TNT Magazine / Issue 1538

February 18-24 2013 Issue 1538 tntmagazine.com

WIN!

10 VOUCHERS TO GO SHOE SHOPPING – TREAT YOURSELF!

TAKE ON A SKIFARI Shaky snow legs in the French Alps

ROCK OUT IN LONDON Best new music at Roundhouse Rising

TNT’S TOP THAILAND Our pick of the paradise islands

BITE ME

E C A F S I H T H C T A W ney on Die t r u o C i Ja n action ma w e n ll a ’s d Hollywoo + FASHION CITIES TRY A DIGITAL DETOX BEST BOOZY JOBS SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Hard 5

ISSUE 1538 / £1.95

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14/02/2013 11:25:07

LAURA CHUBB EDITOR laura.chubb@tntmagazine.com

EDITOR’S LETTER What is it with Aussies in Hollywood? Tinseltown just can’t get enough of Antipodean hunks, it would seem, as new kid on the block Jai Courtney prepares to surpass those Hemsworth boys and blast into the stratosphere thanks to a lead role in the new Die Hard movie. We caught up with the ripped New South Welshman on his recent visit to London and found out about his big plans for the future (P24). Want more escapism? Get hot in Thailand (P68) or nab a late chance to chill out on the slopes (P64).

THIS WEEK

LONDONDIARY

4

LONDONNEWS

6

DRINK & EATS

12+13

@TNT

14

COMPETITION

16

SPOTTED

17

LONDON SOUND

18

CHATROOM RODNEY ASCHER 21 LONDON SCENE

22

FEATURES

LONDON FOCUS

24

FUTURE SOUNDS

SPARE TIME

28

London’s a hotbed for new musical talent – find your new favourite band this week

LIFESTYLE

Photos: Getty; Media Wisdom Photography Ltd; Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

64

30-35

8

HEALTH & BEAUTY

30

DIE HARD HUNK

CAREERS

32

MONEY

35

Bruce Willis’s new co-star Jai Courtney is an Aussie hottie taking on Hollywood

NEWS & SPORT

36-46

TRAVEL

49-71

DIARY

50

NEWS

51

LATE DEALS

54

HOTSHOTS

57

TOP FIVE

60

TIPS & STUFF

62

SHORT BREAK

64

CLASSIFIEDS DESPERATELY SEEKING

72-97 98

PAID ON THE PISS

32

24

32

Like a drink? We talk to legends who’ve made a career out of their love for booze

PISTOL PISTORIUS

40

The ‘Blade Runner’ Oscar’s murder charge highlights South Africa’s problem gun laws

CRASH COURSE

64

TNT takes a tumble on the slopes of the French Alps’ Courchevel and Val d’Isere

ISLAND PARADISE

68

Thailand’s islands are havens for kicking back or partying – we look at the best

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Editorial Group editor Carol Driver Editor Laura Chubb Content editors: Sub/ Sport Michael Gadd Travel Helen Elfer Entertainment Alasdair Morton Web Oliver Jones Social media Dan Thorne Contributors Daisy Carrington; Charlotte Maguire

LONDONDIARY

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Design and production Head of design and production Jon Cooke Design / picture editor Patricia Montenegro

Sales Commercial director David Alstin Sales manager Jaqui Ward Sales executive Nichole Davis 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: £1.95 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

High society: catch The Great Gatsby on stage before Baz’s massive movie

Shhh... SECRET LONDON The Great Gatsby Aldgate

While you’re waiting for Baz Luhrmann to stop dicking around and tinkering with his sure-to-be-ace big screen adaptation, get down to unfeasibly cool east London theatre-cum-music-hall Wilton’s for a stonking stage version in which the roaring Twenties of F Scott Fitzgerald’s classic are brought to life. Best of all, to keep that jazz vibe going, rooms at the front of Wilton’s will be transformed into various places inspired by the book before the show, during the interval and afterwards, so you can really get your flapper on! £15+

Feb 20-Mar 23, 7.30pm Wilton’s Music Hall, E1 8JB

Aldgate East

wiltons.org.uk

All thieves of TNT bins will be prosecuted.

chip week

joolsfest

tie dye high five

The Brits love their chips – believe it or not, fish and chips outsell curry as the most popular takeaway two-to-one. This is a week-long celebration of the versatile fried potato legends, with all manner of chippies across the country offering special deals in honour, including our fave, Poppies, in east London. Not a week to take on that diet!

This festival of boogie woogie and the blues at Boisdale of Canary Wharf is curated by squeaky-voiced musical maestro Jools Holland. He’ll open the fest himself, there’ll be a piano-sparring contest, and a roster of top talent from the genres, including Jordan Marsh and three of Holland’s exSqueeze bandmates.

The world’s first pop-up mall, Boxpark, hosts this weekender in homage to tiedyed multicolour madness with workshops and more of the retro designs than you thought your retinas could handle. You can make yourself a new wardrobe, and find out how to get that DIY tie-dye look, too.

Workshops from £8.

Feb 18-24, times vary Poppies, E1 6QR Liverpool Street chips.lovepotatoes.co.uk

Feb 19-Mar 2, 8pm E14 4QT Canary Wharf boisdale.co.uk

Feb 23, 11am-7pm. Feb 24, 126pm E1 6GY Liverpool Street tiedyehighfive.tumblr.com

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Reproduction in whole or part is forbidden, except with permission of the publishers.

Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office.

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Bond in tune: “… and five, six, 007, eight!”

Represent your country

SHOWTIME PRESENTS: BOND Streatham

Awesome tours With Adele in contention at the following evening’s Oscars in LA, south London’s premier jazz venue is celebrating the fact with this Bond-themed night. Legendary singer David McAlmont and blues vocalist Annabel Williams will be among those performing classic 007-related tunes such as Live And Let Die and Goldfinger. Don a tuxedo, grab a martini (shaken, not stirred) and do your best Connery. £13

Feb 23, 7pm Hideaway, SW16 2ED

hideawaylive.co.uk

BITCH BOXER

STREET FOOD TASTING

Soho Theatre Young Writers’ Award winner Charlotte Josephine brings her one-woman show to town. Set in the run up to last summer’s Games, it tells of a young lady from Leytonstone who’s about to compete at London 2012, the first Olympics in which women’s boxing was allowed into the ring.

The Intrepid My Adventure store is holding a free street food tasting event in which you can sample Italian cheese and wines, Turkish dips, spicy burritos and more to get you talking about their new adventure food tours.

There’s a burrito challenge, too, so see how your bingeing skills stack up.

Feb 19-Mar 9, 7pm Soho Theatre, W1D 3NE Tottenham Court Road sohotheatre.com

Feb 19, 7pm 76 Upper Street, N1 0NU Angel myadventurestore.co.uk

£10+

Photos: Michelle Robek

Streatham

Weekend festivals

Weekly after match socials

FREE

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LONDONNEWS

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LONDONER LOST IN OUTBACK IS ALIVE A British backpacker from London has been found alive after getting lost in the Australian outback for three days.

Sam Woodhead, 18, from Richmond, went missing after going for a run near the cattle ranch in Queensland that he was working on.

The gap-year student was spotted by a search helicopter. Despite the fact that he was only wearing shorts and a T-shirt and ran out of water on the morning of day one, he reportedly suffered only minor injuries, including sunburn.

Personally I wouldn’t rule anything in or out London mayor Boris Johnson responds to calls for a cull of the city’s urban foxes, after a baby’s finger was apparently bitten off by a ginger intruder in Bromley

CAMDEN FAMILIES ‘SENT TO BRADFORD’ More than 700 families will be forced out of London and relocated to the likes of Bradford thanks to welfare cuts, it has emerged.

Camden council has revealed it will be contacting 761 families, as the coalition government’s benefit cap means they will no longer be able to afford to live in the capital. Councillors said the new policy failed to take into account London rents – Camden boasts the fourth-highest rents in the country. The local authority is looking as far afield as Birmingham and Bradford to relocate them, it added.

ON THE TUBE THIS WEEKEND’S CLOSURES/WORKS

CENTRAL: No service between Woodford and Loughton, and between Woodford and Hainault via Grange Hill, all weekend.

CIRCLE: No service all weekend.

DISTRICT: No service between Earl’s Court and Aldgate East, and between Barking and Upminster, all weekend.

METROPOLITAN: No service between

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She-Bu Walkie early closing

Popular Antipodean haunt operates reduced hours thanks to crime The Walkabout pub in Shepherd’s Bush is to begin operating restricted hours on Sundays after an increase in crime in the area during that time, local police have announced.

As of February 24, the pub will not admit patrons from 4pm onwards on Sundays, dealing a blow to the many Aussie, Kiwi and Saffa customers fond of passing the afternoon in front of the sport down ‘the Walkie’ on a weekend.

“Due to a recent increase in crime on Sunday evenings, and following conversations with Hammersmith Police, we will not be opening for the next two Sundays,” the Walkabout said in a statement last week.

However, the pub has kept its loyal clientele in mind when deciding the new

opening hours policy. “Following this, we will open as usual at midday on a Sunday from February 24, but will stop new entries at 4pm, ensuring that all genuine sports fans are able to join us for all live Sunday afternoon sport,” the Walkabout added.

“This only affects Sunday evenings and we will open our usual hours every other day of the week.”

The pub apologised for the measures but explained they were necessary.

“We’re very sorry for any disappointment this may cause,” the statement continued. “But customer safety is at the heart of everything we do, so it’s important that we work together with the police to help reduce crime.”

Disappointed? Relieved? Tell us.

Write to letters@tntmagazine.com.

THIS WEEK IN LONDON...

Following reports that British beef prices are spiralling out of control in the wake of the horse meat scandal, we reckon you should take the opportunity to eat a cheap steak in London while you can.

The cost of a side of British beef has already risen 10 per cent in a week and could rise by as much as a third, according to Smithfield wholesale butchers, as demand for prime cuts rockets. Restaurants have reported consumers are favouring steak because they feel more confident about what it actually is, according to the Evening Standard. (The horse meat scandal escalated last week when it was revealed even school dinners have been found to contain horse.) Try Flat Iron in Soho, where house steak and salad costs just £10 (flatironsteak.co.uk).

Nab it now: British beef

Photos: Getty; Thinkstock

Northwood, Amersham and Chesham all weekend. Rail replacement buses operate.

Big draw: Big Ben has been named the world’s favourite iconic structure in a poll by SimCity, beating Sydney Harbour Bridge, which came second

ANGLO PACIFIC SHIPPING & TAX 30th Anniversary OVER 500,000 SATISFIED CUSTOMERS HAVE ALREADY TRUSTED THEIR POSSESSIONS TO ANGLO PACIFIC, LONDON’S LEADING SHIPPERS EXCESS BAGGAGE > Free supply of tea cartons and bubble > Free delivery/collection within M25 > By sea/air/road worldwide > Money Back Guarantee HOUSEHOLD REMOVALS > Free home survey, no obligation > Packed by skilled professionals > Shared or exclusive containers > Motor car/bike specialist shippers TAX REBATES > Average refund £963 secured last year > Online Tax Pack, only 10% commission MONEY TRANSFERS > Competitive exchange rates FINANCIAL PROTECTION > Bonded by the British Association of Removers > Bonded by the Association of Tax Agents > FIDI Accredited International Mover

www.anglopacific.co.uk SO BEFORE YOU CHECK OUT OF EUROPE CHECK OUT ANGLO PACIFIC

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

Indie-rock: Animal Kingdom

Future sounds London’s awash with new music this week, as two festivals kick off to help you find your new favourite band Words alasdair morton “There’s never a dull moment, it’s the hub of everything new and the opportunities for new artists and bands are second to none.” This is how Rich Thane, editor-in-chief of new music blog Line Of Best Fit, views the city we call home. And he’s dead right.

With a host of new music-championing events headed our way this week, there’s no better time to catch the sounds to shape the year – and on the cheap, too, with tickets to the shows coming in at under a tenner.

