TNT Magazine / Issue 1510 by TNT Magazine

August 6-12 2012 Issue 1510 tntmagazine.com zine.com om m

WIN!

A 16-DAY EGY PT TOUR WITH OASIS OVERL AND WORTH £995

RICKSHAW ADVENTURE A 3500km pan-India journey on three wheels

TIRED OF TWITTER? The best social sites for travellers

RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT We climb aboard the UK’s only floating hostel

! S L L A B F O LOAD

gan Bingo o B r fo t e s ll a Then you’re . k c e h C ? s n k. Cut-off jea Mullet? Chec

+ TOP 5 BEACH PARTIES FINEST OLYMPIC MOMENTS 48 HOURS IN BORDEAUX LATE TRAVEL DEALS

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CAROL DRIVER EDITOR carol.driver@tntmagazine.com

EDITOR’S LETTER Watching the athletes perform in the Olympics is, of course, inspirational. But, if you’ve had enough of all the enviable physical prowess on display, flick to P8 for the best pub quizzes and games were you can show off your intellectual abilities instead. Or just drown your sorrows. Although, the Games have turned out a few not-to-beforgotten moments. Turn to P48, where we reveal our top seven. Let us know yours – carol.driver@tntmagazine.com

THIS WEEK LONDONDIARY

LONDONNEWS

MY LONDON DRINK & EATS

12 14-15

@TNT

LONDON SOUND

20-21

LISTINGS CLUB & GIGS

22,25

SPOTTED

COMPETITION

CHATROOM STEVEN MCKELLER

LONDON SCENE SPARE TIME

LIFESTYLE

35-47

SHOPPING

HEALTH & BEAUTY

36-37 38

CAREERS

Photos: Getty; Cover: Bogan Bingo

28-29

FEATURES GET BOGANISED

Bogan Bingo tops our list of London’s best pub games. Learn how to get involved

LIVING

46-47

SUGAR MAN

NEWS & SPORT

48-59

We chat to the filmamker and star of a new doco about Sixto Rodriguez

TRAVEL

61-86

DIARY

NEWS

LATE DEALS

COMPETITION

HOTSHOTS

TOP OLYMPIC MOMENTS

From the crying fencer to the pissed-up Aussies, here’s London 2012’s best

DESIGNS ON GREATNESS

Technology has long helped humans in sport – in some ways good, others bad

TOP FIVE

70-71

EAGER IN RIGA

TIPS & STUFF

72,75

Join us as we explore the amazing sights and sounds of the Latvian capital

48 HOURS IN... BORDEAUX CLASSIFIEDS DESPERATELY SEEKING

89-113 114

INDIAN ADVENTURES

Take part in the wild and wonderful Rickshaw Run. Stories are guaranteed

52 TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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EDITORIAL Editor Carol Driver Sub editor Jahn Vannisselroy Content editors: Acting Travel Laura Chubb Entertainment Alasdair Morton Web Oliver Jones Social Media Dan Thorne DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Head of design and production Jon Cooke

LONDONDIARY

@tntmagazine

The Big Easy comes to the East End

Acting picture researcher Ruth Board DIGITAL & IT Head of digital marketing and development Syed Ahmad SALES Commercial director David Alstin Sales manager Jaqui Ward Classified Ad Manager Matt Syder Sales executives Tyler Harrison | Eddie Clinton | Donovan Smith | Michael Fair | Marie Smith Sales administrator Abby Nightingale MARKETING & EVENTS Marketing and events executive Phoebe Cherrill ACCOUNTS Margaret Roberts | Suzanne Welsh TNT MULTIMEDIA LTD CEO Kevin Ellis Chairman Ken Hurst PUBLISHER TNT Multimedia Limited DISTRIBUTION Emblem Direct Ltd PRINTED BY Wyndeham Peterborough Limited NEWS AAP SAPA NZPA PICTURES Getty Images, TNT Images, Thinkstock TNT Magazine , 16 Brune St, London, E1 7NJ tntmagazine.com General enquiries Phone 020 7953 8469 Fax 020 7953 7957 Email enquiries@tntmagazine.com SALES ENQUIRIES

PHONE 020 7989 0567 EMAIL sales@tntmagazine.com WHERE TO GET TNT

COVER PRICE: £1 where sold SEE tntmagazine.com/findtnt for pick-up points or tntmagazine.com/emag to read TNT online SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DISTRIBUTION Caroline Penn 01603 559004 All thieves of TNT bins will be prosecuted.

Shhh... SECRET LONDON STORYVILLE EAST END

New Orleans, the place of ‘blood, lust and magic’ is brought to the East End, by the stars from the Nightjar bar, for a evening that recreates the sultry music and soul of this most enigmatic of US cities. With production design, costumes, as well as music and performance, you’ll be transported to the streets of the French Quarter, with New Orleans cocktails; brass bands; ragtime numbers; fast-stepping dancers; traditional grub, such as gumbo and jambalaya; a vintage photo booth; tarot readings; and an Enigma Absinthe bar, for the brave. £15+

Sat, Aug 11. 7pm-4am Factory 7, 132 Hearn Street, EC2A 3LS

00 4

locationhouse.co.uk

LONDON HOSTEL PARTY

BMX STUNT SHOW

GREAT BRITISH BEER FEST

London’s biggest hostel party – now monthly, too – at this south London student haven goes all tiki for its August bash. There’s a live band and grass skirts, although they’re not mandatory. Rum drinking is, though, so it’s just as well you get a free welcome beverage and buffet to get the party started.

The good folks at the Queen welcome BMX stunt rider, UK number one and all-round twowheeled badass Keelan Phillips to kick the weekend off with an evening demonstration of his wicked skills. Come, be impressed, but don’t try any of the skills on your ride home, though. Leave that to the pro’s.

Grin and beer it as Britain’s biggest pub, essentially, opens its doors for a five-day boozeathon that features no less than 800 cask and bottled ales, ciders and foreign beers. Just don’t try to sample them all – even with 1/3-, 1/2- and full-pint options, it’s a tall order for anyone.

Aug 11. 9pm-3am Belushi’s, 161-165 Borough High Street, SE1 1HR London Bridge belushis.com

Aug 10. 6pm-8pm 1-6 Curtain Road, EC2A 3JX Shoreditch High Street queenofhoxton.com

Aug 7-11. Times vary Olympia, W14 8UX Kensington Olympia gbbf.org.uk

FREE

TNT Magazine is printed on paper from sustainable forests. There is no business connection between the proprietors of this magazine and TNT Ltd, the worldwide transportation group. Copyright here and abroad of all original materials is held by TNT Magazine. Reproduction in whole or part is forbidden, except with permission of the publishers. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office.

Shoreditch High Street

FREE

£8

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Keep an eye out for Queenie

BUCKINGHAM PALACE SUMMER OPENING The Mall

In the year the world’s eyes look to Britain – so far it’s rained, the nation’s won a couple of medals and people have generally been very restrained about it all – you can get a peek inside the Queen’s palace, a must-stop for all tourists, and rightly so. The Grand Hall, where the thrones sit, the Music Room, and much of the Queen’s diamond jewellery are all on display, so you can see where the monarchy, sometimes, resides. £5+

Until October 7. Times vary. Buckingham Palace Road, SW1 1AA

royalcollection.org.uk

CAMDEN BEACH

CHINA TO HACKNEY FEST

A sandy beach escape in the middle of the city – it’s a novel and winning idea, as the Roundhouse’s terrace is covered with sand castles, men in board shorts and deck chairs. There’s a BBQ hut, Margarita shack, ice creams in bountiful supply and happy hour from 5pm to 7pm. Bring on the sun.

Four spectacular and diverse shows bring the best of Chinese culture to town, featuring: Dou Dou, the singing sensation who wowed at the 2008 Beijing games, the Chinese Youth Carnival, Lv Wei in concert with the London Philarmonia Orchestra, and theatre show The Monkey King And Other Tales.

Until end of August. 11am-11pm Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8EH Chalk Farm roundhouse.org.uk

Aug 8-12. Times vary Hackney Empire, E8 1EJ Hackney Central hackneyempire.co.uk

FREE

Photos: Getty

Victoria

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£5+

3/8/12 16:00:01

LONDONNEWS CALL FOR HELMETS AFTER CYCLIST KILLED

@tntmagazine

Hanging around: Boris shouts for help

Bicycle helmets should be compulsory, according to Team GB gold medalist Bradley Wiggins. The call came after cyclist Daniel Harris was knocked down and killed by a bus outside the Olympic Park. The 28-year-old died after being hit by the official Olympic media bus last Wednesday night. Wiggins said: “It’s dangerous and London is a busy city and a lot of traffic.” Harris, from Ilford, was a web specialist who had only begun recently using his bike to commute into London. The bus driver was arrested and bailed on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

It’s open for business, come back into the capital, come and shop, come and eat in London’s restaurants Prime minister David Cameron begs people to come to the capital after they stay away in their droves

COMMUTERS ADMIT ‘HATE STARE’ TACTICS You’re on a busy train and there’s a spare seat next to you. Someone gets on the next stop, eyeing the empty chair. What do you do? Adopt the ‘hate stare’ of course. The ‘don’t bother me’ look has been named by US scientists looking into behaviour of commuters. Other tactics include putting a bag on the seat, checking phones, putting in headphones and faking sleep.

ON THE TUBE

Our mayor on a wire

Blunder-prone Boris gets stuck on zip ride, goes viral It could only happen to Boris Johnson. London’s hapless mayor became an internet sensation last week, when he attempted to gracefully sail down a zip wire in Victoria Park. Wearing a hard hat and gripping two Union flags, blond Johnson was all set to ride the 1050ft zip line. It was, of course, a recipe for disaster. Johnson, renowned for his gaffes, ground to a halt about 65ft from the end. He was left dangling comically for about five minutes, as bystanders snapped photos and recorded footage. When asked how he was feeling, Johnson replied “very,

very well, thank you”, before shouting: “Get me a rope, get me a ladder.” He then assured them: “It’s very, very well organised. It’s going well so far. Right.” The images went viral, with Twitter ablaze with comments. @ChrisBrosnahan summed up the mood: “[This is] what most of us were expecting the opening ceremony to be more like.” A spokesman for Mr Johnson told reporters he “remained unbowed” by the incident, adding: “The judges will rightly be marking him down for artistic impression.” The the full, hilarious video, log on to tntmagazine.com/boris

THIS WEEK IN LONDON...

Riots last summer

OLYMPIC SCHEDULE

WATERLOO: Trains will be running until 1am until Sunday, August 12, to meet the extra demand during the Games.

ALL OTHER LINES: The Tube and DLR services will run until about an hour later during the Olympics. Last trains from central London will leave about 1.40am. STATIONS: TfL will close stations at certain times during the day to cope with overcrowding. Check before you leave. news, log on to getaheadofthegames.com

Photos: Getty; Twitter

WEBSITE: For the latest Olympic travel

Away from the Olympics, Monday marks a year since the beginning of the riots that gripped the world for days. As the anniversary approaches, figures show some 600 cases – 20 per cent of people charged – have not been through the courts. The riots were triggered after police shot dead Mark Duggan in Tottenham, sparking an outrage that quickly spread to other major English cities. A quarter of youths questioned in a survey last week said there could be more violence this summer. Most said the riots spread because youngsters were copying their peers or so they could boast to friends. Hopefully the police will be prepared this time if they do ...

TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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FREEPHONE 0800 151 3511 Anglo Pacific International Plc, 5/9 Willen Field Road, Park Royal, London, NW10 7BQ Email: baggage@anglopacific.co.uk Hours: Mon-Fri 8.30am - 6.00pm Sat 9am-1pm

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Up for it: Trev and Tim with a fan

Get boganised Down at The Underdog in Clapham, the bogans are recruiting, pulling more converts to their way of life every week WORDS JAHN VANNISSELROY “This show contains coarse language, strobe lights … and traces of nuts. Let’s play some fucken bingo!” And with that, Bogan Bingo kicks off. Ocker-asthey-come callers Tim and Trev, decked out in cut-off jean shorts and flip-flops, emerge to Poison’s Ain’t Nothing But A Good Time and the howls of an audience hungry for action. As with each weekly installment of Bogan Bingo, Clapham’s The Underdog bar is heaving, an up-for-it crowd of predominantly Aussies and Kiwis, but featuring a good number of Brits, champing at the bit for a dose of bogan. They’re not disappointed. Tim quickly get his balls (his bingo ones) into action, as Trev darts to and from the mic, his weird asides the perfect foil for his mate’s witty banter. Within seconds, the smut is flowing. “44: on all fours … bitch”; “16: never been kissed – bullshit!”; “69: a dinner for two”. The crowd loves it, cheering, high-fiving and roaring along to the classic rock songs that accompany many of the ball drops. When “Number six: show us your tits” is called, there’s free beer at the bar for any girl game enough to provide a little breast action. Although

one plucky lass, standing up on her seat, teases by pulling her bra down, there’s no takers. Boos all round. “I saw a bit of nipple,” Tim says delightedly. “That’s worth a shandy.” The crowd goes wild. Again. Bogans are so hot right now. Earlier this year, they were added to the Oxford English Dictionary, and Tim and Trev’s show, started in London in 2008, has been phenomenally popular, selling out for a year. How things have changed. “‘Bogan’ is a term of endearment now,” Trev explains later. “Before, you could find offence in being called that. Now, ‘bogan’ is more a way of life, a personality trait. You don’t have to be a bogan all the time, but, usually after a few beers, everyone’s got a bit of bogan in them.” That lurking inner-bogan has been worked into a rollicking show perhaps best described as ‘controlled carnage’, the sort that attracted the curators of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where the boys take their show this month. “We’ve created mayhem in a pub,” Trev says proudly. “We feel we give people a licence to be a little bit stupid, not take themselves so seriously. It’s a good, unpretentious night out.”

Back at The Underdog, everyone’s merry. More numbers tumble from Tim’s tongue, accompanied by more classic rock and a healthy dose of dry ice, until someone manages to stand up, grab their crotch, raise their devil horns into the air and yell, “Bloody Bingo”. Simon, an Aussie, makes his way to the front to the sound of Johnny Cash’s I Walk The Line. “Hi, Simon,” the crowd chants. “Go get fucked, Simon." Simon’s won the night's top and second-most sought-after prize: a £1500 Stoke Travel voucher (a photo of a panda on a slide is the reward everyone secretly covets). He performs a little victory dance as the pub belts out: “There was a farmer had a dog, and Bingo was his name-o. B-I-N-G-O!” An hour later, outside The Underdog, a well-dressed British girl stumbles from the pub, singing John Mellencamp’s Hurts So Good to herself. She looks well pleased. I guess Trev’s right. There really is a little bit of bogan in all of us.

‘K

LONDON’S BEST PUB COMPS ›› Bogan Bingo, The Underdog, Thurs 8pm. £6 SW4 7AB Clapham Common facebook.com/boganbingouk

De 8

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Dabbers at the ready

‘Keep it clean guys’

Devil horns in the air

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THE HOLLYWOOD ARMS CHELSEA

LONDON BRIDGE BINGO ONLINE

Described as dynamic, refreshing and addictive, this oftenthemed quiz takes place Hollywood Arms in the heart of beautiful Chelsea. Held in the pub’s Blanchard Room, which dates back to the 1600s, the night is the perfect follow-up to a quality meal in the recently refurbished restaurant.

Social-media-based bingo game played via Twitter. Divide a piece of paper into six squares and In each square write the name of a London-based Thames crossing and then post a photo of it to Twitter. During each game day, all Thames crossings will be tweeted to @ldnbridgebingo. Whenever you successfully mark off a crossing, again take a picture and tweet it. Like regular bingo, the winner is the first to mark off all their squares. Slightly odd, but will make your day in the office go a bit faster. FREE

£2

Tues. 8pm 45 Hollywood Road, SW10 9HX South Kensington hollywoodarmschelsea.com

UNDERGROUND REBEL BINGO SHOREDITCH Raucous, raunchy and a whole lot of fun, Underground Rebel Bingo features scantily clad callers, loud music and a whole lot of grubby sexual rhyming slang over three rounds of anarchic fun. Then, the party continues until they decide to kick you out. Prepare for a wicked evening of debauchery – just don’t take your nan. £6+

Every Thurs/ Fri. From 9am @ldnbridgebingo/ #londonbridgebingo

Sept 14-15. From 8pm Secret location Shoreditch High Street rebelbingo.com

THE BOOGALOO HIGHGATE

THE PUNCH TAVERN FLEET STREET

Apparently “the best film quiz in London ... and maybe the world”, The Boogaloo’s ‘Gonna Need A Bigger Boat’ night is often a sell-out, with huge screens, prizes and secret surprises making it a big hit for any movie buff.

This refurbished traditional pub in Soho serves up a pub quiz featuring great prizes and a friendly, bohemian crowd in an offbeat atmosphere. The food’s great, too.

The Punch Tavern is a beautiful 17thcentury building in the heart of central London. Named after the founders of controversial Punch Magazine, as the journos were always drinking outside the building back in the 1840s, the pub is a tourist attraction in itself. The quiz appears pricey at £10 a team, but the winners scoop all the cash. If victorious, splash out on a just-like-mum-used-tomake dinner, as The Punch has scooped numerous awards for its grub. Fancy holding your own quiz night? The Punch rents out space for you to do just that. There’s also poker evenings and table tennis, in case you and your mates haven’t had enough compeition.

Madame Galina The Ballerina and a handful of her handpicked acts entertain at Volupte London. While most cabaret clubs and burlesque nights are a spectator-only sport, Galina gets the crowd going with bingo and a quiz following her raunchy show. Expect a kookie, gobby and rip-roaring good time. Price includes show and threecourse meal.

Mon. 7.30pm 31 Dean Street, W1D 3SB Tottenham Court Road thecrownandtwochairmenw1.co.uk

Tues. 6.30pm 99 Fleet Street, EC4Y, 1DE Chancery Lane punchtavern.com

Aug 16. 7,30pm 7-9 Norwich Street, EC4A 1EJ Chancery Lane volupte-lounge.com

£2

FOOSBALL HOXTON Get involved with the game that Friends made cool again at Hoxton’s Bar Kick, an establishment that also runs the British Foosball League. The former shoe shop is a funky place to hang out and also shows 3D football games in the basement. Chow down on freshly cooked food, sip cocktails, then get involved and challenge your mates. Join the league and work your way up the ladder, competing for prizes. Casual players are welcome, though. A great chance to get competitive. FREE

Weekdays from 10.30am. Weekends from 12pm 126-127 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JE Old Street barkick.co.uk

First Wed each month. 7.30pm 312 Archway Road, N6 5AT Highgate theboogaloo.co.uk

THE CROWN AND TWO CHAIRMEN SOHO £2

£10

BOLSHOI BINGO CHANCERY LANE £58

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BONKERS BINGO ISLINGTON

BINGO NIGHT AT ROYAL VAUXHALL TAVERN VAUXHALL

Join compere and funnyman Martin Hancock, who used to play Spider in Coronation Street – if you’re a fan (and who isn’t?) you’ll recognise him. As the name promises, it’s a high-energy, slightly-off-the wall evening, with food, drinks and cash and some silly booby prizes, of course! FREE

Every second Wed. 7pm 188-190 New North Road, Essex Road N1 7BJ thenorthpolepub.co.uk

This has to be the most flamboyant pub night in town. Hosts Timberlina and Hay Baylen present entertainmentthemed bingo featuring musical singalongs, spontaneous rants and banter, songs, surprise guests including a Cher doll, incredible prizes and great music all night. £1

MUSICAL BINGO WITH JESS INDEEDY KING’S CROSS Join US presenter Jess Indeedy and DJ Helix for their famously addictive bingo, featuring songs instead of numbers. Compete to win top (and kitsch) prizes, ranging from sandwich toasters, inflatable parrots, and vintage records to rounds of cocktails and champagne. Prepare yourself, as Jess and Helix take bingo to the next level. £8

Mon. 8.30pm 372 Kennington Lane, SE11 5HY Vauxhall rvt.org.uk

Aug 23. 8pm Drink, Shop & Do, 9 Caledonian Rd, N1 9DX King’s Cross musical-bingo.com

SOUNDS FAMILIAR MUSIC QUIZ SOHO

INDIE BINGO TOOTING Held at teh Tooting Tram And Social, it’s bingo, but with indie bands instead of numbers (right) . Musicians range from the Beatles and The Strokes, to The Hives and The Vaccines, and facts, jokes and general knowledge relating to the artists are given throughout the game – so you can learn something during the three rounds. There’s also a bonus round in between, hosted by master of ceremonies Dave Cording and formally know as ‘Dave’s Dingy’. Here, you can win booby prizes if you manage to detect Indie Bingo’s mystery song. Major rewards include a bottle of champagne, a £25 drinks voucher and a jackpot of a £50 worth of booze, to be spent over six months. FREE

With rounds such as ‘I Went On Holiday And All I Heard Was This Song’, ‘Not Another Wedding’ and ‘Wet Fart’, this music quiz is famously hilarious. You’re guaranteed a fun evening at Jerusalem. £5

CAROM SOHO Like billiards, but on a board, carom involves using a striker disk with a flick of the finger to make contact with and move lighter disks into corner pockets. Beginners and advanced players are all welcome to get involved at Carom At Mezza. There are four full-sized boards for rotational play and the club has an area where you can play while enjoying regional Indian cookery and drinks. Carom currently has a popup Indian summer garden out the back, where the game can be enjoyed. FREE

Mon-Sat. From 5.30pm 100 Wardour Street, W1F 0TN Tottenham Court Rd mezza-soho.co.uk

August 15. 7pm 33-34 Rathbone Place, W1T 1JN Tottenham Court Road soundsfamiliarmusicquiz.com

SCIENCE MUSEUM LATES SOUTH KENSINGTON Hosted by ‘evil geniuses’, where better to do a quiz than among all the knowledge of the Science Museum? Great prizes for the winners in this exciting after-hours venue. £2

Monthly. Next quiz Aug 29. 6.45pm Exhibition Road, SW7 2DD South Kensington sciencemuseum.org.uk

First Thurs of every month. 7pm 46-48 Mitcham Road, SW17 9NA Tooting Broadway indiebingo.com

THE MUCKY PUP ISLINGTON Not for the fainthearted, this quiz means business. From general knowledge to cryptic clues, The Mucky Pub hosts an ‘above average’ quiz for trivia experts who want to challenge themselves and show off. The winner gets a share of the takings. Dogs are welcome, too. How cool is that?! £1.50

Wed. 8.30pm 39 Queen’s Head Street, N1 8NQ Angel muckypup-london.com

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earn

earn £600+ per week

work

MYLONDON

live travel work earn

LAYLA ANNA-LEE SPORTS PRESENTER

live

What baffles me about London is the Hampstead Heath and Serpentine swimmers’ clubs. Come rain or snow, in the height of summer and the depths of the worst winters, those fruitloops are swimming in our city’s freezing waters. London’s best-kept secret is up on the roof. The trails of rooftops in Soho are a wonderful place to walk above the stresses of city life.

travel

When I want to chill out I like to walk my dog alongside the gates of London Zoo in Regents Park. He growls at the flamingoes, you can hear the lions and peek at the penguins.

My favourite places for a drink are small homely-yet-classy mixology bars. I don’t drink alcohol, so a bartender needs to be smart to make me a sexy, non-alcoholic cocktail – they do exist! Try Purl in Blandford St, Westminster.

My perfect weekend is always spontaneous and unplanned, a random detour to the fairground that’s only in town for the weekend or simply trying a new restaurant I’ve never been to before. Oh, and a stroll down South Bank.

Five words that sum up London ... Colourful, corporate, classic, cultured and alive.

www.ipgvip.com www.facebook.com/ipgrecruitment

earn

laylaannalee.com/ Twitter: @Laylaloves

020 3239 6299 07716 376 408

work

What’s the biggest faux pas you have made? Going hang gliding in a mini-skirt is pretty high up on my ridiculous list.

