City life issue 39 by Digital Publications

ISSUE 39

2013

& COUNTY LIVING

THE EAST MIDLANDS' PREMIER LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

PROPERTY FOOD & DRINK FASHION & BEAUTY HOME & GARDEN MOTOR TRAVEL OUT & ABOUT WHAT'S ON ESSENTIAL GUIDE CELEBRITY PROFILES Follow us on...

www.citylifemagazine.com

EAST MIDLANDS

104

LONDON HOTSPOT FEATURE Page 36

Features 10 Events Agenda What’s on, in and around the region, in the coming months.

16 Essential Section The latest Films, DVD’s, Cds and GADGETS available.

36 London Hotspots - Feature City Life visit and review some of the hottest venues in London.

48 Autumn Shimmer Women’s Fashion - Metallics are back - add some glitz to your wardrobe.

50 Hair Trends The styles that are setting the trend this season and how to achieve them.

HIPPODROME

52 Black & Dapper Men’s fashion - Its black, its velvet and it is going to be this season’s hottest look.

58 Pain In The Back City Life look at every day factors that could be causing you back pain.

64 Make - Up Marvels New make-up and beauty marvels that you will not be able to live without.

72 Wedding Feature - Popping The Question The stakes couldn’t be higher, 10 commandments to follow to ensure it's a ‘yes’.

DISTRIKT 76 Interior Themes Trends in interior design that are grabbing centre stage in our homes.

104 Our Property Man In Spain Looking for a property abroad, then tour the Costa Blanca with our man in Spain.

106 BMW 3 Series Turismo GT An innovative new concept to the successful BMW 3 Series line-up.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING 6

106 Fiat 500 GQ Limited Edition The Stylish and sophisticated collaboration between Fiat and GQ magazine.

112 The All New Maserati Ghibli

106

Stealing the show is Maserati’s first saloon in the premium E segment.

112

Welcome... Just before the suitcases are packed away and we enjoy our last glimpses of Summer, we are promptly reminded that Christmas is again almost upon us. It’s no wonder the year goes so fast. This year it is not going to take me by surprise though, I am going to be ready! I am going to make all my plans, buy all the presents early and avoid the hectic last minute dash around shops, and be relaxed and stress free throughout December...but who am I kidding! If you are thinking of doing some of your shopping in London, then have a look at our London Hotspots feature. We have been lucky enough to visit and review some of the London’s hottest venues and in this issue we feature five of the best that we recommend you to try. Our fashion pages bring you the new season’s trends. A few years ago, I wouldn’t have considered buying a velvet jacket, but they are one of this Autumn/Winter’s hottest looks. For the ladies, it’s that party favourite, metallic look. Cover image courtesy of Gant

We Have Moved! Our New Location Is City Life Magazine Bridgford Business Centre, 29 Bridgford Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 6AU

We also introduce you to ‘Our Man In Spain.’ Our man is an expert on Spain, he lives there. He’s an expert on buying property in Spain, having bought, sold and developed properties there for many years, and now he is going to pass on that knowledge through City Life, and help you find your perfect home from home in the sun. In the motoring section we look at three new cars on the block, the BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo (GT), the Fiat 500 GQ and my favourite car of the moment, the new Maserati Ghibli. The Maserati, a four door saloon with the looks and engine of an Italian super model, but priced in the executive saloon car price bracket, mmm! Next issue, end of November - ready for Christmas!

Nick Smith Nick Smith, Editor

Our New Contact Details Are

sales@citylifemagazine.com

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

tel: 0115 9373 074 fax: 0115 9243 433

THE ILLUSIONISTS 2 - 3 OCTOBER ROYAL CONCERT HALL The Illusionists launched in January 2012 with a sell out season at Sydney Opera House reaching an audience of 31,000 in nine days, then went on and "wowed" Mexico City with an audience of 42,000 in eight days. The hand-picked cast of internationally renowned illusionists come together create a blockbuster stage show featuring a stunning mix of outrageous and unbelievable illusions many of which have never before been seen. It is now the UKs turn to be encapsulated by these jawdropping acts of levitation, mind-reading, disappearance and escapes. The Illusionists are: Dan Sperry - The Anti Conjurer, Kevin James - The Inventor, Andrew Basso - The Escapologist, Phillip Escoffey - The Mentalist, Mark Kalin - The Gentlemen, Jeff Hobson - The Trickster, Jinger Leigh - The Enchantress "The greatest magical troupe in the world" - Jonathan Ross

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

RICHARD O'BRIEN'S ROCKY HORROR SHOW

7 - 12 OCTOBER CURVE THEATRE Follow squeaky clean sweethearts Brad and Janet on an adventure they'll never forget, with the scandalous Frank N Furter, rippling Rocky and vivacious Magenta. Get ready for a night of fun, frolics and frivolity in this thrilling new 40th Anniversary production of Richard O'Brien's classic original script. Bursting at the seams with timeless classics, including Sweet Transvestite, Damn It Janet and of course, the pelvic thrusting Time Warp, Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror Show is a guaranteed nonstop party! Ready to thrill you with its frothy fun and naughty moments, this is

the boldest bash of them all, so sharpen those stilettos for the rockiest ride of your life! Starring Dani Harmer, Philip Franks and Oliver Thornton as Frank N Furter. Be warned – this show has rude parts!

SIXTIES GOLD 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR 30 OCTOBER ROYAL CONCERT HALL For lovers of Sixties music, this is the ultimate, and probably never to be repeated, line-up. Don't miss your chance to celebrate the 50th anniversary of when it all began. Featuring record breaking Merseybeat band Gerry & The Pacemakers. The second Liverpool band to chart (after The Beatles), but the first to reach No. 1 and the first act ever to top the charts with their first three singles. Also from Liverpool and tipped to be as big as The Beatles, The Searchers' first single also went to No. 1 and led to five more Top 5 hits and a total of 128 weeks in the charts. Controversial, ponytailed P.J. Proby, whose trouser splitting shocked the nation, was a Melody Maker teen idol award winner in 1964 and spent 91 weeks in the charts.The Fortunes stormed the Top 10 with You've Got Your Troubles, Here It Comes Again, Freedom Come Freedom Go and Storm in a Teacup. And finally, Brian Poole and Chip Hawkes. On stage together in what is sure to be The Battle of The Tremeloes.

RUSSELL BRAND 1 - 2 NOVEMBER ROYAL CONCERT HALL Russell Brand Messiah Complex World Tour 2013 EXTRA DATE NOW ON SALE SATURDAY 2 NOVEMBER Messiah Complex is a mental disorder where the sufferer thinks they might be the messiah.

Did Jesus have it? What about Che Guevara, Gandhi, Malcolm X and Hitler? All these men have shaped our lives and influenced the way we think. Their images are used to represent ideas that often do not relate to them at all. Would Gandhi be into apple? Would Che Guevara endorse Madonna? Would Jesus be into Christianity (wow man you're blowin my mind!!). Should we even care what they think considering Gandhi slept with naked girls in his bed, Malcolm X dealt drugs and Che Guevara smelt funny? All great people are flawed, all of us, flawed people are capable of greatness and for every identifiable icon there is an anonymous mob of unrecognised bods doing all the admin and heavy lifting. This show looks at the importance of heroes in this age of atheistic disposability. Plus there's sex. Obviously. Please note: This show is restricted to persons 12 years+

AL MURRAY THE PUB LANDLORD 3 NOVEMBER NOTTINGHAM PLAYHOUSE Main House - Tickets £25.50 Recommended age viewing 14 Broken Britain may be staring into the bottom of an empty pint glass, but don't lose hope – Al Murray The Pub Landlord is back to fill it up again, with a brand new show of epic proportions. This monumental new live stand-up show from the multi-award-winning comedian, follows the nationwide success of the Guv's twice extended Barrel of Fun tour, and is sure to sell-out fast. It's not just a tour…it's a national pep talk; Get your orders in now! Parental discretion advised. Show contains adult themes.

EVENTS

CIRQUE DE SOLEIL ALEGRIA 6 - 10 NOVEMBER CAPITAL FM ARENA Alegría is a classic Cirque du Soleil production that has received international acclaim and wowed over 10 million people worldwide since it premiered in 1994 in Montreal! Alegría is a Spanish word that means happiness, joy and jubilation and features an international cast of 55 performers and musicians from 17 countries and showcases breathtaking acrobatics. This spectacular 2½ hour production showcases gravity-defying acrobatics which will dazzle and astound audiences of all ages. Fans will hold their breath as the skill and poise of the world-renowned performers are put to the test with dramatic acrobatics such as the intense and high-energy Aerial High Bars in which daring aerialists fly to catchers swinging more than 40 feet above the stage. In the rhythmic and dangerous Fire-Knife Dance, artists manipulate flaming knives around their bodies, while Power Track showcases a brilliant display of synchronized choreography and tumbling on a trampoline system magically concealed under the stage floor. In Russian Bars, artists fly through the air and perform spectacular somersaults and mid-air turns, landing on bars perched on the sturdy shoulders of catchers!

DREAMBOATS & PETTICOATS

In 1961 emotions run high as young musicians Norman and Bobby compete to win a national song writing competition and, more importantly, the attention of the gorgeous Sue! But when Bobby discovers that shy Laura is no slouch on the piano, love and rock 'n' roll fame beckons... Dreamboats and Petticoats - the songs will live forever!

CHICAGO 29 NOV - 11 JAN 2014 CURVE THEATRE Seduction, Scandal, Showbiz and all that jazz…This Christmas we are excited to present a fabulous brand new production of the sensational Tony Award-winning musical, Chicago. Set in 1920's Chicago, this sleek, sexy show tells the story of scintillating sinners, Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, their crimes of passion and their outrageous pursuit of fame and celebrity. But murder, adultery and corruption are no match for their manipulative, smooth talking lawyer, Billy Flynn. He'll razzle dazzle us 'til we're begging for more! Chicago is packed with wicked fun and includes some of the best song and dance numbers in musical theatre including; All That Jazz, Cell Block Tango, Nowadays and Razzle Dazzle. Originally created by John Kander, Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, Chicago is a magnificent Broadway and West End Classic. And now this spectacular new production, directed by Paul Kerryson, is set to take Leicester by storm.

THE BIG REUNION 'CHRISTMAS PARTY’ 11 DECEMBER CAPITAL FM ARENA Due to phenomenal demand,The Big Reunion has added an extra date at Capital FM Arena Nottingham which will see 5ive, Atomic Kitten, B*witched, Liberty X, 911 and Honeyz perform in Nottingham on 11 December, 2013. The hit ITV2 show has joined the six chart-topping groups as they reunite a decade after they ruled pop. From oblivion right back onto a stage in front of 3000 screaming fans, viewers and fans have witnessed every step of the journey as the six bands have reformed, rehearsed and returned to the limelight. After a sold out show in February that saw all six bands stun with their veritable pop extravaganza, the mega-tour hit arenas across the UK followed by their second run in December for the ultimate Christmas Party – a celebration to round off a phenomenal year.

PETER PAN 7 DECEMBER - 12 JANUARY THEATRE ROYAL The Theatre Royal Nottingham's pantomime has become an unmissable family tradition and this year the Swashbuckling Adventures of Peter Pan features a stellar line-up with international star David Hasselhoff and children's TV favourite Barney Harwood and Su Pollard, one of the country's best-loved stars of stage and screen, to the Theatre Royal and her home city this Christmas. Peter Pan guarantees a treasure-chest of comedy and seasonal silliness along with stunning flying sequences. You're guaranteed to be hooked by this charming pantomime adventure which has enthralled audiences for decades and is the perfect festive treat for all the family.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

25 - 30 NOVEMBER THEATRE ROYAL Inspired by the smash hit multi-million selling albums Dreamboats And Petticoats One, Two, Three, Four, Five and Six, the West End sell out sensation Dreamboats and Petticoats The Musical features classic tracks from Roy Orbison, The Shadows, Eddie Cochran, Billy Fury, and many more, including Let's Dance, To

Know Him Is To Love Him, Shaking All Over, Bobby's Girl, Little Town Flirt, Only Sixteen, Runaround Sue, Happy Birthday Sweet 16, Let It Be Me, Great Pretender, C'mon Everybody, Let's Twist Again and many more hits from music's golden era!

Out&About with City Life & County Living Magazine

Star Studded Line-up at Charity Celebrity Golf Day The Kudos Celebrity Charity Golf Day in association with Champions (UK) plc took place at Rushcliffe Golf Club. The day welcomed friends of Kudos Financial Services, a long list of celebrity guests and individuals from the East Midlands' businesses to play a round of golf on the excellent course, as well as enjoying an evening of fantastic hospitality. Guaranteeing an exciting day of golf, the huge celebrity guest list included a wide range of famous names from sport and entertainment. In attendance were: England and Lions Rugby legend Neil Back MBE, Peter Shilton OBE, the most capped English footballer in history and winner of two European Cups with Nottingham Forest, Nottinghamshire and West Indies cricketing legend Sir Garfield Sobers as well as many other celebrities and special guests. After a great day of golf, guests spent the evening entertained by the incredible hosting skills of Snooker's Mr Maximum Willie Thorne, music from emerging artist Beth Sherburn, as well as The Fortunes' co-lead vocalist Shel MaCrae and comedy from seasoned performer and comedian Brendan Healy. Kudos are a financial services organisation which is a part of the Mattioli Woods plc group and provides a wide range of financial advice and wealth management services from their offices in London and Scotland. The glamorous event was organised by Champions (UK) plc, the East Midlands based brand agency behind many of the region's most glamorous award ceremonies, corporate events and golf tournaments. The organisation also provides leading creative, marketing, public relations and celebrity management solutions to a wide range of national and international brands.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

In addition to a great day of golf, the event had been organised to raise money for its chosen charity, Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People. The only dedicated facility of its kind, the hospice provides much needed care and support to young people and their families affected by life limiting and life threatening illnesses. Relying almost entirely on generous donation from the public and businesses to continue their work, the money raised at the event will help the charity to continue to offer young people and their families the one to one care they need.

Out&About with City Life & County Living Magazine

A Grand Day Out at The Berkeley Insurance Group Assam Cup The East Midlands' most prestigious business group, the Aspirational Club, held an exclusive VIP event at the Berkeley Insurance Group Assam Cup. Taking place at the Rutland Polo Club on Sunday 30th June. The day was a chance for the businesses involved with the club, such as Bentley, Bentons, Champions (UK) plc, Finesse Hospitality, The Berkeley Insurance Group, Lumbers and St James's Place Wealth Management to meet together and enjoy great hospitality, as well as a chance to build ever stronger business links for the benefit of the East Midlands' strengthening economy.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

The day was attended by a large number of influential individuals from the East Midlands and beyond, including the Duchess of Rutland. Just one of the many exclusive events on the Aspirational Club's annual calendar, the day allowed guests to enjoy all of the polo action as it unfolded, as well as delicious food and a charity auction in aid of Loughborough based children's hospice, Rainbows. The dedicated unit has been created for children and young people with life limiting and life threatening illnesses, ensuring that they receive the support and care that they need.

Films The Hunger Games: Catching Fire The second installment of the Hunger Games follows Katniss Everdeen who has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark. Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a “Victor’s Tour” of the districts. Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) - a competition that could change Panem forever.

CITY LIFE

FAVE

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

Escape Plan

One of the world’s foremost authorities on structural security agrees to take on one last job: breaking out of an ultra-secret, high-tech facility called “The Tomb.” Deceived and wrongly imprisoned, Ray Breslin (Sylvester Stallone) must recruit fellow inmate Emil Rottmayer (Arnold Schwarzenegger) to help devise a daring, nearly impossible plan to escape from the most protected and fortified prison ever built. “Escape Plan” is the first pairing of action legends Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger in leading roles, and co-stars Jim Caviezel, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Vinnie Jones, Vincent D’Onofrio and Amy Ryan.

Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2 After the disastrous food storm in the first film, Flint and his friends are forced to leave the town. Flint accepts the invitation from his idol Chester V to join The Live Corp Company, which has been tasked to clean the island, and where the best inventors in the world create technologies for the betterment of mankind. When Flint discovers that his machine still operates and now creates mutant food beasts like living pickles, hungry tacodiles, shrimpanzees and apple pie-thons, he and his friends must return to save the world.

The Counsellor Legendary filmmaker Ridley Scott and Pulitzer Prize winning author Cormac McCarthy (No Country for Old Men) have joined forces in the motion picture thriller “The Counsellor,” with a star studded cast including Michael Fassbender, Javier Bardem, Brad Pitt, Penélope Cruz, and Cameron Diaz. Set in the Southwest, a respected lawyer (Fassbender), in dire need for cash, thinks he can dip a toe into the drug business without getting sucked down. To get that cash he finds himself dealing with the lowest of the low including Reiner (Javier Bardem) for who he must get rid of $20 million in cocaine.