First up is Roundhouse Rising, the esteemed north London venue’s third annual spotlight on all that’s new and now out there.

“There’s a real, genuine thirst for bringing new talent to the fore,” Thane adds of London’s role in developing new music. His blog-turned-label, Best Fit Recordings, is bringing a wealth of talent to town, including a headline performance at the Rising series by Scandinavian pop-star-in-waiting Faye.

“Her attitude and approach to her art is 100 per cent real, and every show she’s done in the last 12 months has left the audience spellbound,” Thane enthuses of the performer. But she’s 8

TNT_1538_08 8

not the only rising star to keep your eyes peeled for – Chicago’s NJOMZA and London’s own Syron are his tips for bigger things this year. “Guitar music may be suffering,” he says, “but it’s an exciting time for thrilling pop music!”

However, the Roundhouse fest welcomes all types of performers and from all genres. Little Simz headlines ‘Wishes’ (Feb 23), a night dedicated to emerging urban talents, with electrorap from Jin Jin & The Ragdolls, and Birmingham singer-songwriter Jacob Banks. ‘The Hub Sessions’ showcases some of the most exciting bands of the moment, too, with Fence Records, Lex Records and indie royalty Moshi Moshi Records showing off their new charges.

“It’ll be the last gig I do on my own for a while,” says Moshi Moshi’s Sweet Baboo of the man-and-guitar approach to his Roundhouse show. After the April arrival of his new LP Ships, he’ll have some back-up: “It’s a heavily orchestrated record, full of brass and keyboards, so I want to play with a band as much as possible.”

An artist with a trajectory on the up, with the media-machine dishing out NBT-type labels, he’s intent on keeping

his feet on the ground: “I try to be level-headed and take everything with a pinch of salt,” he says. “It’s fantastic people like my music but I am realistic – anything could happen. I do Google my name about every five minutes, though – but I think everyone does that!”

After RR’s introduction to new music comes Best In Class, a week-long series of shows at Islington’s ace live music pub The Old Queen’s Head, featuring the indie acts we’ll hear more from this year.

Folk-poppers Eliza and the Bear open the party (Feb 25), with alternative choir Gaggle (Feb 26) and indie-rockers Animal Kingdom among the 10-strong line-up.

Boasting music from around the world, across a full spectrum of genres, London is a melting pot of styles and attitudes. So go and check out the sounds of the future – you might just find your new favourite band.

WHERE TO FIND MORE NEW MUSIC ›› Roundhouse Rising. Until Feb 24. £6+ roundhouse.org.uk Chalk NW1 8EH Farm Best In Class. Feb 25-Mar 1. £7 N1 8LN Angel theoldqueenshead.com

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Swedish sensation: Faye

Folk-pop class: Eliza and the Bear

Big future: Sweet Baboo tntMagazine.com

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half moon putney

the shacklewell arms dalston

The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Sex Pistols, U2 – some of the biggest names in rock have played this iconic little south London venue. It has a massive line-up of gigs and comedy nights coming up, including SA band Munkinpure (Feb 27) and Huey (below) and the New Yorkers (Mar 19). £4+

See website for show details 93 Lower Richmond Road, SW15 1EU Putney Bridge halfmoon.co.uk

bass culture clash 2013 tour brixton This tour celebrates “the influence reggae music and sound systems have had on current UK bass music,” explains creative director Ben Ryan. “So many artists have been influenced by reggae and Jamaican music, but that’s sometimes lost on bass music fans.” The RasItes will play live, with some of the UK’s biggest bass music (jungle, hip hop, dancehall) artists – Lady Leshurr (above), MC Skibadee and more – battling over ‘the riddims’. £6+

March 16, 10pm-6am Plan B, 418 Brixton Road, SW9 7AY

the borderline central london On the edge of Soho, this central London venue was a key player in the Nineties and has seen many Britpop and alt-rock acts step through its doors – such as the legendary REM. Now 21 years old, it’s a small venue (capacity 275) but one of massive importance. Don’t miss techno-rockers Abby (Feb 27). £5+

the dublin castle camden ”If I was an MP, the Dublin Castle would be registered as my second home,” says 6 Music DJ Steve Lamacq of this Camden live venue, such is its place of esteem in the hearts of music fans and the careers of many now-mega-selling artists. It’s the birthplace of Madness and has seen the likes of Blur, The Killers and Amy Winehouse all take to the stage. It is no less than an indie-rock institution with four bands playing every night of the week.

Upcoming talents to look out for include indiepopsters Lem and the White Fire (Feb 23) and grungerockers Aimless (Feb 25). £4+

See website for show details NW1 7AN Camden Town thedublincastle.com

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It was two years ago that this north London establishment opened its doors to live music and it’s now one of the top venues for up-andcoming bands, the kind NME go nuts for – and you will, too. With gigs almost every night of the week, there’s no shortage of rockstars-inwaiting to assault your eardrums. TNT faves Shields (Feb 19), Lauren Laverne tip-off Sweet Baboo (Feb 20) and grunge revivalists Arrows of Love (Mar 13) are all coming up in the next three weeks. £4+

Brixton

See website for show details 71 Shacklewell Lane, E8 2EB Dalston Kingsland shacklewellarms.com

ukbassculture.net

notting hill arts club notting hill Arts and music collide in this 12-year-old west London creative space built around the belief that “a world created by artists would be a better place”. It has regular club nights (indie to grime) and an exhibition space as well as live music. So get down and see if you agree with their artist-driven view of a better planet. At least the music would be good! £6+

birthdays dalston

£5+ Started in 2010, this east London venue’s made itself a must-visit.

Swim Deep (Feb 26) and Alune George (Feb 19) are upcoming highlights.

South-east London venue that mixes pub atmosphere (and prices) with the best new bands.

Aussie electro-punks Jagwar Ma (Feb 26), former Charlatans frontmanturned-purveyor of dodgy bleached barnets Tim Burgess (above, Feb 21) and Doldrums (Feb 19) are just some of the oustanding acts who are playing this ever-more impressive east London venue. It’s cool, but not pretentious, mixes the off-kilter with the crowdpleasing, and is an increasingly important stop on London’s emerging music venue scene.

See website for show details EC2A 4AP Old Street xoyo.co.uk

See website for show details SE14 6TY New Cross theamershamarms.com

See website for show details N16 8BB Dalston Kingsland birthdaysdalston.com

See website for show details W1D 4JB Tottenham Court Road theborderline.co.uk

xoyo shoreditch

See website for show details W11 3JQ Notting Hill Gate nottinghillartsclub.com

the amersham arms NEW CROSS £5+

£8+

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the barfly camden

the old blue last shoreditch

The Strokes, Muse and the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs – just a handful of the acts who have played this new music-focused venue in north London. It has gigs on all week long, was voted best new music venue in the NME and regularly hosts single and album launch shows for up-and-coming outfits – indie band Coasts celebrate their new single Oceans with a headline show (Mar 11), punk-rockers The Virginmarys continue their rapid ascent (Mar 6), and Aussies The Jezabels drop in for a very special intimate show, too (Mar 22).

”The world’s coolest pub” and “the hottest jukebox in Britain” – this is what the NME and The Times think of this east London venue. There’s no shortage of ace acts on its history books (The Klaxons, We Are Scientists, Mumford & Sons) and with bands and DJs seven nights a week, the chances of catching a superstar-to-be is pretty damn high. It might be The History of Apple Pie (Feb 19) or Funeral Suits (Mar 6).

FREE

£4+

See website for show details NW1 8AN Chalk Farm barflyclub.com

the windmill brixton Hidden down a side street and unassuming from the outside, this live venue is one of the bands’, fans’ and music critics’ top choices in the city, boasting a relaxed atmosphere and a reputation for passionately championing original audible art. Upcoming highlights include Americanastar Caitlin Rose, above (Mar 3), whose debut Own Side Now was a regular on ‘Best of 2010’ lists, acoustic troubadour Dropout Dan (Feb 19) and a weekend with North Star Records. £3+

See website for show details EC2A 3ES Shoreditch High Street theoldbluelast.com

See website for show details SW2 5BZ Brixton windmillbrixton.co.uk

the lexington angel

the white lion streatham

An American vibe permeates from the lounge bar upstairs (it has more than 40 US whiskies to pick from) and there’s a Rough Trade Music Quiz every monday. The live music is diverse, from indie to noise rock to electro.

Don’t miss Portasound (Feb 21) or chamber-poppers Loch Lomond (Feb 24), who hail from Oregon, of course.

This south London boozer has live music throughout the week, supports local causes and is the home of kids-supporting charity Music4Children.

Aussie rocker Dallas Frasca played recently, and owner from Down Under Oz is an absolute star.

£5+

new cross inn new cross Tucked away in south London’s student heartland, this place has been a long-standing supporter of new music and a hub of the New Cross scene (the likes of Bloc Party, above, spawned from this way back when). It has live music all week, open mic nights and regular student nights, too. Best check out techno-dance-punks Sheep On Drugs (Feb 23) and the Romance Fest all-dayer (Feb 24), which is loaded to the brim with great new and local bands.

Photos: Getty; Kirsten McTernan; Bryan Sheffield

£3+

See website for show details New Cross SE14 6AS newcrossinn.com

£3+

dingwalls camden

Once a porno cinema, it’s now a four-floored ‘alternative live music, club and arts’ centre.

Mustn’t miss Melody’s Echo Chamber (Mar 5).

The Holloways formed at the iconic venue, which has survived changes in fashion and a fire (it reopened in 2010), but it still has the best new bands.

See the Metal To The Masses (from Jun 30) heats for this year’s Bloodstock fest.

Grubby, grimy and historic, this north London gig venue has been all about the guitars for 40 years, with a clear focus on the new, left-of-centre, up-and-coming and those seeking a small room in which to connect with their fans. The Mumfords played here in their early days and any night of the week you might catch the Pete Doherty of the future. The Datsuns played here last week, and there’s LA indierock duo Deap Vally (above, Feb 26), singer-songwriter Tom Odell and Japanese psych-rockers Bo Ningen (Apr 4) coming soon.

See website for show details N1 9LP King’s Cross scala-london.co.uk

See website for show details N7 6LB Archway nambuccalondon.com

See website for show details NW1 8AB Camden dingwalls.com

See website for show details NW1 9JB Angel thelexington.co.uk

scala king’s cross £5+

See website for show details Streatham SW16 1BB whitelion.org.uk

nambucca holloway £4+

£5+

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LONDONDRINKS

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@tntmagazine

Traditional: ye olde public house

PUB

It wouldn’t seem out of place if, all of a sudden, a scene from Oliver Twist burst into life in this olde worlde London pub. If you can find the place – there’s a (not really) secret back entrance, or the main doors which you’ll stumble to via a cobbled street – it’s like stepping back in time. Standing proud as one of London’s oldest watering holes having opened its doors as a pub in 1772, the Lamb & Flag has boasted esteemed regulars including Charles Dickens. The venue has admirably clung steadfast to its roots, although it has seen some of its traditions slip through the net, including, thankfully, its reputation for bare-knuckle fighting that once earned it the nickname ‘The Bucket Of Blood’. Inside is small with dim lighting, a dark wooden bar and floor, leather chairs and creaky narrow stairs leading to another bar and dining area. Although it’s always so busy, if you can get a seat, it’s a miracle. I’m sure punters don’t leave at night just so they can hold on to a table.

THE GRUB Proper pub grub: fish ‘n’ chips, sausage ‘n’ mash, Sunday roasts.

THE SCENE

As well as the usuals, you’ll find a superb selection of guest ales, including London Pride, ESB, Chiswick, Seafarers, and more than 40 whiskies.

BILL PLEASE Mains from £8.95; pints about £4.15; whiskies £2.80-£15.

VERDICT Order a tankard of beer with extra froth, clink glasses with the Cockney next to you and belt out Oom-Pah-Pah for a taste of historic London. CAROL DRIVER BEHIND THE BAR

33 Rose Street, WC2E 9EB

lambandflagcoventgarden.co.uk

POSH DOGS

DACH & SONS

BUBBLEDOGS

DOGFATHER DINER

This Yankee-style joint in Hampstead serves up gourmet dogs and sliders alongside craft brews and American whiskey and bourbon. An in-house butcher ensures the ‘dawgs’ are top-notch. From £8.