Come & meet us for a drink & a chat. If you like what you see – BINGO! Immediate start. XXXXXXX /00 Full training provided. XXXXXXXXXXX /00 Live-in positions available too! To book a place at one of our information sessions, call:

travel

What gets me up in the morning is my dog pulling the duvet away and piling his toys on to the bed. He’s spoilt. It’s my own fault.

Like to hear more?

live

For when you’re hungover in London, as I don’t drink, I’m up early and making sweet smoothies for my hungover buddies.

earn

The most interesting person I’ve met is a homeless Rastafarian called Freddie, who sits with his broken guitar in Camden Lock and sings the blues late into the night. Stop and say hello – he has some incredible stories to tell.

Looking for fun work, great workmates, freedom to travel (whenever you want) & the money to do it all with?

work

Which sport has excited you most about the Olympics? I’m pretty excited about the beach volleyball, partly because I’m hosting it, and partly because it’s girls in bikinis … need I say more?

TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going on Down Under?

ut Be a smartypants Âť get checked o Free, friendly sexual health clinics, open to everyone. Just make an appointment for a sexual health checkup, emergency contraception and free condoms and lube.

Mortimer Market Centre Central London off Tottenham Court Road, WC1E 6JB 020 3317 5100

Goodge St, Warren St & Euston Square

The Archway Centre North London 681-689 Holloway Road N19 5SE 020 3317 5252

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Archway

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LONDONDRINKS

TRAM AND SOCIAL

@tntmagazine

Cavenous room for cavorting

BAR THE SCENE Once upon a time, this pub was a tramshed, and the first thing that hits you is the size: the ceilings are 75 foot above you in a cavernous room that features a mezzanine running around three of the walls. Twinkling fairly lights give the venue cosy, heartfelt vibes, and the off-kilter, slightly skewed decor (large mirrors, lampshades, huge leather single-seat sofas, the Tube station-esque tiles) conjures an aura of stylish, slightly timeless intrigue. THE GRUB It’s a limited option of bar snacks only, so it is down to you to keep your metabolism going with a glass of vino, or the like. BEHIND THE BAR A wide range of beer, draught and bottled, sits alongside wines, spirits and shooters – so whatever your tipple, or if you just fancy a change, there’s something here to cater for all. BILL PLEASE Beers from £3.80; wines from £3.75; spirits from £2.70. VERDICT A winning venue that maximises the options afforded by its imposing, impressive building. It’s a lively Friday-night venue that is packed to the rafters and buzzing, and has a stage, too, on which bands and comedy acts are hosted. The Tram And Social’s layout also makes it ideal for more cosy, one-to-one drinks, or for lazy afternoon chill outs as well. Pretty much a clear-cut winner in all areas but food, and highly recommended. ALASDAIR MORTON

46-48 Mitcham Road, SW17 9NA

3 OF THE BEST BREAKFASTS

antic-ltd.com/tooting

Tooting Broadway

FLEET RIVER

THE REGENCY CAFÉ

SACRED

If you have a sweet tooth at breakfast, pop into this Holborn bakery and choose from muffins, pastries and cakes – everything baked fresh daily. Grab a seat with a good book, a friend or some work.

Offering huge portions of traditional English breakfasts and other fried-up classics, this Pimlico café borders on being a diner as they shout your order across the restaurant. It’s likely you’ll quickly become a regular.

Sacred Café, with six locations in London, brews gourmet coffee and serves up tea in antique pots. While the drinks are what it is known for, Sacred also offers hearty Kiwi meals for something more substantial.

fleetriverbakery.com

urbanspoon.com

sacredcafe.co.uk

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BITE SIZE

Bring it on: La Mancha

FUN AND GAMES Don’t miss out on a minute of the Games action at Stratford’s newest pop-up bar. The Faucet Inn, near the Stadium, has launched the 1500capacity Podium Bar which boasts a British beer garden and an Englishstyle BBQ. With drinks such as Wells & Young Real Ale and Pimm’s, and baguettes and burgers from 8am11.30pm, the bar is already a favourite with athletes and visitors. There’s also a giant TV screen showing live Olympic coverage, so it’s the best antidote for those who failed to get tickets. faucetinn.com

OBTAIN PURITY Healthy eating fast-food store Pure, with restaurants already in Fitzrovia and Soho, is launching in Covent Garden. With meals prepared and cooked fresh on the site every day and a focus on natural ingredients, it offers a healthy haven away from prepackaged temptation. Freshly baked flatbreads, homemade dressings atop waist-friendly salads, wraps, hot boxes and smoothies are all available for takeaway or delivery. pure-madeforyou.co.uk

POUR YOUR OWN VINO London has its first self-service wine machine as part of Corney & Barrow’s new ‘Cabin’ Bar at Waterloo station. Working by way of an Oyster-card style system, the bar is designed to look like The Orient Express, with an opulent, tapas-style menu including take-out hampers with cured meat, high quality cheeses and freshly baked bread along with an impressive wine display. Open from 5pm-9pm daily.

LA MANCHA TAPAS/ SPANISH THE SCENE La Mancha has an inviting atmosphere, thanks to its warm lighting and pleasant staff who skillfully work to make guests feel at home. Surreal scenes from the likes of Spanish artists Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso adorns the walls, with the restaurant’s focal point, a large mural of Dali’s Windmills With Butterfly Blades, adding a classy splash of colour. The establishment quickly fills up with a cross section of trendy young things, couples on dates and larger groups, and the room is soon alive with the sound of animated chatter. A huge bar in La Mancha’s front half serves up a selection of exceptionally well-balanced cocktails. It’s an extremely pleasant environment. THE GRUB La Mancha’s menu involves a massive offering of tapas, extensive to the point of overwhelming, and all food persuasions are catered for in a variety of ways. My date and I go for a small selection for starters: gambones (king prawns in brandy sauce), vieras (sea scallops wrapped in bacon with lobster sauce) and champinones al ajillo (mushrooms with garlic and chilli). Each is exceptional. For mains, we choose the 200g pepito de solomillo fillet steak, which is cooked to absolute perfection, complemented with a mouth-watering peppercorn sauce; and the zarzuela de pescado, a casserole of mussels, prawns, monkfish, salmon, squids and sea bass, lobster sauce, which is slightly on the salty side, but a great dish nonetheless. With a cocktail each and a few glasses of wine, there’s only really room for a shared dessert, the banoffee pie a perfect end to a fine meal. Service from La Mancha’s friendly and professional waiting staff is exemplary.

More than 20 top cocktails, sangria and a good range of Spanish beer, wine and cider, served by knowledgeable bar staff. BILL PLEASE Tapas from £2.95; mains from £8.95; dessert from £4.95; wine from £5.50/£15.50; cocktails from £6; beer from £3.85. VERDICT Wholesome Spanish food in a relaxed environment. An excellent start to your evening in Putney. JAHN VANNISSELROY BEHIND THE BAR

corney-barrow.co.uk 32 Putney High Street, SW15 1SQ

lamancha.co.uk

Putney Bridge

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LETTER OF THE WEEK

Yay for the Olympics

Text TNT and your message to

81707*

Having watched the London 2012 Opening Ceremony, I must say... I’ve seen far better Bond girls.

Geordie London 2012 is the 30th Olympiad, so in roman it’s the XXX Olympiad Games.

Francesca The IOC has claimed that they will catch Olympic drug cheats. I’m not so sure - they’re pretty fucking fast.

Timothy South Korea are beating North Korea in the medal table. Start of WW3?

Kim It’s so great to see the Chinese setting records for something other than the most number of people executed.

Nicola Hey suarez: booing an anthem is actually a term of friendship in britain.

Jayson I could have been in the games ... If they had an event where you fall over things without spilling your beer.

Peter GB and France beating the Germans, where have i seen that before?

Winston I made an Olympic-themed dinner last night, and everything went as planned. It was extremely disappointing.

Addison

EMAIL YOUR THOUGHTS TO LETTERS@TNTMAGAZINE.COM

Despite all the moaning, whinging and bitching beforehand, the Olympics have been pretty damn awesome. My Tube hasn’t been too packed or slow (and I work out East), I’ve met some great people from other countries out and about, and I’ve also watched Australia win some medals live at the aquatic centre. Sure, there’s always going to be some controversy with the Games, but I seriously wish it was on every year in London. Simone, via email

PIPPED OFF So fashion goblin Karl Lagerfeld had a go at poor old Pippa Middleton (tntmagazine.com). Look, I don’t think Pippa is anything special either and her ass is weak. But, Karl, when you look like a terrorhawk you really shouldn’t pass judgement on someone else. Chris Winkley, via Google+

I HEART BO-JO Boris Johnson is an absolute bloody hero and best mayor we could possibly hope for. Only someone with Boris’s personality and lack of selfimportance get stuck on a zipline and not look like a complete idiot. Can you imagine the tantrum Red Ken would have had if this had happened to him? Matthew, via Facebook

BAD MOVE, IOC The badminton players should not have been kicked out of the Olympics. If that’s the strategy they

used in order to win, when did that become cheating? If losing the game for both teams was a plan to avoid playing a stronger opponent next opponent up, I call that a game strategy, not cheating. This punishment was absurd. Ru, via tntmagazine.com

NOT HAPPY, MAN Apparently you can buy unused Olympic tickets? Yeah, right! Locog is an absolute disgrace. It has probably the worst customer service I have come across. I have tried emaling them numerous times and tried ringing them as well, but I have yet to make contact with a human, instead just stupid computer-generated emails and voice machines. I hope they are happy that they really have ruined a lot of people’s 2012 Olympic Games. Nice one! James, via tntmagazine.com BEACH PARTIES /76 INDIA /82

Simone wins a three-day tour of Ireland with Shamrocker shamrockeradventures.com

YOUR TWEETS Tweet us @tntmagazine @JohnDoesThings: Take me down to the paraphrase city where it’s nice. @HipsterMermaid: I want you to be completely honest with me as long as you’re only pointing out my strengths. @Cheeseboy22: Found a great message in a bottle on the beach. Decided it needed to be RT’d, so I threw it back in.

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Dani Raath: Le Clos=GOLD, Phelps=DENIED #VivaSouthAfrica Terence Edward: Aliens visit the opening ceremony? Just a pity they didn’t abduct royal parasites, top toff tosser and his rotten crew, buffoon and Sadbarstian Cock! Zoe Van Schoor: The Indian Olympic Opening Ceremony gatecrasher: It’s so casual! I am deeply embarrassed for her!

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Bowled Over The sun’s come out and we figured it’s time for a barbie, some tunes and a roll on the lawn

lawn bowls tournament Grab a bunch of mates and head down for an afternoon of barefoot bowls

bodeans BBQ

For the rib-licious experience, we smoke it low cook it slow

dj live entertainment All day entertainment till late

Our first ever Barefoor Bowls event Tickets

£5

Book N

ow!

When: Sunday Sept 9 - From Midday Southwark Sports Bowls Club, SE21 7EU

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SPOTTED AT TNT’S OPENING CEREMONY PARTY AT THE ELK BAR Friday, July 27, 2012 Photos by: Brandt Hurley / TNT For more Spotted like us on facebook/tntmagazine

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See the Olympics out with the Blur boys

festival

watch

END OF THE ROAD FESTIVAL

CLOSING CEREMONY PARTY Hyde Park, W2 4RU AUGUST 12 | DOORS AT 2.30PM | £55+

This intimate, independent and atmospheric Dorset bash takes things back to how festivals used to be – all about community, entertainment, cracking bands, and an escape from the everyday norm (in this case the identikit line-ups parading across the country). This year’s headliners are indie-popsters Beach House, Grizzly Bear and the longstanding Grandaddy, with Alt-J, Alabama Shakes (below), Tindersticks, Deer Tick and a host of stand-ups, too, among the epic support for the weekend. Larmer Tree Gardens, North Dorset, SP5 5PY. Salisbury Aug 31-Sept 2. £150 endoftheroadfestival.com

With Danny ‘the legend’ Boyle having smashed it out of the park with the Olympics Opening Ceremony (unless you’re a Tory ‘twat’, that is) the closing celebrations to the 30th Olympiad will have a lot to live up to. As the official Closing Ceremony kicks off at the Olympic Stadium up the road, Hyde Park hosts a closing concert – and it is a best-of-British event in every sense. Where the respective opening gig was a mish-mash of Brit bands – the less said about Duran Duran the better, other than to query whether they actually know it is no longer the Eighties, as their heavily sprayed barnets suggest otherwise – this show is all about the genuine heavyweights. Blur, back at the scene of their triumphant 2009 reunion shows, headline. They’ve just released Blur 21, celebrating 21 years of a diverse career, and are bound to draw on their eclectic back catalogue. So expect, given the ceremony, a showboating, grandstanding greatest-hits set. Think Song 2 (as featured in Boyle’s Opening Ceremony), Beetlebum, Country House, Popscene, Girls & Boys, but also bet on musical chameleon Damon and his boys to throw in a few shocks to keep everyone on their toes. Support on the evening comes from reformed ska legends The Specials, Bombay Bicycle Club and the Hook-less New Order to remind everyone that some of the world’s greatest music originated here on these little islands. True world leaders, on a global stage – it’s the gig of the summer. Sorry Bruce. Hyde Park

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NEW BAND

THE BLACK SEEDS GIG SAT, AUG 11. 6.30PM £14.50

Rootsy, dub, soul, afro-beat, funksters The Seeds have sold bucketloads back home and, with this year’s Dust And Dirt and their eight-piece live assault, are making deserved inroads over here, too. Check out tntmagazine.com for a chance to win a pair of VIP gig and aftershow party tickets to this south London show. Electric Brixton Town Hall Parade, Brixton Hill, SW2 1RJ Brixton electricbrixton.com

WE FEAR SILENCE... SHOGUN AUDIO

RUDE PHOTO WITH FELIX DA HOUSECAT

CLUB

SAT, AUG 11. 10PM-6AM £11+

FRI, AUG 10. 11PM-7AM £10+

WFS join forces with Shogun Audio for this night of drum ‘n’ bass tuneage. Radio One’s Friction will be joined by the likes of Breakage, a scene mainstay since 2001’s remix of Here Come The Drums, with Spectrasoul, Icicle B2B Jubei and Kiwi Chris Tuman, also known as DOSE, who kicks things off in the first room.

Legend and Atlanta-based electro/ house king Felix DHC hits London for the second night of his quarterly residency. In line to shine this time out is fashionista/ artist/ DJ Scarlett Etienne, who’s graced the pages of Vogue and devised the set list for runway shows at London Fashion Week, no less. Glitz, glam and tunes to boot.

Cable 33 Bermondsey Street Tunnel, SE1 3JW London Bridge cable-london.com

Egg 200 York Way, King’s Cross, N7 9AX King’s Cross egglondon.net

PUBLIC IMAGE LTD

GROOVE ARMADA AT HYPERCOLOUR

WHITE RABBITS

GIG

CLUB

GIG

SAT, AUG 11. 7PM £27.50

SAT, AUG 11. 10PM-6AM £15+

MON, AUG 13. 8PM £12.50

Not one to find himself short of a word or two, ol’ John Lydon has been relatively quiet of late with the Games on, particularly given his snarling face graced Boyle’s opening bash. He brings his post-Pistols group to town, with this year’s comeback LP, This Is PiL, in tow, too. Age has not tempered this antagonist, mind.

What do you do when you’re one of the world’s biggest dance acts? If you’re Groove Armada, you go back to basics, literally, as they did earlier this year when they announced indie imprint Hypercolour would put out their forthcoming No Knock release. “We wanted to take things back to that warehouse sound,” the lads said. Epic!

Former ‘next big things’ who never quite made the jump to the next level, the Brooklyn six-piece made up for missing out on fame by making some damn fine music instead. With a powerful rhythm section – two drummers, no less – they’ve an ecletic approach that veers from indie rock to post-punk balladry. Honest.

The Forum 9-17 Highgate Road, NW5 1JY Kentish Town kentishtownforum.com

Great Suffolk Street Warehouse Southwark, SE1 0NR Southwark hypercolour.co.uk

Hoxton Square Bar and Kitchen 2-4 Hoxton Square, N1 6NU Old Street hoxtonsquarebar.com

EYE EMMA JEDI THE BUZZ SO FAR This Norwegian five-piece (via London) have surely one of this year’s stand-out names, a quirky gigglefest, but the boys have tunes to match. Mining an indie-pop territory that dials both elements all the way to infection, debut single Sin is a Friendly Firesesque three-minute burst of choppy, angular indie guitars, harmonious vocals and pounding dance-able beats, with a full-on rock-out outro. It’s shamelessly mainstream, and all the better for it, shorn of any pofaced indie-isms. Indie-pop that isn’t embarrassed by the latter. THE CRITICS SAY “An upbeat, romping slice of guitar-led cavorting.” ShingShingNew.com THE PLUG Debut single Sin is out August 6 through Killing Moon Ltd eyeemmajedi.com

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CLUBLISTINGS

MONDAY 6 Funday Monday DJ Jimbo Jangles plays house, dance, indie, pop, R‘n’B and electro.Cargo, Rivington St, EC2A 3AY (020 7739 3440). 7pm-1am, doors. Free.

FRIDAY 10

Monday Resident DJs play pop, dance and R‘n’B. Thirst, Greek St, W1D 3DR (020 7437 1977). 5pm-3am. £3, free before 10pm.

Colony Summer Rave Equinox, Al Tourettes, Outrage, Modular, Sync 24 Vs agent2, Mantra Vs Double O, James Tec Vs Luke Handsfree, AGT Rave Cru, MB And CB spin electro, drum ‘n’ bass and techno, plus a live performance from Matt Whitehead. Corsica Studios, Elephant Rd, SE17 1LB (020 7703 4760). 10pm-6am. £5.

Monday Madness DJs Bruno and Jimmy Jam spin pop and carnival classics. Walkabout, Temple, Temple Place, WC2R 2PH (020 7054 8033). 8pmmidnight. £5, free before 8pm.

The Dirtbox DJs Jay Strongman, Rob Dirt Box and Ian Whittington play house, techno and electronica from the last three decades. The Bedroom Bar, Rivington St, EC2A 3AY (020 7739 5706). 10pm-3am. £5.

Rehab DJ Haley, Zoe Demonette, Dan Udy and Malarky supply indie, electro and pop. The Roxy, Rathbone Place, W1T 1HJ (020 7255 1098). 10pm-3am. £5, NUS/w/flyer £3, mems £1 before 9.30pm. Salsa Cellar Resident DJs play Latin funk, salsa and reggae. Downstairs At The King’s Head, Crouch End Hill, N8 8AA (020 8340 1028). 9pm-late. £7, concs £4. Service Industry Night Colin Russell and Donald Sweeneey provide R‘n’B, hip-hop and chart. Rumba, Shaftesbury Ave, W1D 7EP (020 7287 2715). 9pm3am. £7, £5 before midnight, w/payslip free before midnight. Jam Hot Resident DJs play reggae, roots, Americana, R’n’B and dub, plus a live performance from Lab Rats. Proud Camden, The Horse Hospital, Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AH (020 7482 3867). 7.30pm-1.30am. Free.

TUESDAY 7 Balearic Resident DJs spin deep, vocal and Balearic house to evoke the spirit of Ibiza. The Shadow Lounge, Brewer St, W1F 0RF (020 7287 7988). 10pm-3am. £5, guestlist free. The Elite Leagues LeeN, DJ Sugai and guests supply electronica and dance beats at this open deck, social networking event. The Macbeth, Hoxton St, N1 6LP (020 7749 0600). 7pm-late. £3.

BOOK NOW!

SUPERNOVA 7 Egg. Sat, Aug 11. £10+ Swedish upstart Samuel L Session (above), UK techno star Rebekah, Style of Eye and deep house/ tech perpetrator Nikola Gala get the party started .

N7 9AP

Kings Cross

eggondon.net

WEDNESDAY 8... Choke Resident DJs play hip-hop, drum ‘n’ bass, electro, indie and grime. The Roxy, Rathbone Place, W1T 1HJ (020 7255 1098). 10pm-3am. £5, NUS £4, guestlist NUS/w/flyer £3. Clubbing London & Max Parties Resident DJs spin house and electro. The Den & Centro, West Central St, WC1A 1JJ (020 7240 1083). Midnight-6am. £10. Disco Paradise Jo Public plays rare groove, soul, rock ‘n’ roll and disco. Joiners Arms, Hackney Rd, E2 7QL (020 7739 9397). 11pm-2am. Free. Formula DJs Champion, Serious One, Terror Danjah, Ill Blu and Notion spin dubstep and grime. East Village, Great Eastern St, EC2A 3HX (020 7739 5173). 9pm-2am. Free. Hot Rocks Resident DJs spin punk-rock rock ‘n’ roll, R‘n’B and ska. Surya, Pentonville Rd, N1 9JL (020 7713 6262). 10.30pm-2am. Free. London Lyricist Lounge DJ Sai spins hip-hop, rap and R‘n’B, plus an open-mic session. The Lockside Lounge, West Yard Dock, NW1 8AF (020 7284 0007). 7pm-midnight. Free.

For Beats Sake DJs Ben Waist, Daffy and Optimus Funk spin funk, house and disco. The Social, Little Portland St, W1W 7JD (020 7636 4992). 7pm-late. Free.

Madd Raff Wednesdays The Heatwave spin bashment and dancehall, plus a guest set from Marcus Nasty. The Social, Little Portland St, W1W 7JD (020 7636 4992). 7pm-1am. £7, £5 before 10pm, free before 9pm.

Queerly Out Shots DJ Julio Bravo spins pop, disco, Motown, hip-hop and 1980s classics. Escape Bar, Brewer St, W1F 0SU (020 7734 3040). 9pm-late. Free.

Metrolatina Resident DJs mix jazzy salsa with Cuban sounds. Salsa!, Charing Cross Rd, WC2H 0JG (020 7379 3277). 9.30pm2am. £4, free before 9pm.

Stupid Tuesday Resident DJs play funky house, disco and pop. Thirst, Greek St, W1D 3DR (020 7437 1977). 5pm-3am. £3, free before 10pm.

Stripped Back Soul Resident DJs play Motown and soul. The Blues Kitchen, Camden High St, NW1 7JN (020 7387 5277). 7pm-1am. Free.

Tuesday DJ Paddy Garcia spins soul, pop, hip-hop, house and disco. Catch, Kingsland Rd, E2 8DA (020 7729 6097). 9pm-midnight. Free.

Wednesdays Are Winning A mashup of electro, pop, indie, soul and dubstep. Mother Bar, Old St, EC1V 9LE (020 7739 5949). 8pm-3am. Free.

White Heat DJs Matty, Olly and Marcus supply electro, techno and indie. Madame Jojo’s, Brewer St, W1F 0SE (020 7734 3040). 10.30pm-3am. £5, concs/w/flyer £4.

White Leather Viper Club Italo disco and obscure classics courtesy of PoP Campaign and White Leather Viper. Dalston Superstore, Kingsland High St, E8 2PB (020 7254 2273). 9pm-3am. Free.

THURSDAY 9. Clockwork Rock and indie courtesy of Sound Of Confusion and Telegram Sam, plus live performances from Sulk and Wildlife. The Lock Tavern, Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AJ (020 7482 7163). 8pm-late. Free. Dance Nights Princess Karina and DJ Gary Baldi spin dance hits. EC3 Live, Crosswall, EC3N 2JY (020 7488 1766). 11.30pm-4am. £10. Globetronica Resident DJs and guests supply house, dub, broken beat, nu jazz and world beats. The Player, Broadwick St, W1F 8HN (020 7494 9125). 8pm-2am. £5 after 9pm. I Love Fwd Resident DJs and guests supply house, funk and electronica. Plastic People, Curtain Rd, EC2A 3QE (020 7739 6471). 9.30pm-2am. £7. Love Present DJs Rob Bailey and Chris Dale spin 1960s club soul, ska, Motown, R‘n’B and boogaloo. Orleans, Seven Sisters Rd, N4 2HZ (020 72841 8482). 10pm-late. £5, free before midnight. Prick Up Your Ears John Sizzle, Dave Kendrick, Juancho & Rob and Kevin Clash play electro and robot rock on rotation. East Bloc, City Rd, EC1V 1JN (020 7253 0367). 11pm4am. £5, free before midnight, w/flyer £3 after midnight. Super Sonic Festival Taster Reggae, dubstep, techno and electronica courtesy of King Midas Sound System, Glatze, Iron Fist Of The Sun, JK Flesh, Laurence Hunt and Sarah Farmer. Corsica Studios, Elephant Rd, SE17 1LB (020 7703 4760). 8pm-late. Adv £10. Vibe DJs on rotation including Anas, Spider, Prezedent, Ice, Commander B, Pioneer and DJ L spin hip-hop, R‘n’B, funky house, garage, bashment and reggae. Moonlighting, Greek St, W1D 4DR (020 7437 5782/ cc 020 7287 3727). 10pm-3am. £7, w/flyer £5 before midnight, ladies £5, free before 11.30pm.