ESSENTIAL GUIDE

Runner Runner When he loses his tuition money to an online poker website, Princeton grad student, Richie Furst (Justin Timberlake), believing he has been swindled, is desperate to get his money back. After learning where the website is hosted, he travels to the Costa Rica to confront online gaming tycoon Ivan Block (Ben Affleck). Instead of getting his money back and returning to Princeton, Richie is seduced by Block’s promise of immense wealth and is recruited to join the owner as his apprentice. As days pass, the men begin to bicker—but this is not the time to argue. When the FBI tries to coerce Richie to help bring down Block, Richie faces his biggest gamble ever: attempting to outmanoeuvre the two forces closing in on him.

Thor: The Dark World Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel’s Thor and Marvel’s The Avengers, Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos...but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

Saving Mr. Banks

At the age of 21, Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson) discovers he can travel in time... The night after another unsatisfactory New Year party, Tim’s father (Bill Nighy) tells his son that the men in his family have always had the ability to travel through time. Tim can’t change history, but he can change what happens and has happened in his own life-so he decides to make his world a better place... by getting a girlfriend. Sadly, that turns out not to be as easy as you might think. Moving from the Cornwall coast to London to train as a lawyer, Tim finally meets the beautiful but insecure Mary (Rachel McAdams). They fall in love, then an unfortunate timetravel incident means he’s never met her at all. So they meet for the first time again-and again-but finally, after a lot of cunning timetraveling, he wins her heart. Tim then uses his power to create the perfect romantic proposal, to save his wedding from the worst bestman speeches, to save his best friend from professional disaster and to get his pregnant wife to the hospital in time for the birth of their daughter, despite a nasty traffic jam outside Abbey Road. But as his unusual life progresses, Tim finds out that his unique gift can’t save him from the sorrows and ups and downs that affect all families, everywhere. There are great limits to what time travel can achieve, and it can be dangerous too.

When Walt Disney’s (Tom Hanks) daughters begged him to make a movie of their favorite book, P.L. Travers’ “Mary Poppins,” he made them a promise—one that he didn’t realize would take 20 years to keep. In his quest to obtain the rights, Walt comes up against a curmudgeonly, uncompromising writer who has absolutely no intention of letting her beloved magical nanny get mauled by the Hollywood machine. But, as the books stop selling and money grows short, Travers reluctantly agrees to go to Los Angeles to hear Disney’s plans for the adaptation. For those two short weeks in 1961, Walt Disney pulls out all the stops. Armed with imaginative storyboards and chirpy songs from the talented Sherman brothers, Walt launches an all-out onslaught on P.L. Travers, but the prickly author doesn’t budge. He soon begins to watch helplessly as Travers becomes increasingly immovable and the rights begin to move further away from his grasp. It is only when he reaches into his own childhood that Walt discovers the truth about the ghosts that haunt her, and together they set Mary Poppins free to ultimately make one of the most endearing films in cinematic history.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

About Time

DVDs The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby follows would-be writer Nick Carraway as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz and bootleg kings. Chasing his own American Dream, Nick lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby, and across the bay from his cousin, Daisy, and her philandering, blue-blooded husband, Tom Buchanan. It is thus that Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super-rich, their illusions, loves and deceits. As Nick bears witness, within and without the world he inhabits, he pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams and high-octane tragedy, and holds a mirror to our own modern times and struggles.

CITY LIFE

FAVE

The Hobbit

Iron Man 3

Girls Most Likely

This prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy follows Bilbo Baggins, an upstanding member of the “little people,” on the hazardous journey with Gandalf the Grey. Together with 13 fortune-seeking dwarves, Bilbo Baggins will be swept out his door and into a dangerous but grand adventure through the Lonely Mountains, where he must contend against all manner of enemies, from dragons, to giant spiders, hostile elves, ravenous wolves, and - perhaps the most perilous of all - a subterranean creature named Gollum from whom Bilbo wins a magical ring (the ring that rules them all) in a riddling contest!

Marvel Studios’ Iron Man 3 pits brash-butbrilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy’s hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?

Starring Kristen Wiig as Imogene, once a promising young New York playwright now suffering from a crisis of confidence . After being dumped by her society boyfriend, Imogene uses her skill for drama to stage an elaborate fake suicide as an appeal for his sympathy. But her attempt backfires when she’s put into the custody of her estranged gambling addict mother Zelda (Annette Bening), and must return home with her to the Jersey shore. Desperate to get back to her Manhattan circle of socalled friends, Imogene must finally deal with her family, including her unique brother (Christopher Fitzgerald), Zelda’s new boyfriend The Bousche (Matt Dillon), plus a cute young lodger (Darren Criss), who together help Imogene sort out her place in the world.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

The Croods

A prehistoric comedy that centers on the caveman Crug, who cautiously leads his family beyond his comfort zone after an earthquake destroys their home. While attempting to navigate the dangerous and unfamiliar world, Crug butts heads with a nomad, who charms Crug’s clan especially his eldest daughter - with his (relatively) modern-minded ways.

CDs Elton John - DIVING BOARD This new release from Elton John will be one of the most distinguished records of his unparalleled career. The Diving Board is set to be hailed as both a sophisticated new chapter in his unique songbook, and a work of old-school sonic clarity. A return to the piano-bass-drums construction of Elton’s early years, and a celebration of his brilliance not just as a song craftsman but as a world-class pianist, The Diving Board will evoke memories of the groundbreaking albums that established him in the early 1970s. On its release in September, The Diving Board will be available in a 15-track edition on CD, vinyl and download. All of the songs on The Diving Board were written by John and his career-long lyrical collaborator, Bernie Taupin.

CITY LIFE

FAVE

James Blunt – Moon Landing

Katy Perry - Prism

Jason Derulo has announced that “Tattoos,” his third studio album, will be released on Sept 24th. Tattoos is the third studio album by American recording artist Jason Derulo. The album is scheduled for release on September 20, 2013. Derulo wanted the album to be “totally different” from his previous albums and show the growth in his writing and his overall performance. A deluxe edition of the album featuring 3 bonus tracks, is set to be released simultaneously alongside the eleven-track standard edition. The album was also preceded by the release of the lead single, a Joshua “Ammo” Coleman and Martin Johnson production called “The Other Side”, which peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. A second single, The Ricky Reed produced “Talk Dirty” features American hip hop recording artist 2 Chainz, and and is set to be released in the UK on September 15.

The Grammy-nominated singer will release his stratospheric fourth studio album “Moon Landing” on Nov. 5.

Prism is the upcoming fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Katy Perry. The album is scheduled to be released on October 22, 2013 as the follow up to her third album, Teenage Dream (2010). The album is preceded by the release of its lead single, Roar. Several music critics got an early preview of Katy Perry’s upcoming album Prism and most say it is a Grammy magnet masterpiece. The best review calls it the best pop album in years. Katy Perry has been a very popular artist since 2008. However, she has not garnered the critical respect of someone like Adele or Amy Winehouse. However, critics agree that “Prism” will change all that. Katy Perry is expected to hit the road to promote Prism next year.

The exceptional first taste of “Moon Landing” is vintage Blunt. When the Army veteran released “Back to Bedlam” in 2004, it met with universal indifference – until the album’s third single, “You’re Beautiful,” came out. Seventeen million albums and 20 million singles later, Blunt is ready for the next remarkable chapter in his musical story. This is a much more personal album, and also quite back to basics,” commented Blunt. “It’s about me and Tom, the producer, finding where the story all started and where we are now. It’s an album about dreams, longing, first love. Moon Landing is to be Blunt, the artist at his best – a collection of songs that are raw, direct, and emotionally honest. There are songs of searing self-examination (Always Hate Me, The Only One) and unabashed declarations of love (Postcards, Blue On Blue).

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

Jason Derulo – Tattoos

Gadgets

Samsung NX Camera Splicing gadget genes without regard for the consequences, Samsung’s latest experiment is the Galaxy NX, a compact system camera running on Android, with 4G for easy shot-sharing. A 20.3-meg APS-C CMOS sensor with 100-25,600 ISO suggests the possibility of pro-grade shots, and dualchannel Wi-Fi kicks in should 4G or 3G be lacking. There’s also Bluetooth for more local sharing. Essentially a camera that thinks it’s a phone, it’s not to be confused with Samsung’s Galaxy Zoom), which is a phone that thinks it’s a camera.

CITY LIFE

FAVE

Price: TBC

Connected Data Transporter

Creative Airwave

Sonos Playbar

If you like the idea of cloud storage but worry about potential security or privacy issues? Transporter addresses that, with online storage that’s under your complete control. It comes either as a shell to which you add your own storage or with 1TBor 2TB built in. Connect it to the web via Gigabit ethernet and you can back up then view or share your data from any friendly mobile or computer, anywhere on Earth.

Topping the ever-growing Bluetooth speaker mountain this month is a premium chocolate-bar shaped one. It’s got NFC to let you sync with your compatible Android device with a tap, the battery lasts seven hours and support for Apt-X means CDquality audio, while a built-in microphone lets you use it as a Charlie’s Angels-style speakerphone. Tasty.

If you haven’t noticed by now, Sonos has carved a niche in the audio market with its line of wireless speakers and innovative playback solutions. Now the company’s generating some serious buzz over its wireless soundbar. Equipped with nine Class-D amps, which powers six midrange drivers and three tweeters, you don’t have to be an engineer to know this thing blares ridiculously loud noise. The Playbar delivers deep bass without showing any signs of distortion, allowing listeners to take in a rich listening experience. And just imagine, it’s also compatible with Sonos’ deafening Sub and Play:3 speakers.

Price: From £179

Price: £129

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

Asus B1M Projector

Price: £599

How can you make your PowerPoint presentation more impressive? One answer is star wipes, but for even greater classiness, there’s this wireless projector. It collects files straight from your network-connected laptop, tablet or smartphone and turns them into 51-inch images, with its LED light serving up 700 big lumens of brightness and a 1280x800 image resolution, while a 2W speaker provides a certain amount of sound. Are your Luddite colleagues not equipped to go wireless? The inclusion of a USB port and SD card slot means they can still get involved.

Price: £529

Out&About with City Life & County Living Magazine

RSM Tenon Hold Annual East Midlands Golf Day Leading financial services group, RSM Tenon, held their annual client golf day at the iconic Rushcliffe Golf Course, located on the Nottinghamshire border. As ever, the event proved to be a resounding success with a great day of golf, entertainment and fantastic food enjoyed by all who attended. Following a 1pm shot gun start guests, all valued clients of RSM Tenon, took to the course to try their hand at one of Rushcliffe's many challenging and interesting holes. They competed to be crowned the winners of an array of challenges, including the Longest Putt Challenge, Nearest the Pin Challenge and Longest Drive Challenge. There were many exciting prizes available and the added element of competition was a great way to motivate each of the different teams to play their very best golf. To help players to take to the course with confidence, Ryder Cup star Peter Baker was on hand to provide a golf clinic, sharing some of his well-honed expertise to the delight of his audience. The day's activity was followed by a great evening of entertainment and was hosted by Scottish international rugby legend, Doddie Weir, who was on hand to ensure that the evening proved to be hugely enjoyable for all. Peter Baker provided more of his golfing wisdom during an exclusive question and answer session, a rare insight into the professional golfing world. The event was organised by East Midlands based brand agency, Champions (UK) plc, who used their years of event expertise to ensure that RSM Tenon's guests were provided with the very best of golf days, as well as sparkling evening entertainment. The golf day also proved to be a great way to raise money for charity and RSM Tenon selected Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People as the worthy cause for all of the funds generated at the event. Located in Loughborough, the charity provides important care for children and young people with life limiting and life threatening illness. A fantastic ÂŁ1,400 pounds was raised for the charity on the day alone, and provided a great addition to the annual donations received by the charity to ensure that they can continue their vital work for those they care for. A wonderful golf day, excellent entertainment and a much anticipated annual event for clients of RSM Tenon, the golf day was yet another great success for the national firm.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING 21

Natalie Portman Child Star to Hollywood Screen Siren One of the few Screen Child Prodigies who escaped the child star curse to become a major Hollywood star in her twenties.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

Born Natalie Hershlag in Jerusalem, Israel, on June 9, 1981, the only child and her family immigrated to the United States when she was still a toddler; first to Washington D.C. and Connecticut before settling on New York’s Long Island. Portman loved dancing and singing lessons as a child, and was already dreaming of the Broadway stage when she was discovered at age 10 by a modelling scout at a local pizza place. When she expressed her interests in acting rather than modelling, she was put in touch with acting agents and began developing her dramatic skills at theatre camps.

In 1993, she landed her first professional acting job in an off-Broadway musical production. Less than a year later, the 11-year-old was on a plane to Paris to shoot her first feature film. Her star quality and a maturity beyond her age were already evident in Luc Besson’s “The Professional” (1994), where she played an orphan apprenticed to a hit man (Jean Reno) who serves as her mentor, while she serves as his saviour. The auspicious debut won Portman plenty of positive notices, even by those who found the characters’ oddly matched (but platonic) relationship troubling.

Hailed as a child prodigy Natalie Portman dodged the “child star curse” bullet to become a major big screen draw in her twenties.

Even as a teen, Portman’s talent for portraying sensitive old souls reflected her own grounded, emotionally evolved persona, as well as her ability to plan her career and choose roles wisely. She offered a Golden Globe-nominated performance as the level-headed daughter of flighty single mom Susan Sarandon in “Anywhere But Here” (1999), before transforming into a sci-fi pin-up as regal queen Padme Amidala in the “Star Wars” prequel trilogy (1999, 2002, 2005). Her foray into mega blockbuster territory - including “V for Vendetta” (2006) - proved Portman’s screen appeal as an empowered, intelligent and irresistibly cute screen star. Throughout her career Portman has maintained “acclaimed actress” status with a Golden Globe-winning turn in Mike Nichols’ “Closer” (2004) and Oscarwinning performance in Darren Aronofsky’s “Black Swan” (2010), as well as returned regularly to independent films like “Garden State” (2004), where her charm, emotional accessibility and increasing dramatic range made her one of the most bankable young women on the big screen. The remarkably mature performer’s followup was a supporting turn opposite Robert De Niro as the troubled stepdaughter of a career thief in “Heat” (1995), a blockbuster from Michael Mann. While hers was a smaller, less expository role than her debut, it nevertheless confirmed Portman’s natural ability and ease onscreen, with the actress capably evincing her character’s desperate

dysfunction with limited dialogue and screen time. Proving her ability to balance a regular school schedule (where she earned straight A’s) with a blossoming acting career, the following year Portman was afforded more screen time and used it well with her charming turn as a wise-beyondher-years teen who forms a tender (and again, platonic) friendship with a conflicted thirty-something pianist (Timothy Hutton) in Ted Demme’s “Beautiful Girls” (1996). Again, Portman’s embodiment of a tough but sensitive old soul seemed to reflect the actress’ own grounded maturity, a maturity in evidence with the thoughtful way in which she considered the impact of her many film offers on her future, politely declining an explicit remake of “Lolita” (1997) with Adrian Lyne, and passing on “The Ice Storm” (1997) as well. Instead, Portman chose to work with filmmaking legend Woody Allen in his ensemble musical “Everyone Says I Love You” (1996), returning to Paris to shoot a storyline in which she played the daughter of wealthy Manhattanites Alan Alda and Goldie Hawn. The acclaimed film reportedly sparked the film star’s first showbiz romance with co-star Lukas Haas, though the spotlight-shunning teen kept it well-hidden and steered the focus towards her next performance as the bright and collected daughter of a besieged United States president (Jack Nicholson) in Tim Burton’s wacky “Mars Attacks!” (1996).

At age 14, Portman faced the biggest decision of her life up until that time when she was offered a 10-year, three-picture contract to star as Queen Amidala in the forthcoming “Star Wars” prequels.

Aware that the films would place her squarely in the spotlight and forever alter her treasured private life; possibly compromising her desire to attend college or even how she might be pursued in Hollywood after a slightly campy long-term portrait, Portman was up for the challenge of evolving personally and professionally along with the character. At that time, it was a rare actor, indeed, who would have turned down an offer to star in the “Star Wars” prequels perhaps the most highly anticipated films in the history of the medium. After several years of production - most of it acting in front of a green screen or talking to imaginary creatures - Portman hit the screen in “Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace” (1999), playing the wise and responsible teenaged leader and future mother of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. The film event marked the first “Star Wars” offering in over 16 years, and the hi-def landmark drew a staggering $900 million dollars at the box office, even as critics were lukewarm over the script and several of the performances.

Portman opted to skip the film’s Hollywood premiere to study for her final exams, but overall fared well in the over-hyped film’s mixed reviews. In fact, compared to child star Jake Lloyd, the annoying, CGI’d creature Jar Jar Binks, and Lucas himself, Portman was probably the least scathed by the overall apathy of diehard “Star Wars” fans who were beyond disappointed in the prequels. That same year, Portman starred opposite Susan Sarandon in the considerably smaller, character-based Wayne Wang film “Anywhere But Here” (1999), based on Mona Simpson’s novel about a single mother and daughter who move from small town Michigan to Beverly Hills.