The concept is a touch too tryhard – a champagne bar serving hot dogs? Really? – but the menu is tempting, with Korean and Japanesestyle dogs in the offing (think wasabi mayo and kimchi garnish). From £6.

The owner of this spot in East Dulwich is on a break in Western Oz right now, but promises to bring the haute dogs back by Feb 23.

The menu is huge, so start umming and ahhing on the web now. From £3.

dachandsons.com

bubbledogs.co.uk

dogfatherdiner.com

Photos: dogfatherdiner.com

3 OF THE BEST

Covent Garden

Need to send money between UK and home? r Cheapee than th banks*

*Source: 1st Contact survey of UK high street bank charges, April 2008.

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BITE SIZE

Meat market: sleek, with steak

VIVA ESPANA One of our favourite London pubs has reopened for business – The Spaniards Inn near Hampstead Heath, which dates back to 1585, has had a little refurb and replenished its shelves with a fresh selection of ales, wines and whiskeys, bringing in the likes of US craft brews and quality ciders, among others. Plus, there’s a new menu, with the chuck and bone marrow burger and seasonal pies particularly piquing our interest. Even better, this cosy corner – immortalised in both Charles Dickens’ The Pickwick Papers and Bram Stoker’s Dracula – now offers beer and food pairing. Yes, please. thespaniardshampstead.co.uk

THE GRILL ON THE MARKET STEAKHOUSE

The Spaniards Inn

wine and win Combine wine tasting with a spot of healthy competition at Le Cafe Anglais in Bayswater, which launches its ‘Whose wine is it anyway?’ night on March 4. You’ll be served five wines (matched with antipasti, bonus) and then enter into a knock-out quiz with fellow competitors. The winner takes home a bottle of Bollinger. Plus, it’s BYO if you want to stay on for dinner. Tickets are £30 and the battle commences at 6.45pm. lecafeanglais.co.uk

Photos: thespaniardshampstead.co.uk

ethical eats It’s Fairtrade Fortnight from Feb 25 until March 10, so what better time to launch London’s first fairtrade bar and cafe, Fairly Square? This Holborn joint only serves food and drink that has been ethically traded and sustainably sourced, and even the decor is made from ecologically sustainable materials.

Go and gorge for the greater good.

THE SCENE Though situated in one of London’s most famous locales – the 800-yearold Smithfield’s meat market – this restaurant is oddly difficult to find, cloaked in a lightless patch of West Smithfield. Still, that’s not stopped a rowdy crowd of suits seeking it out for post-work tipples. Fight through them, however, and you’ll find a much calmer dining area towards the back, with sleek leather booths, dark woods, low lighting and the odd deer’s head adorning the wall.

The grub Appropriately enough for the location, this place is big on beef, though it also packs an impressive range of seafood for the coyer carnivore (the grilled lobster weighs in at a not-too-awful £35). The Grill’s ethos is “solid, honest, proper food”, so the bells and whistles – or dry ice and foams – are lacking, with quality preferred over quirks. My date starts with a baby scallop, garlic and bacon salad, which is perfectly competent, although the same cannot be said for my duck egg with asparagus soldiers. When it first comes out, the yolk has been cooked hard, defeating the point of the dish – the soldiers are meant to be dipped into a rich, runny yolk. Our waitress notices immediately – before I’ve had time to raise a hand – and whisks it away, all apologies. A second turns up and this time is undercooked. The white of the egg remains a snotty gloop, and I resolve to give up rather than make a fuss. Throughout the meal, our waitress is brilliant – personable and well-informed about the menu, she fills me with enthusiasm about my forthcoming rib eye. If only the kitchen could live up to the promise out front. Ordered medium-rare, the steak is pink but not juicy; it leaks nothing, and that includes flavour. Quite an achievement for a cut that should be infused with melted fat. A seriously superior sticky toffee pudding for dessert scores a consolation goal. A shame that what went before was unremarkable.

Wine from £4/ £15 per glass/ bottle. Cocktails from £6.50.

Starters from £4.50; mains from £10.50; desserts from £3.75. verdict Great place and people, but the food doesn’t sing. Laura Chubb Behind the bar Bill please

51 Red Lion Street, WC1R 4PF 2-3 West Smithfield, EC1A 9JX

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It’s theirs and they’ll… Bloc Party are back after imploding

ALASDAIR MORTON FOR THE RECORD Bands are all about the merch, and being a fan means subscribing.

However, Icelandic oddballs Sigur Rós have got what must be the oddest souvenir going. For a meagre £18 you can get your hands on, or rather your nose on, what the Sigur Rós recording studio smells like with the purchase of a band-designed scented candle. It promises “the smoky, slightly briny smell of a flotsam campfire on a distant black beach under a wan midnight sun”.

It will also reveal how the studio smells as the band “go about the quasi-mystical business of making the magic happen”.

It’s created to Jonsi and co’s “precise olfactory specifications”, too. So while most bands are happy to flog T-shirts, hoodies and name-adorned beanies, Rós have come up with a stylish and, in its own way, interactive addition to the traditional garb. Almost as good as Noddy Holder (Slade) flogging pub snacks, Nobby’s Nuts.

BLOC PARTY Earl’s Court, SW5 9TA FRI, FEB 22 | DOORS AT 7PM | £29.50

From guitar music’s great hopes for the future to the verge of splitting up, Bloc Party went through it all in six short years. They’ve reconvened, though, found their mojo once more and are set to storm London and make a statement.

Since Kele Okereke and the boys leaped into the public’s attention with single Little Thoughts back in 2004, Bloc Party were the ones to save indie music with their jagged, angular sounds. They were more left-leaning than contemporaries The Futureheads and more intellectual than Kaiser Chiefs (both of whom they shared a stage with on 2005’s NME Awards tour). Their debut Silent Alarm crashed the UK top 10, as singles Helicopter and Banquet became indie night staples.

They followed it up with two more albums, but each moved the band further and further away from their indie guitar origins, and then it all went tits up.

Kele abandoned the Bloc-ship to go it alone, hanging up his guitar to take third album Intimacy’s electro-synth sounds to their logical conclusion on his debut solo offering, The Boxer. It was a success and went top 20.

However, as if he had purged this from his system, and after reports of the band continuing without him did the rounds, the foursome came back as quickly as they had seemed to implode, with last year’s Four showing a rougher, harderrocking edge that they’d previously jettisoned a long time back – lead single Kettling has an alt-rock guitar solo that absolutely screeches.

Back and stronger than ever, make sure you don’t miss this party!

Earl’s Court

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NEW BAND

chvrches GIG wed, feb 27. 7pm £12

This synth-pop three-piece are another example of some of the top sounds coming out of Glasgow right now. Forget the maudlin wailing of past dour indie bands, this lot have written one of the most uplifting Eighties-styled anthems to touch your ears in years with debut single The Mother We Share. An absolute treat.

Photos: Getty

ICA The Mall, SW1Y 5AH Charing Cross seetickets.com

layo and bushwacka’s 2013 opening party

tru thoughts

CLUB

CLUB

sat, feb 23. 10pm-11am £10+

sat, feb 23. 9pm-3am £15.50

In their first party of 2013, Layo and Bushwacka, whose fourth album Rising And Falling was out last year, welcome Ewan Pearson (he’s remixed for the likes of Depeche Mode and Metronomy), and Terry Francis, who’s been tearing up dance floors for the past 10 years before finding his recent ‘instant’ fame.

The top class Brighton-based label celebrates, well, itself, with this night of crossover multigenre madness from the past, present and future. There’s live performances and DJs serving up everything from hip-hop and electro to funk and soul with Quantic (DJ), Hidden Orchestra (live), Anchorsong (live) and more.

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

Koko NW1 7JE Mornington Crescent soundcrashmusic.com/truthoughts

savages

no fit state

nme awards tour

GIG

CLUB

GIG

wed, feb 21. 8pm £12.50

Fri, feb 22. 6pm-6am £10+

sat, feb 23. 7pm £20.60

This London all-girl four-piece were all over ‘ones to watch in 2013’ lists at the end of last year, and they make good on this expectation with their biggest headline show yet. Here they’ll deliver their post-punk, Interpol-esque moody racket to no fewer than 1000 eager punters. Just the first step in a big year for the gals.

Mulletover are keeping it simple with a small party and a big line-up. House and tehno head Ellen Allien (above), who’s been DJ-ing round the world for the past 20 years, is the big headline attraction, with one-time Hacienda resident Simon Baker and underground pioneer Geddes swiftly behind.

This year’s line-up of superstars-to-be is as eclectic and diverse as we’ve come to expect from that lot over at NME. Edinburgh left-field indie troupe Django Django (nothing to do with Tarantino) headline, with Miles Kane, indie-punk upstarts Palma Violets and psych-rockers Peace along for the presumably riotous ride.

Electric Ballroom 184 Camden HIgh Street, NW1 8QP Camden Town electricballroom.co.uk

Secret location TBC theransomnote.co.uk

Brixton Academy 211 Stockwell Road, SW9 9SL o2academybrixton.co.uk

kagoule The buzz so far Their name might make you think of rain macs and trainspotters, but their sound will have you thinking of alt-rock circa 1993 – more Pumpkins than Billy Corgan and co. have been in a long time themselves. Kagoule are rocking the grunge-styled riffs the 17-year-olds weren’t old enough to hear first time around. They’re no shameful revivalists, though, and double A-side single Monarchy/ Mudhole is shot through with a post-millenial adjustment that references the likes of Biffy Clyro, Liars and Modest Mouse.

The Critics say “Catchy hooks and melodic guitars” Vulturehound.co.uk the plug Debut single Mudhole/ Monarchy is out February 25 through Denizen Recordings. facebook.com/kagouleuk

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Rodney Ascher

Room 237 documentary-maker on minotaurs, moon landings and the ongoing mystery behind Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining INTERVIEW alasdair morton

Why did you choose to investigate The Shining’s hidden meanings in Room 237?

Tim Kirk [producer] sent me some writing looking at signs, symbols and metaphors in the film which fascinated me. We never really considered another film. I love the movie and was happy to spend two years of my life trapped inside of it. If it was Caddyshack I might have run out of steam a little earlier!

Room 237 looks at five theories about hidden meanings in the movie – do you believe Kubrick intended these?

Kubrick’s a renowned filmmaker. When you see something that looks like a mistake in one of his films you do think there must be some intentionality. When confronted with a puzzle the natural instinct is to solve it. At the end of The Shining there are things within the story that are never explained and when you put that together with questions like, “Why would there be a German typewriter in Seventies Colorado?” it becomes a puzzle box to open and solve.

Photo: Getty

Do you believe the theories? Such as one that suggests Kubrick worked for NASA and falsified the moon landings?

The human brain is a machine for finding patterns. Most of the people I talked to described a moment where one thing in the film stuck out and pointed to how they were going to understand it. You have these old typewriters, minotaurs, the moon landings. Jay Weidner [author of Secrets Of The Shining: Or How Faking The Moon Landings Nearly Cost Stanley Kubrick His Marriage And His Life] was trying to research and understand those anomalies.

One theory suggests there are clues when viewing the the film backwards ...

The forward-backward thing came from John Fell Ryan, who said the film’s structure was symmetrical and [Kubrick film] 2001: A Space Odyssey in reverse – instead of telling of man’s evolution, it tells of his fall from grace. Because the movie does feature a few backwards moments – Red Rum, Danny walking backwards – he thought it’d be interesting to see it that way. When they screened it that way people found it very eerie as there were all these juxtapositions. And it is a story about people

Puzzler: Ascher peers into The Shining who can see the future but are haunted by the past. It’s like listening to Pink Floyd’s The Wall while watching The Wizard Of Oz. You do wonder how much is intentional but it is still interesting to allow these coincidences.