Disco’s Deeper Resident DJs spin old school and club classics. Gigalum, Cavendish Parade, Clapham Common South Side, SW4 9DW (020 8772 0303). 7pm-late. Free. Dub-All Or Nothing 1st Birthday Xilent, Inspector Dubplate, Boy Kid Cloud, Square Wave, Soloman and guests supply drum ‘n’ bass, dub and hip-hop. Cable, Bermondsey St, SE1 2EG (020 7403 7730). 10pm-6am. £10, adv £8. Egg Smirnoff Weekender Pt. 1 DJs Felix Da Housecat, Scarlett Etienne, Al Gibbs, Warboy, Jodie Harsh and Kris Di Angelis spin house, techno, electro and pop. Egg, York Way, N7 9AX (020 7871 7111). 11pm-7am. £20, adv £15, NUS/mems £10. Sin City Stevie C, Riyad, Tony Madball and Demonic provide contemporary rock and metal in the main room, while Shuff and Vixen supply classic rock and metal in room two. Electric Ballroom, Camden High St, NW1 8QP (020 7485 9006). 10.30pm-3.30am. £7, NUS/mems £5 before 11.30pm, w/flyer £5 before midnight. The Upfront Project DJs Ben Westbeech, Jam City, Lando Kal, Mumdance, Helix, Funkystepz, Bwana, Juk Juk and Diamond Bass spin dubstep and electronica. The LightBox, South Lambeth Place, SW8 1SP (020 7434 1113). 10pm-6am. Adv £8. Wall Of Sound Goes Back To The Phuture Adamski, Jon Carter and Starz Angels provide hiphop, dancehall, house and acid, plus live performances from Killaflaw, BeatFox, Echoes and BB. 93 Feet East, Brick Ln, E1 6RU (020 7770 6006). 5pm-1am. £5, w/flyer £3, free before 11pm.

SATURDAY 11 Backward Brew & Diggy Please DJs Shepdog, Count Skylarkin and Kombine play reggae, soul, hip-hop, jungle and dancehall, plus a live performance from East Park Reggae Collective. The Bedroom Bar, Rivington St, EC2A 3AY (020 7739 5706). 9pm-3am. £8, adv £6. Beat Players Presents The Best Of British Sean McCabe, Phil Asher, Stephen Adams and Shaun Samuel supply soulful house beats, funk and boogie. East Village, Great Eastern St, EC2A 3HX (020 7739 5173). 9pm-3.30am. £12, adv £8.

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Black & White Theme DJs Julien Amour, Alfredo Ramos, Alex Hutch, Red Wolf, Mr Turbo, Weeksey and Jace spin house and soul, plus a live set from Angelina. Gigalum, Cavendish Parade, Clapham Common South Side, SW4 9DW (020 8772 0303). 7pm-late. Free. Egg Smirnoff Weekender Pt. 2 DJs Gregor Tresher, Reset Robot and Warboy spin house and techno. Egg, York Way, N7 9AX (020 7871 7111). 10pm-11am. £20, adv £15, NUS/mems £13. Fedde Le Grand London Takeover Fedde Le Grand, Sultan And Ned Shepard, Danny Avila and guests supply house, techno and electronica. The Ministry Of Sound, Gaunt St, SE1 6DP (0870 060 0010). 11pm-7am. £20, mems £15. Annie Mac Presents DJs Annie Mac, Madeon, AlunaGeorge, Karma Kid and Monki spin electronica, pop and dubstep. Koko, Camden High St, NW1 7JE (0870 432 5527). 10pm-late. £16.20. Hypercolour House and electro courtesy of Groove Armada, Todd Edwards, Maxxi Soundsystem, Alex Jones and Cedric Maison in room one, plus Tom Demac, Indigo, Shenoda, Youandewan, Charlie Banks and Zumo in room two. Great Suffolk St Warehouse, Great Suffolk St, SE1 0NS. 10pm-6am. £20 & £25, see www.residentadvisor.net for details. We Fear Silence Present Friction, Breakage, Spectrasoul, North Base, Robert Luis and guests supply electronica, hip-hop and dance vibes. Cable, Bermondsey St, SE1 2EG (020 7403 7730). 10pm-6am. £15, adv £13.

SUNDAY 12 Brasil Brasileiro DJ Bruno Camargo and Ailton ET spin funk, Latin and house, plus a live performance from Zeu Azevedo E Forrodaki. Guanabara, Parker St, WC2B 5PW (020 7242 8600). 5pm-late. £5 after 8pm. Jamais Vu Resident DJs spin drum ‘n’ bass, dubstep and hiphop. Horse And Groom, Curtain Rd, EC2A 3NZ (020 7503 9421). 8pm-2am. £5, free before 9pm. Star Life!! Resident DJs spin chart, R‘n’B and hip-hop. Rumba, Shaftesbury Ave, W1D 7EP (020 7287 2715). 10pm-3am. gents guestlist £7, ladies guestlist £5, gents £5 before 10.30pm, ladies free before 10.30pm. Sunday Sessions House and electro from Shiva residents. Gigalum, Cavendish Parade, Clapham Common South Side, SW4 9DW (020 8772 0303). 7pm-late. Free. Tutti Frutti Soul, disco and house courtesy of DJ Squeaky. Dalston Superstore, Kingsland High St, E8 2PB (020 7254 2273). 9pm-2.30am. Free. Writer’s Block Resident DJs play pop and R‘n’B, plus Jay Norton, Kersha Bailey, Dean Atta and Desta Haile perform live. The Macbeth, Hoxton St, N1 6LP (020 7749 0600). 3pm-late. £7, adv £6

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A PAIR OF WILDERNESS FESTIVAL TICKETS Win a pair of weekend camping tickets to the award-winning Wilderness Festival – a celebration of the arts and outdoors – from the people behind Lovebox and Secret Garden Party. The quintessential weekend for free-spirited festival lovers is held at Cornbury Park Estate on August 10-12, 2012 and brings together music, food, theatre, talks and debates, cinematic happenings, late-night parties, wellbeing and the great outdoors. This years line-up includes: Rodrigo y Gabriela, Wilco, Spiritualized, Lianne La Havas, Yotam Ottolenghi, Fergus Henderson & St John, Valentine Warner, Moro restaurant, The Old Vic Tunnels, cinematic spectaculars from Future Cinema, workshops with the Idler Academy and School of Life, Lakeside Spa, boutique camping, plus much more. Enter at

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TNT_1510_edit.indd 23

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Combine travel & work

Perfect for readers looking to: ‹ Combine travel and work ‹ Teach during their gap year ‹ Have a career change ‹ Work part-time with flexible hours

} There are many job opportunities worldwide to teach English to children, teenagers or adults.

} You could be in Eastern Europe, Italy, Spain, Costa Rica or Japan teaching English in a classroom, privately one-to-one, or even online.

DATE 18-19 Aug 12 TIME 9am - 6pm VENUE

Holland Park YHA Holland House, Holland Walk Kensington W8 7QU High St Kensington or Holland Park

* Teaching English as a Foreign Language

For further info or to book your place see:

Courses conducted by International TEFL Training

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£150

(normally £200)

TNT_1510_edit.indd 24

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MONDAY 6 7seconds, Madball, Cruel Hand, Thicker Than Water Veteran hardcore punk band from Reno, Nevada. The Underworld, Camden High St, NW1 0NE (020 7482 1932). £15.

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Antony’s Meltdown: Hercules & Love Affair, Sissy Nobby Disco and house combo founded by New York-based DJ Andy Butler. The London Wonderground Spiegeltent, Jubilee Gardens, off Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (0844 545 8282). £25, concs £12.50. Antony’s Meltdown: Matmos American duo MC Schmidt and Drew Daniel performs experimental electro. Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (020 7960 4200/cc 0844 875 0073). £15 & £20, concs £7.50 & £10. Dio Disciples, Hostile, Monument Former members of the rock and metal group Dio performs songs from the band’s back catalogue with Ripper Owens replacing Ronnie James Dio. O2 Academy Islington, Parkfield St, N1 0PS (020 7288 4400/ cc 0844 477 2000). £20. Head Automatica American singer and Glassjaw frontman Daryl Palumbo leads his dance-rock and pop group. The Garage, Highbury Corner, N5 1RD (0870 060 3777/ cc 0844 847 1678). £15. Owl City, Nina Nesbitt Electronic pop from American singer and musician Adam Young. King’s College London Students’ Union, Macadam Building, Surrey St, WC2R 2NS (020 7848 1588). £18. Respect Jamaica 50 Festival: Jimmy Cliff, Derrick Morgan, Max Romeo, Gaylads, Bob Andy Reggae and ska from the veteran Jamaican singer and musician best known for the songs Sitting In Limbo and You Can Get It If You Really Want. IndigO2, Peninsula Sq, SE10 0DX (0871 220 0260). £50-£100. Watsky Hip-hop from the Los Angeles-based rapper. The Old Vic Tunnels, Station Approach Rd, SE1 7XB (0844 871 7628). £16, concs £13.

TUESDAY 7 Antony’s Meltdown: Buffy Sainte-Marie Canadian folk, rock and country singer-songwriter. Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (020 7960 4200/ cc 0844 875 0073). £22.50 & £27.50, concs £11.75 & £13.75. Liam Bailey, Natalie Duncan, Chris McDonald, Harleighblu, Tim McDonald Soul from the Nottingham-based singer. Cargo, Rivington St, EC2A 3AY (020 7739 3440). £10, adv £8. Clare Dove, SoHo, Kevin Farrell, Chris Hicks R‘n’B and pop singersongwriter from Reading. The Troubadour, Old Brompton Rd, SW5 9JA (020 7370 1434). £6. The Drakes, Black Lights, Zeit Ambassadors, Rawfox The Oxford-based four-piece plays acoustic rock, folk and indie. Dublin Castle, Parkway, NW1 7AN (020 7485 1773). £6, concs £4.50.

Hannah Scott, Sophie Grant, Chloe Foy Acoustica from the singer-songwriter and musician. The Barfly, Camden, Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AN (0844 847 2424). £5.

The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown Psychedelic rock from the veteran band. Half Moon, Putney, Lower Richmond Rd, SW15 1EU (020 8780 9383). £18.50.

Alphonso Stewart The Londonbased singer performs R‘n’B and soul from his album Reborn. Cargo, Rivington St, EC2A 3AY (020 7739 3440). Adv £10.

The Creepshow, The Peacocks, Dragster, Graveyard Johnnys The Toronto-based four-piece plays psychobilly and punk-rock. The Underworld, Camden High St, NW1 0NE (020 7482 1932). Adv £13.50.

Surface Festival: Bowey White, The Onironauts, Awake, Bomber, It Killed Harper The Londonbased band plays blues-rock. O2 Academy Islington, Parkfield St, N1 0PS (020 7288 4400/ cc 0844 477 2000). £8.

FRIDAY 10

SBTRKT Shepherd’s Bush Empire. Thurs, Oct 4. £15 Vowel-phobe Aaron Jerome brings his stonking live show to the Empire, complete with a drummer, and tunes from his ace, eponymous debut LP. W12 8TT

She Bu

o2shepherdsbushempire.co.uk

London Irish Village 2012: Thin Lizzy Classic rock from the veteran Dublin-based combo featuring vocalist Ricky Warwick. Under The Bridge, Fulham Rd, SW6 1HS (020 7957 8261). £29.50. Also Wed. The Nameless Girl, Portia Conn Pop-rock four-piece with members from London and Devon. The Barfly, Camden, Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AN (0844 847 2424). Adv £5. Star F*cking Hipsters, Moral Dilemma, Pettybone, Nu,pogodi! A politically-charged collision of punk, hardcore, metal and ska from the New York-based band, featuring members of Leftover Crack and The Ergs! The Underworld, Camden High St, NW1 0NE (020 7482 1932). £12. Surface Festival: That Guy And The Others, Corolla, According To You, Lostcords The three-piece performs a fusion of rap, reggae and soul. O2 Academy Islington, Parkfield St, N1 0PS (020 7288 4400/ cc 0844 477 2000). £8.

WEDNESDAY 8 Agnostic Front, Deez Nuts, The Mongoloids, Take Offense Hardcore punk by the veterans of the New York scene. The Underworld, Camden High St, NW1 0NE (020 7482 1932). £15. Jon Anderson, Miro Zbirka, Cappella Istropolitana The former lead singer of Yes performs his songs with an orchestral backing. Sadler’s Wells, Rosebery Ave, EC1R 4TN (0844 412 4300). £25-£65. Dou Dou Pop from the Chinese singer. Hackney Empire, Mare St, E8 1EJ (020 8985 2424). £10-£27.50, concs £8-£25.50. The Limousines, Glitches, Moones Electro-indie from American duo Eric Victorino and Giovanni Giusti. The Barfly, Camden, Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AN (0844 847 2424). £6. Tamara Schlesinger The Londonbased singer and member of the band 6 Day Riot performs alt pop from the album The Procession. The Old Queen’s Head, Essex Rd, N1 8LN (020 7354 9993). £7.50.

The Snakeoil Rattlers, The Blue Carnation, Davey Hal & The Big Bow Wow, Yippee Ki Yay, Jay Fraser The Londonbased group plays countryrock. Underbelly, Hoxton Sq, N1 6NU (020 7837 4412). £6. Surface Festival: Erick Adrian, Brand New Start, Jerome & The Soulnotes, Tank Trap, J.A.Y. R‘n’B, soul and pop from the Londonbased singer. O2 Academy Islington, Parkfield St, N1 0PS (020 7288 4400/ cc 0844 477 2000). £8. Sylvester Anfang II, Liberez, Helm The Flemish collective plays psych folk and rock. Cafe Oto, Ashwin St, E8 3DL (020 7923 1231). £8, adv £7.

THURSDAY 9 Antony’s Meltdown: Marc Almond The former Soft Cell member plays pop and electro. Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (020 7960 4200/cc 0844 875 0073). £22.50-£27.50, £11.75-£23.75. D’lys & The Flames The Londonbased singer-songwriter leads her soul and R‘n’B combo. The Troubadour, Old Brompton Rd, SW5 9JA (020 7370 1434). £7. Eyehategod, Ramesses, Dopefight The American five-piece performs metal from the album Whiskey Drink. The Garage, Highbury Corner, N5 1RD (0870 060 3777/ cc 0844 847 1678). £17. Donavon Frankenreiter Acoustic surf rock from the Californian singer-songwriter and guitarist. O2 Academy Islington, Parkfield St, N1 0PS (020 7288 4400/ cc 0844 477 2000). £15. Tom Milsom, Jake Hart, Miss World The London-based musician and producer performs experimental electro. The Garage, Highbury Corner, N5 1RD (0870 060 3777 /cc 0844 847 1678). £5. Alan Price Soulful pop-rock from the former member of the Animals. Bull’s Head, Lonsdale Rd, Barnes, SW13 9PY (020 8876 5241). £14. Raba Pop-rock from the Surreybased outfit. Bush Hall, Uxbridge Rd, W12 7LJ (020 8222 6955). £8.

Antony’s Meltdown: Lou Reed The former member of The Velvet Underground performs alternative rock. Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (020 7960 4200/cc 0844 875 0073). £45-£65, concs £22.50-£32.50. ENV, Stalagmites, The Deep South Project, Sound Pressure Level Hiphop and rap by the London-based singer. Dublin Castle, Parkway, NW1 7AN (020 7485 1773). £7, concs £5. Ingested, Release The Kraken, Omega Particle, Hollow Dreams Manchester-based metalcore five-piece. The Garage, Highbury Corner, N5 1RD (0870 060 3777/ cc 0844 847 1678). £7.50. Out Side Room Indie-dance combo from East Sussex. Half Moon, Putney, Lower Richmond Rd, SW15 1EU (020 8780 9383). £5. Pianos Become The Teeth, Balance And Composure, Seahaven The Baltimore-based five-piece plays screamo and hardcore. The Borderline, Orange Yard, Manette St, W1D 4JB (0870 060 3777/ cc 0871 231 0842). £12. Princip, The Effect, Halfway To New York, Senakah The Londonbased quartet plays indie-rock. The Clapham Grand, St John’s Hill, SW11 1TT (020 7223 6523). £10, adv £8. The Slackers, Jaya The Cat, Dirty Revolution New York-based ska outfit. The Underworld, Camden High St, NW1 0NE (020 7482 1932). £15. Universal Taal Project, Elephant Head, Tubby Boy & The Peavies, 4 Star, Musalman Electro, funk and R‘n’B from London-based multiinstrumentalist Ranvir Verma and his band. The Dogstar, Coldharbour Ln, SW9 8LQ (020 7733 7515). £5. James Wolff, Paul Rubinstein Folk-blues singer-songwriter from London. Jamboree, Cable St, E1W 3HB (07713 867881). £6, adv £4.

SATURDAY 11

Crystal Seagulls, The Blanks, Fuss, Monksey The London-based fourpiece plays indie-rock with Britpop influences. Nambucca, Holloway Rd, N7 6LB (020 7281 8877). £6. Derby Sunshine, Haywire Saint, P45, Camber The band performs indie-influenced electro-pop. Hope And Anchor, Upper St, N1 1RL (020 7354 1312). £6, concs £5. The Great Indoors Contemporary rock showcase featuring Franz Nicolay, The Winter Olympics, Motley Kunst, The Near Death Experience, The Pineapple Chunks, Bombers and Falling Stacks. The Windmill, Blenheim Gardens, SW2 5BZ (020 8671 0700). £7, adv £6. The Horses Of Instruction, Advanced Plastics Group, Ralegh Long Alt country and indie band from London. Buffalo Bar, Upper St, N1 1RU (020 7359 6191). £6, adv £5. The Masonics, Jonah Gold & His Silver Apples, The Sundae Kups The band plays garagerock and punk-rock. Hackney Trashbar, Stoke Newington High St, N16 8BP (020 8732 1234). £7. Public Image Ltd Former Sex Pistols member John Lydon leads his experimental new wave band. HMV Forum, Highgate Rd, NW5 1JY (020 7428 4099). £27.50. Wideboy Generation, The Amazing Graces, Daytona The Londonbased trio performs pop and rock. The Barfly, Camden, Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AN (0844 847 2424). Adv £5.

SUNDAY 12 Antony’s Meltdown: William Basinski The American musician performs avant-garde ambient music. Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (020 7960 4200/ cc 0844 875 0073). £17.50 & £20, concs £8.75 & £10. Beenie Man, Cham, Bugle, Christopher Martin, Swappi, Lil Rick, Miss O Dancehall reggae by Jamaican singer Anthony Moses Davis. O2 Academy Brixton, Stockwell Rd, SW9 9SL (0844 477 2000/ cc 0844 477 2000). £35. Blur, The Specials, New Order Seminal Britpop and indie from Damon Albarn’s award-winning band. Hyde Park, W2 2UH (0300 061 2000). Adv £55.

The Black Seeds The New Zealandbased outfit plays reggae, funk and dub, promoting the band’s album Dust And Dirt. Electric Brixton, Town Hall Parade, Brixton Hill, SW2 1RJ (020 7274 2290). Adv £14.50.

Ignite, Vittu, The Human Project, Lay It On The Line Hardcore punk band from California. The Underworld, Camden High St, NW1 0NE (020 7482 1932). Adv £15.

Congo Faith Healers Londonbased alt rock and blues fourpiece. The Green Note Cafe, Parkway, NW1 7AN (020 7485 9899). £7.

Refused Lead singer Dennis Lyxzen fronts a reformed line-up of the Swedish hardcore punk band. HMV Forum, Highgate Rd, NW5 1JY (020 7428 4099). £18.50.

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Steven McKellar South Africa’s Civil Twilight frontman on touring the States, how rock ‘n’ roll changed his life, and trawling aviation terms INTERVIEW ALASDAIR MORTON

Who were your musical influences? My brother and I grew up with opera, jazz and blues around the house. Rich grew up with a lot of folk, Simon and Garfunkel. And then we got into British rock, Oasis, Blur, and we went through a punk phase, too – but it didn’t last long. Did your family’s musicianship help? If it wasn’t for their encouragement, we’d be miserable drunks, for sure. What are the pros and cons of being in a band with your brother? The pluses: I have family on the road all the time, and I share a lot of experiences with him and play music with someone who knows me really well and who I can’t bullshit or fake it with. And the minuses of being in a band with your brother? They’re exactly the same! Where did the band name come from? From looking up aviation terms – we needed a name quickly and just ran with Civil Twilight. We’ve had names before, one being Superfine. But that was a long time ago, alright? You guys moved to LA briefly in 2005 – what were your impressions? We were utterly overwhelmed. We’d never been to a city of that size. The first thing we did was go to a drive-thru Burger King. I don’t know why! America affected us in ways we are still trying to understand.

Photos: Leann Mueller

Did you ever have second thoughts? Many times. When we were carless, phoneless, moneyless, living in a garage … But, we always had fun and made good friends with good people. It’s a place of many broken dreams, and a land of scavengers and fakes, kings and visionaries. It blows the mind, really. I still don’t understand how that place works. After your 2009 self-titled debut, you relocated to Nashville … Moving from Cape Town to Los Angeles was one kind of shock. But, moving from LA to the south was even greater. We’d never been to that area of the country and it affected our songwriting because we started travelling more and felt more in touch with America.

Andrew and Steven McKellar and Richard Woulters How did you feel when your songs started getting used in major US TV shows such as One Tree Hill? The first time was a thrill – we all gathered around the TV and it was surreal when the song came on. But we had bloated expectations about how much exposure one show would get us. The truth is that it’s just another brick in the wall. Did you approach your follow-up, 2012’s Holy Weather, differently? It was challenging because of time constraints. We’d been touring for two years straight and had to write in little breaks, so the road had a big influence on it as becoming a touring band for the first time played a big role in the lyrical and musical subjects. How did touring change your outlook? We’ve only really toured America, which is huge. It’s spread out, with big towns, little towns, deserts, cornfields and swamps. Touring it is an adventure few people get to see. It’s as if each town or destination is one frame in a long movie, and when you’re on the road for months, the frames move faster and faster as you experience the sensation of watching a movie being spun out before your eyes. On top of that, you’re living in a moving bubble – your real life and occupation helps people escape theirs, and it’s addictive and lonely and exhilarating and

exhausting. I never understood why musicians get so heavily into drugs and alcohol and keep going round in circles until they wear themselves so thin that they blow away in the breeze. But I do now. How did you find writing from other people’s perspectives on the record? It’s just a shifting of the mindset to allow yourself freedom to play with ideas and stories in your head. I’m not a serial killer, but I can write a song about being one. Just like acting, you put yourself in a role and find your own voice within it. Where was your first gig and how did it go? It was in the Hout Bay Christian School hall, opening for a band called Torn Veil. I was 13, it was two weeks after we’d formed the band and I was so nervous, I wanted to puke before we went on stage. Which singer influenced you the most? The first time I heard Jeff Buckley, I was about 17 and a friend put headphones over my ears and played me Grace. We had just recorded our first full-length album by ourselves, and I wanted to start all over again after hearing that record. Single Fire Escape is out August 20, through Wind-Up Records.