Portman earned a Golden Globe nomination for her performance as the more mature, practical-minded of the pair. Despite the acclaim, she made the decision that fall to move her film career to the back burner in order to further her education at Harvard. Her final pre-college film, the offbeat romance “Where the Heart Is,” hit theatres in the spring of 2000, earning Portman a YoungStar Award for Best Young Actress as well as nominations from the Young Artist and Teen Choice Awards for her portrayal of a pregnant teen who makes a new start far from home. The Harvard psychology student managed a stint on the New York stage alongside Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman in Chekhov’s “The Seagull” at the Public Theater, but was absent from theaters until “Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones” (2002).

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

The following year Portman declined a co-starring role as the daughter of rancher Kristin Scott Thomas in the Robert Redforddirected “The Horse Whisperer” (1997), a role that would mark the breakout of Scarlett Johansson. Instead, Portman opted for Broadway and “The Diary of Anne Frank,” where she brought a refreshing humanism to the persecuted World War II Jewish teen as a somewhat disagreeable, silly and vain young girl - a far more interesting characterization than Frank’s saintly reputation as history had created. Portman received positive notices for her Broadway debut, with critics noting her grace as well as her unfettered talent and youthful exuberance.

Meanwhile, Portman attempted to carry out a relatively normal life, commuting from Broadway to her Syosset, Long Island high school, where she wrote a scientific research paper that was entered into the Intel Science Talent Search competition.

The second of three sequels found Portman’s Senator Amidala the target of an assassination plot, and cast her opposite future father of her children - and, unfortunately, the future Darth Vader Hayden Christensen, in a chemistry-impaired match that was not missed by critics nor even the most rudimentary moviegoers. Christensen’s poorly written and delivered declarations of love and teen angst to Portman were painful for viewers to watch. Even Portman could not salvage any sense of reality in a world filled with computergenerated backgrounds and clunky writing. Like the previous outing, character and performance were secondary to visual effects, and this time that spelled fewer ticket sales by several hundred million dollars.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

Portman returned to earth in a supporting turn as a young Civil War widow and mother who has an encounter with a psychologically scarred soldier (Jude Law) in “Cold Mountain” (2003). From that wellreceived offering from filmmaker Anthony Minghella, the freshly minted Harvard grad went on to star in the writing and directing debut of sitcom actor Zach Braff, “Garden State” (2004). With this role, Portman finally put teen roles behind her and offered a vivacious, charming performance as an open-hearted young woman who helps an emotionally-stunted aspiring actor grieve his mother’s death (Braff) and break out of his shell. The hip, fresh, mini-budget indie was a hit at Sundance, earned Best First Feature from the Independent Spirit Awards, and excellent box office receipts in over 30 countries. It also helped to revive Portman’s acting reputation following the derided “Star Wars” films. Further announcing the girl was now a woman, was her offscreen relationship with Oscar-nominated Mexican actor, Gael Garcia Bernal.

Portman earned an Oscar nod of her own in addition to a Golden Globe win for Supporting Actress in Mike Nichols’ oft-brutal battle-of-the-sexes, “Closer” (2004), in which she played a stripper who becomes involved in a messy, flip-flopping quadrangle involving a cheating boyfriend (Jude Law) and another couple (Julia Roberts and Clive Owen). In a much-buzzed-about incident, Portman allowed Nichols to film a brief nude

scene with her character, but after finding the nudity distracting, Nichols replaced the scene with a more discreetly filmed version at her request. Returning to a galaxy far, far away in 2005, Portman provided tragic closure for the prequel trilogy in “Star Wars: Episode III - The Revenge of the Sith” (2005). The actress and her character were not particularly well served by George Lucas’ script, but the film was the best received of the trilogy and topped that year’s box office records. With her high profile contract in the high-profile films behind her, Portman returned her focus to independent films, with a starring role in “Free Zone” (2006) from Israeli director Amos Gitai and an appearance in German filmmaker Tom Twyker’s contribution to the film collection, “Paris Je T’Aime” (2006). Following a starring role as the model and muse of famous Spanish painter Francisco Goya (Javier Bardem) in Milos Forman’s “Goya’s Ghosts” (2006), a baldheaded Portman went mainstream again in the Wachowski brothers’ comic book adaptation, “V for Vendetta” (2006). The dark political thriller was a box office hit, earning Portman a Best Actress honour from the Saturn Awards for her leading role as a heroic woman who plots to overthrow a totalitarian regime. The role also cemented her reputation - along with that of Queen Amidala in years past - as every sci-fi/comic geek’s dream girl. Portman’s follow-up appearance in Wong Kar-Wai’s road dramedy “My Blueberry Nights” (2007) made little impact, while her teaming with Dustin Hoffman as the recipient of a magical toyshop in the family film “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium” (2007) was an extravagant failure. Portman was singled out, however, for the depth she brought to her portrayal of Tudor royal Anne Boleyn in the costume drama “The Other Boleyn Girl” (2007), co-starring Scarlett Johansson and Eric Bana. Portman created her own production company, Handsome Charlie Films, and began building a resume as a producer with the short film “Eve” (2008), which debuted at the Venice Film Festival and starred Lauren Bacall and Olivia Thirlby.

She made her directorial debut with a segment in the film compilation “New York, I Love You” (2009), also starring as a Hasidic diamond broker and bride-to-be in another segment directed by Mira Nair. Portman went on to serve as producer and co-star alongside Rainn Wilson and Joseph GordonLeavitt in the indie film “Hesher” (2009) before starring with Jake Gyllenhaal and Tobey Maguire in “Brothers” (2009). Directed by Jim Sheridan, the drama was a remake of Scandinavian filmmaker Susanne Bier’s film about the results of a soldier’s wartime disappearance on the wife, children and brother he left behind.

In 2010, Portman teamed with Mila Kunis to portray rival dancers in “Black Swan” (2010), a psychological thriller from director Darren Aronofsky. Almost immediately, Portman was touted as a possible front runner for an Academy Award, which later became a reality following an Indie Spirit nod and Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globe wins for Best Actress. At the same time she was enjoying intense critical success culminating in an Oscar nomination, the actress announced she was pregnant and engaged to Benjamin Millepied, a choreographer she had met on the set of “Black Swan.” Her new year was topped with a Best Actress Oscar win, followed by the female lead in the comic book fanboy favourite, “Thor” (2011. In June 2011 Portman gave birth to her first child, Aleph Portman-Millepied. Portman and Millepied wed in August 2012.

FOOD & DRINK

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

NOTTINGHAM POST

INDIAN RESTAURANT

OF THE YEAR 2012 VOTED

Best Indian restaurant In The City! CHRISTMAS MENU £21.95 pp.(VEG £18.95) 3 COURSES INCLUDING POPPADUMS CHRISTMAS EARLY BIRD MENU £18.95 pp.(VEG £15.95) 3 COURSES INCLUDING POPPADUMS

STUDENT BANQUET £13.95 pp. ALSO 15% OFF A LA CARTE MENU

EARLY BIRD BUY ONE MAIN COURSE GET ONE FREE

SENIOR CITIZENS 20% OFF YOUR WHOLE BILL TAKE AWAY 15% OFF YOUR WHOLE BILL Orders over £60 - 20% discount.

Out&About with City Life & County Living Magazine

Spectacular Evening Had by All at An Evening with Sir Ian Botham OBE and Surprise Guest, Sir Garfield Sobers. Hosted at the King Power Stadium in Leicester, Thursday 6th June saw the East Midlands based brand agency, Champions (UK) plc, deliver a truly memorable evening in honour of Sir Ian Botham OBE. Guests were welcomed to the event with a champagne reception and kicked off the night with Sir Garfield Sobers, who spoke about his cricketing career with a short Q&A session from the evening's host, ECB Chairman of Selectors Geoff Miller. Sir Garfield Sobers also gave people the opportunity to discuss who was the greatest cricketing all rounder of all time. The annual charity cricket dinner was a huge success and everyone who attended thoroughly enjoyed the evening's fantastic entertainment. The evening was a great opportunity to raise vital funds for the chosen charity; Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People. Guests also took part in a game of charity bingo, playing for the chance to win a stunning Gucci necklace, kindly donated by Lumbers; Leicester's most exclusive Jewellers and the prize and was presented to the lucky winner by Managing Director Dominic Gomersall.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

Guests had the exclusive opportunity to hear Sir Ian Botham OBE talk about his exciting and successful cricket career, as well as his inspiring charity work and hilarious personal anecdotes. Discussing and sharing the very beginnings of his career as well as some of his favourite sporting moments, Sir Ian 'Beefy' Botham OBE enthralled guests with unique tales throughout the Q&A session that was deftly delivered by Geoff Miller.

Out&About with City Life & County Living Magazine

Marco Pierre White In Nottingham Marco Pierre White was in Nottingham during one of his regular trips to his steakhouse bar and grill on Wollaton Street. The celebrity chef was in the city to launch a new menu which has already gone down a storm with the region's foodies. During his visit he spent the day entertaining guests (which included the Lord Mayor Councillor Merlita Bryan), where he chatted about his career and mingled with staff.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

The day included a trip to Clarendon College where Marco spent over and hour chatting to the next generation of chefs and cooks providing them with top tips on what it takes to become a leading chef.

FOOD & DRINK

Laguna Tandoori Restaurant

Tel: 0115 941 1632 CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

Laguna Tandoori Restaurant 43 Mount Street Nottingham NG1 6HE

Set Menu, 2 courses £14.50, 3 courses £17.95 Sunday to Thursday Lunch & All Evening, Friday & Saturday till 6.45pm

Christmas Bookings Now Being Taken

LONDON HOTSPOTS

London is widely believed to be the culture capital of the world, although this title is disputed with a number of other cities internationally. The city is particularly renowned for its theatre quarter, and its West End theatre district has given the name to "West End theatre", the strand of mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres in London. London is also known to have some of the world’s best restaurants, best hotels and best entertainment venues. City Life have been there to discover and review some of the most notable establishments.

THE HIPPODROME

Leicester Square, London WC2H 7JH www.hippodromecasino.com The Hippodrome Casino launched in 2012, following a 30month rebuild and £50 million investment and now has to be seen to be believed. It is now the largest independent casino and entertainment venue in London.Redefining the way in which visitors to the West End celebrate an evening out, and bring a little of Las Vegas to London but with a very British flavor. And at the same time, bringing back much of the magic of the original theatre. The casino has four gaming floors, the main arena gaming floor, with its central bar and full-height ceiling stretching up to the minstrel's gallery. Set in the former dress circle of the Hippodrome, the Heliot Steakhouse surely has one of the most fascinating views of any restaurant in London – overlooking the main casino gaming floor. The Healiot Steakhouse encapsulates the concept of 'vibe dining' in an American brasserie setting, respecting the variety and circus heritage of the building itself.The Hippodrome has 6 bars (with a 24 hour license), two lounges, private dining rooms and a 2-tier outdoor smoking and cigar bar.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

The Hippodrome has also once again become a venue that attracts top acts and artists from throughout the world and one that champions emerging talent; fitting for a venue that hosted the world famous Talk Of The Town.

Our Experience: The venue that has everything! 24 hours of nonstop action. This is a casino like no other that we have ever visited. The theatre has great cabaret shows on every week, some have a regular weekly slot, others are one off. We particularly like the after show party, a monthly fixture where West End performers meet together to put on a show, a mix between Celebrity Juice and Jonathon Ross. The Heliot Cocktail bar (pictured right) is the central hub, it’s always lively, serves great bar food and everything you could imagine to drink. Then there is the casino. The Americans took the original London Bridge to Arizona, now we have got a bit of Vegas in London. I could continue writing about the Hippodrome for another 24 hours, but it really is somewhere that you have got to visit and see for your self.

Who might you see there... The Hippodrome is in the heart of Theatreland and in Leicester Square - where they hold all the film premieres, so you could bump into almost anyone. Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Jason Statham, etc and of course our own Bruce and Babs have all been here.

LONDON HOTSPOTS

THE IVY 1-5 West St, London WC2H 9NQ www.the-ivy.co.uk A table at the Ivy is one of the most sought after in London. A uniquely British institution known throughout the world. An acclaimed refurbishment in 1990 recast it as the grand restaurant of its early-20th century heyday. As then, it is a favourite with the pre- and post-theatre crowd, as well as attracting a devoted clientele and much more than its fair share of celebrities. They come for its unmatchable service, the atmosphere of intimacy and privacy fostered by its Director, Fernando Peire, and for its large and unique brasserie-style menu. This offers dishes from around the world such as sashimi and Thai-baked sea bass but has a particular British flavour, with favourites such as Dover sole, roasts and the famous shepherd's pie, simply but beautifully cooked from the best ingredients. Our Experience: It's one of those restaurants with a reputation which precedes it. We expected much and we were not disappointed! The décor was grand, the service impeccable, the atmosphere vibrant, the menu choice offered enough choice for all tastes and the meal probably one of the best I can remember having. Everyone appeared to be having an amazing evening, including Ricky Gervais and Zach Galifianakis (Hangover Films), who were sat on the table next to us. If you are lucky enough to get a table at the Ivy, we can highly recommend it. Who might you see there...

Ant and Dec, Tom Cruise and of course the Beckhams, everyone who is anyone visits the Ivy. It is renowned for it’s regular celebrity clientele.

CAFÉ ROYAL

68 Regent St, London, Greater London W1B 4DY www.hotelcaferoyal.com A London Legend Reborn! True to its original glamorous spirit, Café Royal reopened as a luxury 5 star hotel in the heart of central London. With elegant Mayfair to the west and creative Soho to the east, Café Royal hotel is perfectly positioned within walking distance of London's finest shopping streets, tourist attractions and theatreland. In its reincarnation this iconic London landmark now features 160 contemporary bedrooms and luxurious suites (including six historic suites). Continuing its celebrated legacy, Café Royal hotel offers a selection of restaurants and bars for guests to enjoy. At the heart of the hotel, the Ten Room offers British informal all-day dining while The Bar is the perfect place to relax and unwind with a cocktail.. The Café, on Regent Street, revives the European tradition of café culture. Working to an uncompromising brief that called for hotels that were not only of the moment but that would define their times and locations, architects and designers to rework the DNA of the grand hotel and create spaces that are contemporary in conception, whilst simultaneously evocative of the style and glamour of the past.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

Our Experience: Nothing here is left to chance, they have every aspect of your stay more than covered. Once you enter through the large oak doors and although situated on one of the busiest streets in London, you enter what can only be described as serene excellence. The whole building is soundproofed, it’s the perfect escape from that hectic shopping frenzy you may have just experienced. The bedrooms are modern and every aspect considered. With the Who might you see there... silence, the B & O TV and sound system, and the automatic black out blinds you could lose track of time and stay in your room for days. The bathrooms Already popular with the trendy celebrity set, Harry Styles, Rita Ora are marble from floor to ceiling and exude relaxation. This is and Will I Am have already stayed there. . where I want to stay every time I am in London.

LONDON HOTSPOTS

DSTRKT 9 Rupert St, London W1D 6DG www.dstrkt-london.com Voted Best New Restaurant and Club 2012 taking its place amongst London's night life crown jewels. There is an elegant and glamorous restaurant which will awe even the most discerning gourmands with its all-organic blend of Continental cuisines and the space transforms each and every evening as diners stay to party until the small hours. Decadent and chic are just some of the words that best describe Dstrkt Lounge. From its fantastic cocktails, state of the art sound system and revolutionary stage ideal for performing artists and dancers alike to the elegant and stylish finishing of the seating and bar areas, Dstrkt provides an enticing experience. For the most discerning clientele Dstrkt London created the world's first V.I.P. lounge with a precious stone bar and a bespoke seating arrangement that caters to even the most exquisite of tastes. Our Experience: You have to be either on the guest list, queue for quite a while or not get in at all. Dstrkt is a restaurant, and an extremely good one at that, and a club. The restaurant is contemporary and has an incredible vibe to it. We were treated to a sampling meal of Who might you see there... everything that they had on the menu, the food literally just kept on coming, accompanied by a variety of cocktails. The food and DSTRKT guests include familiar faces such as Jay Z, Rhianna, Kanye drinks were great, the service exemplary. The club has a West, Chris Martin, Stella McCartney, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kim variety of VIP tables and the spectacle of Champagne being Kardashian, Will I Am, Nicole Scherzinger, Lewis Hamilton and Rita Ora delivered to a table is a sight to behold. There is an eclectic to name but a few. mix of people, who are all there to enjoy themselves, so you can party at ease.

STRINGFELLOWS 16-19 Upper St Martin's Ln, London WC2H 9EF www.stringfellows.co.uk Internationally famous, and situated in London's Covent Garden, the alluring ambience of Stringfellows is mesmerising. As you step into the club you are transported into a world of stylish luxury where you can enjoy the finest wines, vintage champagnes and experience a la carte dining or culinary delights from their diverse bar food menu or restaurant menu. The name tells the story - need we say more. Our Experience: We were greeted at the door by a familiar face and host at Stringfellows, Christopher Quinten, or as many would remember him as Brian Tilsley, one of Gail Platts many husbands in Coronation Street.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

The interior of the venue is what we would describe as decadent, plush sofas, gilt chairs and chandeliers. The service is very friendly and even Peter himself came over to have a chat.