When did you first see the film?

I snuck in as a little kid and ran out the back door about 10 minutes in. It certainly made me very curious. I wasn’t a fan of horror movies at a young age but I felt a sense of shame for not having made it all the way through. I wanted to be able to take some pride in sitting through the most grotesque films.

Where did your research begin?

Many theories we came across were new, but the Native American theory [that the film is an apology for their treatment] dates back to the Eighties. I researched online, too, as people have been looking at the movie in such detail over the last few years. Digital culture certainly aids that.

Were some theories just too outlandish?

There were some that were very short, and I wanted ones where people had a lot to say.

And some people’s ideas were too informed by their personal lives. And then there was stuff that I just couldn’t understand – I wouldn’t say that these theories were crazy, but some were undoubtedly silly!

What would Kubrick make of it all?

It is not for me to try to get into his head. He did once say he’d never tell someone what a movie was about because that would be shackling them to a reality other than their own. There are specific things he was trying to say and he understood movies work best when the audience are allowed to bring their own experiences to it.

Is it also about how we interpret art?

It raised conversations about how people interpret art as well as film and how we interpret life around us, really. It’s interesting to see where our heads are right now, especially with people [in the US] still asking whether Barack Obama was born in the US! Why do we have such a fascination with conspiracy theories?

It is part of the human condition. I’m old enough to remember when people were starting to use the internet widely; it was supposed to end controversy but that is not how it worked! I thought we’d have facts at our fingertips and that would solve so many debates, but it didn’t, it just fuels the fire. God help you if you go on Wikipedia and try to look up something like climate change or Palestine!

Room 237 is out March 11 through Metrodome

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Time warped: even Tom Hanks and Halle Berry look a bit lost in the Wachowskis’ new epic

cloud atlas FILM review by Alasdair Morton Starring: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Ben Wishaw | 15 | 172mins | Out now

Lore FILM Starring: Saskia Rosendahl, Nele Trebs, Mika Seidel | 15 | 109mins

Aussie filmmaker Cate Shortland shot to attention with Somersault (which made stars of Abbie Cornish and Sam Worthington), and has wowed critics at film fests once more with this World War II thriller about five destitute siblings, including Rosendahl, who have to flee during the conflict’s dying days after their Nazi parents are arrested.

Powerful and gripping stuff.

Released February 22

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The Wachowskis’ sprawling fantasy is many things: epic and bold, yet frustrating and unneccessarily ponderous. It is also, however, a refreshing antidote to anodyne mainstream fodder, and its ambition deserves recognition.

Adapted from David Mitchell’s 2004 novel, it features a multitide of stories, stretching across hundreds of years as people’s lives inter-relate – we flit from Seventies San Francisco to 2144’s Neo Seoul to mutiny on the southern Pacific’s high seas in 1849 and more, with the cast playing an array of characters to emphasise life’s inter-connectedness. Adapting such a tome does come with pitfalls, though.

With a close to three-hour running time, there are moments that lag and as each story slow-builds to its own crescendo, the cross-cutting frustrates. Just as one story picks up – Ben Wishaw’s work as an amanuensis for Jim Broadbent’s peculiar composer in Forties England – we’re transported to a dreary post-apocalyptic earth of 2321 with Tom Hanks and Halle Berry conversing in an adapted form of English.

It is undoubtedly spectacular – a hoverbike chase through Seoul’s neon-soaked future streets shows the siblings have lost none of their Matrix-era power to stun.

There are moments of adept humour too, but for every top ‘pussy’ gag (you’ll see), unintentional laughs are also found in the myriad accents the cast take on (Tom Hanks’ Oirish novelist Dermott is a chief culprit here). However, the climax brings the threads together in a rousing confirmation of life, love and our being more than our immediate selves. Now you don’t get that in a Jason Statham movie.

Good for: Seeing the Wachowskis bounce back with a flawed but entertaining epic.

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GIVE US A

will franken: things we did before reality

GIGGLE!

COMEDY

San Francisco-based comedian Franken brings his Reality show to town, in which he satirises, goofs and clowns around as a one-man sketch comedy mastermind. He has all manner of characters at his disposal, and will leave you in fits of laughter and wondering at how much one man can do all by his lonesome. Impressive stuff.

Soho Theatre 41 Dean Street, W1D 3NE. Feb 28-Mar 9. £10+ Tott Crt Rd sohotheatre.com

corporate foresight

Our Country’s Good

EXHIBITION

THEATRE

David Jablonowski’s exhibition looks at communications in visual culture, and does so via sculptures drawn from information technology and its components. Tablet tech and earlier communication tools all come together, with Jablonowski even throwing in a spice olfactory element, too.

In a New South Wales penal colony, an enlightened governor is convinced of the redemptive power of art as the felons put on a stage production. Even when the threat of the hangman’s noose hovers close, theatre’s transformative power helps the prisoners find a united voice. A modern classic. LK

Max Wigram Gallery 106 New Bond St, W1S 1DN. Free. Until Mar 2 Bond Street maxwigram.com

St James’s Theatre 21 Palace Street, SW1E 5JA. Until Mar 23. £35+ Victoria stjamestheatre.co.uk

Hip: Paul Raymond on the left

shoot from the hip’s paul raymond What’s the show about? It’s improvised with games (like Whose Line Is It Anyway?) and scenes based on audience suggestions.

What is the biggest danger in improvisational comedy? Not being happy to fail. If you can embrace the mistakes, improvising becomes much more fun.

Photos: Simon Annand

How did you all meet? At uni. The drama society had a band of misfits who found solace making each other laugh and telling stories.

mama

old times

FILM

THEATRE

Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth) brings us this creepy-kids shocker in which Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty) looks after two girls who’ve gone feral after living alone in a remote woodlands house. Were they really alone? What influence does their deceased mother still hold over them? And will you be able to not jump 10ft in the air as you watch and find out?

Rufus Sewell is extraordinary in this classy revival of the late Harold Pinter’s richly ambiguous 1971 memory play, a triangular power struggle co-starring Kristin Scott Thomas and Lia Williams. As nebulous and mutable as swirling fog, Ian Rickson’s enigmatic 80-minute production keeps you hooked. LK

On general release February 22

Harold Pinter Theatre Panton Street, SW1Y 4DN. Until Apr 6. £10+ Piccadilly Circus oldtimestheplay.com

Do you have particular areas each of you are best in?

Absolutely. Tom (Mayo) has a Masters in Shakespeare and can reel off improvised sonnets on demand. Luke (Manning) is killer at accents and Sam (Holmes) is great at playing fat guys.

What’s the funniest thing you have ever seen? Sam was once a mermaid. He ‘dived’ on stage and hit the ceiling. He was fine!

The Top Secret Shoot From The Hip Comedy Club, WC2E 8JT. Every Tues.

FREE. 8.15pm

Covent Garden

facebook.com/shootimpro

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“Awesome!”: Bruce Willis’s assessment of Jai Courtney, seen here on the red carpet in London

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Good day to break through Aussie Jai Courtney is Hollywood’s new all-action hero thanks to his leading role with Bruce Willis in A Good Day To Die Hard Words alasdair morton

Sydney-born actor Jai Courtney is going to be big, and we mean seriously big – an A-lister in the making. With two high profile roles in the last three months, first opposite Tom Cruise in Jack Reacher and now a lead part as Bruce Willis’s son Jack in A Good Day To Die Hard, he is rocketing towards action stardom. “He is on his way,” Willis himself proclaimed only last week of his younger co-star. ”That guy is awesome!” Ask the New South Welshman, though, and he reveals smash-bang-explosion is far from all he is about.

“Things have shifted these days,” he says of Hollywood’s propensity for an all-out action hero. “There are a few people we could label as straight up and down action guys, but that’s not the path I want to head down.” He’s not oblivious to the fact, however, that, currently, it’s something he does, and does very well.

“It is interesting that I’ve had the opportunity to work on some action-heavy projects, and if there is a strength for me that I need to play to then that’s great,” he says. “You have to break in somehow. But I want to diversify.”

Courtney joined Perth’s Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in 2004 – an institution that counts Hugh Jackman and the late Heath Ledger among its alumni to make it big across the Pacific – and won a role in swords and sandals TV show Spartacus in 2010. Shortly after he was cast as sniper villain Charlie in the big screen adaptation of Lee Childs’ impossibly successful military detective Jack Reacher saga, starring Tom Cruise, with whom he tangles in numerous scenes. No sooner had he finished work on this, he got the call about the Die Hard gig.

“I‘d just wrapped [Reacher] in Pittsburgh and was going home to Sydney, literally,” Courtney remembers. “I was walking down the jetway to my flight at LAX when my agent called and said don’t leave, they want you to read with Bruce. I went, we did a few scenes. They’d not found the right guy for the gig as they needed someone who had that chemistry with Bruce.”

A few screen tests and months later Courtney got the part, cast for the chemistry with his on-screen dad along with his rugged good looks and imposing physical presence.

The latter went against what the production team had been looking for initially, but they were convinced to go with the young Aussie purely on the strength of his audition.

Die Hard rewrote the rule book for action heroes back

in the Eighties – Willis’s John McClane was a wise-cracking everyman when compared to muscled monsters such as Sly (Rambo) and Arnie (Terminator) – and A Good Day ... continues this against-the-grain approach. It’s a far cry from a straight forward guns and explosions movie, too.

While its McClanes vs the Russians set-up suggests Cold War traditionalism (John goes to Moscow to help his incarcerated

“

We destroyed 108 cars filming that chase

”

son, only to find out he’s not a drug-dealing chump but a CIA operative), the film’s heart is their father-son dynamic.

Despite all the explosions and director John Moore’s unmistakable passion for action – he “gets off on the gear and vehicles and is very animated, his enthusiasm’s ››

Family feud: Willis and Courtney as fired-up father and son duo John and Jack McClane

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Clockwise from top left: when father met son; bonding over bullets; and learning to love the limelight at the London premiere

[Caption]

infectious,” Courtney says with a smile – the estranged family relationship delivers some of the film’s finest moments, and some of the series’ best one-liners. Dad and wayward son teach each other a few things about parenting amidst dodging bullets, leaping from buildings and indulging in a car chase through the interlinked streets of Moscow’s famous Garden Ring, destroying all in their path. “There were 108 cars destroyed in that chase alone!” Courtney laughs of what was a memorable few days at the office.

As John and Jack McClane trade barbs there’s a feeling the film could herald the passing of an on- and off-screen torch. With Willis approaching 60 – he turns 58 in March – and his sidekick a sprightly 31 years his junior, Courtney could take the franchise in to the next era.

“I haven’t given it a lot of thought,” he responds, disappointing our hopes for a McClane franchise anew to smash memory-broken Bourne and MI6’s dapper elder gent 007 into touch. “If I get the chance to come back and play Jack again then great, but I don’t think Bruce is done with it yet.”

Indeed, Willis has since revealed that plans for a Die Hard number six are already afoot. And yet, while Courtney is in with a good chance of being involved and is obviously at ease with the action aspect of his work – crashing cars through the former USSR, trading blows with Hollywood’s biggest stars or getting his shirt off and revealing a ripped torso in Spartacus – he’s adamant his career will not be made up of these roles alone.

“From this point on I have to be smart and strategic,” he says. He could take heed from Hugh Jackman, who despite having a number of huge action roles under his belt (Real Steel, Swordfish, Wolverine), is hardly an ‘action star’.

“

If I get to play Jack again, that’d be great

”

Line of fire: Courtney hopes to be more than an action star 26

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A Good Day To Die Hard is out now through Twentieth Century Fox

Photos: Getty; Twentieth Century Fox

“There are certainly types of films I want to work on and make and I shall have some level of control on that – you can choose the path you want,” Courtney says. “It would be wrong to go and pick any old thing. Hopefully the exposure and experience [these projects] will bring will help me grow as an actor and aid me in [achieving] that.”