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LONDONSCENE

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Being a Hollywood A-lister is so much fun, apparently

360 FILM review by Alasdair Morton STARRING: Rachel Weisz, Jude Law, Anthony Hopkins | 15 | 110mins | On general release Aug 10

STEP UP 4: MIAMI HEAT 3D FILM STARRING: Ryan Guzman, Kathryn McCormick | PG | 99mins

The fourth movie in this ‘West Side Story for a new generation’ franchise takes things to Miami for the latest bout of three-dimensional gyrating and gymnastic moves. It’s unlikely to be troubling the Dark Knight Rises this summer, but promises to flaunts moves plenty to entertain the fans. On general release from August 10

Director Fernando Mereilles has made two bona fide classics of contemporary cinema in The Constant Gardner and his breathtaking breakout City Of God. His latest, though, a multi-stranded tale of life and its small-world surprises, fumbles for the visceral visuals and showboating storytelling of his best films and emerges a muddled minor work in a celebrated career. Merielles has an all-star cast at his disposal to populate his globe-trotting tale of people enjoying and enduring life, each episode and each character connected. Kicking off with a fresh-to-the-streets sex worker, who catches the eye of Law’s husband-away-on-business, Mereilles rolls through a procession that includes Hopkins’ weather-beaten, guilt-ridden father, en route to examine the remains of a woman who may be his estranged daughter; a Brazilian woman fleeing London; and Ben Foster’s stand-out turn as a newly released sex criminal, uneasy with a world of temptation in front of him. Some strands are more affecting (Hopkins’ gravitas brings weight, despite limited means to work with), yet the coincidence with which writer Peter Morgan’s characters meet is more hokey and contrived than demonstrating any globalinterconnectivity. Mereilles’ flashy technique, the source of urgency and cinematic verve in previous projects – especially his technically beguiling last, Blindness – is also in short supply here. The intent is noble, but the substance a little lacking, and the execution merely satisfactory when it could have been stunning. GOOD FOR: A middle-of-the-road drama that misses the opportunity to be truly profound

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FINAL 1510 Lon Scene.indd 28

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GIVE US A

RUSSELL BRAND

GIGGLE!

COMEDY

The infamous tabloid fave returns to the UK for this one-off Night Of Spontaneous Comedy. For all the furore over Sachsgate, and his subsequent US exile, it is easy to forget that Brand is a top stand-up, too. So forget Arthur and Katy Perry, and relish one of the UK’s finest comedians in his natural habitat.

Ha ha!

Lyric Theatre Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7ES. Aug 13. £20+ Piccadilly Circus nimaxtheatres.com

ATHLETICIZM

THE FEAR OF BREATHING

EXHIBITION

THEATRE

Everyone’s gone Games crazy, including actor, musician and, now, artist as well, Goldie, who’s painted 12 of Team GB’s brightest hopes for 2012. Cyclist Victoria Pendleton, triple-jumper Phillips Idowu MBE, track star Jessica Ennis and BMX hotshot Shanaze Reade are among those featured in action here.

Subtitled Stories From The Syrian Revolution, this collation of interviews is highly topical. The words of protesters, activists, soldiers and the tortured and bereaved create something of the restricted and oppressive atmosphere of a country in turmoil. Performed with compassion, it makes for disturbing viewing. LK

Underdog Gallery Arch 6, Crucifix Lane, SE1 3JW. Until Oct 28. Free London Bridge eddielock.co.uk

Finborough SW10 9ED. Until Aug 11. £12-£16 Earl’s Court finboroughtheatre.co.uk

MATT OKINE What’s new show Being Black & Chicken & S#%t about? It’s about armed-robberies, toasters, sushi, and seafood. I talk about them separately, though – I didn’t rob a sushi place for a toaster!

Photos: Tim Medley

Have you always been scared of crabs? Crabs are hardcore! You can’t shake a crab’s hand. No matter how friendly you are to them, they will try to snip you. I want to say: ‘I’m sorry you’re no good at rock, paper, scissors – it’s not my fault.’

THE DINOSAUR PROJECT

VIEUX CARRÉ

FILM

THEATRE

Jurassic Park meets Cloverfield in this Brit flick ‘found footage’ horror as a group of explorers hunt dinosaurs in the dense jungle of the Congo, only to find their roles quickly change as they shift from being the hunters to the hunted. It wears its B-movie credentials on its sleeve but the camcordered ‘this really happened’ hook is a little long in the tooth now.

Based on the characters he came across when building his writing career, Tennessee Williams’ 1977 play is a disjointed but evocative portrayal of his experience in a 1930s New Orleans boarding house. More a succession of snapshots than a fully-fledged play, this depiction of endof-the-road loneliness is well worth a visit. LK

On general release Aug 10

King’s Head Theatre Upper Street, N1 1QN. Until Aug 4. £10+ Angel kingsheadtheatre.com

What’s the funniest thing you have seen this week? At the airport in Bangkok, I saw a book called Cooking With Poo.Turns out ‘poo’ is the Thai word for crab, but it opened up a whole series of strange recipes in my mind ... steamed poo with ginger. Soft-shell poo ... the immaturity is endless! What’s the weirdest gig you have done so far? I once performed to a group of people at a buffet. Those were the glory days! You haven’t lived until someone asks you for a bread roll … mid-joke. Being Black & Chicken & S#%t. Soho Theatre. Aug 13-25. 7.30pm. £10+ W1D 3NE Oxford Circus sohotheatre.com

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2/8/12 15:56:19

Long overdue success: Sixto ‘Sugar Man’ Rodriguez

FINAL 1510 Sugar Man focus.indd 30

3/8/12 10:30:01

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The return of the Sugar Man A new doco about singer-songwriter Sixto Rodriguez shows you don’t have to sacrifice ethics to find fans, but you may have to wait WORDS ALASDAIR MORTON

Rock ‘n’ roll is littered with stories of hedonism and idealism, success counterbalanced by dismal failure. Stories you couldn’t dream up if you were to get a room full of Hollywood screenwriters and task them with fashioning the most far-fetched idea they could muster. Were you to do this, though, you’d be hard-pressed to come up with a tale as astounding as that of Sixto Rodriguez, the focus of an engaging and inspiring new documentary, Searching For Sugar Man. “I spent six months travelling round Africa and South America looking for good stories,” filmmaker Malik explains of what caught his eye initially about Rodriguez’s tale. “I was speechless, I hadn’t heard such a good story in my life.” Singer-songwriter Rodriguez was going to be the next Bob Dylan, a street poet prowling Detroit’s sidewalks with a guitar and tales of social conscience. After recording two albums, Cold Fact and Coming From Reality, to little US success, he returned to labouring jobs, convinced his musical career was not to be. Unbeknown to him, though, his records found favour outside his homeland, in Australia and, especially, South Africa, where his anti-establishment songs and championing of the plight of the working class caught the attention of the anti-Apartheid movement, and subsequently went platinum. “I did random vox pops in the streets of Cape Town and every second person knew of Rodriguez, no matter their age or sex,” Malik says of his initial investigations into the musician. Despite this southern hemisphere success, no royalties or even news of his popularity made it across the Atlantic, and little was known in SA of the musician so many adored, his albums revealing little more than a solitary name. It was in Rodriguez’s lyrics, though, that two musical detectives, Craig Bartholemew and record shop owner Stephen ‘Sugar’ Segerman delved to find out who their hero was. Myths had flourished in the absence of fact, chiefly that Rodriguez was dead, either by a drug overdose or, strangely, a bizarre onstage suicide, but the duo’s investigation led them to Michigan, where they discovered Rodriguez was alive and well. Before long, he was stepping off a plane in Cape Town in 1998, and playing sold out shows to 20,000 clamouring fans. He had found success, finally, and it had been on his own terms. Rather than being a radio hit in South Africa, it was

Rodriguez’s music, lyrics and inspirational world view that had won him his fanbase. He had fervent fans who would go to the length of having his album covers tattooed on their arms, in some instances, in allegiance to his steadfast ethics and refusal to bow to the easier route, musically or in any facet of his life. In fact, his records were not widely played on

“

Never in my life had I heard such a good story

”

South African radio because they were then censored by the powers that be. “After the [Cape Town] shows I went out and met the audience,” Rodriguez tells us when we meet him in a London hotel as part of the documentary’s world tour. “There were a lot of soldiers and they told me how they were in service, they had conscription there, and they’d trade cassettes and that was how it circulated, in part, at that time.” To hear of his anti-establishment ideals and how they ››

‘What do you mean, Little Richard wants his shades back?’ TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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Sixto walking the streets in the Seventies (above and above right); chatting with the writer in London

was when I thought: ‘Are you going to make this work or not?’ So then I agreed.” Sugar Man heralds the start of a new chapter in Rodriguez’s life and career. “As a result of technology I’m almost a new act,” he relishes of the opportunity for him to connect with a new audience. “Although the material is old-century, I do consider myself contemporary and there is a new lease of life for the material, as well. The young blood should invest in the recordings.”

“

You can’t take money with you when you go

”

Further success beckons and Sixto could very well be on the cusp of that mainstream acclaim many foresaw at the end of the Sixties. An appearance on The David Letterman Show is booked for late August, with global film fest appearances, and accompanying gigs, as well. The duo have been to the Czech Republic and Moscow recently, with Malik picking up the Special Jury Prize and Audience Award for Best International Doc at Sundance, too, meaning it’s not just the tall, dark musician whose life has changed. There are new shows on the horizon as well, including a return to Australia next year and new dates in South Africa after the documentary tour is done and dusted. If you were to stop someone on the street in his native Detroit in a few months time, perhaps, it is highly likely you’d find half the people you spoke with would know of Rodriguez and his incorruptible ways, too. And it’s not before time. ❚ Searching For Sugar Man is out now through StudioCanal.

Photos: StudioCanal

connected with people, you’d expect the man himself – dressed in rockstar black when we sit down for our chat – to be full of polemic, yet he is nothing of the sort. The man we meet, who ran for Detroit mayor twice, driven by his social idealism, is softly spoken and quiet, exuding the sort of inner peace that comes from enjoying and being at one with the world and his place in it. Most tellingly, it was not the discovery of a revenue stream in ‘98 that most pleased Rodriguez, but the knowledge that his music had found the people, his people, for whom it was intended. Far from pocketing long overdue pay cheques, he took the money from his Cape Town shows and gave it away. “The music industry is a fast-paced business, but it is not all about the money,” he explains. “That’s not the reason you do things, there is more beyond that, another kind of reward – self-expression. Anyway, you can’t take money with you when you go.” When piecing the doco together, Malik went back and spoke to many involved in the recording of the albums in the Seventies, notably Coming From Reality producer Steve Rowland and Cold Fact‘s Dennis Coffey. “They had been waiting for this phone call for years,” Malik enthuses of the producers who’d worked with the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis and Marvin Gaye, but counted their work with the “prophet” Rodriguez as their most valued. “They wanted to talk about being part of something pretty amazing in the Seventies, and they didn’t know the story [of Rodriguez’s South African success], either.” Rodriguez himself was sceptical, and was only convinced to provide Malik with a new interview for the film – conducted at his home – when the Swedish-based filmmaker made the sojourn to Detroit. “It’s a place you want to see in July when it is hot, or in February when it is very cold,” Rodriguez recalls of Malik’s courting of him. “He came in February and filmed these shots of me walking through the city and that TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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SPARETIME

Isles Of Wonder: Music Of The Opening Ceremony

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LIFESTYLEHEALTH CLASS OF THE WEEK

PARKOUR GENERATION Those parkour exponents make it look easy, don’t they? Leaping off buildings, jumping off walls, flipping off railings. To watch, it looks effortless, but the level of fitness and the hours of practice freerunners put into their trade speaks volumes about how difficult it really is. Push your own personal boundaries and the laws of physics by becoming part of this growing urban sport. Parkour Generations offers classes across London that teach you to do all things about the pursuit, in a swift and graceful way (yes, it is possible). In 1.5-2 hour classes every weeknight, you will improve your balance, strength and endurance, and learn to do things that seem, well, impossible. Parkour Generations maintains you will be hooked as soon as you try it, and they pitch it more as a lifestyle change than a hobby, with an emphasis on personal health, diet and safety. Each class features a warm-up and a cool-down around multi-purpose drills tailored to each person, so your body will adapt at its own pace. Class prices range from free classes on the last Sunday of every month to £10/pp for more advanced students for about two hours.

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Virtual travel How do you stay in touch with your friends while on the road? TNT looks at the best social sites WORDS CAROL DRIVER

Fatigued with Facebook and tired of Twitter? How else can you brag about your escapades with like-minded travellers who’ll appreciate just how awesome your last trip was? There are websites popping all the time, promising an easy user experience to rival the best. However, many of these fail to deliver, and some disappear overnight. Here, we check out five of the best to make sure you never have to write a postcard again.

Gogobot WHAT: With millions of users in more than 60,000 destinations around the world, tripplanner gogobot.com is making storming progress. It works similarly to TripAdvisor, but links users via Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare, so you get travel tips and advice from trusted friends, instead of strangers. You can ask questions, read reviews of everything from hotels and hostels, to bars and nightclubs, and book your trip via online travel agents. Then share your stories, photos

and digital postcards for your friends to achieve maximum bragging rights. APP?: Yes, free on iPhone. Android being launched later this year. gogobot.com

Triptrotting WHAT: Join this worldwide community to meet locals and like-minded travellers in more than 170 cities around the globe. The ethos is that if you’re with someone posessing local knowledge, you’ll have a much more authentic trip and a less-touristy introduction to an area. Travellers and hosts are connected by common interests, similar to a dating site. There’s no fee, but hosts sometimes ask for a tip to help cover costs. APP?: No, but you can sign up on Facebook. triptrotters.com

Travbuddy WHAT: Share photos, write blogs and reviews, research destinations, chat in lively forums and meet travel buddies on this busy

Various locations parkourgenerations.com

Log on: Gogobot and, right, Tripping 36

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site. Create an account along with more than 334,000 others, and join the conversation. There are regular meet-ups in various cities as well, so you can hook up with a group while you’re away. APP?: No, but site is mobile-friendly. travbuddy.com

Tripping WHAT: Interact with this global community with members in more than 175 countries. Connect with hosts and meet for a coffee, or choose from 750,000 sofas, apartments and homes to stay in. This site rounds up housing options on to one platform – from castles and condos, to boats and bungalows. Tripping also validates people, checking passports and proof of address to add an

element of safety to your travel adventures. APP?: No, but you can sign up on Facebook. tripping.com

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Travellerspoint WHAT: With lively forums and blogs where you can upload images, videos and maps, this site also offers travel guides and a budget-accommodation search function. You can also book hotels and hostels online. It’s is simple to navigate, and has more than 500,000 users, as well as 3000 ‘travel helpers’, NEXT WEEK or local advisers. Buying gifts for APP?: Not yet. Father’s Day travellerspoint.com

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Photos: Gogobot; Tripping; Thinkstock

TOP TREATMENT: QUICK-FIX HAIRDOS Need a lunchtime pick-me-up? Off to a glamorous event after work? Pop into the three locations of Hershesons Blow Dry Bar across London, where you can get a full blowout or up-do for only £24. The best part? You are in and out in less than 30 minutes, perfect for a quick change to get ready for a date, event, or remedy an emergency bad hair day situation. Recommended booking is available online, but walk-ins are also welcomed. Various

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LIFESTYLECAREERS

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Living the dream: five-star Dubai

MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT on working abroad

Capital of bling Guaranteed sun, five-star luxury and the allure of tax-free cash. TNT speaks to expats living the dream in the UAE WORDS CAROL DRIVER It’s not just the relentless sun that attracts expats to the UAE, or the lure of a tax-free salary (although that’s obviously a pretty big draw), and the mega-malls. Equipped with luxury resorts, five-star beaches and huge skyscrapers, Dubai is the capital of bling, offering a fast-paced, funpacked lifestyle to boot. While oil-rich Abu Dhabi draws a similar, thriving expat community looking for the same vibrancy, but at a slightly slower speed. Living in the UAE, you’ll find yourself in one of seven emirates – Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Qaiwain, Ras Al-Khaimah or Fujairah. Although, it will most likely be Abu Dhabi and Dubai, which have received the most cash to build the infrastructure to attract tourists and expats. And you won’t be alone – about half the population of the UAE is made 38

up of people who have relocated to make the area their home. As such, there’s a buzzing social scene. As you’d expect, the country can be expensive to settle in, with its high cost of living. However, decent salaries can be found, and will often include annual flights back to your home country. There is no shortage of jobs on offer, but, like everywhere else in the world, the UAE has been hit by the recession, so it might be a little harder to gain employment than it was 15 years ago. Professionals in demand include sales and marketing; healthcare graduates, especially social workers and nurses; jobs in IT, particularly web designers, consultants and programmers; and accountants. But, for qualify of life, the search is worth it, according to Ben Furfie. The Aussie took a job as an editor of

a trade magazine in Dubai in 2010 after searching for employment in the UK for 10 months. From earning £13,000 a year, the 27-year-old, who recently started work as MarCom manager with an IT company, now takes home more than £43,000 tax-free. “My lifestyle is night and day compared to in the UK,” he says. “I originally lived in Jumeirah Beach Residence – I had the beach on my doorstep, and a huge room. It’s much easier to make friends, as everyone is in the same boat. I can afford luxuries I could have only dreamed of.” Furfie, who now lives in Jumeirah Lake Towers, just behind Dubai Marina, manages proposals and tenders. His package includes medical insurance, a flight home every year, and an accommodation allowance. “I love it here. I can’t see myself moving back to ››

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Live,Work, and Play in NYC. With the recent introduction of the E3 visa for Australian citizens, relocating to the USA has never been easier. Makosi is an International Consulting firm in NYC and looking for Project Managers, Business Analysts, Management Consultants and Accountants to work with our Investment Banking and Audit clients. Flights, accommodation, competitive pay within a rapidly expanding organisation and everything you need to take your career to the next level in the greatest city on Earth. (Opportunities also available in other states.)

Visit www.makosi.com/careers for more information and how to apply.

Follow Makosi Consulting www.makosi.com/social

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Calling South Africans abroad to help

Build the Cloud! What do we do?

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We play a central role in building the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud

Exceptional Engineers with very strong technical skills and experience.

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LIFESTYLECAREERS ON THE JOB MELISA MOCELLIN CAREER Hairdresser AGE 25 LIVES Clapham North FROM Australia How did you get into your line of work? My interests have always been in the field of make-up, art, theatre and design. I got a job in a salon and began my hairdressing apprenticeship, and that’s when I discovered my passion for hair! What do you do day-to-day? My days are spent laughing and chatting with the clients and stylists who, funnily enough, are mostly from Australia, so the salon is a little like ‘home from home’.

the UK for years,” he TIPS FOR UAE LIVING benefits per se, as says. Another benefit is my husband, not my that the responsibility employer, was my ✔ Don’t hand over your passport of arranging working sponsor. But he had to a hotel or company – they don’t visas falls on the hiring have the authority by law to keep it an accommodation company. Aussies, Kiwis ✔ Finding somewhere to live could contribution, health and Brits can get a cost you a bomb, as many contracts insurance and flights 30-day visa upon arrival request a year paid up-front home each year. in the UAE, but to stay “I loved our life, ✔ A licence is required to buy or work long-term, we a good disposable alcohol from registered vendors. you’ll need a firm – or income to have a social Check with the emirate you’re a spouse – to sponsor life and to travel.” living in you. Sally Foley-Lewis, Although the UAE ✔ The UAE’s official language is who lived in Abu Dhabi Arabic, but English is widely spoken has many draws, there for five years with is a downside. ✔ The UAE boasts sub-tropical her husband Martin, As an Islamic country, temperatures, soaring more than says: “It has a kind of it has strict laws to 50C in summer (April-Sept), so get X factor. Sure there abide by – notably used to living in air-con buildings are challenges (they’re surrounding alcohol, everywhere), but overall, it was great.” which you may need a licence to The couple moved there in 2005, and buy, and decency – don’t go around Foley-Lewis, from Australia, worked as snogging in public (Google Charlotte a management trainer and workplace Adams, who was jailed and deported coach. For hopeful employees heading after kissing Ayman Najafi on the to UAE without a job, it’s all about who mouth in a restaurant). you meet, she says. If that doesn’t put you off, “Networking is the key. Networking, check out these networking, networking,” she advises. websites for jobs: NEXT WEEK “There are many recruitment firms, khaleejtimes.com but networking seemed to be the jobsindubai.com Working as best format. uaestaffing.com a male stripper “I didn’t have any employment gulfjobsites.com.

What’s the best part of your job? Following the latest trends in fashion and sharing them with my clients. I like them to be as on-trend as possible. What’s the most challenging part? Trying to get inside people’s heads to figure out the exact look they want to achieve. Although I also enjoy that! bobhair.co.uk

HOW TO ... SMASH

AN INTERVIEW

You’ve made it to the vital stage – so here’s how you can impress your potential employers.

• Do your research. Find out

about the company’s ethos, its history, its aims.

• Make sure you’re relaxed.

Talk as though you’re having a conversation with friends.

• Be prepared. When told what the job entails, respond with detailed examples of your similar experiences.

• Don’t be late. Or flustered. TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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ARE YOU A FUN, BUBBLY, SOCIABLE PERSON WANTING TO EARN EXTRA MONEY? We require professional, motivated men and women of all ages, who enjoy socialising and meeting new people. We are looking for friendly, bubbly, open minded individuals who pride themselves on being adaptable and getting along with others. Although hours are normally during evenings and weekends, they can be made flexible to fit around an existing work schedule or adapted to those wanting to work part time. So whether you work full time and are wanting to get out and meet new people or simply hoping to take a new career direction, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.

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tntjobs.co.uk SILVERBACK EVENTS T: 07712 829348 www.silverbackuk.com Silverback is a provider of premium support crew to production and AV companies within the event sector.

JOB OF THE WEEK: Crew Member Location: London Salary: £8.00 -15.00 per hour Silverback is looking for fit, intelligent, good communicators who can take direction from senior crewmen and clients. You need good social skills and impeccable punctuality and be prepared to work long & sometimes unsocial hours, Applicants must speak fluent English. Typical Duties: Loading / Unloading of vehicles, Rigging of AV equipment, Setting up and dismantling stage and set, Ensuring health & safety requirements are met, Liaising with clients in a professional manner. Jason@silverbackuk.com | 07712 829348

GALLOWGLASS T: 0845 300 2468 www.gallowglass.co.uk Gallowglass is UKs leading crewing company to the sporting and events industry, working for TV, theatre, film and outdoor production companies.

JOB OF THE WEEK: Crew Location: London Salary: £8 - £11 per hour + skills payments Gallowglass is involved in many aspects of the 2012 Games as well as our on-going work, and has vacancies for friendly, enthusiastic and outgoing people to join our crew. You will need to be physically fit, have excellent spoken English, be adaptable, happy to work anti-social hours and have a can-do attitude. CV to hr@gallowglass.co.uk or fill in our on line form at www.gallowglass.co.uk

CLAPHAM REMOVALS

JOB OF THE WEEK: Removalists Location: London Salary: £6.50 - £8.50ph DOE

T: 020 7924 9922 www.claphamremovals.com

Clapham Removals has a great team but now we need more top people to make us even greater! You should be reliable, fit, and punctual, with good spoken English and a can-do attitude. We’re based in Clapham but you’ll get to see all of London and the UK on our varied removal jobs. No day is the same but we can promise good times and good tips!

Best removal company in SW London! Fun, hard-working, energetic, service orientated.

OLD MILL INN T: 07841 135 190 www.theoldmillpitlochry.co.uk

Lucy | mail@claphamremovals.com | www.claphamremovals.com

JOB OF THE WEEK: Bar, Waiting, Kitchen Duties, General Assistants, Reception Location: Pitlochry, Perthshire, Scotland Salary: Excelent rates for successful candidates

Busy bar & restaurant with rooms in rural tourist town highland Perthshire.

All bar work, general waiting duties, kitchen duties and reception duties.

FAIRTRADES T: 0151 609 3508

JOB OF THE WEEK: Account Management Consultant Location: Guildford Salary: £18k-£24k per annum

www.fairtrades.co.uk

An Account Management Consultant is expected to take and make phone calls to proactively retain and develop relationships and manage the profitability of clients, who are contractors in the Home Improvement Sector.