We had come to eat and eat we did! We can now see why World champion boxer David Haye describes it as one of his favourite restaurants. as they don’t seem to have caught on yet to portion control. The Steaks were massive, even the salad was a Who might you see there... meal in itself. The waiter was attentive but not overbearing and the food was exemplary. Good food, good wine and what has got to be one of the best ‘views’ of any restaurant in London! Both World Champion Boxer David Haye (Yes that is Mickey Rourke with Regulars such as Simon Cowell and David Haye must know him) and Simon Cowell are said to be regulars, whilst Rhianna has also a good steak when they see one. visited.

NOTTINGHAM POST INDIAN RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR At Haveli, our food is inspired by the authentic home cooking, all our chefs are fully trained and have been working in the restaurant industry for many years. Food is our passion, prepared for you always with devotion, love, and the finest ingredients.

10 Attenborough Lane, Chilwell, Nottingham, NG9 5JW Book your table now call 0115 9227778 or book online

www.havelifinedining.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK

Bramleys Brasserie is a stylish restaurant serving gastro classics with a modern twist. Ideally located in the Orchard Hotel on The University of Nottinghamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main campus, Bramleys is open 7 days a week for lunch from 12 noon - 3pm and dinner, 6pm - 9pm To make a booking, please call 0115 876 0881 or email bramleys@devervenues.co.uk CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

For more information, and to see the latest menu, visit www.deverevenues.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK

Vivo is an independent, familyrun restaurant in Stapleford, Nottingham. Located just six miles from Nottingham and just five minutes from the M1 motorway, it is convenient for locals and visitors to the area alike. The restaurant has been open since December 2007 and has gradually accumulated a steady base of customers who have spread the Vivo name far and wide. As you walk through the door you are greeted by tantalising Italian aromas wafting from the open kitchen where you can watch your meal being prepared. The dining room is chic and contemporary, with matching chairs and tables set in a simple, but effective, layout coupled with quirky architecture and printed motifs on the bar and walls. Vivo takes great pride in combining fresh

ingredients with the passion and skills of their Chefs to produce good quality, authentic Italian cuisine. The aim is for every meal to be a little slice of Italy on a plate and they succeed in this time after time. On the menu you will find a superb selection of antipasti designed to tease your palate and prepare for the culinary delights of the main courses. Stand-out dishes from the a la carte menu include the Tournados Vivo; a fillet steak with dolce latte cheese, Spiedino di Mare; delicious mixed fish of the day served on two skewers and the spicy Diavola pizza topped with mushrooms, ham, tomato, mozzarella and pepperoni.

which is available at £16.95 for 2 courses or £20.95 for a full three course meal. Families will also enjoy a trip here as the Italian tradition of dining at leisure with all generations catered for is very much alive - indeed many of their customers are Italian and that tells you a lot about the special atmosphere available at VIVO.

Not only is the food great, but the prices are exceptionally reasonable too. Monday to Wednesday lunchtime and early evening they offer a two course meal for the unbeatable price of just £7.95 so it's a great place to go for parties, a night with the girls or just a quiet meal for two. With the Christmas season coming up, Vivo have designed a Christmas party menu

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

Monday - Wednesday 5.30pm - 7.00pm

£16.95 for 2 courses, £20.95 for 3 courses

Grill at Twenty Five The Grill at Twenty Five is a modern stylish brassiere restaurant which is both informal and pleasingly professional. It is also a real rarity in that the food is almost all home-made, well cooked and beautifully presented. It is now a year and a half since the Grill launched, in the middle of a recession, and at a time when more restaurants were closing than opening. The team quickly learned that you can’t make customers want what you want them to have; you must listen to them and give them what they want! A wonderful experiment took place over four months when a weekly specials menu was put in place as well as the main Grill menu. Records were kept of what customers liked, and what they ignored. Popular dishes made reappearances and regular customers were asked what they would like to see on the menu next week. Then made sure it appeared. The team at the Grill had gold in their hands, records of food that customers actually wanted. Today’s menu is a stunning combination of the classic dishes you would expect from a Grill menu, seamlessly combined with the favourite dishes of real food experts, the customers!

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

The Grill Has become a popular venue for the locals, the wider community and hotel guests, lending itself to private family occasions, birthday parties, weddings, and business events.

photography vying for prospective Brides and Grooms, while the Grill and sister hotel show what they have to offer as the ideal place for the big day! Christmas is-a-coming, and our 2013 brochure is hot off the press and being snapped up by party planners for this year’s season. The Grill has menus for Christmas fayre lunches and dinners but also cranks up the pace at weekends with party nights so everyone can dance and let their hair down until the wee small hours. On Christmas day the grill is big on tradition and the turkey and plum pudding are high on the agenda, along with excellent choices to please the whole family. Best of all, we do the washing up! This year the boat is really being pushed out on New Year’s Eve with an outrageous Disco Inferno night of 70’s rock and pop. Fancy dress is the expectation, and along with flared skirts and bobby socks will be an amazing American Diner style menu with none of the formality that often surrounds New Year’s Eve. It will simply be a fun party and perhaps a chance to relive the past for a few of us.

Cemil Dogan said “I am delighted to see the community taking the Grill into a position of trust with their important events. My team and I understand our responsibility to look after our customers and make them our friends.” There is a sense of quality in what is done at the Grill and when called upon recently to create an informal summer barb-que for a major local company, the team delivered wonderfully taking full advantage of exceptional weather.

The Grill at Twenty Five is so called because of its great location, near junction 25 of the M1. Very easy to get to, and very easy to leave from. Masses of free parking and as a place to meet with friends and family the convenience is obvious. Add to that free Wi-Fi and even that annoying friend who is never off Facebook will be happy. Speaking of Facebook, why not ‘Like’ us and get all our latest offers and deals, for example, our loyalty card, which allows you to get free meals.

The venue is playing host to a major wedding fair in September with local suppliers of gowns, rings, flowers, cars and

Why not book your table and treat yourself to excellent home-cooked dishes and trouble free dinning.

2013 merry CHRISTMAS Come and celebrate the festive season at Nottinghamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest chic venue.

k o Bo ow ! N Call us on

0115 946 3801 www.thegrillat25.com info@ thegrillat25.com

Free on-site parking

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

The Grill At Twenty Five (Opp. Best Western Hotel) Bostock Lane, Long Eaton, Nottingham, NG10 4EP

COCKTAILS

FOOD & DRINK

PEARL West Bridgford

1.Cherry Monkey – A Variation of the Classic Whiskey Sour we think we have done it justice with cherry jam adding sweetness and flavour. Ingredients: • 37.5ml Monkey Shoulder Triple Malt • 12.5ml Cherry Marnier • The Juice of one Lemon • 12.5ml sugar syrup • 1 large teaspoon of Cherry Jam

Aperol Spritz – A perfect tipple for Summer 2013, a Combination of Aperol, Prosecco and dash of Soda water, sparkling cold and bright! Join us this summer and try something new. 2

2.Florida Sling – An interpretation of the Singapore Sling with more of a summer vibe! The perfect drink to enjoy sitting in the sun on our terrace.

A selection from our new menu, Left to Right: Banana Colada, Cherry Monkey, Mai Tai, Gin Fizz, All Island Punch

3.Patron Frappe

– A long cool frappe with the addition of Patron XO Café Tequila and your Choice of Flavour, perfect if your starting to feel sluggish.

Ingredients: • 45ml Greenalls London Dry Gin • 6ml Cherry Marnier • 50ml Pineapple Juice • 20ml Lemon Juice • 6ml Grenadine Syrup

Ingredients: • 25ml Patron XO Café • 25ml your choice of spirit (Frangelico(hazelnut), KingsGinger(ginger), Licor 43(vanilla), Giffard cacao(chocolate)) • 50ml Fresh Espresso • 75ml Half'n'Half (mixer of half milk and half double cream),double cream to top

Glass: Sling Glass

Glass: latte Mug

Garnish: Orange slice and Maraschino Cherry

Garnish: double cream float and Chocolate powder dusting

Method: Shake all ingredients and strain in to ice filled sling glass and garnish with orange slice and maraschino cherry.

Method: brew fresh espresso and add to mixing glass along with all other ingredients, saving the double cream for the garnish, then add ice and shake for 10 seconds and strain in to ice filled latte mug, slowly pour double cream over the top allowing it to float on top of the drink, then sprinkle with chocolate powder and serve.

Glass: Large Rocks Garnish: Fanned Lemon slices Method: Add and ingredients to mixing glass and stir to dissolve the jam a little, fill mixing glass with ice and shake vigorously, taste and alter if required, double strain in to Large Rocks glass filled with crushed ice and finally garnish with two fanned lemon slices. Then sit back and enjoy!

Pearl Cocktails

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

One of the finest places for cocktails in Nottingham. The Oriental Pearl Held a launch party for their new cocktail menu, with a focus on summer. The event was sponsored by Aperol and guests enjoyed live music into the early hours.

FASHION HEALTH & BEAUTY

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

Autumn Shimmer

RIGHT all from M&S Per Una Dress £119 Necklace £29.50 Ring £7.50 Bracelet £19.50

House of Fraser £25

Monsoon £179

The Vestry £125 Boticca.com £57 Phase Eight £150

Next £38

Debenhams £50

Internacionale £4.99

Accessorize £10

Superdry £75.99

Argento £55

Tom Ford 5142 050 - £206 available at Gray & Bull, 5 Pelham Street, Nottingham City Centre

Add some glitz to your Autumn/Winter wardrobe with the season’s most popular fashion trend, Metallics.

Heidi klum

Accessorize £22

There is a whole array of colours in the shops, from bronze and silver to blue and green, all with that added metallic zing. Total metallic is a great look during the party season, but it can be worn subtly, making you look casual but glamorous at the same time. If you want to be on trend, it’s the season to shine!

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

Yes, it’s back, but with a twist, slightly more understated and casual. Just by picking out a few accessories, bag or belt, you can pack that extra punch without looking OTT.

Dune £85

FASHION, HEALTH & BEAUTY

Clients with fine hair struggle to make it appear fuller and thicker. We can recommend various products to help the hair grow without breakage, and styling products to help swell the hair to make it appear fuller, but fine hair snaps easily without the right haircare products, so achieving the thick lustrous look is quite difficult. Hair extensions are a great way to help achieve this look and they don't have to be just used for gaining extra length. They can also be used to add extra thickness to hair in an instant, and do not have not cost the earth.

Hair ups still continue to be worn for so many different occasions. Here are a few different looks, Downton abby, The great Gatsby and other period dramas have really set of a new trend in 20's styles and are also very glamorous and very striking. This look is a twist on a 20's style with a blue colour run through the front. Visually twisted and pinned into place.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

Long hair is not going away anytime soon This look is very grunge but looks great and is a real head turner. We created this by weaving braids down one side of the hair and colouring the ends. The remaining hair is back combed then loosely pinned to the side.

FASHION, HEALTH & BEAUTY

Out&About with City Life & County Living Magazine

Eden Hall VIP Launch Eden Hall hosted 50 VIPs at a special launch for Aromatherapy Associates last month. Champagne and canapĂŠs were the order of the evening as they welcomed the arrival of the new brand. Guests tried and tested the treatments and left feeling relaxed, glowing and with a smile on their faces. The new treatments are available to book now at the day spa. www.edenspa.co.uk

JOHNS OPTICIANS Johns Opticians is a well established chain of opticians based in Hockley and West Bridgford in a vibrant and fashionable city of Nottingham. Our utmost priority is to provide the best eyecare service with a personal touch to ensure all our customers feel their eyesight and vision is looked after. Each member of our staff is committed to providing exceptional and a professional service. We will guide you on finding the right frames that suit your face, your prescription and the best lenses suited to your needs. Johns Opticians provide thorough eye examinations for private and NHS patients. We also offer a wide range of contact lenses with a complete fitting and aftercare service. In an era where the market is dominated by the larger optical retail groups, our small independent company ensures that the quality and professionalism of our service is not compromised.

Raheela Syed Bsc (Hons) FBDO Dispensing Optician

West Bridgford

7 Carlton Street Hockley Nottingham NG1 1NL

34 Gordon Road West Bridgford Nottingham NG2 5LN

T: 0115 947 5858

T: 0115 981 4788

www.johnsopticians.co.uk

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

Usman Syed Bsc (Hons) MCOptom Optician

City Centre

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

FASHION HEALTH & BEAUTY

RIGHT House Of Fraser Without Prejudice Blazer £375

BLACK & DAPPER Boss Jacket £380

MCQ Alexander McQueen £150 House Of Fraser £800

Dune £145

Paul Smith Erwin £192 - available at Gray & Bull, 5 Pelham Street, Nottingham City Centre Ted Baker £120

Belstaff Roadmaster £524 Thackerays

Ted Baker £110 Boss £95

Boss £230

Autumn/Winter’s most pompous texture is velvet.

RYAN GOSLING

Black is back! You may ask when was it ever out, to which I remind you of grey and bitter chocolates. But this year runway trendsetters are caught up in black all over – head to toe appropriateness. For those

Ted Baker £299

of us who are past the black comfort zone stage, try playing around with textures, but not shades. Never play around with shades. There is nothing so disappointing as wearing your favourite once-black skinny jeans with a brand new pitch-black turtleneck and raven-wing brogues. Don’t mix and match.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

It’s almost time to pull out those velvet blazers that you thought were a singleoccasion purchase. This season not only are we allowed to wear velvet as a casual fabric, but more importantly wear a lot of it. Colours are largely dictated by the frosty weather –navies, emeralds and rich burgundies are en vogue. Total looks are acceptable even for the less daring: go for well-tailored suits or fitted separates. A word of caution to this tale of evening grandeur – velvet doesn’t hide ‘holiday weight’ too well, so portion control is advised.

T H

A V E N U E

N Y C

880 Woodborough Rd, Mapperley, Notts, NG3 5QR 0115 998 8553 www.gooseberrysalon.com

Out&About with City Life & County Living Magazine

Hall-Fast Charity Ball in Aid of The Fountaindale School Champions (UK) plc, organised a charity event to raise funds for the Fountaindale School. Hall-Fast, a Nottingham-based firm were instrumental in creating the event, an evening designed to generate as much money as possible for the cause. The evening was a great success and a brilliant night was had by all in attendance. Snooker legend Willie Thorne entertained the audience with his unique hosting skills and fantastic musical performances from soul sensation Andy Abraham and The Simon Faulkner Band made the night all the more spectacular. The glamorous black tie event was took place at the John Fretwell Centre in Mansfield and guests were treated to a delicious three course meal and entertainment. The evening was designed to help raise funds for the school, an excellent cause. As host for the evening, Willie Thorne talked to the guests who, promoting the fantastic work that the school achieves year round. The Fountaindale School is a specialist SEN school which offers inclusive education for pupils aged 3 to 19 who have complex physical and sensory needs. The school provides education, therapy, nursing and any other specialist services individual pupils may require and Hall-Fast selected this school to help it be able to continue the brilliant work it achieves for children with special needs in the Nottinghamshire area. With an evening of musical entertainment from Andy Abraham and The Simon Faulkner Band, guests enjoyed a spectacular show filled with amazing vocal talents and soulful renditions. Both artists were extremely successful in getting the crowd into the swing of things and guests donated to this wonderful cause generously. To help raise these funds, guests participated in an exciting auction hosted by Willie, which included luxurious and exotic holidays, signed memorabilia and fine dining experiences to name but a few of the items which were available for bidding.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

The event was a glamorous and exciting evening all in the name of a brilliant cause. Champions (UK) plc was delighted to be able to provide a fantastic opportunity for vital funds to be raised for The Fountaindale School, allowing their work to continue for years to come.

FASHION, HEALTH & BEAUTY

Nottingham Woodthorpe Hospital People Caring For People As part of the Ramsay Health Care Group, the Nottingham Woodthorpe Hospital is a leading Private Hospital located on Mansfield Road in Nottingham. The Hospital opened in 1955 as the Convent Hospital and the Nuffield Hospital. Today we are a modern well-equipped hospital with 41 bedrooms (39 en-suite and 2 High Dependency Beds), two main operating theatres, a minor ops suite, Ambulatory Daycase Unit and Endoscopy Suite and in-house pharmacy. We are constantly developing our services and we are proud of our comprehensive range of specialist departments and the high standard of care that they allow us to offer all our guests. When patients choose the Nottingham Woodthorpe Hospital for their treatment, we aim to provide the highest quality patient care modern medicine has to offer. Quality Accounts - We constantly strive to provide a clean and modern environment which is both welcoming and friendly. We pride ourselves on delivering a caring approach whilst ensuring a safe and calm environment.