Indeed, between getting the call and filming Die Hard, he made another movie, I Frankenstein, an Underworld-style spin on the horror tale shot in Melbourne with a largely Aussie cast, including Mirando Otto and Yvonne Strahovski (TV’s Chuck) and Sydney-born screenwriter turned director Stuart Beattie (Tomorrow, When The War Began). Courtney plays the leader of two immortal clans waging an eternal war, with Frankenstein (Aaron Eckhart) right in the middle. So quite a change of pace from contemporary Stateside action flicks.

“I am shooting for a long career,” he says understatedly, his intent on making the most of this moment clear. “It can’t all be about guns and car chases.” ❚

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27

SPARETIME

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Dynasty Warriors 7: Empires

Foals: Holy Fire

PS3 Game

CD

Adventure and strategy gameplay combine to affect the history of feudal China. £39.99 play.com

The Oxford alt-rock five-piece return with their third longplayer, featuring its kickass lead single Inhaler. £8.99 play.com

Metal Gear Solid: Revengeance

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: Push The Sky Away

XBox game

Latest addition to the adventure series. £38.99 amazon.co.uk

CD

Cave and the boys are still causing sonic trouble 15 albums into their career. £9.99 amazon.co.uk

Football Week iPad app

All the info and gossip on the English Premier League.

Free itunes.apple.com

Mark Tedeschi QC: Eugenia Book

The story of Eugenia Falleni, a NZ-born woman who thought she was a man trapped in female body, and her troubled life in the Twenties. £12.99 amazon.co.uk

Dave App

Streaming app from the popular comedy TV channel.

Free itunes.apple.com

Decorate Your Own Paper Monkey

Tainted Child: Shey Olivia Sullivan

Gadget

Book

White and customisable for the graffiti artist in you. £9.99

Sullivan wonders how we’d all get along after the apocalypse in this fiction tale. £9.99 play.com

iwantoneofthose.com

Penny Glow ‘hover’ skateboard

Skyfall DVD

Gadget

Daniel Craig and director Sam Mendes’ recordsmashing Bond adventure. £12.99 play.com

Africa DVD

The BBC comes up trumps again with this look at Africa’s creature delights. £17.99 amazon.co.uk

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TNTMAGAZINE.COM

With black wheels and a glow in the dark deck, you’ll look just like Marty McFly. £80 urbanoutfitters.co.uk

App of the Week Life Is Magic Android app

This is going to be massive multiplayer location game that overlays a fantasy world over our, you know, real one.

Free play.google.com

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LifestyleHEALTH CLASS OF THE WEEK

20:20:20 Finding a truly full-body workout during your lunch hour can be no easy feat. The obscurely named 20:20:20, however, makes the most out of that chunk of time usually reserved for a naughty feed.

Situated in the centrally located (if slightly hidden) Golden Lane Sports & Fitness (hint: walk through the car park for quicker access), this class is about as all-encompassing as they come. The format is simple: 20 minutes of each session is dedicated to step aerobics, 20 minutes to resistance training, and 20 minutes to ab work. We felt somewhat self-conscious stepping into the tiny, all-glass workout studio, but soon we were too enmeshed in the workout to care if we looked stupid to passersby. At the end of the session, it was clear that almost any muscle that could be exercised, had been. Needless to say, we were feeling sore the following day, and 20 minutes of assorted stomach crunches made it painful even to laugh. It definitely marked the most productive lunch hour we’ve had in a very long time. Booking is advised, as the studio fills up pretty quickly.

Classes are £6.80 each, Thursdays between 12.10pm-1pm.

Golden Lane Sports & Fitness, Fann Street, EC1Y 0SH fusion-lifestyle.com Barbican

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Unplug it New studies claim that techno-addictions are hindering our creativity. The fix? Digital detox Words Daisy carrington

If you’re finding it increasingly hard to kickstart your brain into gear these days, you’re not alone. A new study by the University of Utah found the amount of time we spend in front of screens – smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc. – can reduce our creativity. Though it sounds hackneyed, science proves shutting down your personal devices and getting out in nature can give the imagination a boost. The research showed a 50 per cent surge in brainpower after subjects got away from technology and went out walking in woodlands or parks.

Finding space to think Levi Felix was first bitten by the digital detox bug when a system overload nearly cost him his life. “I was working 80 hours a week for a start-up; I had an iPhone and a Blackberry, and my laptop plugged in right next to my bed. I burned myself out to the point that I ended up in the hospital with internal bleeding,” he recalls.

Felix knew he needed to change his lifestyle, and spent three years travelling:

“I wanted to see what happy communities that weren’t connected 24/7 looked like.”

He brought the concept back to California and set up The Digital Detox retreat, offering a tech-free space for people to engage in ‘real-life’ activities, including meditation and art and writing workshops. A UK branch is also in the works.

“If you’re always engaging in content, you don’t have time to have truly novel thoughts,” Felix notes. “People switch off their alarm clock and immediately start checking Facebook. They go to the bathroom, and play Angry Birds while on the toilet.

These parts of every day life where you can take a pause and be creative are gone.”

Felix also offers tech-free trips abroad.

The next off-the-grid getaway is set for Cambodia, where guests break up their stay in a solar-powered guesthouse with fishing, snorkeling and jungle hikes. thedigitaldetox.org

Little outings Of course, you don’t need to leave home

Fresh mind: find a quiet spot (left); or join The Digital Detox’s Cambodia retreat

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WHAT’S NEW

Lush Keep Calm Eyeliner For bold (and cruelty-free) eyes £14.50 lush.co.uk

Tree-change: being out in nature gets the creative juices flowing

Photos: Lush Spa; Thinkstock; Walk Free Break Free

to unplug. Jo Winsloe, who organises silent walks around London, said that once she took technology (and talking) out of the equation, her hikes became more meaningful.

“I was out with a group of walkers, and we sat down for lunch afterwards, and I asked, ‘Oh, did you see this honeysuckle, or hear that bird?’ And no one had. The original intention of walking was to get out into nature but the social element had taken precedence.”

Winsloe explains that there’s a difference between walking silently in a group and by oneself. With a group, she says, there’s less “internal chatter”.

“That empty space can be a place where fresh thinking comes,” she says. meetup.com/silent-walks

Magic for the feet

Face-to-face Iain Thompson takes the opposite tack in his walks around London and beyond via his tour group, Walk Free Break Free. While he doesn’t insist participants turn off their phones, he tries to get them engaged in the present by coming up with interesting themes, such as a haggis trail or a Chiltern Midsomer Murder tour. The walks’ true value, Thompson says, is human interaction.

“People get to know each other,” he says proudly. “It’s like a club without the membership fee.” He adds that socialising in the flesh also spurs fresh ideas.

“You get a lot of free-thinkers, and you see them building on each other. It helps that they’re not trapped behind a screen.” walkfreebreakfree.co.uk

Egyptian Magic Skin Cream Loved by celebs and pharaohs £25.50 fenwick.co.uk

Nahbi Gold Sheet Mask Clean your face with 24k gold £25 beauchoix.co.uk

top treatment: The Spell Lush Spa’s ‘The Spell’ is more than just a foot treatment. Yes, our therapist used a range of their luscious, all-organic products to soak, scrub and massage our feet (and for good measure, our head as well). He also used reflexology to propel us forward with our goals. At the start, we wrote all of our worries on a slip of paper, which our therapist burned in a cauldron.

At the very least, we left too blissed out to care about them. £45 for a 60-minute session. 123 Kings Rd, SW3 4PL lush.co.uk Sloane Square

freezeframe Instant Lash Add 8mm to get luscious lashes £29 boots.com tntMagazine.com

31

LIFESTYLECAREERS

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Spit or swallow? A skilled palette pulls a sweet salary

Be a flush lush Love a drink? Want to get paid to do it? You can – take a leaf out of these boozy pros’ book and cash in. Your shout Words Daisy carrington There’s a mint to be made in the cocktail and drinks industry (and not just as a garnish). Those professionals who make it their business to know a Rioja from a Riesling and a margarita from a mojito can make a more than comfy salary. The best part? They’re earning money doing something they love. We asked some industry experts how to get in at the ground level.

The mixologist “It doesn’t require an awful lot of training,” says Cuan Dumas of his profession as a mixologist at The Folly Bar (thefollybar.co.uk) in London.

Though he’s won several awards for his innovative and elaborate concoctions (truffled Japanese whiskey sour = yum), his beginnings weren’t exactly fancy.

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“I used to work at this small town bar that only served beers,” Dumas recalls. “The only cocktail they made was a Shirley Temple.” He says that his enthusiasm helped make up for his lack of experience.

“When I started, I worked at the bar.

When the mixologist that was there left, I just got excited about the cocktail menu and started getting involved with gastronomy cocktails and infusions, and playing with spirits.”

The main thing in his field, Dumas says, is research. When he’s not behind the bar, he’s trying out other cocktail lounges around London or scouring gardens and farmers’ markets for fresh inspiration. Even at home, he’s always experimenting with new ingredients and garnishes.

“Any bartender can be a mixologist if they have a passion for making cocktails,” he says.

Though the “unsociable hours” might prove a challenge to some (nights and weekends are a mixologist’s prime shifts), other perks make the job. Dumas regularly gets to travel for research at the behest of his company, and says the job is a great way to meet people. He reckons that between the base salary and service charge, mixologists can earn upwards of £500-per-week.

The beer sommelier Drinking beer for a living may sound like a dream job, but it’s still hard work.

After all, developing an encyclopedic knowledge of anything, let alone beer, is no easy task.

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LIFESTYLECAREERS On the job Caroline Brealey

Career Matchmaker at Mutual Attraction Age 29 Lives Tower Hill From Nottingham

Photos: Thinkstock

Mix master: The Folly Bar’s Cuan Dumas

Brew-ty: where the magic happens at Meantime

“The first thing you Develop your palette a wine merchant need to do is expand your • The best way to hit the ground that supplies grape knowledge,” says Rob running is to keep a journal of to restaurants and Jones, the beer sommelier everything you try. Note the caterers. at the Meantime Brewery different flavours, plus the history “You have to (meantimebrewing.com). and origins of what you’re sipping. be very handsThe good bit about this is It will be easier to keep straight. on, and deal with that it means you’ll need to • Beer fans can delve into 1001 the customer practice, which will entail Beers You Must Try Before You Die, at a hands-on not just reading a copious level,” he says. a quality 101 for the industry. amount of beer literature • For a formal education, try taking Often this means (there’s heaps out there), carting a heavy a course at the Wine and Spirit but drinking lots of beer. tote of samples to Education Trust (wsetglobal.com).

“Don’t just sit down and restaurants and order five Heineken,” he regaling sommeliers warns. “Really push your boundaries.” with the backstories of a variety of It’s also vital to learn to distinguish labels. The hours can also be loopy. the various notes of each brew.

“You work the hours that the “You get a lot more flavours in restaurant works. They can contact you beers than you do in wines, because any time of day, and you have to get beers involve more ingredients,” Jones back to them. You can’t say, ‘No, I’m explains. “You want to be able to try not here.’” and link up those flavours with food.”

As salesmen work on commission, As for salary, those starting out can it’s in their best interests to be on call. expect to earn around £23,000. The best Longley says that a good salesman can way to break into the business, Jones earn as much as six figures says, is to get a job at a craft beer bar. annually.

“That’s a great way to build up some Longley trade experience,” he says. recommends NEXT those starting The wine salesman WEEK out should learn the “Dealing wines can be a surprisingly So hot right ropes at retail physical enterprise,” notes Martin now: start your outlets such Longley, a sales director at Ellis of own pop-up as Oddbins.

Richmond (ellisofrichmond.co.uk),

How did you get into your line of work?

I have always been fascinated by relationships. I realised there were no matchmaking agencies appealing to a younger clientele. I saw there was a gap in the market, and that’s how Mutual Attraction was born.

What do you do day-to-day?

I travel around London meeting new clients, headhunting and following up on dates. Headhunting can mean going to parties, or approaching someone in the street. Anywhere single people are, I need to be.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?

