of the group and head home in disgrace. They are truly an unknown quantity because Hodgson is an unknown quantity at this level. As I have said before, he is a recession England manager for these recession times. He is no Harry Redknapp – he is not taking us to Poland and Ukraine with any expectations of success, or even enjoyment, indeed he has done his best to play down any excessive optimism. These are tough economic times and Hodgson mirrors the outside world with his own views. In ambassadorial terms, he is superb – he will never disgrace his country or let things get out of hand as Martin Johnson did with his England team in the last rugby World Cup. But my gut feeling is that Hodgson is not up to it tactically – and that he may well get found out if England do get out of the group and meet one of the big guns. His reliance on 4-4-2 is, frankly, worrying. While most teams are trying to emulate the tic-tac passing movement and speed of Barcelona and Spain , Hodgson is like a dinosaur catapulted from prehistoric times into the modern era. A plodder who will be left dazed and confused by the new world. In the friendly against Norway he had James Milner and Stewart Downing on the wings with Steven Gerrard and Scott Parker in central midfield. Milner and Downing are typical Hodgson players – dour, dull and unimaginative, competent and grafters. They should not be in the team but by relying on 44-2 Hodgson needs these players to keep that

I RECKON THE GERMANS WILL TAKE SOME BEATING shape. If he was a little more tactically flexible, he could go for 4-2-3-1 which would allow a much more flexible, creative midfield with more fluidity and threat up front. I would have Joe Hart in goal, of course, and a back four of Glen Johnson, Gary Cahill, John Terry and Ashley Cole – which I think Hodgson would agree on. But then I would have two holding players in front of them – Scott Parker and either Frank Lampard (if he is not forced to withdraw through injury) or Phil Jones – and a middle three of Steven Gerrard, Mark OxladeChamberlain and Theo Walcott. That middle three gives you creativity and speed and neither Milner nor Downing are needed because of the safety net of the two holding players. Up front is Wayne Rooney from the third game (when his suspension is over) or Andy Carroll or Jermain Defoe or Danny Welbeck for the first two. I applaud Hodgson for taking a gamble on young Oxlade-Chamberlain but I doubt he will use him from the start. Hodgson got it wrong in two particular positions – he should have taken Micah Richards as right full-back and Jordan Henderson should not be anywhere near the squad, not even as a stand-by. He is not good enough – as his debut season at Liverpool highlighted.

My gut feeling is that with Hodgson we have got Mr Reliable who will never win anything but will never cause any controversy either. A sort of modern Howard Wilkinson, if you will. I would love for him to prove me wrong – and you never know! But even to get out of the group is going to take some doing – England’s first match is against the speedy French who have have Ribery, Nasri and Benzema among others, their second is against Sweden (who we usually draw with) and the final one is against Ukraine, who will be playing in front of their own fervent supporters in their own national stadium!

Outcome

So if Hodgson gets us to the next stage, he’s not done too badly. Sorry to be pessimistic and cautious – but Hodgson himself is the king of fanning down flames of hope and has told us not to expect too much (no doubt to cover his own arse as much as anything else!) So who will win the tournament? No sitting on the fence with this one – I reckon the Germans will take some beating. They will have a backbone of players from Bayern Munich who will be determined to win after their Champions League meltdown against Chelsea , backed up by talents such as Ozil and Khedira from Real Madrid. Germany are the ultimate tournament team and I take them to win it. They are strong, confident and powerful, both physically and mentally. I expect to see them collect the trophy in Kiev ’s Olympic Stadium on July 1 – but I also expect a feast of great football over the next month. Sit back in front of the box – and ENJOY!

FRANK WORRALL WeeklySport.co.uk

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