We have also recently invested in a new 2-bed High Dependency Unit which is supported by a 24hr Resident Medical Officer, dedicated Critical Care Lead and a trained nursing team. Did You Know? The Nottingham Woodthorpe Hospital offers a wide range of specialities and services, all of which are provided by a dedicated team of Consultants, Nursing Staff, Radiologists and Physiotherapists.

Gynaecology • Cosmetic Surgery • Nephrology Radiology • Endoscopy • Dermatology • Neurology • Spinal & Neurosurgery • Ear, Nose & Throat • Ophthalmology Urology • Gastroenterology • Orthopaedics • Weight Loss Surgery • General Medicine • Pain Management • General Surgery • Hearing & Balance • Physiotherapy • Pilates • Sports Medicine. The Premium Care Difference - Visiting a hospital can be stressful, we aim to make you feel you are our guest as well as a patient. Private patients, whether self-funded or privately medically insured will receive a package of benefits called Premium Care and fast access to healthcare. As a Premium Care Patient you will receive exclusive benefits from great food and a relaxing environment, to immediate access to healthcare and appointments to suit your lifestyle. Choosing your Consultant and knowing they will be delivering your care at every step is a key part of the Premium Care Difference. If you are staying overnight, you will have your own room with ensuite facilities which ensures peace and privacy to rest and receive visitors. We provide an a la carte menu for all our Premium Care Patients. To access this treatment, tell your Doctor if you have Private Medical Insurance or telephone our dedicated Hospital Services Advisor who will be able to provide you with further information on the costs of treatment. As a National Health Service patient, you can also choose to have your treatment at the Nottingham Woodthorpe Hospital, just tell your Doctor at which hospital you would like to receive your treatment. For information on our Services and Consultants visit our website www.nottinghamhospital.co.uk For further information please do not hesitate to contact our Hospital Services Advisor on 0115 9932 015

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

“Nottingham Woodthorpe is proud of its 0% MRSA rates, which demonstrate the high levels of infection control and cleanliness throughout the service.”

Our Specialist Services:

FASHION HEALTH & BEAUTY

PAIN IN THE BACK

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

Back pain is the second most common cause of long-term sickness in the UK after stress and currently costs the NHS and community care services more than ÂŁ1 billion each year. A huge 7.6 million working days were lost due to work-related back pain and other musculoskeletal disorders in 2010 to 2011. So what can we do to avoid injury and maintain a perfect posture? CL&CL take a look at everyday factors that could be causing you a pain in the back!

Niggling aches in your lower back? Shooting pains when you bend to pick something up? Well you’ll be pleased to know that you’re not alone. Back conditions affects more than 1.1 million people in the UK, with 95% of patients suffering from problems affecting the lower back. Most lower back pain is not caused by serious damage or disease, but by sprains, muscle strains, minor injuries, or a pinched or irritated nerve. From sitting at your desk incorrectly to how you walk, there are countless causes for back injury and pain, many of which could be avoided with the correct information. knowledge and understanding is key in preventing future back injuries.

Back to basics: Standing & Walking You may have been walking and standing since you were in nappies yet over the years bad habits are easy to pick up as well as injury, causing change to your good posture. Good posture is imperative to maintaining a strong back. Poor posture causes the muscles in your neck and back to strain against gravity, which can cause pain, headaches, fatigue and even injuries to your nerves and muscles. Most of the time we are completely un-aware of how poor our posture is until the warning signs of pain begin to set in. By learning how to stand correctly with good posture, you can reduce back problems and muscle pain by balancing your weight efficiently. Here’s 4 simple steps to get your posture back to basics:

Step 1

Check your posture while standing to identify bad habits. Some common problems include hunching you shoulders forward, allowing your stomach to push out so that your lower back moves inward, allowing your head to hang down or resting all of your weight on one leg. Watch your posture throughout the day when your are walking or standing in line to begin breaking any bad habits.

Step 2

Step 4

Skechers Shape-Ups

Step 3

Hold your head straight and balanced at the top of your spine like a string is pulling it up to the ceiling. Your head is quite heavy, so letting it hang forward can put considerable strain on your neck muscles. If the back of your head isn’t touching the wall during your wall test, you are carrying it too far forward. Walking should be just as natural too, an effortless movement of balance, but for some this isn’t always the case. Again, injury, poor posture and ageing are some of the reasons why individuals struggle to maintain good balance while walking. Many of us walk every day without awareness of our posture and human mechanics. It doesn’t matter what age you are, take some time to look at your steps, check your technique and re-master the basics of walking. Doing this now could save you much pain in the future. So what do the experts say? To maintain a healthy stride with good posture, experts recommend becoming aware of your technique. Your eyes should look 10 to 20 feet ahead of you, not down at the ground. This reduces neck and shoulder pain from poor posture. As you walk, each foot should land on its heel when stepping and spring into the next step with your toes first. Shoulders should be kept square (not slumped forward or reclined back) and keep your spine in alignment, which promotes good posture and reduces chances of hip and lower back pain.

Skechers Shape-Ups are clinically tested and designed to improve posture and overall body health and can help relieve back and joint problems. Skechers design their Shape-Ups for both men, women and children. They come in a variety of colours and the range of shoes include boots, trainers and sandals. Skechers are available on line and in a variety of retail shops.

Reebok Toning Trainers

Reebok has created a trainer that tones and strengthens your legs, helping upper body posture in the process. The shoe utilises “balance ball” technology that helps build leg muscles. Reebok have designed these shoes primarily for women. They are most available on the Internet, in a wide range of sizes and colours.

MBT UK Footwear

MBT UK offer shoes that have a desirable effect on your body’s health. It promotes a rolling action step technology. The shoes can help solve knee and back problems and relieve tension in your neck. These benefits help facilitate healthy posture. The company has stores across the UK. They supply footwear tailored for both men and women and offer many styles including sandals, boots and standard trainer-shoes.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

Test your posture against a wall to accustom your body to a good posture. Position your heels 2 to 4 inches from a wall with your head, shoulder blades and buttocks touching the wall. Make sure your legs are straight without locking your knees. Slide your hand with a flat palm between the wall and your lower back. If the space between the wall and your lower back is wider than your hand, pull in your abdomen to straighten the sway in your lower spine. Step slowly away from the wall to practise maintaining your posture.

Keep your shoulders back but relaxed. Allowing your shoulders to slouch forward shortens chest muscles reducing flexibility. Roll your shoulders back and hold them straight without straining them too far. If your abdomen does push forward when you pull your shoulders back, you have pulled them back too far. Re-adjust until correct.

Good posture is affected by how evenly the weight is distributed between your two feet. A welldesigned orthopedic shoe can help encourage good posture, prevent joint problems and help alleviate back pain. We’ve perhaps all heard of footwear to support your back, but what are they and which ones are best to go for?

FASHION HEALTH & BEAUTY

adjust it. There are a number of workstation factors that can affect your back, such as seating posture, computer screen position, chair height, keyboard position, mouse position and desk equipment layout. If you work in an office and use a computer you can avoid injury by sitting in the right position and arranging your desk correctly. Every business should run a workplace assessment of your desk and working area, so if you’re not sure about your seating position and workstation, ask your manager or the appropriate person to arrange a workplace assessment for you. Good posture when sitting at a desk can help prevent many back strains and injuries, including repetitive strain injury, which is also a cause of back pain. Here are 10 simple tips for a safe desk:

1. Support your back

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

Back in the Work place

In the workplace, one worker in every 50 employee has RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury), a work related condition usually associated with doing a particular activity for a long period of time. Sitting incorrectly at your desk, using a laptop or repetitive manual work can all increase your risk of RSI and other minor back injuries. Your work place and how you keep your posture whilst working is imperative to the future health of your back. It’s something that many of us do for a minimum of 8 hours a day without even being aware of problems that could be developing, yet sitting badly or incorrectly in front of a computer for hours on end is storing up for trouble. The body can only tolerate being in one position for a short period of time before you feel the need to

Avoid back pain by adjusting your chair so that your lower back is properly supported. A correctly adjusted chair will reduce the strain on your back. Get one that is easily adjustable so that you can change the height, back position and tilt. Have your knees level with your hips. You may need a footrest for this.

2. Adjust your chair

Adjust your chair height so that you can use the keyboard with your wrists and forearms straight and level with the floor. This can help prevent repetitive strain injuries. Your elbows should be by the side of your body, so that the arm forms an L-shape at the elbow joint.

3. Rest your feet on floor

Your feet should be flat on the floor. If they’re not, ask if you can have a footrest, which lets you rest your feet at a level that’s

comfortable. Don’t cross your legs, as this can cut off circulation and cause hip problems.

4. Place your screen at eye level

Your screen should be directly in front of you. A good guide is to place the monitor about an arm’s length away, with the top of the screen roughly at eye level. To achieve this you may need to get a stand for your monitor. If the screen is too high or too low, you’ll have to bend your neck, which can be uncomfortable.

5. Using the keyboard

Place your keyboard in front of you when typing. Leave a gap of about four to six inches (100mm-150mm) at the front of the desk to rest your wrists between bouts of typing. Your wrists should be straight when using a keyboard. Keep your elbows vertical under your shoulder and right by your side. Some people like to use a wrist rest to keep their wrists straight and at the same level as the keys.

6. Keep your mouse close

Position and use the mouse as close to you as possible. A mouse mat with a wrist pad may help to keep your wrist straight and avoid awkward bending. If you are not using your keyboard, push it to one side if using the mouse a lot.

7. Avoid screen reflection

Your screen should be as glare-free as possible and if there’s glare on your screen, hold a mirror in front of it to identify the cause. Position the monitor to avoid reflection from overhead lighting and sunlight and if necessary, pull the blinds across the windows and replace ceiling lighting with softer table lights.

FASHION HEALTH & BEAUTY

8. Working with spectacles

People with bifocal spectacles may find them less than ideal for computer work. It’s important to be able to see the screen easily without having to raise or lower your head, so if you can’t work comfortably with bifocals, you may need a different type of spectacles for the desk!

9. Make objects accessible

Always avoid repeatedly stretching or twisting to reach things and instead position frequently used objects, such as your telephone or stapler, within easy reaching distance to minimise repetitive movements.

10. Avoid phone strain

If you spend a lot of time on the phone, try exchanging your handset for a headset. Most call centres and phone busy offices have already done so, because repeatedly cradling the phone between your ear and shoulder can strain the muscles in your neck.

Laptop Dangers They may help us work more flexibly and be more mobile but they have been causing their fair share of work-related back, neck and shoulder problems over the past few years. In 2010 to 2011, there were 198,000 cases RSI and the increased popularity of laptops may be adding to the problem. They were once used mainly by busy business people who had to work on planes or trains, but not any more, it seems everyone has caught laptop/tablet fever! Thanks to low prices, the rise in home working and wireless Internet access, laptops are everywhere. It all started back in 2005, when laptops outsold desktop computers for the first time ever. About 8% of the workforce are teleworkers (working from other locations, using the home as a base or working from home). This figure continues to rise by the year.

Try to use a separate keyboard and mouse so that the laptop can be put on a stand and the screen opened at eye level. Place your laptop on a stable base where there is support for your arms, and not on your lap. Remember to take regular breaks. If you keep moving there’s a lot less stress on your muscles and joints. Find a good sitting posture with lower back support, and ensure that other desk equipment is within reach.

Lifting One of the other biggest causes of back injury is lifting or handling objects incorrectly. Learning and following the correct method for lifting and handling objects can help to prevent back pain. Key points for lifting safely: Think before you lift. Start in a good position. Keep the load close to your waist. Keep your back as straight as possible. Avoid twisting your back or leaning sideways. Keep your head up. Know your limits. Push heavy objects, don’t pull them. Distribute the weight evenly.

Don’t sit in the same position for long periods. Make sure you change your posture as often as is practicable. Frequent short breaks are better for your back than fewer long ones. It gives the muscles a chance to relax while others take the strain. This can prevent you from becoming stiff and tense. Most jobs provide opportunities to take a break from the screen, such as getting a drink, going for some fresh air, filing or photocopying.

Stay active The best way to deal with back pain is to stay active and continue doing regular exercise. The advice 20 years ago was to rest, but research has shown that inactivity only makes things worse. When you’re in pain you may want to stay in bed and not move around, but that results in further loss of mobility and will only prolong the pain. Staying active means continuing with regular dayto-day activities to avoid becoming sedentary. Examples include walking to the shops rather than taking the car, getting off the bus one stop early, gardening and taking the dog for a walk. Yoga and pilates are two other great ways to keep your back (and rest of your body) healthy.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

The bad news is that bad posture is almost inevitable because of the way laptops are designed, with the keyboard being attached to the screen. You need the screen at arm’s length but you also need the keyboard near you to see correctly, so you push the laptop further back to which your hands then stretch out and your shoulders hunch over. That creates a bad working posture. The average human head weighs quite a lot and if it’s in the ideal position, balanced above the shoulders, it’s fine. But when you use a laptop, your ears are further forward than your shoulders, which is like taking a weight and holding it out at arm’s length. The load through your spine is much greater and, even worse, it’s a static load. The lack of movement then causes neck, upper back and arm problems. Laptops are fine when used properly and sensibly and there are plenty of ways you can make your laptop safer and more comfortable.

Tips for good laptop posture:

Whilst at work: Take regular breaks

F t

N a d h t

www.caredentalsurgery.com Tel: 0116 239 0983 / 239 0941 2thspecialist@gmail.com

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Hide Your Smile... At C.A.R.E Dental Practice, Leicester we aim to provide the latest in high quality dentistry combined with professional care and good old fashioned personal service. The heart of our practice is cosmetic dentistry, with the core of our practice being prevention rather than cure.

A s W l t h

Once we have compiled a programme dental treatment, with regular attendance and prevention we should be able to keep you dentally fit and well. The practice provides full mouth rehabilitation, dental implant, cosmetic dentistry and aesthetic dentistry, orthodontics (conventional, 6Month smiles, Inman aligners & Invisalign), Intravenous Sedation for nervous patient, tooth whitening, laser botox and restylane.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

We are committed to exceeding your expectations and providing a high quality dental service in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. If you want that bespoke dedicated service then look no further. Here at C.A.R.E Dental Surgery we utilise the latest technology in dentistry and can now offer dentures in 48 hours, crowns and veneers in 2-3 hours completed in one visit.

We invite you to take this opportunity of our detailed and informative dental consultation and be happy in the knowledge that your dental health is in very good hands.

D b d

H r c

The core of the practice ethos is PREVENTION

C.A.R.E Dental Surgery is situated in Leicester and is close enough with the excellent transport links, to make it convenient for patients from both Loughborough and Nottingham.

v m

To learn more about how we can help you with your smile, please call us on 0116 239 0941 or 0116 239 0983 Emergency Contact No: 07919 180188

A Dental Practice That Really Cares Whether you are an Anxious or Holistic Patient, we are here to look after you! Fed up of seeing a different dentist each time you attend your current practice?

OFFERING SERVICES IN: • Cosmetic and aesthetic dentistry • Orthodontics (’invisalign’ and conventional) • Smile makeovers in a day with Cerec. • Sedation for nervous patients • Cosmetic veneers • Cerec technology-Same day crowns & veneers • Family friendly practice • 6 hour smile makeover • Routine dental treatments • Full mouth rehabilitation including • root canal treatments • 48 hour laboratory turnaround • In-house laboratory • Same day Emergency appointments • Preventative and family dentistry

Not at CARE Dental, the two dedicated dentist will ensure that you are kept fully informed about your dental needs, they are happy to discuss all aspects of your dental needs and any concerns and hope to build a lasting and trusting working relationship with all their patients.

Introducing the Dentists at CARE Dental Dr Savan Zala BDS (Lond), MFGDP RCS Savan, graduated from Kings College London in 2004 and has since adopted a multi-disciplinary approach towards dentistry. He completed 2 years as a Senior House Officer within the Oral Maxillofacial Surgery Department. In 2007 he left hospital dentistry to further his skills within a General Dental environment. Here he attained his Membership for the Faculty of General Practitioners (MFGDP) and focused his efforts towards the treatment of anxious and dental phobic patients. Being predominantly within a private dental environment allowed him to fully explore various advanced restorative principles, ranging from simple orthodontics to full mouth rehabilitation cases.

Disclaimer: Treatments and possible results are determined by assessment only as every patients treatment needs and oral health can differ, and therefore some treatments may not be suitable in some circumstances. It is therefore highly recommended that an individual assessment be carried out to determine your expectations and discover what can be done to achieve this to the best possible standard.

With 6 month smiles the treatment can usually be completed in under 6 months.

Dr Savan's particular interests lies within the fields of oral surgery and his Hospital based training allows him to deal with more complex surgical procedures including dental implants. His experience in treating aesthetic cases ranges from single teeth to full mouth rehabilitation, with most of his knowledge and training arising from well know cosmetic centres within the UK and the USA. As a committed individual to postgraduate education he is currently within the end stages of completing a Masters Programme (MSc) in Dental Implantology at Warwick University. To compliment his passion for surgery, he has attained various levels of training for the treatment of anxious and dental phobic patients. His training has ranged from conscious sedation techniques, to advanced NLP & hypnosis.