When a couple get together it’s an incredible feeling.

What’s the most challenging part?

Managing clients’ expectations. mutualattraction.co.uk

How to... explain

getting fired

If you spin it right, getting the axe needn’t be a career killer:

• Honesty is the best policy. It’s easy for a prospective employer to check your story, so tell it true.

• Don’t play the blame game.

You can give a neutral answer, such as “We had different management styles”, without pointing the finger.

• Focus on what you learned from the experience. If you prove that it made you grow as a prospective employee, you’ll likely make a good impression.

tntMagazine.com

33

tntjobs.co.uk www.care24seven.com

JOB OF THE WEEK: Live In/Out Carers Location: London Salary: Above average rates depending on experience & qualifications

Recruiting carers within London that have experience and the right attitude towards delivering a high level of service.

You must have: Experience, flexibility. A clear record for CRB check.

Responsibilities: Provide care to the elderly in their own home.

Work within the guidelines of the company policies

CARE24SEVEN T: 020 8912 4642

Please forward a cv to: max@care24seven.com

INTER-COUNTY AMBULANCE SERVICE T: 01753 892999 www.intercountyambulance.com Long established, highly professional private ambulance service. Located just outside the M25, west of London.

SPEEDY PARCEL POST T: 020 7837 6333 www.speedyparcelpost.co.uk We are running a courier agent involved sending parcels all around the world and also doing royal mail postal services, hiring mail boxes for indivuduals and for business customer skills, basic pc skills and english essential.

LEDREBORG ESTATE E: JM@ledreborgslot.dk www.ledreborgslot.dk

JOB OF THE WEEK: Paramedics (NDIP, CCA, HPC) / Emergency Technicians (AEA, IHCD EMT) Location: Buckinghamshire Salary: On Application Full time vacancies for QUALIFIED ambulance staff.

All applicants must be living in the UK and have valid visas to work in the UK. We offer secure employment, good salaries, holiday & sick pay, etc.

Please send your CV to info@intercountyambulance.com.

JOB OF THE WEEK: Courier agency work Location: Kings Cross - London Salary: £15,600 Courier agency work - no qualifications necessary.

Full training provided, basic pc skills and english essential.

We are looking for a hard working person.

Would ideally suit Japanese / Chinese / Korean speaking female.

Muzzy | 0771765239 muzzy@speedyparcelpost.co.uk

JOB OF THE WEEK: Summer job-all round estate help (April-Sept) Location: Near Lejre village, Denmark - direct trains to Copenhagen Salary: Dkr.110/hour (approx.GB£12.50/hr) Lodging available

Ledreborg Estate lies 47 kilometres west of Copenhagen, Denmark. The estate’s main enterprises are arable agriculture, forestry, events, house rentals and a golf course.

All round practical help with park and general estate/building maintenance and events.

You must have a farming/horticultural &/or general building maintenance experience.

Ideal summer job for an Oz/Kiwi on walkabout. EU passport a help regarding work permit.

IMPERIAL COLLEGE

JOB OF THE WEEK: PhD Training in Bioadhesion and Cleanliness in Bioprocessing Location: London Salary: £24k p.a. Equivalent Salary

T: 020 7589 5111 www.imperial.ac.uk Imperial provides world class scholarship, education and research in science, engineering, management and medicine.

Send a brief description of yourself and work experiences to John Munro, JM@ledreborgslot.dk

Applications are invited from students with an appropriate background in chemical or biochemical engineering, or a bio-physics or biochemistry with an interest/aptitude for experimental research. Candidates must have received at least a 2:1 in their first degree.This 48 month studentship covers all associated research costs and an annual tax-free stipend of £18,000 p.a.

Please send your CV to d.r.williams@imperial.ac.uk

SILVERBACK EVENTS T: 0844 5617939 T: 07595021939 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 (All Areas) 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

Looking for your next job?

NEW JOBS ONLINE EVERY DAY To advertise your job of the week contact Jaqui Ward | 020 3137 5950 | jaqui.ward@tntmultimedia.com

TNT_1538_JOTW.indd 34

JOBS 15/02/2013 16:55:38

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cash-SAVING TIPS

how you spend it!

Xxxxxxxxx

Dani Geraci, 20

Burger on the house Get a free burger when xxxxxxxxx you order a pint from Xxxxxxxxxxx any number of local pubs. Simply register at xxxxxxxxx localpuboffers.co.uk to get Xxxxxxxxxxx a voucher for a gratis cowpatty. The offer is good xxxxxxxxx for over-18s only, and is Xxxxxxxxxxx valid through to March 31.

Visit the website for a list xxxxxxxxx of participating venues.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

Photos: Getty

pizza for the people Want to save some dough?

Head to Pizza Express between Fri and Sun, and chow down on three courses for just £12.95.

Go to pizzaexpress.com to print out the necessary voucher, and to check out the terms and conditions (such as that the Romana base requires a £1.55 upgrade). The deal is running until March 9. cheap as chips Yates is giving out vouchers for a free cheeseburger and chips, provided you buy one drink first. To get your free meal, just visit weareyates.co.uk, and join their online mailing list (we think a free meal just might be worth a lifetime of spam). The offer expires March 31.

Job Student From Wolverhampton Lives Spitalfields How do you budget?

I try and put half of what I make into another bank account so I don’t spend it.

Do you have any tips for saving money in London?

Try not to buy lunch. It can cost up to £10 for one meal.

Your last big blow-out?

Probably this coat.

What non-essential items do you spend money on?

Starbucks.

how THEY spend it!

Charge it to the room Lady Gaga’s former aide says the superstar’s so lavish, she booked an extra room at the Trump SoHo in NYC to use as a closet. Rooms at the Trump SoHo start at £238 per night.

❚ After Jennifer Aniston sold her LA digs back in July 2011, she supposedly splashed out £38,000 for a three-month stint at Hollywood’s Sunset Tower Hotel, where she resided with her actor hubby-to-be Justin Theroux. ❚ Last year, Lindsay Lohan Lady Gaga: Poker face?

More like closet space

is said to have racked up a £29,000 bill at LA’s

Chateau Marmont. The tab apparently included £2000 spent at the mini-bar.

❚ In 2011, Charlie Sheen spent a weekend with adult actress Bree Olson in a £25,000 per night Las Vegas suite. ❚ Beyoncé and hubby Jay-Z stayed at a £12,000 per night, two-storey penthouse suite in Paris in 2011. Nice.

Need to send money between UK and home? r Cheapee than th banks*

*Source: 1st Contact survey of UK high street bank charges, April 2008.

0870-898 8996 tntforex.com tntMagazine.com

35

WORLDVIEW

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Shocker: mighty pricey ‘mite

*gasp* vegemite cheaper in UK australia

Aussies are paying through the nose for their Vegemite fix. Jars are selling up to 40 per cent cheaper in the UK than Down Under at £1.97 at ASDA, compared to £2.78 at Coles.

A survey revealed the results, surprising as the breakfast spread is produced in Australia. A spokesman for Kraft Food blamed the Aussie dollar appreciating against the pound.

“Given the long shelf life and iconic nature of Vegemite, it is always in demand overseas so we often see bulk purchases when there are currency dips,” she said. tweets of the week @pornokitsch If we cull foxes, what guarantees do we have they won’t end up in our lasagna?

Say cheese: prime minister John Key poses for a pic at the Big Gay Out at Coyle Park in Auckland, New Zealand. It’s the largest annual gay and lesbian festival in NZ

@AngryBritain I just cooked myself a horse burger. It’s a bute. @ThePoke Boris Johnson to personally cull 5000 foxes with a brick

chopper sent for man late for work new zealand

Emergency services have been left fuming after a hiker activated his crisis beacon in the South Island because he was running late for work and wanted a lift to his car.

A rescue helicopter was dispatched to his location at a cost to the New Zealand taxpayer of nearly £5500.

The helicopter’s crew were irate to find the hiker, in his 60s, wasn’t in any danger.

Maritime New Zealand’s Nigel Clifford said it was being decided whether to press charges against the man. “The helicopter 36

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was tied up for two-and-a-half hours,” he said. “That aircraft was unavailable for any other genuine emergency that may have arisen.”

Penalties for the misuse of beacons can range from a formal warning, to infringement notice penalty of $NZ250 and prosecution, which carries a maximum fine of $NZ30,000.

so long, lolong.

You were so long philipPines

The largest crocodile in captivity has died. The one-tonne, 21-foot reptile, called Lolong, was captured by locals in Bunawan in 2011.

The beast soon became a tourist attraction and in 2011,

Guiness World Records declared him the longest crocodile in captivity at 6.17m-long and 1.075 kg.

Bunawan mayor Edwin Cox Elorde said Lolong had been sick for weeks.

“He refused to eat since last month and we noticed a change in the colour of his faeces,” he said. “Our personnel also noticed an unusual ballooning of the reptile’s belly.”

There are reports that Lolong became ill after swallowing a nylon cord. An official autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.

Local residents plan to hold a funeral for the crocodile and then preserve its remains in a museum.

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THIS WEEK

IN NUMBERS 45

Time, in seconds, an owner and his dog spent kissing to win the US’s Valentine’s Canine Kissing Contest

Average amount, in pounds, men spent on their partners on Valentine’s Day. Who said romance was dead?

“Onions ... garlic ... “

20

COUPLES GO FOR RECORD KISS

39.57

Per cent of Brits who admit sex is the only exercise they get in an average week, according to a study

THAILAND

Fourteen lip-locked couples have taken part in a Valentine’s Day contest for the longest kiss in Thailand.

Though half have dropped out, seven pairs were still standing after 33 hours, chasing the 50 hours, 25 mins, and one second record.

“They couldn’t do this unless they love each other. The smell of their breath would probably be quite something,” said Somporn Naksuetrong of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! in Pattaya, Thailand.

Competitors are allowed to eat, drink, and use the loo, so long as they keep smooching. The winners get a diamond ring worth £1016 and £2032 cash.

VIRAL HARLEM SHAKE BEGAN DOWN UNDER

Photos: Getty; AAP

AUSTRALIA

The viral online ‘Harlem Shake’ sensation that’s had more than 20 million YouTube hits and hundreds of imitators started in the bedroom of a teenager in Queensland.

Five lads created the clip while kept indoors as recent storms battered Oz. Corey Walsh, 15, who’s the one wearing the helmet who kicks off the craziness, said he was surprised their mucking about was becoming the next Gangnam Style.

“It’s pretty crazy, I didn’t think anyone would care at all,” he said of the clip done

Amount, in pounds, found stuffed inside a sofa by charity workers who handed it back to owner in Hertfordshire

9,000

Harlem video: shake it baby to Baauer’s tune. “Some of the groups like the US army doing it, it’s pretty crazy the way it’s taken off.” To watch the video see tntmagazine.com.

WOMAN DIES FROM TOO MUCH COKE NEW ZEALAND

A New Zealand woman has died after consuming an incredible 10 litres of her Coca-Cola every day, according to a coroner’s report.

Mother of eight Natasha Harris, 30, suffered a heart attack as a result of consuming massive amounts of caffeine and sugar. “She would get moody and get headaches if she didn’t have any Coke and also feel low in energy,” said her partner Christopher Hodgkinson.

Coroner David Crerar concluded Coke addiction combined with poor nutrition was the main culprit for Harris’s death.

Coca-Cola said: “The Coroner acknowledged that he could not be certain what caused Ms Harris’ heart attack.”

QUOTE OF THE WEEK I don’t feel like I have to please anyone.

I feel free. I feel like I am an adult. I’ve grown. I can do what I want.