FairTrades Homepro, started in 1983, is one of the UK’s largest providers of vetted tradesmen and insurance across the Home Improvement Sector.

Call 07847 735 190

Warren Stiles | 0151 609 3508 | recruitment@fairtrades.co.uk

T: 07716 376 408

JOB OF THE WEEK: Best Backpackers Jobs ever Location: UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand Salary: Average £600 pw. Make £10,000 by Summer

IPG is an international company marketing leisure events (paintball, go-karting, theme parks).

Work as part of a team at outdoor shows/indoor shopping centres across the country. See the sights, and have fun along the way. IPG’s promo teams comprise 150+ Aussies, Kiwis, Canadians, and more. Free drinks every Friday night.

IPG

07716 376 408

CETPS T: 02071 704 014 www.cetps.org.uk An educational charity opening two primary free schools this September using the ethos ‘all pupils have the potential to succeed’.

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JOB OF THE WEEK: Learning Support Assistant Location: Tower Hamlets or Westminster Salary: Competitive We are seeking to appoint enthusiastic, child-centred and creative graduates to work fulltime in our friendly and hard-working teams. The successful applicants will be expected to work alongside teachers to improve children’s learning. CETPS | Winchester House | 259-269 Old Marylebone Road | London | NW1 5RA

3/8/12 17:30:51

Come and join the H1 Healthcare success story! H1 Healthcare provides a wide range of services to clients including private healthcare providers, care homes, prisons, the NHS and voluntary organisations. We have opportunities NOW for the following in the Midlands, Scotland and Northern Ireland. • RGNs, RMNs • RGNs (insurance medicals) • Healthcare assistants • Support workers • Domestic assistants Whether you are interested in a permanent contract or working on a ﬂexible basis, H1 Healthcare has opportunities to suit you.

For more details about H1 Healthcare, call on: 0845 643 2744 or visit www.h1healthcare.com

"As a family-run company, we pride ourselves on our ‘open door’ policy and care for our staff as if they were our clients" - chief executive Pamela Easen

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LIFESTYLEMONEY CASH-SAVING TIPS FREE Xxxxxxxxx OLYMPIC TICKETS If you failed to get London 2012 tickets or decided XXXXXXXXX not to because of the price Xxxxxxxxxxx tag, don’t fear! There are free events over the next XXXXXXXXX week including the Hyde Xxxxxxxxxxx Park triathlon (August 7) and the Olympic marathon XXXXXXXXX race, which journeys Xxxxxxxxxxx through various famous central London locations XXXXXXXXX (August 12). Xxxxxxxxxxx visitlondon.com

TEAM GB KIT DEALS This could either be a Games Team GB remembers or tries to forget. Either way, bag some discounted team kits (up to 30 per cent) for future fancy dress parties. Offer while stocks last, which if anything like the Olympic tickets, could be a while ...

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HOW YOU SPEND IT! Any money-saving tips? Check out voucher sites before eating out, to see if there are any deals.

KATE SAMUELSON, 20 JOB English student FROM Camden Town How do you budget? I live in a student house and the six of us have a shared account we all transfer

money into for things like water and electricity. We also put £100 each into a ‘kitty’ every couple of weeks, which we spend on communal meals and house essentials like toilet paper and washing-up liquid.

Last big blow-out? I recently returned from a month travelling in Asia with my boyfriend. Although general living is far cheaper out there, I dreaded looking at my bank balance when I got home! I am far poorer now than I was before I left, but the trip was definitely worth it. What non-essential items do you spend money on? Music – it’s just too easy to download from iTunes!

HOW THEY SPEND IT! An expensive purrr-chase New York was recently the host of the most expensive pet wedding in the world, at £101,000. From outfits to Michelinstar pet-food, when it comes to fluffy friends, celebs go OTT

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❚ Jessica Simpson wanted

CHEAP GROCERIES! If you’re thinking of trying out a grocery delivery service, log on to Milk & More. Known as ‘the little store at your door’, the site is offering a promotion of £20 worth of groceries for £10 with the code 123AFF1. Offer ends August 12.

her maltipoo puppy, Daisy, to only travel in style, so she bought her a luxury Louis Vuitton carrier made of cowhide, worth £959.

❚ Paris Hilton’s ‘teacup’

milkandmore.co.uk

Bubbles lived well

chihuahua, Tinkerbell, lives in a £207,000 doghouse in Beverly Hills. Hilton has described Tinkerbell as a ‘nervous flier’ so the dog tends to sit on Hilton’s lap.

❚ Bubbles, Michael Jackson’s chimpanzee, was rumoured to have his own bodyguard, use Jackson’s toilet and sleep in his bed, of course – until he was sent to a £10,000 centre for apes. ❚ Indo, Gracie, Zhaki and Tyson are Will Smith’s spoilt rottweilers. They apparently have their own £415 treadmill, in case Smith is too tired to walk them.

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LIFESTYLELIVING

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Strolling around Pimlico, you’re surrounded by white, columned houses rising from sleepy sidewalks. It’s a world away from the hustle of central London, with beautiful parks and just the odd tourist toting a large camera. However, you know you’re in the capital, as there are plenty of suits. Pimlico is bounded at the south by the Thames, bumping up on Belgravia to the north, Chelsea to the west and Westminster to the east. Its draw is that it’s a leafy, quiet area. And, as such, there’s a wealth of professionals living here who want to leave their hectic lives at the office.

Why Pimlico?

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Very similar to Kensington and Chelsea in appearance, Pimlico is a more affordable version with all the same luxury. “You’re walking distance from Belgravia Street and Sloane Square, but without the Chelsea prices, so you get a lot more value for your money here,” says Louise Verrall from Douglas & Gordon estate agents on Wilton Road. The convenience of the location, as well as the obvious appeal of living near the Victoria line is ideal for commuters. “Obviously being so central and with the good transport links, we get a lot of people going to the City everyday and the Mayfair, Greekpark areas,” Verrall adds. Filled with private gardens and the public St George’s Square, there’s no shortage of places to stretch out on the weekends. A short walk will land you at major tourist

Character: converted townhouses; below, Pimlico Tube locations, such as Buckingham Palace and Green Park, or the banks of the Thames.

Don’t move here if... You have are on a really tight budget, although if you look hard enough, you can bag a flatshare for about £80pw (at the cheapest). And Pimlico’s not for you if you want to party around the clock and expect wild nights mid-week. The nightlife scene in here is much more sedate.

The people It’s mostly young professionals living here predominantly in their late 20s to mid-30s.

Where to hang out The blessing of being a lovely, quiet neighbourhood brings with it a shortage of pubs and restaurants. Places to check out are Pimlico Spice (pimlicospice.co.uk), an Indian restaurant on Lupus Street, and Cask (caskpubandkitchen.com) on Charlwood Street, which offers a dazzling array of

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MY AREA LAURA MULHALLAND

“There are lots of things that are convenient living in Pimlico. You’ve got the station with all your shops and everything. It’s always busy with lots of tourists.”

AIDEEN MULLAN

ales from around the world. On Saturday mornings, the Pimlico Farmers’ Market opens up in Orange Square. With a great array of seafood, bakery items, organic vegetables and fresh fruit, this market is a great place to stock up on the ultimate hangover breakfast.

The connections Pimlico falls on the major London transportation hub of Victoria, making it a key area to live for commuters. The two major Tube stations connecting it to the rest of London are Victoria and the Pimlico

station on the Victoria line. National Rail services can be accessed at Victoria station. Many outward buses can be picked up at Victoria, but the 24, 360 and C10 run through Pimlico itself.

“I work here – the whole area is quite business-orientated. That said, you can sometimes struggle to find a good bar for after work drinks, so I never usually hang around.”

SHIVANAND LOHGAONKAR

What can you rent? You’ll find a load of flats on offer – with houses harder to come by. But it retains NEXT WEEK its character, even though many of the Best websites Victorian townhouses to use for renting are being converted.

“It’s really congested with traffic. The roads are really busy. Getting on buses and trains can be a little congested. But other than that it’s good. It’s nice. ”

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Photos: Getty; TNT

25mins STUDIO FLAT £210pw

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On the second floor of a period conversation, this studio has a bedroom/lounge area and a (albeit fairly cosy) separate kitchen as well as a shower room.

Team up with some mates to rent this pad, which overlooks the Thames. It has two double bedrooms, and heating is included in the rental price.

Yep, a bit pricey, but you get your money’s worth. A one doublebedroom flat with a large reception room, lounge, loads of storage and a private balcony. And it’s furnished.

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WORLDVIEW

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NELSON, WHERE DID YOU GET THAT HAT? UNITED KINGDOM It was a case of hats off to London’s landmarks as statues were given a makeover with new headwear. Twenty of the capital’s icons, including Lord Nelson and the Duke of Wellington (above), received hats created by top designers. The project, called Hatwalk, is part of London Mayor Boris Johnson’s bid to encourage people to research and learn about sculptures of famous figures. After 18 months of planning, the hats were placed overnight on statues including William Shakespeare, Robert Burns, Queen Victoria and the Duke of Wellington. TWEETS OF THE WEEK @_Snape_ Gabby Douglas’s last name rearranged is USA Gold. You know who else had a rearranged name? Lord Voldemort. I’m onto you, Gabby. @fleetstreetfox Hmm. Two people found my site yesterday by Googling ‘stinking drunk old ladies’ @Queen_UK Reigning 9 to 5, what a way to make a living ...

MAN FINED OVER ‘NO BALLS’ INSULT ITALY Telling a man he has “no balls” as an insult is a crime punishable with a fine because it hurts male pride, a court has ruled in a curious row between two cousins. The case was brought to the supreme court by a lawyer named only as Vittorio against his cousin Alberto, a justice of the peace, for the phrase uttered during a heated courtroom exchange in the southern Italian city of Potenza. Vittorio’s lawyer had argued the 48

Feeling peckish? Cooks make a 53-metre long torta (sort of Mexican sandwich) during the annual Torta festival in Mexico City. More than 300 people helped to make the giant sandwich, which includes meat, chicken, cheese, avocado, mole (Mexican spicy sauce), turkey, tomatoes, beans, ham, shrimps, octopus and different types of cheese

expression implied that his client was “worth less than other men because he did not have the attributes”. A judge will now rule on the fine that Alberto should pay to Vittorio.

FIREWORK UP ARSE GAG BACKFIRES AUSTRALIA A Darwin man who shot to fame after lighting a firecracker in his buttocks says his condition is not as bad as people thought. Alex Bowden, 23, made headlines as far away as Alaska after police said he pulled the prank at a party on

Saturday. There were concerns Bowden would need to be flown to a specialist burns unit in Adelaide because of his injuries. But he said he’s not as injured as first thought. Bowden confirmed he had enjoyed a few beers before he put a spinning “flying bee” firework in his arse and had a friend light the fuse. He said he burned his fingers and his buttock cheeks, but his genitals and back were fine. “I just had a few beers with the boys and let off a few firecrackers,” he said. “And I put one in my arse. I had a few lads up from Queensland and I had to put on a good show.” Bowden’s mother reportedly thought the situation with her son was funny.

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THIS WEEK

IN NUMBERS 8

Per cent of Facebook users quizzed by a Canadian university who admitted to stalking their ex on the site

‘Yeah, she’s a right looker’

NEW ALERT CODE AS WOLF-WHISTLES DIE NEW ZEALAND Women be warned: workmen on building sites have developed a new code to alert each other to attractive women passing by. Wolf-whistling is dying out, with offenders given warnings and being moved to other sites. But workers, who declined to be named, in New Zealand have said they instead use secret codes. “We might yell something like, ‘Wayne’s at the gate’,” one said. Another said: “Anyone got a spanner?” was their code. Another worker, with almost 18 months in Christchurch’s central city red zone, said: “I know there are a few women who miss those days, but I can assure them, they still get checked out.” Phew! That’s alright then, girls.

KNIGHT TIME ROBBERY AT MEDIEVAL FESTIE

Photos: Getty; Thinkstock

FRANCE A gang of thieves dressed as knights and armed with a sword and an axe have robbed the organisers of a medieval festival in France, making off with £16,000. The theft took place as organisers were counting earnings from the event in Bitche. “According to witnesses, there were three or four individuals, masked and wearing medieval attire,” a spokesman said. They struck one of the organisers with the handle of the axe and escaped with the cash. Police have opened an investigation and interviewed witnesses. The Medievales

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Number, in thousands of yellow rubber ducks released into the sea at Margate as part of an art project. Quackers ...

132

Number of years since outlaw Ned Kelly was hanged in Australia that his family win right to bury his body

Amount, in thousands of US dollars of debt, spent every second in the States as its deficit rises to largest since World War II

The knights were the hardest Europeennes de Bitche is one of France’s largest festivals of medieval culture and last year was attended by more than 11,000 people.

SWIMMERS DIVE INTO 50 SHADES OF GREY AUSTRALIA Australia’s women’s swimming team have revealed the secret behind their gold medal success – reading 50 Shades Of Grey to relax. Alicia Coutts, Cate Campbell, Brittany Elmslie and Melanie Schlange are reading the erotic bestseller while they chill out at the Athlete’s Village in east London. “Everyone has been talking about it. My manager said just forget about the sex bits and it’s actually a really good story,” Coutts admitted. “I’ve found it really interesting. I can’t put it down.” The swimmers took home gold for the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay last weekend.

41,120

QUOTE OF THE WEEK It’s all bruised, I look like I’m dating Chris Brown under here Comedienne Joan Rivers, who has undergone cataract surgery, doesn’t mince her words when describing the side effects

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TNT puts the world to rights

OURVIEW

COMMENT: OLI JONES

oliver.jones@tntmagazine.com

The scene of Harris’s tragic accident

London needs better bike lanes, not Boris Bikes

Photos: Getty

Too many motorists in London see the roads as a battlefield

On Wednesday, Bradley Wiggins provided us with a great advert for cycling, his mod sideburns scything through the London streets en-route to Olympic gold in the time trial. Then, at 8pm, the sad news broke that Dan Harris, a civilian cyclist, had been killed on his bike, hit by an Olympic media bus in east London. Witnesses say that Harris had ‘no way to escape’, a phrase even casual observers will have heard used repeatedly to describe fatal cycling crashes. And each time I hear it chimed, I feel less guilty for giving up my bike. I was lucky. I had an escape route. I took up cycling in the capital two years ago, the twin incentives of banishing my (very minor) mid-twenties paunch and avoiding people breathing down my ears on the Tube, seemed reason enough. For five months, I cycled happily, avoiding the near misses most London cyclists will dutifully recount. But then two incidents in a day abruptly divorced me from my bike, the second leaving me flat on the pavement outside the Nag’s Head shopping centre on Holloway Road, with the driver of the bus that hit me shaking his fist my way. Unlike Harris, I had an easy out on to the pavement. Tragically, he wasn’t so lucky. Three weeks later, an acquaintance, Dan Cox, a talented young art theorist, died on his bike in Dalston, and almost a year after that, the scene of my lucky escape claimed the life of another cyclist. And there will be more. The volume of uninsured drivers on London’s road, the nakedly token attempts to build a cycling infrastructure, and a culture of outright animosity between road users all make London a dangerous place for cyclists. Cycling is the answer to the capital’s ailing pubic transport system, congestion, obesity, and yet the action from City Hall has been utterly ineffective: painting a bit of road blue and calling it a cycling superhighway fools no one. I quit cycling because I was sick of feeling like a soldier in a battle with motorists. Infrastructure and a culture of road tolerance is what protects cyclists. We have neither. » How do you feel about cycling on London’s roads? letters@tntmagazine.com

SEE BORIS THE MAN, NOT THE BUFFOON One of the highlights of my week, and many-a-Londoner I’m sure, was seeing the mayor of our fair smogtropolis dangling like a boogie from a zipwire. Not that I was on board with the proceeding ‘oh isn’t Boris great, what japes’ media coverage. There was even talk again of Boris as the next Tory leader, which is actually a great idea. It would banish the Conservatives to electoral obscurity again. Cameron, for all his various flashman foibles, is a Tory leader who stood in front of his party and got a standing ovation for his support of gay marriage.

“

Boris Tory leader? That’s a great idea

”

Don’t look up at Boris and see a buffoon, look at him and see the moron who closed crisis centres for abused women and the man who Rupert Murdoch wants to be the next PM. Make him leader. He may be popular in London, but outside of the capital the affable rah act doesn’t wash. TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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Designs on greatness Sporting technology continues to help lift athletes’ performances WORDS JAHN VANNISSELROY

Ever since 776BC, when the Greeks began using sports, through the newly formed Olympic Games, as a way of achieving social status, humans have continually strived to improve their on-field performances. Over the ensuing centuries, through new innovations and continued refinement, athletes have become faster, stronger and fitter, bringing us to the finely tuned physical specimens, the Rolls-Royces of our species, we see at London 2012. A new exhibition, Designed To Win, at London’s Design Museum, showcases sports’ major technological advances, some popular, others not so, that have allowed history’s sportsmen and women to achieve excellence in their fields. Here, we’ve picked the highlights for you to consider – if you can draw yourself away from the TV for a few minutes.

LZR Racer, swimming Speedo's controversial line of swimming suits was launched in 2008 at that year's Beijing Olympics, where 94 per cent of all races were won by athletes donning the LZR Racer. By August 2009, 93 world records had been broken by swimmers wearing it, prompting major investigations and allegations of “technological doping”. The suit provided the muscles with improved oxygen, and held the body in a more hydrodynamic position, while repelling water and increasing flexibility. Wow! But when swimmers started wearing two or more, smashing world records in the process, swimming governing body Fina stepped in and banned them.

Mongoose bat, cricket Attempts to change anything about the shape of a cricket bat have usually been met with hostility by the game’s fraternity. Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee infamously used an aluminum bat in a 1979 Test against England, nobody suspecting what he was up to until he managed to hit the ball. The strange noise created led umpires to inspect, 52

and Lillee was forced to change his weapon. It was banned soon after. Bats remained orthodox until 2010, when the Mongoose was introduced, its blade 33 per cent shorter than a conventional one and its handle 43 per cent longer. Australian Matthew Hayden scored 94 from only 43 balls using the bat in a 2010 IPL T20 match, and soon after, despite opposition from traditionalists, the games governing body declared the Mongoose legal for any form of cricket, from Tests down, worldwide. However, the majority of players reject the Mongoose, preferring to keep it old school.

Long putter, golf Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer hate them, but until recently, the long putter was rare in golf. However, when Keegan Bradley won the 2011 Open using one, the golfing world began to take notice. Ernie Els won the British Open using one this year, while runner-up Australian Adam Scott lost using his. The handle on the long putters are up to 130cm longer than a traditional putter and is used to anchor the club to the golfer’s chest as he or she shoots for the hole. Golf currently allows the long putter, although some players refuse to buy into the new technology, instead beating their drums louder for it to be banned.

Oakley eyeshade, all sports Proper sports eyewear didn’t really exist before the Eighties, athletes instead having to choose between plastic, which offered extremely poor clarity, or sunglasses with real glass, which heightened the risk of shattering. In 1984, however, Oakley, started by American Jim Jannard in his garage and named after his dog, introduced the Eyeshade, eyewear that utilised Plutonite, a special polycarbonate blend, to maximise visibility while increasing impact protection. At London 2012, many athletes can be spotted using the company’s RadarLock eyewear, an innovation that eliminates all optical distortion,

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Clockwise: Dennis Lillee (left) with his aluminum bat; Michael Phelps in the LZR Racer; Mark Webber’s F1 helmet

provides more strength and offers more protection from the sun’s rays. Plus it makes them look pretty cool. The future (and present) has never been clearer.

Spaghetti-strung racquet, tennis The double-strung tennis racquet was first sighted in 1977, but was soon banned due to the excessive spin it generated. Romanian Ilie Nastase used what became known as the ‘spaghetti-strung’ racquet to end the 57-match claycourt winning streak of Argentinian Guillermo Vilas, who was so confused by the spin, he threw a tantrum, storming off court and forfeiting the match. In 1978, the International Tennis Federation banned the spaghetti-strung racquet. It remains the only attempt to limit a technological advance in the sport.

Flex foot, paralympics Without the Flex Foot, we wouldn’t have seen Oscar Pistorius at London 2012, nor half the athletes at next week’s Paralympics. Pistorius’s carbon-fibre Cheetah version was so well designed, it’s hardly been changed since its 1996 invention. The latest prosthetic technology from Flex Foot will be showcased at the Paralympics. It features an interchangeable running sole, with layers of thermal cushioning and air pocket that wrap around the carbon-fibre blade. Previously, athletes had to cut regular shoes to fit, the homemade enterprises invariably failing at crucial times.

Photos: Pho Phot s: G Ge Getty

Timekeeping, all sports Imagine trying to use your naked eye to decide who won an Olympic race; it would be impossible. But until 1932, when Omega was made the Games official timekeeper, things were pretty much like that. Initially, just a stopwatch was used (quite sophisticated for the time) but things quickly developed. By the Forties, electronic timers were used and the Fifties gave rise to photo-finish technology. By 1960, the

live time of each competitor was superimposed on a large TV screen, leaving no margin for error. At London 2012, Omega used new Quantum timers capable of recording up to 16 competitors at once, to an accuracy of one-millionth of a second. If Omega says you’ve lost, or broken a world record, chances are extremely high that you have (main image).

Load And launch, basketball The NBA originally tried to ban Michael Jordan’s Air Jordan shoes for a lack of white (it didn’t work) but they scored a victory in 2010 against Athletic Propulsion Labs’s Load And Launch shoe. Each shoe features eight springs that store energy from downwards pressure and then release it on liftoff. But when tests revealed wearers could leap an extra 9cm in the air, the NBA outlawed the shoe, giving the company the ultimate seal of approval that their product worked. Maybe the professionals can’t use Load And Launch, but it will change street ball for ever.

Helmets, Formula One When female F1 driver Maria De Villota crashed at 200mph in a test run at Cambridgeshire last month, not many gave her a chance of survival. However, it appears her helmet saved her life. They may look much the same as they did years ago, but the advancement of F1’s headgear is all below the surface. Head and neck trauma is high on the list of the FIA’s major concerns for drivers and, as such, just as much work goes into helmets as it does their cars. Modern-day helmets contain materials used in bulletproof vests, with impact-absorbing plastics and fireproofing also employed. The visors are anti-fogging and have transparent layers that yers erss th tha hat at a driver can rip off if it becomes dirty. Designed To Win, Design Museum, until November 18. £10 SE1 2YD designmuseum.org Tower Hill

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KIWI ATHLETE’S PIC GOES INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC VILLAGE LIFE New Zealand cyclist Greg Henderson was the official photographer of a ‘quad off’ in the Games Village. Henderson recorded the battle, between German cyclists Andre Greipel (above left) and Robert Forstemann, who was crowned victor. No medal for either, sadly. Henderson sent the attractive pic worldwide, via Twitter, with the comment: “You thought Greipel has a big set of legs. There was a quad off in the German camp today. Greipel lost.” It was picked up by international media and promptly shared by millions across the web. Thighs does matter, apparently.

SA GOLDEN BOY UPSTAGED BY DAD OLYMPICS SWIMMING An emotional interview featuring the father of 200m butterfly champion Chad Le Clos was one of the major highlights of the pool coverage. Talking with BBC host Clare Balding immediately after his son’s triumph, South African Bert Le Clos, 55, was in tears as he watched footage of his offspring. “He’s beautiful. What a beautiful boy. Sorry, sorry. He’s unbelievable. He’s committed like you cannot believe. He’s the most down-to-earth beautiful boy you will ever meet in your life. Look at him. I love you. He’s crying like me,” Le Clos said. Then, after seeing himself on TV, he pulled his shirt over his stomach, saying: “Oh my God, every time I see myself. Is this live? Unbelievable. Thanks Great Britain.” Later, Bert told media that Chad once played football, but had “funny” legs –”you know, flat-footed”– so it was decided he would be a swimmer instead. 54

Don’t you just love the beach volleyball? The athleticism, the illusion of summer at the beach, the fierce competition. And the pre-match entertainment (above) ain’t bad either. Everyone (especially Boris Johnson) was enjoying themselves at Horse Guards Parade last week. It’s not hard to see why. Now … who won gold?