Mark Ricketts qualified from Kings College, London in 1990. Over the past 23 years he has enjoyed working in a wide variety of dental situations and has developed a broad range of interests and experiences. Mark has always strived to make patients feel relaxed and at ease in the dental surgery and won an award for his study of dental anxiety clinics in America. For the last 4 years he has worked in Rutland developing his interest in the latest tooth coloured materials and braces to shape and align teeth. He is a certified provider of both Inman Aligners and 6 Month Smiles. The current advances in aligning teeth quickly and painlessly without the need for cutting down healthy teeth for a cosmetic gain is what drives Mark. Mark has a vast experience in dental practice and has attended numerous courses and lectures. He understands the importance of regular dental care to prevent dental disease and enjoys watching a person's self confidence develop with improvements to their smile. Mark is a very valued addition to the team!

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

We are offering the first 50 patients a free consultation and free tooth whitening procedure if they sign up for 6 month smiles or Invisalign.

“It's not about the tooth, the level of care we provide is personal, it's all about you!”

Dr Mark Ricketts BDS

6 MONTH SMILES

SPECIAL OFFER

TOOTH WHITENING

ONLY £149 For the first 20 applicants to pay a deposit on booking!

CARE Dental Practice Warren Court, Warren Lane, Leicester Forest East Leicestershire LE3 3LW T: 0116 239 0983 / 239 0941 E: 2thspecialits@gmail.com www.caredentalsurgery.com

Foundation meets skincare. Bobbi’s NEW revolutionary 2-in-1 foundation utilises light-reflecting technology to instantly give skin natural luminosity without traditional pearls. The formula makes skin look radiant, plumped and moisturised with a flawless texture that never looks cakey or dry. Glycerin, sodium hyaluronate and muru muru seed butter boost skin’s moisture while milk thistle extract and natural collagen stimulators visibly lift and firm for smooth and supple skin. A spectrum of color-true shades means all anyone sees is perfection.

BOBBI BROWN LUMINOUS MOISTURISING TREATMENT FOUNDATION

£30

LE BLUSH CRÉME DE CHANEL

£27

This innovative powder-cream formula offers an enticing new way to blush with sheer yet vibrant pigments for instant luminosity. The silky texture offers a long-wear satin finish—soft and comfortable for every skin type— and is simple to apply with fingertips or More brush.

New make-up

Fashion-forward and classic NARS Nail Polish shades impart incredible luster and prolonged gloss retention with UV protection to prevent polish discoloration. An advanced polymer system provides extended wear and a durable, chip-resistant finish.

NARS OPAQUE NAIL POLISH

£14

MARVELS Our beauty editors comb through hundreds of new products each season to keep you in the loop with the latest innovations. Here, we’ve rounded up the absolute favourites that you can’t live without.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

Stretch and extend your lashes like wings! Introducing L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Butterfly Mascara, one of L’Oreal’s most exciting mascara innovations yet. It’s revolutionary butterfly brush with asymmetrical lash line shape extends and lifts outer corner lashes to give you a wingedout effect, instantly volumising lashes at the roots and stretching lashes outward. The unique cocoon fibres instantly wrap lashes in a soft, delicate veil to create silky, spectacular lashes that flutter.

L’oreal Paris Voluminous Butterfly MASCARA

£10.99

A rich wine stain is exceedingly chic for crisp autumn nights. Specially treated colour pigments ensure this shade looks the same in the bullet as on your lips, creating the intended impact.

TOM FORD FORD LIP COLOUR IN BRUISED PLUM

£36

FASHION HEALTH & BEAUTY

Dior Airflash CC is a new weightless spray that contains Photo Smart Pigments to correct imperfections, erase shadows, and even out skin tone while brightening up dull lifeless complexions. Enhanced with an energizing mix of minerals to refresh, smooth and hydrate skin. This is available in a single, universally flattering tone.

GLAMGLOW Bright mud eye treatment

£44.99

DIOR AIRFLASH CC PRIMER

£30 A lightweight, comfortable powder composed of three universal shades, each with a specific function. Light beige illuminates, the darker beige evens skin tone and coral pink blush sculpts. A veil of gold adds a final touch of light to the skin. The complexion appears smooth, radiant and and beautifully illuminated.

CLARINS?? GRAPHIC EXPRESSION FACE AND BLUSH POWDER

You Won’t Believe Your Eyes… GLAMGLOW Eye Mud is a 3 minute instant eye treatment. The world’s first tap-on-wipe-off eye product designed to work for Hollywood actors in just a few minutes, just before going in front of a camera on-set. Designed for instant 3-minute results: • Dark Circles • Puffiness • Tired Eyes • Fine Lines • Hydrating • Brightening • Plumping

£30

For men and women of all ages and all skin types. Contains 12 ChromeCells. Each ChromeCell provides a single treatment for both eyes.

£22 LANCOME L’ABSOLU DESIR ROUGE

Lancome L’Absolu Desir Rouge promise rich, satiny colour with a deeply moisturising feel thanks to moisture boosting ingredient, Pro-Xylane. Lips stay moist, soft, and supple up to eight hours and through the wear with an antioxidant rich formula rich in Vitamin E and an SPF 12 protection.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

Take a little piece of Paris home with you with the Lancome L’Absolu Desir. These luscious little lipsticks promoted by the ageless and beautiful Kate Winslet as the promo model are available in four rich shades for the Autumn season.

Exclusively Available in Nottingham at Rehab-Beauty.

Out&About with City Life & County Living Magazine

A Winning Hand at Gathering of Leading Businesses Representatives from the Midland's very best businesses gathered at Derby's iconic Cathedral Quarter Hotel for an evening of fun and entertainment from musicians and business experts alike. The evening was designed as a celebratory evening of thanks to those involved with the Leicester Mercury Business Awards. Following the huge success of the prestigious event, the evening was a fitting tribute to the involvement and support of so many influential businesses. Guests enjoyed delicious food from the Cathedral Quarter Hotel's head chef, Dean Crews, who provided a brief commentary to each of the courses. The meal was accompanied by an array of excellent wines, also introduced by a sommelier, and these proved to be the perfect complement to the meal, following by wonderful entertainment. The evening was provided with a musical element, with guests serenaded by young singer Leanne Fotheringham and acclaimed British tenor Laurence Robinson, before enjoying an innovative talk from business expert and poker consultant for 'Casino Royale' Caspar Berry. The business guru talked about business uncertainty, relating this to poker before transforming the venue's tables into poker tables and providing his expert tuition to the guests present at the event. The evening was hosted by the Reverend Canon Alan Haydock and he entertained the guests with anecdotes from his long career as one of the county's most respected members of the clergy, as well as stories from his substantial work as a popular and unique after dinner speaker and host.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

Another example of the excellent opportunities that have been created by Leicester Mercury Business Awards the evening was a useful networking event, as well as an opportunity for the organisers of the Business Awards, Champions (UK) plc to thank all those who had been involved.

ESCAPE! WITH OUR FULL RANGE OF BEAUTY TREATMENTS:

20% OFF WHEN MENTIONING CITY LIFE MAGAZINE. VALID FOR ONE VISIT ONLY.

Within KH Hairdressing, 15 Castlegate, Nottingham

Tel: 0115 947 2332

www.retreatbeautysalon.co.uk

Gray and Bull now stocking Silhouette and OAKLEY!

How To Find Us

Clumber St

Long Row Market Square

Council House

Victoria Centre

Pelham St

5 Pelham Street, Nottingham NG1 2EH Open Mon-Sat 9am to 5pm (Sat 5.30pm), Sun 11am to 4pm Tel: 0115 9428121 enquiries@grayandbull.co.uk www.grayandbull.co.uk Gray & Bull Opticians are now taking eye examination bookings for Sunday and offer free home eye tests (domiciliary), please contact the practice for more information.

r .

Gray and Bull Opticians is an independent practice based on Pelham Street in the fashionable city of Nottingham

Finest eyewear available at Gray & Bull Gray and Bull Opticians is an independent practice based on Pelham Street in the fashionable city of Nottingham. Focus is on providing a truly personal eye care service that offers patients the reassurance that their vision and eye sight is being looked after. Gray and Bull has been focused on providing a top quality eye care service in Nottingham since 1939, the aim has been to create a warm and welcoming environment within the traditionally furnished surroundings. In a market dominated by larger optical groups here is a practice dedicated to providing patients with a reassuring, individual and professional service. The staff are committed to providing guidance on quality, value and service. Professional advice and guidance is provided on eye-care, glasses and contact lenses. Emphasis is always placed on a personal service, correctly fitted frames and accurately dispensed lenses.

Discount Off Glasses For

10%

Nottingham City Council Staff

NHS Staff

Gray and Bull offers both Private and NHS eye examinations. The practice also offers a complete contact lens fitting and aftercare service. Gray and Bull now stocks the finest French eyewear by Anne et Valentin with frame colours and styles to suit all. The largest range of designer eyewear in Nottingham can be found at the practice. Designer ranges include sought after brands such as Bvlgari, Tiffany, Ray-Ban, Tom Ford, Prada and Paul Smith. Exclusive eyewear by Persol, Oliver Peoples and Moscot are also stocked.

Full Time Students Gray and Bull is now stocking frames by Silhouette which are the lightest available, especially the famous rimless designs. Silhouette acetate frames are also worn by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Sports eyewear is an important part of the practice. Gray and Bull now stocks sunglasses and optical frames by OAKLEY and Adidas, including ski goggles. These sunglasses were worn by many of the Olympians in London 2012.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

H m 1 k k

Gray & Bull Opticians

Out&About with City Life & County Living Magazine

RSViP Business Network at Mem Saab Over 80 business professionals from the East Midlands gathered at the award winning Indian restaurant Mem Saab in Nottingham for an evening of good quality food, wine & open networking with RSViP Business Network. Maluwa Therapies treated guests to complimentary threading, manicures & Indian Head massages, whilst the chef cooked up delicious meat & vegetarian wraps on the unique Pulka Trolley. RSViP were delighted by the special appearance of the Lord Mayoress of Nottingham Merlita Bryan, who was chaperoned by the Nottingham Institute & Mem Saab were pleased to offer guests a specially create RSViP set menu for those who decided to stay on for dinner after the event. Photography by Louise Mills-www.louisemillsphotography.co.uk

RSViP Business Network Social @ Galleries of Justice

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

Over 75 professionals from the East Midlands attended RSViP's July Business Network Social at the famous and historic ex prison and courts, Galleries of Justice in The Lace Market, Nottingham. Guests enjoyed live music courtesy of Vintage jazz singer Miss Velvet Divine and made new business connections over a glass of wine within the Shire Hall. Later in the evening Ben North of Sushi Night Fever gave guests the chance to get stuck in at sushi rolling themselves and taste it afterwards. If that wasn't enough a specially organised ghost tour also took place on the evening down in the depths of the caves for members and their guests.

HEALTH, FASHION & BEAUTY

you are to be remembered when that person needs the service you provide.

TOP TIPS FOR NETWORKING By Fiona Duncan

RSVIP Business Network

5. Know Your Market- Only you know what your target demographic is for your business so aim for network events that you know are going to contain some of those industries relevant to you and ensure that you speak to them. 6. Prepare- Most network event organisers will send through an attendees list prior to the event itself, so ensure you look through it and make a bee-line for those who will be relevant to you to chat to initially, you can always ask the organiser to introduce you to someone in particular if you think that will help.

1. Dress code- This is important despite whether your instincts are telling you to opt for that pink cardigan or 'no tie' look - power dressing is extremely important and in this image obsessed worldlike it or not first impressions count for a lot- dress as though you are attending an important business meeting and your inner confidence will shine through.

7. Have a Secret Target- Set yourself a goal for example "I am going to have three good conversations" it is about quality not quantity, the best networker was never the one who scanned the room trying to get as many business cards as they could in one hour- it is not a race- Be the tortoise not the hare.

2. Business Cards- NEVER attend a networking event without them -if you are a start -up business & don't have any- GET SOME, if you have ran out- REPLENISH, if you are rebranding-THE OLD ONES WILL DO FOR NOW!

8. Enjoy it- What is the point in taking time out of your busy life out of choice, if you are not going to enjoy it? Choose events that you think you will enjoy and make the most out of the ones that didn't quite meet your expectations, you don't have to go back, but the point is you tried.

3. Hand Shake- Make it strong, go in from the top to show confidence and make eye contact as you do it. There is nothing worse than receiving a weak, lack lustre hand shake, but equally don't squeeze the life out of someone to the point that they have to comment on how hard that hand shake just wasâ&#x20AC;Ś 4. Build Relationships- People so often forget that networking is a much more drawn out process of generating business. It is rare you are ever going to 'land' a deal with someone you have only just met- it is about 'building relationships' and trust with that person before they will even consider you as a potential supplierREMEMBER- People buy from people so the more honest, professional and appealing you are as a character, the more likely

9. Follow Up- ALWAYS follow up with the contacts you made at a network event, even if you don't think that they were relevant to you at the time- you never know who they know or what they may be able to help with in the future.

10. My final tip is to follow my 9 tips - Having been in the world of networking now for around ten years, I like to think I have picked up a few fail safe tips and do's and don'ts, so I hope you find them of some use and well if you don't then join me at one of my Business Network Socials and I will try to prove you wrong!:

www.rsvipnetwork.co.uk

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING 71

WEDDING FEATURE

l a s o p o r P e h T

g n i p p Po n o i t s e th Que

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

Most of your engagement has a Reset button. Not the proposal. You can’t undo it. The stakes couldn’t be higher. Assuming she accepts, she’ll describe every detail – from the salad dressing to the roses to the way your voice quivered – again and again to everyone she has ever met. She’ll blog it. Facebook it. Twitter it.

In some ways, the proposal is bigger than the wedding itself. No pressure, but your life hangs in the balance. Follow the 10 Commandments of Popping the Question...

THE

en m d n a m

Com

1. You shouldn’t be surprised...

Like a good lawyer, don’t ask the question unless you know the answer. And if you don’t know the answer, consider whether you’ve given your courtship enough time. (Hint: you haven’t.)

2. But she should...

You must surprise her. That’s the game. If you talked about getting married last week, then when you say, “Hey. Um. I was thinking...maybe we could go on a hot-air balloon ride together. My buddies were saying it’s fun,” there’s a decent chance that she’ll crack your code. Keep your cards close to your chest. Don’t tell too many friends. Lie.

3. Only go public if it’s a definite yes

If there’s any uncertainty, popping the question in front of 30,000 football fans could either: 1) be the most humiliating moment of your life; or 2) force her to croak out a “yes” that she (and you) will later regret. In any event, think very, very hard before making a public proposal.

4. Personalise

No brainer, right? But it’s shocking how many guys hatch some bold, creative plan that ends up with them losing the ring. Plan nothing that risks the rock. Don’t bury it on a beach. I don’t care how much she loves “The Claw,” don’t toss it in the machine and have her try and get it out. There’s a fine line between creativity and stupidity. Don’t go near that line.

6. Kneel

Corny? Maybe a little. But by kneeling, you fulfill the vision that she’s had since she was a very little non-ironic girl. Also, her girlfriends will specifically ask her whether you got down on one knee. Let her answer the right way.

7. Keep heavy eye contact It shows you mean it. It shows confidence. Lock onto her eyes and never glance away. Just like in poker, a nervous glance to the side is a “tell” that could lose you the hand. (To clarify: blinking won’t cost you the “yes,” but why take chances?)

8. Practice

“Practice? Practice?!? Yes. Practice. Rehearse your lines in advance. Look in the mirror. Propose to your dog. Say it in the shower. It’s embarrassing and you’ll feel like a moron, but it’ll give you more confidence in the big moment.

9. Choose the setting

Ambiance is key. It’s better to have an outdoor, intimate, candlelit picnic than a lavish, £500 dinner at a “hot new restaurant” that blares hip-hop. It can be pricey or cheap, small or big, private or public, but the atmosphere must brim with romance. We’re often wary of the “cheese factor” and shy away from roses and their ilk. But not here.

10. Relax

We know. This seems like a paradox. But as long as you’ve thought this through-planned things to a T, ensured she’ll say yes, practiced in the shower--you’ll be fine. For real. Don’t worry about stuttering or sweating or fluffing the lines. Even if you stumble over your words , don’t worry, she’ll find it endearing (in a Hugh Grant sort of way).

After “Yes.”

This is it. This is the one moment that belongs only to you and your future wife. Make it last. This is one of the most intimate memories that you will ever share with anyone, anytime, anywhere. This is the calm before the storm, the slice of tranquility before you make 200 calls to the family and friends. It’s the final truly quiet moment until your wedding. Savour it. Then follow our advice on how to announce the scary as hell blissful news.

One Note on Timing...