I can say what I want Beyoncé proves she’s in charge ... but not when she’s requesting websites remove dodgy photos of her performing

This week we’ve been breaking all the latest from an astounding week of news, from the Oscar Pistorius shooting to the Kate Middleton pregnant bikini photos scandal and all the latest horsemeat revelations. Get the freshest headlines

that matter at tntmagazine.com

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BORIS DECLARES WAR ON LONDON’S URBAN FOXES

Followers of our Facebook page reacted furiously to suggestions of a cull to tackle ‘growing menace’

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FIND OUT ABOUT THE BRILLIANT SEMINAR SPEAKERS LINED UP FOR MARCH’S TNT TRAVEL SHOW

CUTE AS PIE LEGLESS PIGLET BRINGS JOY TO THE WORLD

Chris P. Bacon, the adorable piglet in a wheelchair, has captured the hearts and minds of our readers this week

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London’s largest free travel show will be a two-day extravaganza on March 9-10. Don’t miss the experts lined up to inspire you SEE KINGS OF LEON AND GREEN DAY AT BILBAO BBK LIVE

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Include the phrase “I never knew a festival …”

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MAGAZINE.COM TNT_1538_038 38

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TNT puts the world to rights

OURVIEW

COMMENT: ALASDAIR MORTON alasdair.morton@tntmagazine.com

Take it off: Page 3’s boobie pic, that is

Page 3’s topless tits have no place in Brits’ top read

Photo: Getty

Murdoch’s pondering a shake up of The Sun, but why the wait?

Rupert Murdoch might be about the call time on The Sun’s longstanding topless women on page three. But rather than praising this decision as a move forward, we should first of all be asking why such a chauvinistic, misogynistic ‘tradition’ was still even going at all.

Campaigner Karen Mason tweeted the News International head last week calling Page 3 “so last century”, to which the Australian responded she “maybe right, don’t know but considering”, suggesting he could be about to say goodbye to the boobs.

Topless titties in Brits’ most widely sold morning read – Page 3 has been going for more than 40 years, and despite campaigns like Turn Your Back On Page 3, it has gone about its business with little protest. When it was introduced in 1970, attitudes towards women were different, but things have moved on slightly since. It’s insulting, degrading and perpetuates the view of women as sex objects for generations to come.

There are those who dismiss it as harmless fun, but this is akin to sticking your head in the sand and saying you don’t have an opinion. Just ignoring something doesn’t make it go away – turning a blind eye is not a responsible response. Page 3 is neither harmless nor fun. Its danger has long been its trivialising of an important issue.

And those who argue it’s actually about female empowerment are misguided and dishonest. The women posing get paid handsomely, and no one makes them strip in the first place – it is their choice and they’re free to make it. But anyone who suggests it’s furthering the attitudes towards women in the minds of those who buy The Sun are only fooling themselves.

It’s not a matter of taste, it is archaic, patriarchal nonsense that has absolutely no place in the 21st century. So come on Murdoch, stop thinking about maybe making a decision about something that should have been binned years ago. » Agree or disagree? Should The Sun’s Page 3 be binned? letters@tntmagazine.com

WANNA BUY CRAP, YOU’LL GET HORSE The horsemeat scandal gallops on, with new suppliers, supermarkets and dodgy food products entering the fray seemingly day-by-day. But, as I was brought up to understand, it’s a simple matter of getting what you pay for.

Which is not to say that mass fraud on an international scale that has put the lives of millions of people at risk is anything to be sniffed at. It is shocking, truly, and those responsible should be, and hopefully will be, held accountable. It’s just that if you pay 79p for a pack of burgers then you can safely assume you’re not getting the best end cut of an organic, A-grade cow.

“

Pay 79p for meat, it won’t be grade A

”

Sure, it’s turned out you’re not actually getting cow at all in some cases (Tesco’s spaghetti bolognese could be up to 100 per cent equine). But when buying ‘value’ products you are entering into a certain buyers’ agreement about the quality of the food you plan to ingest – if you buy crap, then that is exactly what you get.

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Blade gunner As Oscar Pistorius is charged with murder, TNT looks at South Africa’s gun laws WORDS CAROL DRIVER

Oscar Pistorius made no secret of the fact he owned guns.

Last summer he told how he slept with a pistol next to his bed and a machine gun by the window, as well as having cricket and baseball bats behind the door. When a Daily Mail reporter spent time with the South African, nicknamed Blade Runner, in 2011, the weapons were out on display. Asked what they were for, Pistorius replied: “Protection, brother.

You can have all the guards in the world at the gate, but the problem is when they are in on the robbery.” He added: “It’s usually safe in the guarded estates until that happens.”

Pistorius, 26, was referring to Silver Lakes where he lives in the hills above Pretoria, a luxury complex protected by a three-metre-high wall, an electric fence and guards on patrol. It was the same house in which police officers found the body of the sprint runner’s girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp on Thursday morning. The 29-year-old model and law school graduate, who had been dating Pistorius since November last year, had been shot four times in the head, chest and hand.

Neighbours reported hearing screams and gunshots at around 3am, so they called the police, who arrested the Paralympian star, charging him with murder in a story which has shocked South Africa and admirers abroad.

Pistorius became a national hero, a sports icon for triumphing over disabilities. Born without a fibula in both legs, he became the first double leg amputee to compete with able-bodied athletes at the Olympics, reaching the 400-metre semi-finals in London last year. He won two gold medals in the Paralympics, but also suffered his first loss over 200 metres in nine years. It prompted a shocking outburst, questioning the legitimacy of Brazilian winner Alan Oliveira’s blades, accusing him of cheating, for which he later apologised.

As the news broke of the shooting, it was reported Pistorius had mistaken Steenkamp for an intruder, a Valentine’s Day surprise gone horrendously wrong. But police quickly distanced themselves from this, revealing 40

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officers had previously been called to the address for “domestic incidents”. A neighbour, who didn’t want to be named, said: “It is difficult to imagine an intruder entering this community, but we live in a country where intruders can get in wherever they want to.”

As the world waits for Pistorius to reappear before Pretoria magistrates’ court, scheduled for Tuesday, more of the athlete’s darker side came to light – a picture emerged of a man who lived dangerously, who was fascinated with guns and enjoyed a playboy lifestyle. His ex-girlfriend Samantha Taylor once said the public didn’t know Pistorius

“

Laws have made guns more desirable

”

as well as they thought, adding: “Oscar is certainly not what people think he is.”

When a New York Times reporter visited him for a feature two years ago, Pistorius took him to the shooting range.

Asked how often he went target shooting, the sprinter admitted: “Just sometimes when I can’t sleep.”

In a message posted on Twitter in November 2012, Pistorius wrote: “Nothing like getting home to hear the washing machine on and thinking its an intruder to go into full combat recon mode into the pantry! waa.”

Pistorius, who was listed by Time magazine among the world’s 100 most-influential people in 2012, was arrested in 2009 for assaulting a woman, but was never charged. Last year, it was reported he had threatened to break the legs of a man he thought had slept with his girlfriend.

“He’s very quiet and very modest but he’s a big party

TNTMAGAZINE.COM

15/02/2013 17:09:24

Photos: Getty; AAP

Murder charge: (clockwise from left) Pistorius leaving Boschkop police station on February 14, 2013; with Reeva Steenkamp; competing in the 2012 Olympics; outside Pistorius’s house

animal,” a top SA runner who knows Pistorius but didn’t want to be named, told Reuters. “I’ve been with him when we’ve been smashed and he never seemed violent.”

Pistorius certainly wasn’t considered unusual for keeping weapons for protection in South Africa. And, as well as the spotlight falling on the Paralympian, it’s also shining heavily on the country’s gun laws. According to the SA Gunowners’ Association, there are about 2.5 million legal gun owners in the country – about one in 20 people – with estimates of up to six million unlicensed weapons. Spokesman Martin Hood told C4 News: “The teething problems in our democracy at this stage means unfortunately we just have a very high level of violent crime. The slight majority of people who own firearms own them for self-defence.”

United Nations figures for 2010, the latest year available, reveal 15,940 people were murdered in South Africa, the equivalent of about 40 people every day. And the country has the 12th-highest total number of fatal shootings in the world, outranked only by the likes of Mexico and the US. However, far from being straight-forward to buy a gun licence, it’s considered less complicated to get one in the UK after dramatic changes in 2000 as the SA government cracked down on weapons post-apartheid. But Guy Lamb, of the Safety and Violence Initiative at the University of Cape Town, told the Telegraph stricter laws had made the weapons more desirable to steal. “You could acquire a firearm to protect yourself, but you could also become a target because your firearm is a wanted commodity.”

As Pistorius appeared in court on Friday, denying the charges in the “strongest terms”, Steven Ungerleider, a sports psychologist from Oregon, said: “Sometimes, you think you kind of know where people are, then all of a sudden that perception goes. I’m shocked and sad.” But whether the latest shooting will push SA to focus on the violence rife in its country, and its gun laws, remains to be seen.

‘bullet in the chamber’ Pistorius ads pulled Sponsors have pulled down billboards bearing Oscar Pistorius’s image after the runner was charged with murder. The campaigns included an online Nike advert featuring on Pistorius’s website showing him with the words, “I am the bullet in the chamber”.

The sports giant declined to say whether the relationship with Pistorius would continue, with Nike South Africa spokesperson Seruscka Naidoo adding: “It’s a matter that’s being investigated.”

The world’s most famous Paralympian also had links with BT, sunglasses maker Oakley, Thierry Mugler fragrances and running blade manufacturer Ossur in deals worth about £2m a year.

M-Net, a pay-for TV channel across SA, has pulled a campaign featuring the Paralympian “out of respect” to Reeva Steenkamp’s family. It included billboards publicising the latest Hollywood movies.

tntMagazine.com

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Coach clash: Gatland and Lancaster

england’s lions to be picked ‘on merit’ rugby union

Following a chat with Stuart Lancaster, British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland did half a backflip after saying he’d avoid picking too many England players due to the media pressure which comes with their inclusion.

The England coach has now been assured by Gatland that his squad to tour Australia will be selected on “merit alone”.

“I had a good chat with him and he reassured me all English players would be picked on merit, which is clearly the way it should be,” Lancaster told Sky Sports.

bumble says aussies could rumble india cricket

Michael Clarke’s Australian team isn’t striking fear into anyone at the moment, but they should be confident against India in the Test series starting this week in Chennai, neutral England legend Geoff Boycott said. “[Australia] will fancy that if they play well, they can [win], because they know India are not strong,” Boycott told ESPN Cricinfo ahead of the first Test starting at 3.55am on Friday on Sky Sports 1.

It was once called “the final frontier” it was so tough for touring sides, with spinning wickets and a tough home nation, but after a recent loss to England, it’s prime time for the Aussies to pounce.

“The way India played against England was pathetic at times,” Boycott unleashed.

“Any team will come to India at the moment, and think, ‘We have a chance.

India are not as great as they used to be at home. Look how they bowled against England. My mum could have batted against some of them.’”

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The wheels are a bit irrelevant at this stage of Chad Kagy’s BMX stunt, performed during a Nitro Circus Live bonanza at Westpac Stadium in Wellington, NZ, last week

baa-baas and fiji set for twickenham rugby union

The Barbarians invitational side will take on Fiji at Twickenham next season on November 30 in a rematch of a famous clash in 1970 in which Fiji upset a star-studded Baa-baas line-up 29-9.

Both the Barbarians and Fijians are notorious for their exciting brand of rugby.

Barbarians’ president Micky SteeleBodger said: “The Barbarians have always had a special affection for Fiji’s rugby and its players. Last year Isa Nacewa and Akapusi Qera were very popular Baa-baas and wore our shirt with distinction.” The side will be picked closer to the date.

Adult tickets are £20 each but there’s a two-for-one deal via ticketmaster.co.uk.

BIG WEEK FOR ...

Just about everyone – including TNT – had France as contenders for this year’s Six Nations and this week’s clash against England at Twickenham (Saturday, 5pm, BBC) pencilled in as a potential decider.

Now Thierry Dusautoir’s men are in face-saving mode after losses to Italy and then Wales. They’re notoriously rubbish away from Paris, too, but this will be a dangerous one for England and their Grand Slam hopes – as someone sort of said, beware the wounded frog.