AUSSIE SWIMMER BLAMES TWITTER

BIG WEEK FOR ...

OLYMPICS SWIMMING

If nothing else goes New Zealand’s way, Valerie Adams and her shotput can usually be relied upon to give the country a golden glow. Adams, who trains with a men’s shotput, is the reigning Olympic, Commonwealth and World champ and will carry the hopes of a nation when she competes in Monday’s heats and (all going well) Tuesday’s final. Gold is not a fait accompli, however; Adams’ main rival, Belarusian Nadzeya Ostapchuk, beat the Kiwi’s best throw of the year four times last month, chalking up a top heave of 21.39m. Adams will definitely have to be on her game to win.

Emily Seebohm, known as the ‘CBomb’, was no doubt uttering a few choice words in private after a latenight social media session apparently cost her gold in the 100m backstroke. Seebohm revealed she had stayed up past her bedtime the night before her big race, replying to the Facebook messages and tweets of hundreds of wellwishers. “I just felt like I didn’t really get off (social media) and get into my own mind,” she revealed after winning silver. But fellow tweeter Breanna Tucker was having none of it. “How [was Twitter to blame]?” Tucker tweeted. “Was she tweeting from the pool?” Fair question.

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Courtney Atkinson in action

QUOTES OF THE WEEK If you’ve seen James Goodard, he is a hairy man. And if he is successful, I can say I have shaved his back Team GB swimmer Simon Burnett reveals the lengths he and the other swimmers go to help their mates perform in the pool

PREVIEW Run, swim, cycle for gold OLYMPIC GAMES MEN’S TRIATHLON

TUESDAY, 11.30AM BBC ONLINE/ RED BUTTON Triathlon combines the best of three worlds and, like the heptathlon and decathlon, forces participants to be excellent at more than one pursuit. The event is a huge deal, with one of either British brothers Alistair and Jonny Brownlee the red-hot favourite to power his way to hometown glory. If they fail, Team GB has recruited a Slovak, Richard Varga, the field’s best swimmer, as a back-

up to ensure that Hyde Park is the scene of a national party on Tuesday afternoon. The Aussies and Kiwis, the two best-performed nations since triathlon’s 2000 Olympic inclusion, will have other ideas, though. For the Aussies, Courtney Atkinson, Brad Kahlefeldt and Brendan Sexton will race their hearts out, while the New Zealanders feature Bevan Doherty (silver in Athens, bronze in Beijing), Kris Gemmel and Ryan Scissons. Also keep an eye out for the defending champ, Canadian flagbearer Simon Whitfield. He’s no slouch, either.

I feel that we need more fat men at the modern Olympics, men like the pot-bellied monsters of the weightlifting and wrestling ESPN boxing columnist Steve Bunce thinks perhaps there’s too much of the body beautiful at the Games. Each to their own

My two-and-a-half-year old could have won one of those matches Former British badminton star and Olympic silver medallist Gail Emms wades into the badminton scandal. That’s quite a talented toddler …

TV HIGHLIGHTS

THE CHAT | The Midas touch

Photos: Pho Phot s: G Ge Getty; Greg Henderson/ Twitter

BMX usual, China’s really cashing in this Olympics, Q As improving their tally of gold on a daily basis. What’s one of them medals worth, anyhow? young reader, those medals are priceless. How do you A Why, put a price on years’ worth of blood, sweat and tears; a limited social life; and the pride of an entire nation? If you were, however, to value the medals on the cost of their raw materials only, you’d discover that each first-place medal has little more than one per cent actual gold. The remaining metal is 92.5 per cent silver and 6.16 per cent copper and the entire thing is worth about £412. For the silver medal, the gold is replaced with more copper (it’s worth £192) and the bronze features 2.5 per cent zinc and 0.5 per cent tin, coming in at a whopping £3.20.

Men’s and women’s The BMX action finally kicks off Wed, 3pm. BBC Online/ red button

TABLE TENNIS Gold medal match The men duke it out Wed, 3.30pm. BBC Online/ red button

BOXING Medal rounds That’s gold!

The women fight for gold Thurs, 4.30pm. BBC Online/ red button TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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SPORTVIEW W COMMENT: [NAME] COMMENT: JAHN VANNISSELROY [email] jahn.vannisselroy@tntmagazine.com

Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli and (right) Phillip Hindes

British snatch gold while Chinese taste disgrace

Bending the rules has a different outcome, depending on where you’re from

» Agree or disagree? Is Hindes in the same boat as the Chinese? letters@tntmagazine.com 56

Aside from the nastiness surrounding the badminton, it’s been a great Games, made even more memorable by the emergence of Hamadou Djibo Issaka, the Sculling Sloth. The 35-year-old Djibo Issaka, finished woefully off the pace in all his races at Dorney Lake, but was adopted by the painfully posh rowing crowds and willed on as if he were one of their own. Everyone loves a cult figure and Djibo Issaka certainly fits the bill. He only started learning the basics of the sport three months ago, using a wooden fishing boat in Niamey, the capital of landlocked Niger where he’s from.

“

Everyone loves a cult figure at the Games

”

“Before this week, I hadn’t been in a professional boat before. There aren’t these kind of boats in Africa” he said. It can only go up from here for Djibo Issaka. He plans to row on and compete in 2016 Rio de Janeiro 2016, moving up from last place. That truly is the spirit.

Photos: Getty

A ruse, Sir Christopher. A ruse so glowingly apparent you could pin a ribbon on it and call it a gold medal. And that’s exactly what Team GB cyclist Phillip Hindes managed to pull off, deliberately crashing after a bad beginning to Thursday’s team sprint to gain a restart and allow his team, featuring Sir Chris Hoy, the best chance of scoring gold. The ruse worked, GB winning – convincingly, and IOC-sanctioned, it transpired – but the term ‘Olympic spirit’ was sadly missing from the ugly little affair. Consider now, the scandal of the naughty badminton players of China, who deliberately tried to lose in order to avoid sterner opposition in the next round, essentially resetting their pursuit of gold and forcing their opponents of South Korea and Indonesia to follow suit. While there’s plenty to dislike about the Chinese – the 2012 medal tally, a dubious state-sanctioned doping record, and a not-too-flash human rights history – top seeds Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli were technically within their rights to do what they did. The format, nonsensically round-robin (who gets a second chance in the tennis?), saw to that. So, what’s the difference between performing badly to refresh your chances of winning gold and deliberately crashing to improve your chances of coming first? Opponents of such an idea will no doubt cite rule 4.5 of the Olympic code of conduct, which outlaws ‘not using one’s best efforts to win’. And they can, but they must also apply it to Hindes, who, like the Chinese, used a grey area in the law to gain an advantage. Why Hindes opened his mouth is another question worth asking. No doubt other cyclists who have used this little get-out-of-jail card in the past, but will surely have it no longer available, will be cursing his openness. Perhaps his conscience, or ego, got the better of him. However, the fact remains, while the loopholes in both events will now be closed, one pack of rule-benders will be going home in shame as the other celebrates gold. It seems homeground advantage does indeed count for plenty at the Olympic Games.

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Don’t cry for me: Shin Lam

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OLYMPICFOCUS

Golden moments TNT’s top seven events of the 2012 Olympics so far WORDS CAROL DRIVER We always knew it would be an emotional time when the Olympics finally arrived – all that hard work, dedication and commitment paying off, or not, in front of our eyes. But alongside such a momentous occasion, there’s always the moments you could never foresee. Below are TNT’s favourite bits from the first week of London 2012 (not including bumbling Boris, who’s best moment is on P6).

The embarrassing-dad interview: Chad Le Clos You would, of course, forgive Chad Le Clos feeling a bit emotional after winning gold in the 200-metre butterfly final, beating American Michael Phelps by 0.05 seconds. However, it wasn’t the Olympian who was shedding tears in front of the cameras, but his over-excited father, Bert. Overcome with pride, Bert was interviewed for the BBC by presenter Claire Balding. Pumping his fist in the air, the South African said: “Unbelievable! Unbelievable! I’ve never been so pleased in my life. It’s something indescribable what happened tonight. He’s unbelievable. He’s the most down to earth beautiful boy you’ll ever meet in your life. Look at him, he’s crying like me. I love you. Look at him! I love him.” Enough already. Sheesh.

Drunk & disorderly: The Australians It was always expected that the Australian athletes would swagger into London, full of bravado and confidence, and they haven’t disappointed. The green and gold army first ‘livened up’ the Opening Ceremony, with team members accused of being “rowdy” and “drunk” as they climbed over barriers and wandered into the centre of the stadium. But Olympic rower Joshua Booth took it to another level when he was arrested for allegedly damaging a shop front during a drunken night out after his team failed to win a medal (finishing sixth, with Germany taking first). The 21-yearold also fainted, hitting his head while at a police station. Loving. His. Work.

The worst broadcaster: NBC #NBCFail was trending for a number of days on Twitter as the US broadcaster continued to piss off viewers with its secondrate coverage of the Olympic Games. Not content with making a balls-up of the Opening Ceremony – dropping a tribute to the 7/7 bombing victims because it ‘wasn’t relevant’ to the US audience and, ironically, telling viewers to Google who Tim Berners Lee is – the bosses then decided to keep in-demand content for prime-time TV (running hours after the Americans had learned who’d won what over the interweb). Lastly, and rubbing salt into an already sore wound, NBC got its countries mixed up on its website, running a description of Austria next t a map of Australia. #doh! to

Dolphin Girl: Ye Shiwen In an eyebrow-raising, record-shattering time, Chinese swimmer Ye Shiwen won gold in the women’s 400m, sparking allegations of, gasp, doping. The 16-year-old not only took an incredible five seconds off her own personal best, but also more than a second off the world record. However, what made those raised eyebrows arch to look like a surprised facelift victim was Shiwen swimming the final 50m of the freestyle leg faster than men’s champion Ryan Lochte. The Chinese contingent came out in support of Shiwen, saying she had undergone more than 100 drug tests since arriving in London, all of which she had passed. But it reignited the debate about the Chinese and cheating, which, let’s face it, if proved to have happened at any stage in the Games, wouldn’t come as a massive shock.

The sit-in protest: Shin Lam We all like our Olympians to have fighting spirit, determination, an overwhelming desire to succeed. But when those emotions turn to stubbornness, it’s just a bit embarrassing all round. Poor South Korean fencer Shin Lam didn’t care about that, though, when she broke down in tears and staged a sit-in protest for an hour after one second was put back on the clock during the semi-finals of the women’s fencing. The extra time allowed Germany’s Britta Heidemann to win 6-5 and make it through to the final. After all that, the 25-year-old was allowed to fight her bronze medal match, but ended up losing that as well.

One-upmanship: New Zealanders Rather than follow the Aussies’ raucous lead, the New Zealand athletes seem to be maintaining a low profile while in London, keeping themselves to themselves and being well behaved (thus far). And it’s paying off. Sticking it to the Aussies where it hurts, the Kiwi women’s hockey team slammed to a 1-0 victory against them. NZ then went up against South Africa, scoring a tremendous 4-1 victory. Sweet as. (We had to give the Kiwis this moment, as, let’s face it, Aus is caning them when it comes to medals.)

The snapping elbow: Jaehyouk Sa Even athletes have their breaking point. For weightlifter Jaehyouk Sa, that moment was when he tried to push up a 162kg bar and his elbow bent back in the wrong direction, snapping his arm under the weight. The agony was as etched across the South Korean’s face as his right arm m gave ave way while he was in the squatting position. The 27-year-old 2727-yea -year-o ar-old old was forced to drop out of the competition taken etition ition on and a d was wa as tak t en to hospital. Log on to tntmagazine.com/weightlifter. ine.com/weightlifter. ne.com/weightlifter. But don’t watch it before eating lunch. unch ch h TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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HORSES FOR COURSES Locals in samurai costume ride horses at the annual Soma Nomaoi festival in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture. The traditional celebration kicked off for the first time since the accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant after the massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011.

Photos: Claire Turfrey, Celia Topping, The Adventurists; Getty

INSIDE

BARGE ON IN /64

EAGER IN RIGA /76

RIDE OF YOUR LIFE /82

Wind down from city life and glide through the countryside on Britain’s only floating backpacker hostel.

There might be an alarming number of mullets on show in the Latvian capital, but this stag-do town is smartening up its act.

Fancy driving 3000km across the ragged roads of India on a glorified lawnmower? Here’s what happens if you say ‘yes’ ... TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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TRAVELDIARY Laura Chubb

@tntmagazine

Competition: a contestant post-lob

ACTING TRAVEL EDITOR

THERE’S A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN If the clichés are to be believed, cruise company Carnival is about to see a sharp decline in German customers: a ban on reserving sun loungers with towels has been introduced on its ship Carnival Breeze.

MOBILE-PHONE THROWING CONTEST Finland For those who feel like they are slaves to their mobile phones, this festival in the southeast town of Savonlinna will help you break free. 18 It was created as payback for all the frustrations and disappointments caused by these modern devices – the one that got away thanks to a hastily typed number; infidelity exposed; being shit at Temple Run. AUG

WHY: The festival was invented not only to let off steam, but to draw attention to what happens to technology trash. When phones are returned to shops in exchange for new ones, they often become toxic waste. The event recycles all the crushed phones after they’ve got what’s coming to them.

DO IT BECAUSE: Think of all the times your mobile phone has let you down. When you most need it, the battery runs out or you lose reception; it makes drunk dialling and incorrectly addressed texts embarrassingly inevitable. Now … smash it up!

INTERNATIONAL BATHTUB REGATTA

NATIONAL TRACTOR PULLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Dinant, Belgium

Bowling Green, Ohio This porcelain party involves ‘racing’ a fleet of floating 15 bathtubs. The rules are simple: tubs must be propelled by human force only and decorated according to this year’s theme – Old and New Cinema. More than €20,000 is up for grabs, with points being awarded for originality and beauty. AUG

visitbelgium.com

ROSE OF TRALEE Kerry, Ireland

Young women of Irish descent are gathered from 17-21 all over the globe in the hopes of being crowned the greatest Celtic beauty in the world. AUG

roseoftralee.ie

mobilephonethrowing.fi

The festival started with just a few farmers killing time by 17-19 pulling heavier and heavier objects to test their tractors (there’s not much going on in Ohio). Today, an estimated crowd of 60,000 clamours to see who will win the US$150,000 cash prize. Monster tractors roll up with drivers’ dressed in Nascar-worthy gear, determined to test their tractor strength and win bragging rights. AUG

pulltown.com

KORÇA CITY BEER FEST

Korca City, Albania AUG

15-19

Beer, moshpits and meatballs at this four-night fest. Yes! pulltown.com

Photos: Getty

The new rules give passengers who leave their belongings on a lounger 40 minutes to return, before articles are removed by staff policing the deck and stored for roving sun worshippers to retrieve. This has me hankering after a raft of new rules and regulations, to be introduced in the noble pursuit of nixing other incredibly annoying travel habits. How about a hostel sheriff who carts off loudmouths intent on an evening of one-upmanship? These guys would patrol common rooms listening out for conversations that proceed something like this: Backpacker 1: “Have you ever been to Borneo?” Backpacker 2: “Yeah, it’s awesome, right?” B1: [Looking disappointed] “How about Mongolia?” B2: “Yeah mate, loved it!” B1: [Becoming visibly furious] “How about Bolivia?” B2: “Nah, never been.” B1: [Looking elated] “Oh, you must go! It’s amazing. You haven’t been travelling if you haven’t been to Bolivia.” [Leans back in chair with air of uncontainable smugness] Other people collared and slung in the clink by the sheriff would include those who reach for hand sanitiser after every conceivable interaction with anything (I’ve known travellers who sanitise each and every time they touch a menu) and anyone who orders the burger when confronted with a list of mouthwatering exotic local cuisine. Maybe I’ll apply for the job.

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SPAIN’S ROAD PIRATES Spain’s roads are increasingly being targeted by ‘highway’ pirates who rob tourists driving in foreign-registered or rental cars, the British Embassy has warned. A total of 13 robberies on the roads were reported to the consulate in Barcelona in the past two weeks alone, while there were 140 robberies on the AP7 motorway last year – and these are only the incidents reported to the British Embassy. A spokesman warned the most common technique was for thieves to slash tyres at service stations, so that when the driver has to pull over after setting off again, one thief comes to their aid while an accomplice robs the car.

Photos: Thinkstock

DEATH IN PHUKET Eight people have drowned swimming off the west coast of Phuket in the past three months, with Brit Peter Cook the latest victim. Cook drowned while swimming at the popular Patpong beach. A beach vendor claimed to have warned him not to go swimming in the rough surf. Local media reported that Cook had arrived at the beach before the first lifeguard came on duty, although red warning flags were in place. An American student and a Chinese tourist drowned near the same spot in June. Monsoon season, from May to October, creates strong currents.

LIBYA: IT’S PARADISE We named it one of our top five dangerous destinations to visit, but if the fledgling Libyan tourist industry has its way, the country will soon be welcoming hoards of travellers. Adel Belhaj, of the Libyan Society for the Activation of Tourism, told USA Today: “Libya has all it takes to become a vacation paradise.” The country boasts a wealth of historical marvels, including one of the world’s best-preserved Roman cities at Leptis Magna, cave art and troglodyte homes. However, Tripoli-based travel agency Bright Orient said: “When there is no security, there is no tourism.”

EXPEDIA PRICE FIX Expedia has become embroiled in a pricefixing scandal that is being investigated by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). It is alleged that Intercontinental Hotels – which operates chains including Holiday Inn – colluded with online hotel booking companies booking.com and Expedia to limit discounts on rooms. While the OFT is only investigating these firms, it suggested the illegal practice may be rife across the industry. All parties have about three months to respond to the allegations. Intercontinental has denied any wrongdoing.

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Perfect peace: relax on Wandering Duck’s barge

EAT, DRINK, SLEEP

Backpacker barge

MANCHESTER

MANCHESTER & THE PEAK DISTRICT WALES

ENGLAND

LONDON

GETTING THERE Trains from London to Manchester Piccadilly cost from £24 return. virgintrains.co.uk Connecting trains from Manchester to Hyde Central or Romiley, Whaley Bridge to Buxton and Buxton to Stockport cost about £3.50 each way. northernrail.org

Thompsons Café has been serving fish and chips in Buxton for over a generation. Try the prawn with Marie Rose sauce cod bap or the wholetail scampi. Meals from about £2.50. thompsonscafe.co.uk If you want to experience a quintessential English tea room, you can’t go past No. 6 The Square Tea Room in Buxton, where you can relax in the Georgian elegance of a leafy square opposite the Opera House. Mains from £4.95. no6tearooms.co.uk The King’s Head, located on the Market Place at the top of Buxton, has an extensive range of real ales from £3 a pint. kingsheadpubbuxton.co.uk A coaching inn not far from the Peak Forest Canal, the Duke of York is the perfect spot for a drink if you’re meeting the Wandering Duck in Romiley. Pints from £3. dukeofyorkromiley.co.uk If you’re exploring Manchester before boarding the Wandering Duck, crash at a Hatters Hostel. Beds from £11pn. hattersgroup.com

[Caption] 64

Here and above: glide through locks and fly among the foliage

The Westminster Hotel in Buxton is a comfy spot to recover from your exertions at Go Ape! Rooms from £35pppn. westminsterhotel.co.uk

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UKTRIP

Barge on in Wind down from city life and glide through the countryside on a floating backpacker hostel

Photos: wanderingduck.co.uk, Claire Turfrey

WORDS CLAIRE TURFREY

My first canal boating experience has a rocky start – a rogue tyre wrapped around the propeller almost putting an end to the trip before it even begins. But it’s not long before our hosts on Britain’s only floating backpacker hostel tackle the entanglement and we’re on our way, revelling in the tranquillity as we gaze across rolling green fields and glide under old, stone bridges. I’m one of seven guests aboard the Wandering Duck Canal Boat Experience, run by well-travelled couple Mark and Ruth Bratt. The pair operated a backpackers’ hostel in Kaikoura, New Zealand, for 18 months and on returning home decided canal-cruising accommodation would be a fun alternative. Named Rakiraki (Maori for duck), the narrowboat is about 7ft wide by 70ft long. Our home for the next two nights boasts a lounge, kitchen, two bathrooms and two four-bed shared-bunk cabins for guests. Space is tight, but that’s all part of the adventure. Joining me and my Aussie friend are three Liverpudlians and two Irish lasses. As we settle in with drinks from the ‘Honesty Bar’, which even includes a hand-pump with real ale, we hear how the Wandering Duck idea was hatched. “We wanted to find a way to give people an experience which would be uniquely British,” Mark says. Britain was first to develop a nationwide canal network, which played a vital role in the Industrial Revolution. While railways ended their commercial use, it also meant canals weren’t modernised here like in other parts of Europe. “I love the way they developed this system in the 1800s and just stuck with it. I definitely think it’s part of the draw,” Marks adds. Next morning, I rise early and soak up the morning sun on the bow of the boat, accompanied only by the gentle chug of the engine. With a speed limit of 4mph, there’s no chance of feeling rushed. It’s a welcome change of pace from London. The distance between our departure point at Hyde, near Manchester, and end point at Bugsworth Basin in the Peak District is roughly 10 miles, but as we’re on the Locks and Tunnels tour, we’ll pass through 16 locks and the Rakiraki will rise about 210ft. “There are more than 2000 miles of canals in Britain and being manmade they are elevated so you get those beautiful vistas,” Mark says. Ruth warns us about the 14ft-deep locks – if you fall in you could be dragged under by the suction of the emptying

water, crushed by the 25-tonne boat or struggle to stay afloat in the aerated water as it fills. But we aren’t deterred and take turns winding the paddles open and shut and throwing our weight behind the hefty gates. It’s a full-body workout. For a more laidback experience, Wandering Duck offers a Relax and Enjoy tour on the lock-free route from the Peak District to Macclesfield and vice versa. “A guest on that tour described it as ‘legitimate idleness’,” Ruth laughs. After lunch there’s only a few swing and lift bridges to operate, so some of us have a go steering the boat. At 6pm, we moor and decide to tramp the hour-and-a-half New Mills

“

It’s been described as ‘legitimate idleness’

”

circuit, which includes the stunning Millennium Walkway, a path suspended over the River Goyt between a towering wall and an abandoned centuries-old mill. Returning to a hearty dinner, it’s been a long day in the best of ways. “It’s so peaceful I feel like I’ve been on holiday for a year,” guest Tim says. “The hardest decision I’ve had to make is red or white wine.” The next morning we cruise for two hours before heading to the historic spa town of Buxton, well worth exploring for its Georgian architecture and warm springs. But we’re bound for the zipwires of nearby tree-top adventure park, Go Ape! We enjoy a fantastic afternoon flying through the foliage, but I must say I’m sad to bid farewell to the canal boat lifestyle. I could definitely get used to it. ❚ A two-night canal boat trip costs £95 midweek and £115 on weekends, including all meals, hot drinks and snacks. wanderingduck.co.uk Go Ape! Tree Top Adventure at Buxton from £30 per person. goape.co.uk

NEXT WEEK Tent-free camping: Sleeping under the stars in the UK

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ROUND TRIPS 2012 - 2013 (Autumn, winter and spring 2012-2013)

LAPLAND

*** ***Early Bird offeR

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7 Days MAGIC LAPLAND ADVENTURE from ¤400 Enjoy the best of Finnish and Swedish Lapland during a week packed with unique experiences north of the arctic circle! This tour departs December-March!

LAPLAND SPECIAL with JOKKMOKK MARKET from ¤400 This trip is partly the same as the 7 days Magic Lapland Adventure but it also includes the Jokkmokk market. That is a unique event where the sami people from all over Lapland come to participate in the festivities.

* * * f f o % 10 * * * E P O R U RUSSIA & EASTERN E 7 Days RUSSIAN NEW YEAR’S TOUR from ¤500 Helsinki-Petersburg-Moscow-Tallinn Have a great New Year’s tour in a wintry Russia and celebrate Sylvester on the Red Square in Moscow (This tour can be combinated with the Lapland Christmas Tour)

7 Days BALTIC CRUISER from ¤300 Helsinki-Petersburg-Moscow-Tallinn Visa Free Russia visit and only travel with overnight ferries between four top cities! This trip will depart September-April (including Easter).