Timing matters. The month of your proposal could impact the length of engagement. If you want a long engagement, for example, propose in the spring--there’s a good chance she can’t whip together a summer event, so presto, you’ve bought yourself more than a year. Conversely, if you propose in the winter, you could go down by the first day of spring.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

This helps you dodge clichés. You already know everything you need for a memorable proposal. Think about her interests and then tailor your proposal accordingly. It shows that you actually know her, love her, get her. If she’s a tree-hugging outdoors freak, then incorporate a hike, camping trip, or hide it in her bowl of granola.

5. Guard the ring like it’s Your Precious

Get Your Bronze On... As summer ends and autumn approaches, it's time to pack away our bikinis and prepare for the trends of Autumn/Winter 2013. One thing we can't afford to lose is our summer tan as this year's trends of bare legs and metallic shades demand an all year round glow. But beware, we're not talking Essex here! A hint of bronze and an illuminated finish is what's needed to stay on trend and avoid dull winter skin. For those who have holiday homes abroad...sorted....for the rest of us, there's Vita Liberata. The Vita Liberata range has everything to prolong summer for as long as possible, from gradual tans for face and body, wash off instant tan for that unexpected invite, and the amazing phenomenal tan that lasts 3 weeks! For the perfect bronzed look this autumn, a professional tan is always best. Opt for the lightest of the colours, Hawaii, in Vitas amazing organic, odourless spray tan and top with the new Capture the Light illuminating body treatment for a flawless finish.

All products available at rehab beauty, West Bridgford Prices from £17.50, Spray Tans £25.00

Developed with up and coming fashion designer David Koma, especially for London fashion week, Vita Liberatas Capture the Light collection comprises intensive moisturisers with illuminating skin finishers. 54

“There was a lot of flesh on show so I wanted a subtle glow, with a healthy, illuminated skin finish which would work well with the theme and concept of my new collection, and without transfer on to the white fabric....the finish definitely enhanced my dresses.” (David Koma) Available in a range of colours for every skin type, opaque or translucent coverage, Capture the Light can be used as a stand-alone skin perfecter, or alongside the Vita Liberata tanning range to accentuate a natural bronze tan.

Weddings at Ruddington Grange Golf Club weddings • receptions • venue styling • civil ceremonies Licensed for Civil Ceremonies

Fully Colour Coordinated Venue Set Up Exclusive Use Of The Wentworth Suite Superb In House Catering From Buffet To Banquet Landscaped Gardens for your photography Ideal For Parties From 20 - 150 Guests

Telephone

www.ruddingtongrange.co.uk info@ruddingtongrange.co.uk Wilford Road, Ruddington, Notts NG11 6NB

Come along and see what Ruddington Grange can offer you

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

0844 880 4946

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

2. 1.

4. 5.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

HOME & GARDEN

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

HOME & GARDEN

innovativebathroom solutions

Design & Installation Service Supply Only Wetroom Specialists 30 years of Customer Care

New Showroom Opening 1st August 2013

HOME & GARDEN

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

NATURALE

HOME & GARDEN

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

La Vie En Rose French Inspired Accessories Gifts & Soft Furnishings www.lavieenrosesales.co.uk

Vist us at: Williams Yard, Derby Road, Melbourne, Derbyshire DE73 8JR Follow us on...

or Buy On Line @ www.lavieenrosesales.co.uk Telephone: 01332 864 878

A World of Design & Possibilities

OF TRENT BRIDGE

THE ALL NEW CONSERVATORY VILLAGE & CANE FURNITURE SHOWROOM IS NOW OPEN

CONSERVATORIES

FOR ALL THE SEASONS

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

WINDOWS

PATIOS

OUTDOOR FURNITURE

CONSERVATORIES, WINDOWS & CANE FURNITURE Hardwood & Pvcu conservatories, hardwood & Pvcu windows and cane furniture from Nottingham's premier home improvement specialist. SPECIALISTS IN HARDWOOD CONSERVATORIES, Pvcu conservatories and cane furniture available in our Nottingham showroom...

QUALITY AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE

DESIRE CREATIVITY INSPIRATION

CONSERVATORIES "A conservatory enhances your home in a variety of different ways. It really is as our

CANE FURNITURE

customers are continually confirming - a room for all seasons and indeed all reasons from a sun lounge to a playroom or a breakfast room. Whatever design you choose, we will fit to your home.â&#x20AC;?

All Conservatories, Windows & Doors Available In Hardwood & UpVc WATCH OUR VIDEO AT

palmers

Main Showrooms:

FAMILY BUSINESS WITH 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE

West Bridgford, Nottingham

Telephone 0115 981 8218 On-Site Parking - Open 7 Days Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 5.00, Sunday 10.00 - 4.00

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

Radcliffe Road

The sumptuous Versace range of designer ceramic tiles is guaranteed to make an impact, with their timeless, elegant, classic style.

VERSACE – BY APPOINTMENT! EMC TILES HAS THAT MAGIC TOUCH When a tile company becomes a main agent for a world famous brand like Versace – it's almost like winning a royal appointment. You don't ask them for the franchise – you have to wait for them to ask you – and they are very fussy about just who they want to lend their name to.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

It's a real accolade for Nottingham-based EMC Tiles that Versace chose to make them one of their handful of exclusive UK agents. It is evidence of the magic touch EMC Tiles enjoys in the international world of ceramic tiles.

Barry Slawson, EMC Tiles managing director says: “Versace tiles are a timeless classic. The brand has built an enviable reputation, known the world over for elegance, style, opulence and luxury. We are exceptionally proud to be one of the exclusive stockists. Over the years, we have been able to supply discerning customers with tiles which set their own standards. Versace tiles may have the celebrity status but their quality is astounding and they are much more than just a fashionable name. They are tiles of the highest design flair and finish – but

they are also actually very accessible to the wider market. We have supplied Versace tiles to an exceptionally wide range of homes from large, executive properties to more modest homes.The thing that has united all our Versace buyers is a desire to have something glamorous and extra special in their homes – with world class recognition. Versace maybe a huge name – but it is just one of the products in our unrivalled portfolio of ceramic tiles. We deal with all the leading continental European and UK manufacturers and are able to offer our customers the widest and most up to date choices in wall and floor tiles. Our expert staff are always on hand to offer a wealth of advice on your choice and purchase of ceramic tiles – whether it is from the Versace range or from any other of our numerous products.”

HOME & GARDEN approached by Versace and we were delighted to accept the honour of being able to represent them. We have supplied their fabulous and distinctive tiles to customers looking for something extra special in their interior designs. A Versace bathroom certainly makes a stunning statement and is the pinnacle of luxury.”

Versace's beautiful wood look-alike tiles have all the entrancing appeal of a premium quality wood floor – only they are made of tough, hardwearing porcelain to maintain their stunning good looks. (Inset) Versace's attention to detail completes the unique effect.

Barry says: “We have always featured a special display of Versace products with these tiles already fitted in specially selected designed roomsets. This gives the tile buyer the perfect opportunity to fully appreciate and enjoy these beautiful products in the right surroundings. It gives them a great impression of just how wonderful they will look in their own homes. We have just renewed our Versace roomsets as part of our commitment to constantly change and upgrade all our displays to help customers keep fully up to date with all the changes and developments in the ceramic tile world. The new sets feature the fabulous Vanitas range – which includes a highly fashionable wood look-alike tile – which is perfect for floors to complement all the other tiles in the range.

Versace is part of the prestigious Gardenia Orchidea company – one of the leading Italian Ceramic Tile manufacturers which EMC tiles are proud to have been associated with for more than 30 years. Gardenia Orchidea was one of EMC Tiles first major suppliers. As EMC Tiles began to establish a distinguished track record for quality and faultless customer service – Gardenia Orchidea realised that EMC Tiles would make the ideal partner to market its prestigious Versace brand. EMC Tiles managing director, Barry Slawson, was asked if he would like take on the agency and he was delighted to accept. He says: “Versace provided that missing link in our portfolio, giving us the ability to present to our customers a complete choice of wall and floor tiles, which now includes a top designer name. This really was the icing on the cake for our reputation. Very few ceramic tile companies are even

Italian style positively radiates from these stunning bathroom tiles from Gardenia Orchidea.

T: 01509 210999 E: emclb@emctiles.co.uk

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

The best way to fully appreciate these fabulous Versace tiles and our other products is to visit our showrooms and see for yourself just what the wonderful world of ceramic tiles has to offer. You will be amazed!”

W: www.emctiles.co.uk

Southglade Business Park, Hucknall Road, Nottingham, NG5 9RA EMC Tiles has a selection of fabulous Versace roomsets, where tile buyers can see, touch and admire Versace's world-class quality for themselves.

T: 0115 9770155 E: info@emctiles.co.uk Prince William Road, Loughborough, LE11 5GU

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

HOME & GARDEN

Call 0115 920 8003 info@thekitchenlab.co.uk

www.thekitchenlab.co.uk

We Manufacture Our Own Kitchens Offering Endless Possibilities! Finance Options Available

FREE CAD DESIGN

Full Project Management

We offer a full range of services, and can completely project manage all jobs from start to finish, covering every aspect of your design and fitting requirements.

A Local Company You Can Trust!

Visit our showroom 15 Front Street Arnold Nottingham NG5 7EA Opening Hours: 9AM to 5PM Monday to Saturday

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

The Kitchen Lab Ltd. is a family-run business that supplies designs and fits kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms in the East Midlands. We provide a highquality, affordable service that is designed with you in mind, and our mission is simple - we aren't happy until you are!

FREE QUOTATIONS

FREE PARKING OPPOSITE

HOME & GARDEN

Neil Sutcliffe of Creative Roots and his garden ‘Nature Lays Claim’ announced as one of the WINNERS of 'Metamorphosis - a design journey' BBC Gardeners' World Live Competition. Following the successful launch of the new funded Show Garden competition in 2012 BBC Gardeners' World and The RHS Flower Show Birmingham once again set about scouring the country to seek out four talented designers to take on the challenge anew in 2013. After sifting through piles of applications with experts from The Royal Horticultural Society and Cleve West, 4 winners were chosen: Lucinda Costello, Head of Shows Development for RHS says, “We've uncovered some really great talent this year. It's a very exciting process to pick out four amazingly talented garden designers and watch their designs come to life under the tutelage of the great Cleve West. Last year was a fantastic success and the gardens were an extremely popular feature at the Show and this year will be the same again."

Their gardens were 6x6m in size and they received approximately £6,000 worth of materials plus an additional £3,000 of funding towards plants and other associated costs. Cleve West said "It was a very tough decision to make, the quality of

Neil says “ We were very happy with the result. The garden was bulit over 14 days non-stop and equated to over 200 hours of labour for 3 people. There were over 100,000 visitors to the show and we had some fantastic feedback. The RHS have since suggested they would like us back again to build another garden, so we are now looking for a sponsor to join us in building another show garden at either Birmingham or one of the London shows, Chelsea or Hampton Palace Court Flower Show.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

'Metamorphosis - a design journey' challenges entrants to be as innovative as possible within the boundaries of a set list of materials. Cleve West, multiple Best in Show designer at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, was ambassador for the competition this year. Cleve worked to set the list of materials and the four winning designers enjoyed a tour of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show build-up under his guidance. They also received an expert mentoring session during BBC Gardeners' World Live build up.

the competition entries were very high. The four winning designs really stood out for their innovative use of the materials, depth in design and clever use of space in a relatively small 6x6m garden. The beauty of these four designs is that whilst they all used the same materials the outcome of each one had something completely different to offer."

Out&About with City Life & County Living Magazine

Nottingham Post Business Awards Highlight Business Success The Nottingham Post Business Awards took place at the East Midlands Conference Centre in front of an audience of around 400 representatives from the region's leading businesses. Sponsors and award category finalists were all present at the event, celebrating the hugely encouraging steps that continue to be made all over Nottinghamshire, cementing the region as one of the country's most dynamic economies. With such a diverse array of business sectors present, the awards proved to be a fascinating insight into Nottinghamshire's developing economy and the evening was an enjoyable mix of delicious food, great entertainment and, of course, the prestigious ceremony itself. Guests at the awards were entertained throughout the evening by the truly brilliant presenting skills of Anne Davies, award winning broadcaster and face of BBC East Midlands Today. She was accompanied by journalist and entertainment expert Paul Ross, who swapped his normal post as co-anchor of London's 94.9 Breakfast Show for the East Midlands Conference Centre stage. Together the dynamic duo entertained the audience with their witty repartee and irreverent humour, adding to the positive and light humoured ambiance of the evening. Entertainment also came in the form of one of the entertainment industry's most individual performers; mind reader and illusionist Graham Jolley. Baffling the audience with his mind bending tricks, he more than lived up to his reputation as one of the industry's most hilarious and ingenious psychological performers. The Business Awards were a great way to bring some of Nottinghamshire's most influential businesses together, highlighting those that continue to make a substantial contribution the recovering economy of both their immediate surroundings, and the country as a whole. For the winning businesses, the accolade received goes a long way to boost their marketplace impact and they are the first of an elite group that will continue to be recognised year after year at the 'new look' Nottingham Post Business Awards. Organised by leading brand agency, Champions (UK) plc, the quality of the awards ceremony matched its prestigious reputation and Publisher of the Nottingham Post, Steve Hollingsworth, thanked the East Midlands-based company for their execution of such a prestigious ceremony.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

The first of many Nottingham Post Business Awards under their 'new look', the annual event promises to gain even more momentum, becoming the region's most popular and coveted measures of true business success.

Place your order before the 30th November 2013 and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll produce your corporate video commercial for just ÂŁ750

Box it up. S

PROGRAMMES SPOTLIGHTS STAGE COSTUMES PROPS

SEATING BACKDROP LIGHTING TICKETS CURTAIN

plus an additional 10% off for as long as you stay

Please mention the code CITYBYOO1 in order to claim your discount

Big Yellow Nottingham - 0115 986 4550

TRAVEL

City Life Touring the Costa Blanca “With Our Property Man In Spain” Looking at why so many Brits retire here...

Why move to Spain.

Your UK State Pension

It's cold outside, the nights are drawing in, although the UK economy has picked up a bit, it could hardly be accused of being in brilliant health – it would be surprising if you hadn't had at least thought for a moment about leaving it all behind and moving abroad.

You will still receive your UK state pension providing you inform the Department for Work and Pensions and have paid appropriate national insurance contributions, and it will increase in line with pensions paid in the UK. You may be eligible for other UK benefits, detailed on Gov.UK, providing you meet criteria. Ironically, this did also include winter fuel payments to older emigrants, which is now to be stopped.

Spain Year-round sunshine and high temperatures, lifestyle choices ranging from the packed Costas to party destinations such as Barcelona and Ibiza, or sedate and relaxing retirement hotspots such as Menorca on the Balearics.

Why would you not move to Spain? Well, the economy may be one reason not to go. However, if you have a secure income and want to benefit from a country with widespread English, easy budget airline access to and from the UK's regional airports, plus houses for sale at 1990s prices, it appears compelling. UK expats can be found almost everywhere, but congregate densely in three areas: Andalucía in the south, diverse. It includes full English breakfast and resorts such as Marbella along side mountain retreats that inspired Ernest Hemingway and Picasso; the Balearic Islands of Mallorca, glitzy marinas and celebrity villas for the likes of Michael Douglas and Michael Schumacher.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

The Valencia Region, with beautiful mountainous Costa Blanca and its valleys with white stoned villages, plantations of oranges, lemons, cherries and olives coupled with the many vineyards. There is also Benidorm for mass tourism and the more tranquil coastal resorts of Moraira, Javea and Denia enhanced by the cities of Valencia and Alicante with their more sedate lifestyles.

104

Before leaving apply for form S1, which you now present to a local Spanish doctor's surgery or hospital. You should then be treated on the same basis as a Spanish-born resident. You should also register on your town hall's Padró Municipal d'Habitants. Beware: some cash-strapped hospitals now refuse to treat migrants who have not formally registered, this does not apply in serious situations.

Top 10 destinations for UK expats* Australia USA Spain Canada Ireland France New Zealand South Africa Germany UAE

1,062,000 (251,000) 829,000 (140,000) 808,000 (104,000) 608,000 (157,000) 289,000 (126,000 253,000 (57,000) 248,000 (54,000) 219,000 (38,000) 000 (39,000) 65,000 (680)

Things you need to know before you go EU residents do not require visas to move permanently to Spain, but within three months of arriving you should secure Número de Identidad de Extranjero (a foreign identity number known as NIE) and a Tarjeta de Residencia, residency card. Some banks require a minimum deposit of up to 1,200 euros to open an account; a few insist on minimum balances at the end of each calendar month.

*Table shows numbers of expats in each country, And in brackets the number of pensioners This does not show the expats who only stay there for half a tax year, less than 182 days, and receive their pension in the UK. These Brits make up the majority of the expats with homes in Spain.

retains its working relationship with a property consultant based on the Costa Blanca. This relationship has been developed over several years from a good client-customer business

& COUNTY LIVING T H E E A S T M I D L A N D S P R E M I E R R E G I O N A L L I F E S T Y L E M AG A Z I N E

background. Although semi-retired, he still assists clients recommended to him via previous clients, friends,etc.

Should you wish to view the website, or receive the periodic property news emails or just seek some personal advice

email us at “ourmanatcitylife@outlook.com” and we will put you in contact

With us you not only Buy a Property... You buy a lifestyle! “Our Property Man In Spain” Buying a property in Spain This has been the shrewdest investment decision over the last ten years for more than 900,000 Britons, so you probably won’t be surprised to find the Spanish market on the radar of many discerning buyers. Spain is also one of the friendliest and most relaxing countries in the world, with thousands of property gems still waiting to be discovered. Buying the Right Spanish Property - Just as important as finding the right area for your Spanish property purchase is finding the right individual property for you. As well as the obvious things to consider such as location, size and appearance, be sure to consider the following factors. Planning issues - The press is full of worrying stories about land grabbing carried out quite legally by Spanish municipalities. This needn’t happen to you. By choosing a good legal advisor, you can protect yourself against possible financial consequences arising out of title deed problems. Check out the property - Access and grounds. Surveys are often only valuation surveys intended to give the lender the comfort of knowing that their money is reasonably safe. If the property is old and in poor repair, get a full survey done and have the document translated into English. Neighbourhood - Research the market before you travel to Spain, but never buy a property without spending at least a few days living in the immediate neighbourhood. Ideally, go back to the area in each of the seasons that you plan to live there.

Involved with the Spanish property market on the Costa Blanca since 1992. “Our Man” has a background of building and developing in the UK, his experience and knowledge can assist you in feeling more comfortable about a purchase in the Spanish property market. “Our Man” offers to you a free, complete and consultative service geared to assisting you to find the property that fits your requirements. There is no payment, unless you successfully purchase a property through him. Then “Our Man” is paid, not by you, but from the fee already agreed between the agent and vendor or builder. “Our Man” is not working for the Vendor, therefore he can give constructive, unbiased advice.

Our Man doesn't sell you a property He helps YOU to purchase one!

Deciding on a Region in Spain for Property Buying - Spain is a big country, with surprisingly large differences between regions. Remember that each part of Spain has its own identity and lifestyle, so do your research and decide on the best place for you if you're interested in buying property. Consider these factors: Climate matters - You don’t get sunshine all the time and glorious beaches in every part of Spain. Many areas are very cold in the winter. You don’t even have to be in northern Spain to see snow. You can ski within an hour’s drive from Madrid. Living costs and living standards - In much of Spain the cost of living is lower than in the UK. However some parts of Spain are more expensive than the UK. Cultural fit - Foreigners find it harder to settle in some parts of Spain than in others. The Balearics, for example, see an exodus of foreigners in the winter. Some rural areas have no Brits in residence at all, while in other regions every second person is an ex-pat. Deciding your budget - The first decision to make is how much you can afford to spend. Build in extra costs of around 10 per cent of the cost of the property for legal fees, local property taxes, and surveys. Add more if you want to make additions or improvements to the property. Checking out your tax position if escaping taxes is your main concern - Researching pays dividends. You can find out about Spain before you go, save days of time and hundreds or thousands of pounds by narrowing down your choice of desirable properties and areas to a short list before hunting out your passport.

In Our Next Publication We Will Be Visiting...

Sitting atop Mount Benacantil, the Castle of Santa Barbara still stands like a protector over Alicante. The city that thrives below is also the capital of the Alicante Province. Because of its enticements and charms, this wonderful city has moved many a writer and poet to immortalise it in devoted words.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

Alicante

105

the new

3 Series

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

Gran Turismo

128

MOTORS

The new BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo adds an innovative new concept to the successful BMW 3 Series line-up. The third body variant in the current model family combines the Saloon’s dynamic, sporting genes with the practicality and versatility of the Touring, qualities which are backed up by a palpable increase in space and driving comfort. The Gran Turismo exudes aesthetic and emotional appeal, boasts a distinctive presence on the road and offers similarly pronounced driving pleasure. All of which allows the new Gran Turismo to make a compelling case for itself as both an elegant business carriage and a dynamic, comfortable tourer. Typical BMW proportions, four doors with frameless windows, a coupe-style, gently downward-sloping roofline and a large, automatically opening and closing tailgate define the distinctive exterior character of the BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo. An active rear spoiler – the first of its type on a BMW – provides visual lightness and reduces lift at touring speeds. The new BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo is 200 millimetres longer in total than the BMW 3 Series Touring, comes wîth a 110-millimetre longer wheelbase and stands 81 millimetres taller. However, the clever use of proportions, surfaces and lines ensures that the BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo is immediately recognisable as a member of the new BMW 3 Series range.

Impressive long-distance comfort in a unique ambience

Intelligent load area management The load area also reflects the car’s increased dimensions, its 520 litres of boot capacity even outstripping that of the BMW 3 Series Touring by 25 litres. The large load aperture and high-opening tailgate make access easier. Practical standard features – such as the 40:20:40 split/folding rear seat bench with folding head restraints and tilt-adjustable backrests (cargo function), and the two-piece parcel shelf – underscore the impressive functionality of the BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo. The large load area can be utilised in many different ways, allowing intelligent space management. Practical features such as lashing points, multifunction hooks and an underfloor storage compartment make it even more convenient to use, while the LED strips that illuminate the cargo area emphasise the premium quality of the 3 Series Gran Turismo.

Quintessential BMW 3 Series: functional elegance, three equipment lines High-end material combinations and fit and finish of the highest quality underline the premium ambience on board the new BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo. The latest addition to the 3 Series family can be ordered in an entry-level version, with the Sport Line, Luxury Line or Modern Line equipment packages, or with the optional M Sport package.

Three petrol and two diesel engines power the GT off the start line Customers can choose from a selection of five powerful, refined and economical engines – covering an output range from 105 kW/143 bhp to 225 kW/306 bhp– from the launch of the new BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo. All the powerplants use BMW TwinPower Turbo technology. The rangetopping six-cylinder petrol engine under the bonnet of the BMW 335i Gran Turismo is joined by the four-cylinder petrol units in the BMW 328i Gran Turismo and BMW 320i Gran Turismo. The two 2.0-litre diesel engines powering the BMW 320d Gran Turismo and BMW 318d Gran Turismo round off the line-up at launch. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, although BMW also offers an eight-speed automatic as an option for all engine variants. Both gearboxes link up with the fuel-saving Auto Start-Stop function. Advanced suspension technology, featuring a large number of light-alloy components, the torque steer-free Electric Power Steering, finely-balanced axle load distribution (50:50) and a torsionally stiff lightweight body ensure outstanding handling attributes and a high degree of agility and precision. The longer wheelbase (+ 110 mm), greater wheel diameter and baseline specification of the new BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo– which includes 17-inch wheels – result in a car offering excellent directional stability and long-distance comfort.

Performance (335i) Power: 300hp at 5800rpm Torque: 300 lb-ft at 1200-5000rpm 0-62mph: 5.4sec Top Speed: 155mph (limited)

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

Generous interior dimensions allow the passengers in every seat of the BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo to sit back and enjoy an impressive feeling of space and unbeatable freedom of movement. The front and rear passengers all benefit from a seating position raised by 59 millimetres, which provides an outstanding view out and makes entry and exit significantly more comfortable. Plus, the BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo also offers extra headroom. The increase in space will be particularly noticeable in the rear compartment, where a full 70 millimetres of additional legroom

over the Saloon and Touring – giving luxurycar levels of spaciousness – is there to be enjoyed. The cocooning nature of the interior, complemented by its design forms, colour scheme and materials, creates a lounge-style ambience which allows passengers to enjoy short trips and long journeys alike in relaxed comfort.

107

MOTORS

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

109

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

MOTORS

Fiat 500 GQ Limited Edition The stylish and sophisticated Fiat 500 GQ is the result of a collaboration with GQ, the premier men’s magazine, owned by Condé Nast, which sets style and culture trends across the world. Aimed at a predominately male audience, the new Fiat 500 GQ is dedicated to those customers who love the metropolitan lifestyle and are fans of sophisticated aesthetics and uncompromising style. The Fiat 500 GQ blends the urban feeling of the Fiat 500 with the trendsetting spirit of GQ Magazine and comes with exclusive two-tone paintwork (Groove Metal Grey and Crossover Black), additional specification and unique styling features. Based on the 500S, the Fiat 500 GQ is available with the same engines (1.2 Petrol 69 hp, the award-winning 0.9 Twin Air 85 bhp and the 1.3 MultiJet diesel 95 bhp) and with both hatchback and convertible body types.

We are delighted to announce the addition of the Fiat 500 GQ special series in the UK, which joins the highly successful 500 range,” says Elena Bernardelli, marketing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK.

The Fiat 500 GQ’s interior features, as standard, a sports leather steering wheel with infotainment controls, Blue&Me system with Bluetooth technology, voice

The car’s new upholstery was designed to offer the best possible ergonomics, for comfort and elegance. The internal look of the Fiat 500 GQ is completed by the brushed aluminium sports pedal unit and leather gear knob. Prices start at just £13,110 OTR for the 1.2 69 bhp 500 GQ hatchback version and £15,930 OTR for the 1.2 69 bhp 500 GQ convertible version – prices that are £1,700 and £1,520 respectively more than the 500S versions but include additional specification and a number of unique styling features as standard.

Everyone knows the Fiat 500 can be enhanced with thousands of combinations of equipment and styling options, and this sophisticated yet sporty 500 GQ model further illustrates that. It will appeal to trendsetters who will appreciate its sophisticated style and dynamism. Gentlemen’s agreement

Style is the balance of a perfect agreement. The urban feeling of the Fiat 500 mixed with the trend setting spirit of GQ Magazine gives rise to the 500 GQ. Dedicated to those who love the metropolitan lifestyle and who know how to make the most of its every aspect. Gentlemen of the Third Millennium, trend hunters: this is the car for YOU.

Looking sharp: A sophisticated suit

Style is a harmony of contrasts. It is the elegant metallic two-tone grey/black livery, illuminated by the orange logo details, imprinted on to the door pillar and on the wheel hubs. Style is the silvery outline of the liner sticker and the new 16” rims. Sophisticated and sporty.

Living smart: A dynamic personality

The interior also provides the perfect blend of exclusive personality and comfort. Every detail exudes sophisticated style and dynamism: the sporty steering wheel with infotainment controls, the high tech dashboard, the soft Frau black leather seats with contrasting stitching, the brushed aluminium pedal unit. The intense black upholstery is embellished by the bright orange embossed logos and by the indicators on the instrument panel.

For more information or to arrange a test drive call: t.i.m Fiat Haydn Road, Basford, Nottingham NG5 1DZ Tel: 0115 978 8348

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

The exterior features exclusive standard two-tone paintwork (metallic grey/black), a grey aesthetic liner, black mirror covers, GQ logo on the B- pillar and 16-inch Sport alloy wheels coupled with a contrasting orange 500 logo on the wheel trims.

recognition, soft Frau Black leather seats with orange stitching and orange 500 logo fitted on the dashboard.

111

128

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

MOTORS

All New Maserati Ghibli Maserati’s first saloon in the premium E segment, Ghibli features two twin-turbo V6 petrol engines, an all-new efficient diesel engine and unmatchable luxury. The Ghibli was first unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show and arrived just after the new Quattroporte. It will give Maserati two four-door saloon models for the first time in its history. The Ghibli is smaller, shorter, lighter, more dynamic, less expensive and more economical than the flagship Quattroporte and provides a cornerstone in Maserati’s plans to build 50,000 cars a year by 2015. The petrol model of the vehicle gets the high performance Twin Turbo-charged, 3.0-litre V6 petrol engines.

It will give Maserati two four-door saloon models for the first time in its history The Ghibli S engine develops 410bhp, and accelerates to 100kmph from standstill in 5.0 seconds and attains a top speed of 285km/h. The Ghibli is also the first Maserati in history to be powered by a diesel engine, with a turbo diesel V6 all the sound, refinement and driving pleasure typical of Maserati while delivering fuel consumption over 47mpg (below 6 l/100km) on the NEDC combined cycle . The Ghibli diesel will also become the first Maserati with Start-Stop technology.

The Ghibli S engine develops 410bhp, and accelerates to 100kmph from standstill in 5.0 seconds

Inside, the Ghibli sets itself apart from the Quattroporte with a unique dashboard design that perfectly matches its sportier and more youthful character without losing any of the luxury expected from Maserati. The Ghibli also delivers a sporty design combined with all the spaciousness expected in an executive saloon from Maserati. The Ghibli, Ghibli S and Ghibli Diesel all utilise an eight-speed automatic transmission to deliver their performance, providing seamless comfort with fast gear shifting for hard acceleration. The Ghibli has entered the E-segment sports premium market with a marked advantage in cabin craftsmanship and detailing, offering luxury features like the Maserati Touch Control screen, reversing camera, Poltrona Frau leather interior and the 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, as well as WLAN-based WiFi and compatibility with most modern mobile phone systems.

The Ghibli also delivers a sporty design combined with all the spaciousness expected in an executive saloon from Maserati. More accurate, the 325 HP petrol Ghibli will start at £52,275, while the range-topping 404 HP petrol Ghibli S is set to cost at least £63,415. Both versions will be motivated by twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 units, while the eight-speed automatic transmission comes as standard.

Performance (Ghibli S) 0-62mph: 5.0s Top Speed: 177mph top speed Power: 404bhp Torque: 405 1b-ft Price: £63,415

The Ghibli diesel will also become the first Maserati with Start-Stop technology. Scheduled to arrive in the United Kingdom this autumn, the 2014 Maserati Ghibli will go on sale with On The Road prices starting from £48,830. As you might have guessed, this sticker will be found on the Diesel 3.0-liter V6 version (rated at 271 HP), while the gasoline-powered variants will fetch more than £50,000.

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

It shares much of its core architecture, including its crash safety, chassis, suspension architecture, engines and LED headlight technology, with the larger Quattroporte, though it is 50 kg lighter, 173 mm shorter in the wheel base and 291 mm shorter overall.

The outline of the body reflects a coupelike philosophy for the four-door saloon, while there are strong feline hints around the Ghibli’s grille and headlights. The grille takes its inspiration from the current GranTurismo, and it can draw a line back to the classic 1950s A6 GCS.

113

MOTORS

NEW FIAT DEALERSHIP OPENING IN NOTTINGHAM

CITY LIFE & COUNTY LIVING

The renowned t.i.m. UK Motors, Isuzu dealers in Ilkeston, are adding the popular Fiat brand to their portfolio and opening a new Fiat dealership on Haydn Road in Sherwood. Work is currently progressing on site and it is planned to be open for business by the end of August this year. Currently t.i.m. Fiat is planning a dealer launch event for the 7th and 8th September â&#x20AC;&#x201C; taking on the theme of a family fun day!

114

This is a timely event for local motorists as Nottingham has not had a Fiat dealership selling new cars in over 3-years. The new site will provide both new and used car sales along with a substantial aftersales service including servicing, repairs and parts. The new t.i.m. Fiat dealership will be packed with quality personnel as the team has in excess of 200 years experience in the motor industry. It is an exciting time for t.i.m UK Motors and Fiat as the manufacturer continues to add new models to their range. The Fiat 500 continues to be a best seller and they have now added the larger 500L and 500L Trekking models to the range.

The 500L is Fiat's bold answer to customer and dealer demands for a grown up alternative to the small but so successful 500, a five-seater compact MPV that doesn't feel like one, taking care of people and baggage-carrying requirements with a practical dash of Italian flair. Perhaps best of all, allowing for individual personalisation through an option list clever and extensive enough to set new benchmarks for the class. The Fiat 500 family of cars has proved to be extremely popular with buyers all over Europe. The 500 we all think of is, the cheeky little three-door citycar that started this model's retro revolution but Fiat always felt that this should be merely the starting rung on an ownership ladder designed to be popular for families as well as fashion-conscious urbanistas - a range encompassing seven seats and SUVs as well as the spacious 500L. The new top-of-the-range 500L Trekking is loaded with even more features and adds 17â&#x20AC;? alloy wheels with Mud and Snow tyres, Traction + System, specific suspension together with privacy glass and City Brake Control as standard; providing customers with great value in terms of equipment and safety. To emphasise its sporty outdoor character, the 500L Trekking features specific front and rear bumpers, side skirts and mouldings, air intakes, skidplate and standard fog lights for an even more aggressive and dynamic look. Add to this new high-tech fabric seat upholstery with eco-leather inserts. Customers can choose between two different combinations: magnesio grey fabric with brown leather inserts or black fabric with white leather inserts. The full Fiat range of cars including Panda, 500, 500C, 500L, 500 Trekking, Punto, Bravo, Qubo, and Doblo will soon all be available to see and test drive at t.i.m. Fiat on Haydn Road, Nottingham. The team at t.i.m. UK Motors will have a warm welcome for you. You can find t.i.m. Fiat on Haydn Road, Sherwood, Nottingham, NG5 1DZ or for further information, telephone Phil Henery, Dealer Principal, on 07710 887395.