***Get 10 % off on the tours above when using TNT as campaign code when booking before Sept 1st*** www.scanbaltexperience.com - info@scanbaltexperience.com TNT_1510_edit.indd 67

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A TRIP TO EGYPT AND ISRAEL Oasis Overland is giving one lucky TNT T reader a 16-day trip to Egypt and Israel this September (valued at £995). Discover Egypt’s incredible monuments from the Pyramids at Giza to Luxor’s Karnak Temple and Valley of the Kings and enjoy the laidback atmosphere of Dahab where you can relax on the beach or go snorkelling or scuba diving. In Israel explore Jerusalem’s legendary sites, the Wailing Wall, Mount of Olives and the Dome of the Rock, float in the Dead Sea and visit museums, clubs or the beach in modern Tel Aviv. The trip includes an Egyptologist

guide (in Egypt) and transport for the duration of the trip. It also includes the first-class sleeper train and flight over the Red Sea (saving a 12-hour drive!), camel ride at the Pyramids, airport transfers on arrival and all meals as specified. The prize excludes international flights, visas, some meals, travel insurance, drinks, tips, entrance fees and any optional excursions listed in our pre-departure information. The prize cannot be transferred to another person or to another trip.

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HOTSHOTS

RUTH ROXANNE BOARD Talks travel photography

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HOT TIPS: Going coastal From the craggy rocks to the soft sand dunes, the coast gives the budding landscape photographer a plethora of opportunities for great shots. Water reflections are especially effective, and are best to catch in the early mornings and evenings. Mirroring the beautiful oranges and pinks from a fantastic sunrise will look amazing.

Focus on the details that grab your attention, whether it is the grandeur of the whole scene or the tiniest creature. To prevent your coastal images looking flat, try to make sure there are points of interest in the foreground. This will lead the viewer’s eye through the image. Now, get on the next train to the seaside and get snapping!

RUNNER-UP

WINNER KING OF HIS WORLD Jen Marwick, New Zealand

WHY IT WORKS An anonymous man stands triumphant at the tallest point of the island of Capri. Like an ancient Roman god, he has conquered the coarse and tough landscape and surveys the seas around him. By turning away from the camera, the man revamps a holiday snap into a fantastic photograph with great composition, a sense of fun and that all-important narrative of his journey to the top.

RUNNER-UP GERICKES POINT Amber Honey, Cape Town, South Africa

WHY IT WORKS A popular surf spot in South Africa is caught in a relative moment of calm. The morning mist drifts out to sea in the distance and the stones look as if you could just hop across. The opposition between the silhouetted black rock on the left and the sun-lit sandstone on the right creates a feeling of unease. This bay could become quite the challenge to negotiate when the tide comes in, which for some means the perfect surf. A THREE-DAY TOUR OF SCOTLAND AND A PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE Upload your images to tntmagazine.com/hotshots First prize is a three-day tour of Scotland for two worth £218 from Haggis Adventures (haggisadventures.com). Must be taken within three months of receiving prize letter. The runner-up wins a £60 photography course voucher from Nigel Wilson Photography (photographycourses.org.uk).

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TOP FIVE

BEACH PARTIES

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FULL MOON PARTY, THAILAND

Every month at the full moon, the island of Ko Pha Ngan in Thailand opens up the crescent-shaped beach at Haad Rin to 20,000-30,000 people from around the world, all of them covered in neon body paint and pumped to party from dusk until well after dawn. The Full Moon Party is a backpacker rite of passage, guaranteed to be rammed with half-naked young hotties partying hard in paradise. Why on earth wouldn’t you want to check it out? Plus, if you’re staying on the island, it’s free (and even if you’re not, entrance is only about 100 baht, or £2). Drinks are served in colourful buckets, the ilk of which you used to build sandcastles as a kid. These buckets promise a far less wholesome form of entertainment, with a straw popped in and filled to the brim with Thai moonshine, plus Red Bull or juice. Aside from drinking yourself into beach-fringed oblivion, other popular activities at the Full Moon Party include leaping over a rope lit on fire (maybe one to think twice about), and 70 00

dancing to the DJs scattered across the beach, who are playing everything from techno to reggae. With bars and restaurants at every step, it isn’t hard to find cheap food and drink to keep you going all night long. Our top tip for the party: stay smart. Don’t drink too many buckets if you want to make it through to morning, wear good shoes (broken glass is not uncommon underfoot), and travel lightly. Because it attracts so many travellers, the Full Moon Party is infamous for its pickpockets, though if you use your common sense, there shouldn’t be much to worry about. While the event garners some mixed reviews – we’ve heard it labelled a “lunar piss-fest” – most would agree that it’s a party that can’t be outdone anywhere else in the world, in terms of both its craziness and size. Full Moon is well worth attending at least once, if only just to say that you did. One final word of warning: there’s nothing quite like a Thai moonshine hangover. Be very afraid. fullmoonparty-thailand.com

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TOP FIVE CHECKING IN

RABAC DANCE FEST, CROATIA

During August, Girandella Beach in southeast Croatia will fill up with thousands of people ready to party non-stop. A raft of European DJs playing mostly dance and electronica will be spread across five huge dancefloors, full of scantily clad hedonists who really know how to have fun. If you take your partying seriously, this event is definitely one not to miss – the dancing goes on all day and night long. rabacsummerfestival.com

Photos: Getty, rabacsummerfestival.com, Elk Studios

WARM UP, NEW YORK

Want to experience a beach party atmosphere in one of the world’s greatest cities? Step into the MoMA PS1, an offshoot of the iconic New York museum, and dance a Saturday evening away to live music in its ‘beach installation’, set up in the courtyard. If you need a break from the noise, sneak off into the art gallery and take a lap around the modern art exhibitions, included in the ticket price of US$15 (£10). The event runs every Saturday from now until September 8. momaps1.org/warmup

FEAST OF SANT JOAN, SPAIN

Sea view

When better to party than the day that lasts (almost) all night long? The Feast of Sant Joan in Barcelona celebrates the Summer Solstice in the best fashion possible – with heaps of drinking, dancing and fireworks. Walk on down to the Barceloneta Beach for the best vibe, nab a spot next to the bonfires and listen to the live music that plays until the sun rises. Just make sure to get there early and stake out your spot. barcelona-tourist-guide.com

BOARDMASTERS, CORNWALL

Grab your surfboard, your BMX bike, or your skateboard (hell, grab all three) and head on down to the Boardmasters Festival in Cornwall on August 8-12. Situated on a cliff-top overlooking Watergate Bay and Fistral Beach, this is an ideal location to listen to a line-up of eclectic acts scattered across three stages, including Dizzee Rascal, Pulled Apart By Horses and Krafty Kuts. Europe’s only surf, skate and music festival costs £89 to attend and camp, or £40 for day tickets.

MEMMO BALEEIRA OVERVIEW On the seafront in the Algarve’s Sagres, the Memmo Baleeira is an all-white haven of modern comfort, and a member of Design Hotels (which means it’s an independent outfit and an aesthetic original). WOW FACTOR The zen-like tranquility of the property’s clean colour scheme means you’re powerless to resist relaxation. Surrounded by the royal-blue sea and rugged cliffs of Baleeira harbour, even the views are soothing, and an on-site surf school means you can benefit from local knowledge when seeking out the area’s best surf beaches. (Note that winter swells are best around Sagres.) The hotel works hard to educate guests about the wealth of outdoor pursuits on the doorstep, encouraging you not to laze around the pool all day. ROOMS Floor-to-ceiling corner windows help you soak up the setting; beds are sinfully soft. BILL PLEASE Special offers from about £50pn; standard rates from £87pn.

Sitio da Baleeira, Sagres, Algarve 8650-357, Portugal memmohotels.com

boardmasters.co.uk

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TRAVELTIPS

Go exploring Italy’s Lake Garda by ferry

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AIRPORT LOUNGE VOUCHERS WORTH £60

If your tip is printed, you’ll win vouchers (worth up to £60) for entry for two into one of No.1 Traveller’s airport lounges at Heathrow, Gatwick or Stansted. With complimentary food and drinks, free Wi-Fi and newspapers and magazines, your trip will get off to a flying start. See No1Traveller.com Tweet your tip to @tntmagazine.com Email traveltips@tntmagazine.com Text TNT and your message to 81707* *Messages cost 25p each + standard network rate. 18+ billpayers only. Send STOP to end. Number may show on bill. A2B 08700460138

YOU ASKED FOR IT... LAURA LINDSAY FROM LONELY PLANET

you suggest a day trip from Q Can Amsterdam that isn’t Rotterdam or The Hague? Sarah Riches, via email recommend Haarlem. Just A Iawould 30-minute drive from Amsterdam and

the best way to see it. What are the mustvisit towns and is it easier to travel by ferry or by train? Mike, via email Garda is the largest of the Italian A Lake lakes and there is plenty to see. You can explore using the incredibly comprehensive ferry service that links the majority of towns on the lake (navigazionelaghi.it). ‘Free circulation tickets’ allow passengers to hop on and off the entire network of routes. These tickets are unfortunately not free as the name might suggest, but £27 for a day ticket for the entire lake (cheaper for just the northern or southern half of the lake). Single fares range from £2.50 to £12 depending on the distance of your journey. Due to the popularity of the area, it is advisable to book accommodation ahead, so you will need to plan your route to some degree. Desenzano del Garda is a perfect place to start, as it has great transport links, a pretty old town, good cafes and restaurants and an incredibly well-preserved Roman Villa, which is worth a look. Sirmione is arguably one of the prettiest villages and the waterfront of Salò has a great promenade for a stroll. Riva del Garda sitting between cliff face and beach has some of the most dramatic scenery. You have lots of choices of airport, as the Lake’s stations (Desenzano and Peschiera) sit on the VeniceMilan train line, meaning you can choose to fly into Venice, Verona, Bergamo, Milan or Brescia.

SECRET CINEMA For a bit of culture in Bordeaux, seek out Cinema Utopia, which shows lots of cool French films. It’s set in an old church on Place Camille Jullian and has a really cool cafe, too. Don’t miss it! Jenny Green, via Facebook CHEAP PARIS When using the metro in Paris, purchase a book of 12 instead of buying them single – it works out much cheaper. Also, eat out in Saint Michel (by the Notre Dame Cathedral). There are so many restaurants competing, you can barter and get a three-course meal and glass of wine for as little as €10. There are a lot of street performers in the area, which means a cheap night out and free entertainment! Rachel-Erika Henderson, via Facebook

A LONELY PLANET GUIDE

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Photos: Thinkstock

packed with culture, this is the perfect day trip. A compact city of cobblestone streets, churches and cafes, it will provide plenty to see for your break away from Amsterdam. At the heart of Haarlem is the Grote Markt. This quaint square is home to lots of cafes and restaurants and is a good place to start getting to know the city. Just off the square is the Frans Hals museum (franshalsmuseum.nl, admission £8), which displays a number of the Dutch artist Frans Hals’ finest work (Haarlem is the subject of many of the pieces). His art is a beautiful insight into 17th-century Dutch life. For your next bit of history, head to Corrie Ten Boom Museum. This is the home of heroine Corrie, who hid hundreds of Jews and Dutch resistors in a secret compartment during WW2. Another must-see is Grote Kerk St Bavo. The towering Gothic cathedral is home to the Müller organ, which Mozart and Handel both once played at. If this is all a bit too cultured for you, Haarlem is 10 minutes by train from the seaside at Zandvoort. One of the Netherlands’ premier beach resorts, the sand here does get very crowded during summer. There are all walks of life – from the trendy to the not-so – and a nudist beach to the south, if that tickles your fancy.

fiancée and I would love to travel Q My around Lake Garda and want to know

READERS’ TIPS ON ... FRANCE

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2002

2012

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Follow us on facebook to celebrate with us this important goal. You can partecipate in our monthly competitions and win free holidays sharing with us the joy to travel in

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WALKING & CYCLING HOLDAYS IN EUROPE

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A TRIP FOR TWO TO BATH & STONEHENGE

Been somewhere good lately? Send us a horizontal photo of yourself with a copy of TNT from anywhere around the world and, if we print it, you’ll win a trip for two to Bath and Stonehenge with Anderson Tours, valued at £104! » Email your pictures to ontheroad@ tntmagazine.com along with your name, where you’re from and where the photo was taken, or see tntmagazine.com/world. Files must be at least 500Kb.

BENIRRAS BEACH, IBIZA Phoebe Lee, from Australia

BEST / WORST TRIP

THE TRAVELLER

OLIVIER SIMON, 31

DEMA SALEHI, 28

France

Iraq

BEST For me, Rome is the centre of the world. I’m very fond of Roman history, and it was Rome that first started expanding a way of life all over the globe. It is a beautiful, beautiful city.

Most memorable travel experience? Dubai is very surreal. Everything is perfect. I don’t think there is much culture there, to be honest. It’s just a fake kind of place, but very nice. How do you like to travel? The last three times I’ve travelled, I’ve gone by myself. As I’ve got older, and everyone’s life schedules are completely different, I actually quite enjoy going by myself now. You meet so many more people along the way.

WORST Port Elizabeth in South Africa. It was just awful. It was part of a trip along the Garden Route, and was an ugly city – and after we had seen all the beautiful scenery of the Garden Route, too. We stayed there one night. » Tell us your best/worst trips, email laura.chubb@tntmagazine.com

SPLASHING OUT

Photos: TNT, Thinkstock

TASTY VIETNAM Take a culinary tour of Vietnam, visiting local markets and investigating produce, to learn the secrets of the cuisine. An 11-night trip is £3095pp with Expressions Holidays (expressionsholidays.co.uk; 01752 878050). Includes accommodation, return flights, sightseeing with guide, breakfasts and some meals. Various departure dates available.

THE INSIDER

MARUSKA ADYE NZ Office Manager Wild About Africa

My first ever big trip was visiting relatives in New Zealand from my childhood home of Tanzania. My strongest memory is tasting strawberries for the first time. My most challenging travel experience was negotiating my way from Zimbabwe to Tanzania with only US$50 to my name. The Mozambique border officials didn’t want to let me in, and, later, I had to spend a night in a bus stop with nothing to eat but a jar of peanut butter. My favourite place in the world is fishing – in New Zealand’s Marlborough Sounds; off Namibia’s coast; in the Okavango Delta; anywhere I can relax with a drink nearby, a spectacular sunset to watch and a fishing rod in hand. The next trip on my travel wishlist is ... I can’t decide between Panama and Rwanda. I always pack Vegemite. I take it wherever I go and have it on toast, with eggs – and on pancakes. TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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Trending now: Friendly Fires rock Latvia’s Positivus festival

[Caption]

Riga LATVIA

ESTONIA

RIGA

LATVIA LITHUANIA

GETTING GETTINGTHERE THERE Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Return flights from London Gatwick to Riga start from £65 with Air Baltic. airbaltic.com Gatwick Express return tickets (leaving from London Victoria) cost from £21. gatwickexpress.com

The Old Town’s architectural hodge-podge. Left, top to bottom: the zeppelin hangars and lounging in hammocks at Positivus [Caption]

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Eager in Riga There might be an alarming number of mullets on show in the Latvian capital, but this stag-do town is smartening up its act WORDS CELIA TOPPING

My first impressions of Latvia are mixed. Double denim? Definitely. Mullets? Most certainly. Awesome music festival on the beach? That, too. Although this former Soviet state still bears some of the physical, mental and sartorial scars of its turbulent past, it seems Latvia has moved on, albeit at a characteristically leisurely pace – the tourism board’s tagline is ‘best enjoyed slowly’ – since gaining independence in 1991. I’m sitting on a sunny beach in Salacgriva, north-west Latvia beer in hand, watching that Ed bloke from Friendly Fires shake his thing. This is the sixth year of Positivus, Latvia’s most popular music festival, with a line-up that boasts Muse and Manic Street Preachers. Bordered by beach and pine forests, with no shortage of hammocks to chill in, it sure beats muddy Glasto as a festival location. Being only an hour’s drive from Riga, it’s a quick trip back into the capital and the quaint, higgledy-piggledy streets of the Old Town. Despite having gained a reputation in recent years for roving loutish stag parties in search of cheap beer and strip joints, this remarkably pretty town is surprisingly tranquil. Wonky fairytale-esque houses with pastel-coloured frontages line the cobbled streets, where cafes and bars bedecked with flowers jostle for attention. Mercantile abodes, handsome brick churches, bizarre Baroque towers and hideous Soviet slabs all contribute to the eclectic mishmash of architecture that gives Riga’s Old Town its uniquely haphazard character. I make a beeline for St Peter’s Cathedral, where I ascend the tower for about £1 and marvel at the fantastic panoramas over the city. To the south, the border of the Old Town is demarcated by five vast zeppelin hangars with art-deco facades, reerected after WWI to house the Central Market, where you can buy everything from erotic underwear to tinned potatoes. Beyond this is the newly developed Spikeri district, which has quickly become fashionable among newgeneration Rigans. At the artistic hub of this neighbourhood pulses the dirty Deal Café, comprising a bar, theatre, cinema, gig venue and a workshop/ studio space which, when I pass through, is teaching a trendy-haircutted bunch of Rigans how to make music using Nintendo Game Boys. Cycling has recently caught on in a big way in Riga. I take one of the bright green Air Baltic bikes (the Rigan equivalent of Boris Bikes) for a spin across the river, to the Unescoprotected 18th-century wooden architecture of Kalnciema.

Not many other wooden structures from this period have surived in such fine condition, making it a special destination. Fortuitously, I arrive in time for the weekly farmers’ market held here, which sells not only locally grown food, but also handicrafts, books, clothes and records. There’s a jovial, relaxing atmosphere, so I hang around until the evening, when the stalls are packed away, and in their place local

“

Riga’s Old Town is uniquely haphazard

”

music acts perform on a small stage and Rigans dance, drink and sing late into the night. In order to recover, I decide to partake in a spot of diving, travelling half an hour to Sloka Quarry, considered one ›› of the county’s top dive sites. Accompanied by Zanna

Central Market: tinned goods, anyone? TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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Sendeleva from The Baltic Seal Divers Club, we cruise a road separating verdant hills, through a scene dotted with small lakes and the winding Daugava River, until it’s time to wade into the chilly waters for a 40-minute dive. As shoals of silvery fish swim around us, I relax so much in the serenity of this underwater world, that when our time is up, it’s with reluctance that I return to the surface. On emerging, we give a group of swimsuit-clad picnickers quite a fright, before they collapse into giggles at our rubber-suited awkwardness. Zanna tells me that out on the west coast, near Liepaja, there are hundreds of Soviet and German wrecks to be explored, sunk during the various occupations Latvia has endured. I wish I could go, but it’ll have to wait until next time. See, I’ve already decided on a return visit – my muted expectations of this small, unassuming country have been proved so wrong that I can even forgive the occasional 1980s throwback wandering, unrestrained, in the streets. ❚ Positivus Festival costs about £36pp for two days, including camping positivusfestival.com/en Scuba diving in Sloka Quarry from £22pp diveclub.lv latvia.travel

‘Rubber-suited awkwardness’

NEXT WEEK Summer on the slopes: glacier skiing and mountainbiking in France

MIDRANGE

LUXURY

Enjoy a three-course meal including a drink for under a tenner at selfservice Lido Vermanitis. There is a vast array of food on offer, and a bowl of the startlingly pink but delicious cold beetroot soup is only £1. lido.lv

Housed in a smart renovated warehouse in Riga’s trendy Spikeri district, Kitchen’s chefs take pride in producing excellent food daily. The two-course business lunch for £3.20 is a steal and there’s a pleasant outdoor area with decking for sunny days and warm evenings. restaurantkitchen.lv

Champion of the ‘slow-food’ revolution, internationally renowned chef Martins Ritins insists on local, eco-friendly produce for his unique brand of cooking at Vincent’s. Try the taster menu with wine pairing if you’ve got cash to flash. Expect to pay about £100pp. restorans.lv

DRINK

For a cheap shot of horseradish spirit and a beer chaser to start off your night, look no further than Slavu Merins. This is a traditional Russianstyle bar with a few old posters advertising hard liquor on the walls. Have a drink or two and move on, it’s not a place to get comfy. Beers from about £2 a pint. (C-4, Dzirnavu 55/2)

Louche, laid-back Latvians frequent this achingly hip cocktail bar. Laze around on one of Piens’ vintage sofas, dance to the eclectic music choice on one of the two large terraces or simply watch the beautiful people of Riga relax in this funky bar. Cocktails about £6. klubspiens.lv

If you manage to get past the strict door control at Coyote Fly, you can expect an extremely expensive evening surrounded by the uber-rich, Latvian TV celebrities, foreign DJs and incredibly beautiful waiting staff. Drinks upwards of £10. coyotefly.lv

SLEEP

Frequently voted the number one hostel in Eastern Europe, The Naughty Squirrel’s location in the centre of Old Riga is the best in town. From about £10pn for a bed in a dorm. thenaughtysquirrel.com

Located opposite Riga’s lush green Esplanade and its imposing Orthodox Cathedral, the Radisson Blu on Elizabetes is one of the city’s most popular and reliable chain hotels. The Skyline Bar offers unparalleled views over the city, out to the Old Town and across the River Daugava. From £70pn. radissonblu.com/latvijahotel-riga

The Gallery Park Hotel is a beautifully renovated Unescoprotected building with high wooden panelled ceilings and carefully, hand-selected antique furniture from around the globe. Situated just a short stroll from the Old Town. From £190pn. galleryparkhotel.lv

EAT

Photos: Celia Topping

BUDGET

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Guides are available in English

The Museum of the Occupation of Latvia 1940–1991

STYLISH FRIENDLY HOSTEL on the top floor of a 100 year old historic building

Latvia under the Rule of the Soviet Union and National Socialist Germany Strelnieku laukums 1, Riga, LV-1050, Latvia Tel:+(371) 67 212715, E-mail: omf@latnet.lv www.occupationmuseum.lv www.omf.lv

Located in the centre of Riga on a quiet street close to the Railway station, Central Bus station, Old Town and Airport Bus Stop

It looks more like a stylish cafeteria in the hostel kitchen and the common room is really a youth living room with friendly atmosphere.

Among all the rooms we have 3 special ones

SINCE AUGUST 2011 IN THE VERY HEART OF OLD RIGA on Dome Square 6 - a reconstructed historical Riga Bourse building was opened. On show are European and Eastern art collections of the Latvian National Museum of Art, as well as special exhibitions. Doma Square 6, Riga, LV-1050, Latvja Guided tours: (+371) 67226467; (+371) 67225209 Open hours: Daily 10.00−18.00; Fri 10.00−20.00; closed on Mon Information: www.rigasbirza.lv; www.lnmm.lv

TNT Language School sponsored by

Riga a dorm, that represents the capital you stay in Bora Bora for couples in love London for small friend group

YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME! Alone, with friends or even group (30 beds) Riga Style Hostel: Alfréda Kalnina Street 4 - 11, Riga, LV - 1010. Phone: +371 67280830; Mobile: +371 29122213; e-mail: info@rigastylehostel.com

www. rigastylehostel.com

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DON’T MISS OUT Learn The Lingo courses, part of TNT’s Language School, are ideal for beginners or those who’d like to brush up on the basics

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TRAVELWEEKENDER

Bon appetit! This is Bordeaux in 48 hours WORDS LAURA CHUBB

DAY 1: 10:00 Bordeaux is the world’s wine capital, producing around 960 million bottles a year and home to the most renowned, top-end chateaus. Start the day getting oriented at Esplanade des Quinconces, one of the country’s largest public squares. Dating back to 1820, its most impressive feature is the Girondins monument, a 50m-high column with an elaborate fountain at the base – statues sculpted from 52 tonnes of bronze form the centrepiece. The monument commemorates the Girondins, a moderate political faction during the French Revolution, a number of whom were sent to the guillotine in 1793. 11:00 Keep the pace at ‘saunter’ and check out Rue SainteCatherine. The 1.2km-long pedestrianised street is the main shopping thoroughfare in Bordeaux and is lined with photoworthy historical buildings from across the centuries. Makes for perfect ‘soak up the scenery’ fodder. 12:00 It’s midday, so we reckon you’re allowed a glass of wine. Aim for Bar a Vin (baravin.bordeaux.com) – which, if you can’t hang on until noon, opens at 11am – where you’ll find Bordeaux’s most reasonably priced tipples. A glass of something from the extensive wine list costs as little as £1.60 for 15cl. A great place to sample a selection of vinos. 13:00 Time to sample the other thing the French do exceptionally well – food. Cassolette (cassolettecafe.com) is a cosy bolthole with stone walls and table football, serving up classic French country house fare (think duck confit and casseroles). Try the ‘express’ daily menu, which offers two courses for £8.50. 14:00 Wine tours in Bordeaux tend to be pricey affairs, but 80

you can find half-day trips for semi-decent prices if you do some digging. Ophorus (ophorus.com) offers minibus tours with tastings from about £50, starting at 2pm and ending at 6.30pm. Book at least 48 hours in advance. 19:00 Back in the city, you’ll no doubt have worked up an appetite slugging back all that plonk. Locals love L’Entrecôte (4 Cours du 30 Juillet, tel. 05 56 81 76 10), where there’s always a line out the door. The restaurant only has one expertly done dish on the menu: steak and chips, at about £13. 21:00 If you fancy making some mates, kick off a night on the town at The Down Under (104 Cours Aristide Briand, tel. 05 56 94 52 48). This Antipodean bar is a friendly place with a party vibe, sports on TV and themed fancy dress nights. You’ll feel right at home. 22:30 Then, mix with the locals at Cafe Pop (1 R Kleber Place de la Victoire, tel. 05 56 94 39 06), where revellers dance to the latest cool French tunes until 2am. If you fancy something a bit more rough and ready, head over to Connemara (connemara-pub.com), a raucous Irish bar that stays open late. Also hosts quiz nights, karaoke and wine tastings. DAY 2: 10:00 Battle the hangover with the free continental breakfast (and limitless coffee) offered when you stay at leafy B&B Jardin du Sequoia (87 rue Saint Genès; beds from £27pn). Now that you can face the thought of vino again, try what is surely Bordeaux’s most decadent experience and bathe (yes, bathe) in red wine at Spa de Vinothérapie Caudalie (sources-caudalie.com; from £50).

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Photos: Eric Nathan / TNT, Thinkstock, Getty

Quality quaffing: Bordeaux is the world’s wine capital

13:00 Head to Marche Des Capucins (Place Capuchin; marchedescapucins.com) to pick up some picnic essentials. This busy market has stalls offering up everything from meats and cheeses to wine, olives and oysters. Then lug your haul to Jardin Botanique (Cours de Verdun), Bordeaux’s verdant botanical gardens, for a sophisticated afternoon of quaffing and scoffing. 15:00 If you can move, spend the afternoon ticking off some landmarks. There’s the Cathédrale Saint-André (Place Pey Berland; admission about £4), a beautifully carved church built in the 13th and 14th centuries, and CAPC Musée d’Art Contemporain (capc-bordeaux.fr), housing modern art in what was once a warehouse for storing colonial spoils, such as coffee and cocoa. 18:00 It’s your last chance to gorge on gourmet French fare. Baud et Millet (baudetmillet.fr; mains from £12.50) stocks more than 100 cheeses that are used in various inventive cheese-centric dishes, and even challenges the most hardened fromage fanatic with an inevitably queasy, cheesy all-you-can-eat buffet. 20:30 Anyone looking to inconvenience their digestive system further should bid farewell to Bordeaux in Cafe Brun (bar-pub-bordeaux.com), a cosy, low-key bar with a massive selection of Belgian brews and whiskies. Now go home and hit the gym.

Direct flights from London Luton to Bordeaux start at £71 with easyJet easyjet.com More info at bordeaux-tourisme.com

Girondins monument: cool off at the famous fountains

Esplanade des Quinconces: soak up the main square TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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Rickshaw Run INDIA

Taj Mahal

Jaisalmer Varanasi

INDIA

Shillong

KOLKATA

GETTING THERE The closest airport to Shillong is Kolkata. Return flights from London Heathrow, via Delhi, start from about £512 with Air India. airindia.com

‘Which way to Rajasthan?’ The Run follows an ‘unroute’, you make it up 82

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The ride of your life Fancy driving 3000km across the ragged roads of India on a glorified lawnmower? Here’s what happens if you say ‘yes’ ... WORDS CANDACE ROSE RARDON

WHEN TO GO: The next Days 1-3: The Only Way Is Down Rickshaw Run sets off on There’s a knot of fear deep in my chest as September 9. Test-driving and After three days of test-driving and a raucous I grip the handlebars of my auto-rickshaw; pimping sessions take place launch party to kick the whole thing off, it’s that, and a healthy dose of you-must-beSeptember 5-7, with the launch time to hit the road – specifically the 1500m crazy disbelief. It’s the first day of testparty kicking things off on descent awaiting us. We meet at the ‘pimping driving for the Rickshaw Run, a two-week September 8. grounds’ for a final time, the smell of petrol, journey spanning nearly the entire Indian wet paint and panic in the air. The muddy subcontinent, and I’m way beyond having CURRENCY: £1 = INR87 field is a beehive of activity, teams swarming, second thoughts. Sitting behind me, my (Indian Rupees) buzzing about to put the finishing touches on teammate, Citlalli, doesn’t look much REGISTERING: You can their tuk-tuks: neon-coloured horns, stereo more confident. sign up now for the April 2013 systems, even custom-made seat cushions. “Come on, it’s just like driving a motorcycle,” edition of the Rickshaw Run, or Matt walks around, clipboard in hand, the says Matt, chief of the Rickshaw Run, who’s join the waiting list for an earlier cheeky grin on his face saying: “You all giving us a few pointers. I assume he meant edition. Places are limited to 70, have no idea what’s about to hit you.” that to be reassuring, but I’ve never driven otherwise The Adventurists run out Indeed; the streets out of Shillong are a motorcycle before, let alone any vehicle of rickshaws. The entry fee is £1395 not only clogged with 70-odd brightly with manual transmission. per team. More on the website. painted rickshaws, but torrential downpours, The Rickshaw Run is the brainchild of The SEE: theadventurists.com too. Dips in the road swiftly become rivers, Adventurists, a Bristol-based travel company then fords, and a continual sheet of water pounds us, which, that tempts thrill-seeking (and perhaps foolhardy) folks to naturally, goes well with our broken windscreen wiper. At join them in “fighting to make the world less boring”. One least our hazard lights insist on flashing at all times – it’s of seven adventures offered by the outfit, the Rickshaw probably for the best. Run takes place three times a year in India, rotating its start But when I don’t have my head out the rickshaw, helping and end points between Shillong, Jaisalmer and Fort Kochi. Citlalli navigate the obstacle course that is the Indian highway, While no one has yet died on the Run, the risks of traversing I’m able to take in the scene around us. The name for this potholed, truck-heavy roads in a 145.45cc-engine vehicle particular state, Meghalaya, literally means “the abode of are very real. The Adventurists warn: “Your chances of clouds” in Sanskrit, and it’s little wonder why. Wispy puffs being seriously injured or dying as a result of taking part of white rest over the region’s many rolling hills, their are high.” Spiffing. jungled slopes covered with verdant undergrowth and As Matt yells out instructions, I fumble for the clutch, then trees. Occasionally, we spot a river winding through the the brake, then the throttle, and at all times our rickshaw countryside, with a calm that belies the chaos around us. jerks forward like a newborn colt trying to find its legs. If This corner of India, known as ‘The Seven Sisters’, after I can barely make it out of the practice track without stalling, the number of states packed into the tiny area, was only I can’t help musing on how I plan to get to the finish line. opened to tourism a few years ago; due to ethnic violence Here in Shillong, an old hill station located in the far and unrest, you needed an entry permit previously. Even northeast corner of India, it’s nigh on impossible to wrap my today, the lack of tourists lends an air of remoteness to the head around the trip to come. The distance we’re to cover is region that makes it feel as if you’re the first to explore it. the same as that from London to Moscow, and yet we’ll be By day’s end, we’ve only managed to cover 110km; enduring it in a vehicle the rest of Asia uses for short jaunts thankfully we’ll go 210 the next day, and 270 the day after, around its cities. Our destination? Jaisalmer, an ancient, bringing us to Siliguri, a city right on the cusp of where the sandy-coloured fort city tucked away on the western edge ›› northeast meets mainland India. Our expectations of of Rajasthan’s Thar Desert, a mere 3000km away. TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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Colour and culture: scenes from the Rickshaw Run

distance quickly adjust; while the rickshaws can be driven up to 50km/hour, in reality we average about 30 – thanks to the rutted roads, way too many chai breaks, and, of course, inevitable breakdowns. Days 4-6: Beat It, Bihar On the morning of our fourth day, we wake early, nervous for what’s ahead. We’re planning to cross from West Bengal into Bihar, one of the poorest and most undeveloped states in India; worse yet, we were warned in Shillong against rumours of bandits and robbers here, told to: “Make friends” and “Don’t go through Bihar alone.” Entering the eastern state with three other teams, we’re collectively holding our breath, waiting for the worst to hit. Gone are the steamy hills of Meghalaya; in their place, the land grows so flat that many areas are flooded, our route less of a road than a strip of land bordered on both sides by water. In other places, bright-green fields of corn and banana trees stretch out to the horizon. Water buffalo submerge themselves in the river to stay cool, their black hides gleaming under the noon sun. As beads of sweat trace a constant path down my forehead, I’m only slightly jealous. Although no bandits ever come our way, Bihar still seems set to deter us: there’s a dangerous night drive on dark, narrow roads straight out of a Hitchcock film, followed by a 30km traffic jam the next morning. The curious locals make it all worth it, however, our conversations with them might not have happened were we not rattling across their country in a rickshaw. As we near the dusty town of Ara, our last stop in Bihar before Uttar Pradesh – India’s largest state by population and famous for sights such as the Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri 84

– two teenage boys ride up next to us on their motorcycle, the wind ruffling their silky black hair. “Do you want to ride?” the boy on the back calls out. Citlalli is driving, and I give her a look in one of our side mirrors. “Maybe,” she banters back playfully. “Do you speak Hindi?” they ask, their voices raised above the relentless din of bus horns, lorry motors, and the bleating of cows. I answer this time, leaning my head around the rickshaw. “No. We don’t.”

[Caption] Human traffic: an average day on India’s roads

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“Then how do you survive here?” My eyes meet Citlalli’s again. It is an excellent question. Days 7-8: Lost in the Holy City Matt issued us with an important warning: “Don’t drive at night.” Never mind that our headlight only emits a faint glow, but the roads themselves are rarely lit, and objects – whether a lorry, cow, stray dog or person – can suddenly appear right in front of you. But as night falls on our seventh day on the road, we’re nowhere near our destination: the holy city of Varanasi. We have no choice but to continue; after all, we survived our night drive in Bihar a few days earlier. But this time, there’s another element to contend with – a monsoon-like rainstorm that has us recalling our initial drenched descent from Shillong. Citlalli takes the wheel while a guy from

“

Your chances of injury or death are high

”

another team and I sit in the back, our heads comically poking out each side of the rickshaw. We still haven’t bothered to have our windscreen wiper fixed, and so we’re forced to help Citlalli steer through the darkness. “Cow!” we shout into the wind. “Bicycle! Truck! Child!” I’m wearing a raincoat, and yet it makes little difference – the rain pelts me as strongly as if someone were spraying a garden hose in my face. My clothes, usually pungent with sweat, grease, and oil, are now also sopping wet. But battling the flooded back streets into Varanasi is worth every moment we almost tipped over – we have our first day off in the city, and celebrate having reached the halfway point of our trip. Besides giving our rickshaws a rest and catching up on laundry – which the guesthouse hangs along the street to dry, much to our humiliation – we explore all that we can of India’s religious capital, waking early for a sunrise boat ride along the sacred Ganges River ›› and attending a Ganga Aarti ceremony that evening

Matt Dickens: chief of chaos

The Insider's guide As chief of the Rickshaw Run, Matt Dickens is perhaps most qualified to give advice. Here are his top tips for surviving the race. 1. Take nothing too seriously. “India is a country that if you let it, will put your brain through a mangle and spit it out the other side. Sometimes you need to step back, close your eyes and take a deep breath. When you dare to peel your eyelids open again you might be pleasantly surprised to find yourself with a smile on your face.” 2. Get involved. “The culture shock when visiting India for the first time can be overwhelming. But if you chat, laugh, eat, drink and dance with the locals, you’ll find Indian people are some of the most welcoming and beautiful-souled you will ever meet. Don’t hide yourself from them.” 3. Don’t drive at night. “The roads across most of India can be considerably different to what you’re used to. They might not even be roads. Throw in a 20-tonne truck bearing down with blinding lights and an invisible cow in front of you, and you’re getting close to the abject fear that will grip your heart.” 4. Horny OK please. “Sound your horn at home and the chances of someone getting out and slashing your tyres is relatively high. Not sounding your horn in India is almost on par with this. Use it to say: ‘I’m here, I’m not here, I’m going, I’m coming, hello, I know, I don’t know and I have a horn.’ 5. Wake early. “Sunrise is India at its most calm. Misty roads, watching the country wake up, the smell of early morning fires and quiet(er) roads will greet you like an old friend and add an element of romance to your Rickshaw Run.”

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performed by seven priests. This particular ritual involves a series of fire offerings dedicated to the Goddess Ganga – or Mother Ganga, as she is also known. As billows of pungent, smoky incense waft into the air, I can’t help giving thanks for the 1500km we’ve covered so far. Days 9-12: Racing Through Rajasthan The next 1500km pass in a blur. Our route leads us from Varanasi to Agra, where we park our rickshaws and sprint to the Taj Mahal before sunset, and then to the northwestern state of Rajasthan, India’s largest. Meaning ‘The Land of Kings,’ Rajasthan is arguably best known for its fort cities and their beautiful maharaja palaces – the Pink City of Jaipur, the Blue City of Jodhpur, and finally, the Golden City of Jaisalmer. We share the road into Jaisalmer with herds of bowlegged camels, savouring every last mile before the finish line. Once again I’m filled with disbelief, just as I was 12 days ago in Shillong – this time, though, it is disbelief that we’ve actually made it. Matt is waiting for us when we rattle to a stop for the last time. “You look like you’ve had an adventure,” he says as we walk up to him. And from the grease stains on our T-shirts to the layers of dust and grime coating our rickshaws, we certainly have. ❚

Top to bottom: At the finish line; the Blue City of Jodhpur; motoring through a monsoon

Bike across Siberia’s Ice Run

Photos: theadventurists.com, Getty, Thinkstock, Candace Rose Rardon

ODD ODYSSEYS MORE FROM THE ADVENTURISTS MONGOL RALLY If you’ve got five weeks and a most unreliable one-litre car to spare, then this is the adventure for you. Set out from the UK, head to Prague for the infamous Czech-Out Party, and then keep on driving – all the way to Mongolia, 15 countries and 10,000 miles later. MOTOTAXI JUNKET Meet the mototaxi: a uniquely Peruvian creation with the head of a motorcycle and the body of an auto-rickshaw. Then, attempt to cover the length of Peru, traversing nearly 3500km over the Andes and through the Amazon. THE ICE RUN The Adventurists’ latest challenge involves braving Siberia in February and steering old Russian Ural motorcycles across frozen rivers-turned-roads. The route begins in Irbit, birthplace of the Ural, and carries you 2500km to Salekhard, one of only two towns in the world situated on the Arctic Circle. More information at

NEXT WEEK Old vs New Dubai: Blending Bedouin heritage and bling

theadventurists.com

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WELSH EXPLORER DAYS (MON) £199 NOW £159 (STUDENTS NOW £149)

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TRAVEL

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TRAVEL

2 1 0 2 T S E F R E B OKTO is yours! ce oi ch e Th T? H IG FL L? TE O H COACH? CAMP?

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IT’S PARTY TIME IN AMSTERDAM

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TRAVEL

WEEKEND BREAKS AND DAY TOURS WEEKEND BREAKS PARIS BY EUROSTAR

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from

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TRAVEL

OKTOBERFEST

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13-22 AUG 13-30 AUG

£529 £989

CROATIA CATEGORY A & A+ BOATS AT UNBEATABLE PRICES! AUG-SEP fr£439 ■ 7 NIGHTS WE SAIL CROATIA’S BEST ISLANDS & ROUTE! ✔ Split ✔ Markaska ✔ Mljet ✔ Dubrovnik ✔ Korcula ✔ Vela Luca ✔ Hvar ✔ Bol ✔ Brac ■ CAT A+: AUG fr£479 SEP £499 ■ CAT A: AUG fr£439 GREEK

ISLANDS

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BEERFEST IN MUNICH! 21 SEP-8 OCT Choice of Munich’s BEST hostels, hotel & #1 party campsite! ■ Prague + Buda Fest 8 Days fr£329 ✔ Prague ✔ Budapest ✔ Salzburg / Vienna Thu-Tue fr£249 ■ 6 Days Coach Tours ✔ Return coach from London ✔ Camping or hostel Fri-Mon fr£129 ■ 4 Days Camping ✔ Twin or single tents ✔ Coach shuttles Fri-Mon fr£189 ■ 4 Days Hostel ✔ Choice of Munich’s top hostels Fri-Mon £329 ■ 4 Days Hotel ✔ Munich’s #1 Oktoberfest hotel! Mid week camping & hostel options also available fr£99!

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fr£399 £469 £259 £149 £189 £179

RUGBY UNION WALLABIES & ALL BLACKS COME TO EUROPE THIS NOVEMBER ■ AUS v FRANCE Paris SAT 10 NOV fr£169 ■ AUS v ENGLAND Twickenham SAT 17 NOV £85 ■ AUS v ITALY Florence SAT 24 NOV £139 ■ AUS v WALES Cardiff SAT 1 DEC £139 ■ NZ v WALES Cardiff SAT 24 NOV fr £149 ✔ Match tickets ✔ Accom ✔ Transfers ✔ Merchandise

HOGMANAY EDINBURGH’S MASSIVE NYE PARTY ■ 3 Night Hostel & Hotel 30 DEC-2 JAN fr£239 ■ 4 Day Coach Tour 30 DEC-2 JAN fr£309 ✔ Accom ideally located in the absolute heart of town ✔ Street party pass ✔ Superb pubs, bars & clubs

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TRAVEL TNT Language School sponsored by

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FOR MORE INFO AND TO BOOK YOUR PLACE SEE tntmagazine.com/school Places are limited – only 15 per course. Book early to avoid disappointment! 104 TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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TRAVEL

Scanbalt Experience The expert on budget travel in Scandinavia, The Baltics and Russia

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0% off*** *1 ** E P O R U E N R E T S RUSSIA & EA 7 Days RUSSIAN NEW YEAR’S TOUR from ¤500 Helsinki-Petersburg-Moscow-Tallinn Have a great New Year’s tour in a wintry Russia and celebrate Sylvester on the Red Square in Moscow (This tour can be combinated with the Lapland Christmas Tour)

***Get 10 % off on the tours above when using TNT as campaign code when booking before Sept 1st*** www.scanbaltexperience.com - info@scanbaltexperience.com TNTMAGAZINE.COM 105

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DESPERATELYSEEKING

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Post your message at tntmagazine.com/seeking or email seeking@tntmagazine.com. Text TNT and your message to 81707* where you’re from? Then you kept it going for ages. It was the dullest attempt to make conversation. And you were from Belgium, not really exotic. Two bored chicks CAMERA CHAOS: I lost my camera in the Walkie, and picked up someone else’s by mistake. If you’re brave enough to collect yours – it’s a tiny silver digital camera, with images of you and three different naked girls! – then get in touch with me via TNT

down while you’re shagging my ex-bf. I know you were made for each other, but me and your sister can’t get any sleep in the next room. Lacy. FIRST NIGHT LOVE: I meant it when I said I don’t usually put out on the first night, John – you were special. I know that sounds crap, but it was the twinkle in your eyes and laughter in your voice. You were gone the next morning, but left me a note saying you had

THINGS THE QUEEN SHOULD DO BEFORE SHE DIES

#491 Lift some weights for the Olympics. That’s it. Keep it steady, Ma’am

Magazine. If these girls aren’t in a relationship with you, let me know if you fancy drinks sometime. Lucy Lu SWEET MUSIC: Constantine, can you hear me playing my ukulele under your window every Tuesday? You should be able to – I woke your neighbour and got a shoe in the face. Let down you hair, fair maiden and let me climb up. I know I can only play Somewhere Over The Rainbow, but I’m positive there’s a pot of gold for both of us. Ramon. SLAGGY BEHAVIOUR: Hi Gretchen, could you keep the noise

to work early on a Sunday. I hope you weren’t lying to me. I’d love to see you again. No call as yet, but I’ve left you a few messages. Get in touch. Sarah M FLOWER POWER: Every day last week there has been a flower left on my desk at work. I have no idea who it could be from, not even a note was left to hint as to who my flora fanatic could be. This morning however, I did not get a flower. I wondered if my secret admirer has disappeared. It turns out that two people took today off. Could it be one of you? I am far too

shy to say anything but if you see this, Come and say hi... Maybe. Pet dog. TUBE WEIRDNESS: Has anyone else seen the odd homeless guy who eats raw garlic on the Tube? The stench is horrendous – especially first thing in the morning when the train is being held in a tunnell. Eww. Jo COLOURFUL HERO: You were peeved in purple on the Piccadilly line last Wednesday night. I was your shining knight is erm, well, brown. Pete CAPITAL FAREWELL: Janey, can’t believe your time is up already. We’ve had such a blast – you’ve been my hair holderbacker, my vomit cleaner-upper, and always seen the best of me. Hope you’ve enjoyed the six months in London. Can’t wait to see you in NZ. Patty P and the dogs xxxx FIFTY SHADES: To my Mr Grey one-nighter. You’d done your homework and thought you’d cash in on what all the girls are reading. Big mistake! Just because reading about S&M is popular, doesn’t mean we’re all up for having our hands tied up with a tie which smells of chips. And the fact you’re a fast-food worker not a billionaire takes the edge off as well. Fee MYSTERIOUS MEET: Dark and inquisitive, you watch everyone on our daily commute everyday. I’m reading Saul Bellow. Say hello! PJ BACK TO BUSINESS: Dear TNT, I’ll be so sad when the Olympics leave. Suddenly, ‘watching athletes’ will become ‘perving’ again. I hate her so much. Julian

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FRO YO BRO: I realise the only reason you smiled was because I had frozen yoghurt on my nose. But give a Fro Yo bro a chance! I could be your loveable putz. Smiley Pete SHITBAG: That’s it, Harry H. It’s the final time you shag one of my girls and don’t fucking tell me about it. I liked this one as well, bro, you dick. I can’t believe she caved in after only a couple of pints. What’s wrong with you? Get a new best mate as well, you arsehole. Kenny J LOVE AT FIRST LUNGE: We met over a squat thrust competition in the bus stop by Dalston Superstores. It’s an anecdote our grandchildren will love. Clingy Mike LONDON STINK: Why is there an awful eggy whiff as I walk around east London? Your country stinks real bad. Is it the out-of-date sewers? You could have cleaned them up you rotten scumbags. Clean Jane TWILIGHT PALS: Rio’s girl, you look like Kristen Stewart, let me be your R-Patz. Love me, leave me, cheat on me, I don’t care. I just want to see you again. DM OLYMPIC HEAT: Woah! Jessica Ennis is HOT! She can come and jump over my pole anytime! Desperate Dan POMS ARE WINNING: To all the Aussies compete at the Olympics... Try harder! The Poms and the Kiwis are smashing us to pieces. They must be destroyed! Jilted Jared YAWN: To the guy in Bar All One on Thursday night. Was that your best chat-up line? For us to guess

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