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QUOTES OF THE WEEK A freckled demon, built like a barrel packed with gunpowder, on its way to Madrid to try to blow up the Bernabeu Spanish newspaper Marca on Wayne Rooney before the draw with Real Madrid

Maybe it’s our time to do a bit of bullying ourselves

Axis of awesome: key Storm trio Cronk, Smith and Slater

PREVIEW

Keeper Matt Prior is already laying down the gauntlet ahead of the Ashes this year

STORM WILL NEED TO BE READY FOR SIN LEEDS RHINOS V MELBOURNE STORM

FRI, 7.30PM, SKY SPORTS 1 It’s a rare day when a team boasting three of the world’s best as its axis – halfback Cooper Cronk, hooker Cameron Smith and fullback Billy Slater – are legitimately considered the underdogs, but in this World Club Challenge Leeds are proper favourites.

The Yorkshire-based Super League champs have won this match two years running and been England’s representative in all but one since 2008, such is their

dominance of the game in this country.

It comes at an awkward time for the Aussie team, during the final stages of the pre-season while the Super League side is usually cobweb-free after three matches.

But anyone who says they don’t take it seriously isn’t mistaken. Melbourne’s taken every measure to avoid jetlag, the 21-man squad arriving almost a fortnight prior.

They’ll be keen to keep world player of the year Kevin Sinfield quiet. When the Rhinos’ captain and lock won the award it raised some eyebrows in Oz, and he’ll be fired up to prove he deserved it.

THE CHAT | The past can’t save wrestling

At least we know one team is not on drugs An Australian ‘fan’ takes a shot at an insipid T20 effort against the West Indies

A clear fluid came out.

It wasn’t the prettiest thing I’ve done, but I had to get as much of it out of me as possible Swedish golfer Daniela Holmqvist on getting black widow spider venom out of her own leg with a tee and a squeeze

TV HIGHLIGHTS

Photo: Getty

FOOTBALL Wrestling’s being dumped from the Olympics?

Q I didn’t realise it was still in the Games …

It’s true, and sad, for historians at least. Last week the A International Olympic Committee was criticised for its plan to take wrestling out from the 2020 Games. It’s not a done deal, as the decision must be ratified at a meeting in September, where the Games’ host – Istanbul, Madrid or Tokyo – will also be decided. A review was done of all Olympic sports, taking into account each based on such things as TV ratings, ticket sales, anti-doping and global popularity. Sadly for wrestling, the biggest thing it has going for it is in the past – apart from Paris in 1900, the sport popular in US colleges has been part of every Modern Games since the first in 1896.

AC Milan v Barcelona Champions League clash of the titans Weds, 7pm, Sky Sports 2

FOOTBALL Manchester City v Chelsea Two EPL giants we love to hate Sun, 1.30pm, Sky Sports 1

RUGBY UNION Wrestling’s being decked

Scotland v Ireland Six Nations round three Sun, 2pm, BBC One TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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‘Good’ news story Aussie teen Curtis Good’s road to Wembley almost matches Bradford City’s fairytale Cup run … almost WORDS MICHAEL GADD There are fairytales in sport, and then there is the story of Curtis Good, an Australian teenager who in his first year as a professional footballer overseas will play in a Cup final at Wembley – that it will be for League Two side Bradford City against Swansea City in the Capital One Cup was for no one to predict, least of all the quietly spoken Melbourne lad.

Two years ago, Good was completing a transformation from a midfielder to a defender at the Australian Institute of Sport. Last year, he was impressing in his debut season of the Hyundai A-League for the Melbourne Heart. This Sunday, he plays at what is for most Aussie football fans, let alone players, a mystical place where dreams are made.

“I didn’t expect this at all, it’s all pretty amazing,” says Good, who is on loan from Premier League club Newcastle United where he signed a six-year deal last year before being loaned to nearby Bradford for on-field experience. “There are players, amazing players, who can go their entire career without playing at Wembley. I’m pretty sure this will be one of those things where you don’t realise how much it means until it’s over. But seeing how much it means to some of the players [at Bradford], it’s no mystery that it’s big.”

When history boys Bradford take on Swansea they will be the first fourth-tier side to play in a Cup final in 51 years. Of course, they did it the hardest way possible. A tight 1-0 win over League One’s Notts County, then 2-1 at Championship side Watford and a 115th-minute extra time winner against fellow League Two side Burton Albion got them to the fourth round and Premier League opposition. They took Wigan to penalties before Good joined the club.

He had a front row seat from the bench for his new side’s victory over giants Arsenal, who they matched for 120 minutes and took to penalties, then with cool heads won their ninth consecutive shoot-out, a record.

So a guy from Melbourne, signed to Newcastle United, made his debut on a teamsheet against a Premier League 44

TNT_1538_044 44

side for Bradford against Arsenal. It’s hardly as heartwarming as goal scoring hero Jim Hanson, who made more as a shelf stacker than he does for the Bantams, or now superstar goalkeeper Matt Duke, who’s happy to be alive after surviving cancer before this magic ride. From a football perspective, though, it’s worth Good pinching himself a bit.

But he didn’t come to England to sit on the bench and his

“

I’m sure this will all sink in when it’s over

”

Cup chance came against another Premier League side, Aston Villa, in the home and away semi-final fixtures. He started in both due to an injury to another Australian, James Meredith.

“Wherever you come from, you have to earn your spot,” Good says. “I didn’t play straight up, but the opportunity came up to play left-back when James got hurt.”

Stronger on his left side, Good was predominantly a centrehalf in his 25 appearances for the Heart before being snapped up by Newcastle, but playing out of position is no bother. “I’ll play where the manager puts me, and it’s good, the more positions you play the better you are for the team,” he says.

His debut against Premier League opposition, including the handful of a striker Christian Benteke, would be on Bradford’s patch at Valley Parade, a humble ground to say the least. But the Bantams were well beyond their apparent station, certainly not like a League Two side, outplaying a top-flight team and taking a 3-1 lead to the return leg at Villa Park. Good started there too – his first run on an EPL ground.

“I’d been involved in some 11 v 11 with the Newcastle firsts team, but never been involved in a game like that,”

TNTMAGAZINE.COM

15/02/2013 17:05:04

Early riser: Curtis Good in action for A-League club Heart and (left) the Australia under-19s

Photos: Getty

Good recalls of going to Birmingham to defend an inevitable onslaught from a team desperate to save face. “It was a nervous experience at the start, but I settled quickly and really enjoyed it,” he says. “You don’t really think about it – it all goes so quick. You just think about what you’ve got to do and after the game you can let it sink in.”

Not long after that match, Good’s loan stint was extended until the end of March, meaning he’d stay at the club to take on Swansea, who beat defending champions Liverpool and Chelsea on their way to Wembley.

Far from waxing lyrical with such a massive occasion imminent, Good was last week focused on Bradford’s league fortunes, which have lapsed since their Cup storybook opened. In fact, it will be a relief of sorts for the 10th-placed team when the hoopla’s over.

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s a big moment up here, but unfortunately our league form’s taken a dip, so after the final we can put all of our focus into that. We’re a better team than where we are on the table, that’s for sure.”

Before the weekend, manager Phil Parkinson was saying the Bantams’ eyes were only on Wimbledon (who they played in the league on Saturday), not Wembley, and it’s brushed off on his players. But that will have changed now the next match in their schedule is in HA9. And even as a newcomer, Good has a sense of what this week will be like.

“After the game at Villa, I looked over to see a bloke like Gary Jones (Bradford’s captain and midfield workhorse) sort of crying, and it hit home how big this is,” he says.

“It’s a tricky situation, but even though it’s early in my career, you can’t forget about these sorts of moments. This is amazing for the club and the city and the fans, and who knows when it’ll happen again. So we’ve got to enjoy it.”

Capital One Cup Final: Bradford City v Swansea City, Sunday, February 24, 3.30pm, Wembley Stadium, Sky Sports 1

Dream run: Bradford beat Aston Villa in the Cup; and (above) Good and Rory McArdle

On fire: Michu celebrates another goal for Swansea

bantams look up and see high-flying swans Far from a Premier League glamour club, Swansea City tend to do their fancy talking with a fluent passing style on the pitch. Still, by comparison, their League Two counterparts in the Capital One Cup final are paupers.

The Swans’ star striker Michu was snapped up for a bargain £2m, and is the buy of the year, but the Bantams entire squad was put together for £7500.

While Michael Laudrup’s Swansea swanned about in Dubai for a warm-weather training camp between their 4-1 win over Queens Park Rangers and the weekend’s visit to Liverpool (eight days apart), their opponents were battling to breach a five-point gap between them and promotion play-offs – three days between their Gillingham loss and win over Wycombe, then four before Saturday’s trip to Wimbledon. It’s David versus Goliath’s little brother, and good for football, says Bantams manager Phil Parkinson: “These competitions are normally always won by the big teams … we’ll go there as underdogs and we will definitely enjoy it.”

tntMagazine.com

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SPORTVIEW

TNT puts the world to rights

COMMENT: MICHAEL GADD michael.gadd@tntmagazine.com

India refuse DRS but you know who’ll scream loudest Prepare for a loud Test series with plenty of heat on umpires

» Agree or disagree? Is India out of order refusing to use the DRS? letters@tntmagazine.com 46

TNT_1538_046 46

Sonny Bill Williams peacocked into Sydney Roosters HQ last week after nearly getting his block knocked off in the 12th round after dominating an overweight, ageing prize fighter.

Good for him. Sonny Bill has every right to be cocky, having fought and beaten everyone he’s got in the ring with, and regardless of accusations of shenanigans, he’s a supreme athlete. Then there’s his impressive move to rugby union which ended in making the best team in the world, the All Blacks. But now he’s back

“

Sonny Bill has every right to be cocky

”

in rugby league I don’t think things will be quite so cruisy for the bloke who deserted Bulldogs so spectacularly – he will have nowhere to hide in 26 weeks of the most brutal sport of all of those he’s excelled at.

He’ll be a target of the South Sydney Rabbitohs when he lines up in the season opener at Allianz Stadium on March 7 and every team he faces after that. Now we’ll find out what he’s really made of.

Photos: Getty

What do the three above images have in common? Yes, they’re all Indian bowlers appealing to the umpire to give a batsman out. Another common denominator is the umpire in every case gave the answer of not out, and there wasn’t a damn thing their captain MS Dhoni could do about it.

India are the only nation in the world who refuse the use of the Umpire Decision Review System, which the International Cricket Council says has increased the accuracy of decisionmaking in top-class cricket from 92 per cent to 96 per cent. The logic of N. Srinivasan, the head of the Board of Control for Cricket, in going against the crowd is baffling.

While the DRS isn’t perfect, it’s a force for good, there to stop howlers, the decisions where a batsman hits the cover off a ball and gets given out LBW or gets collected on the toe in front of middle and off peg and given not out. It’s no slight on umpires, who we find are right more often than wrong when their decision is reviewed. But who wouldn’t want to prevent those big cock-ups from being a thing of the past? Well, India.

This means the Test series against Australia starting this week could be decided by officials’ stuff-ups. I also reckon India like their chances of getting under the skin of umpires Dharmasena and Erasmus and jagging a call in their favour (I wouldn’t dare suggest a lack of video referral increases the risk of match fixing, though). Watching India, I can’t help but think they appeal more and louder than other nations (Australia are no angels here, either).

But with DRS, it would be reduced hugely. If you don’t like what the umpire says, you can go upstairs to challenge it – and you’re allowed to be wrong twice. Couldn’t be fairer. If I was running the ICC – contact me at the email below – I’d take this further. If a team carried on with a massive appeal (and there’s nothing wrong with appealing as a batsman can’t be given out without one), and doesn’t review it, they should be punished heavily for appealing when they didn’t think it was out. That would shut ‘em up.

TOUGHEST TEST TO COME FOR SBW

TNTMAGAZINE.COM

15/02/2013 17:08:24

St Patrick’s Day

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Date: Sunday 17th March 2013 Venue: Elk Bar, Fulham Time: 12noon till 12 Midnight Tickets: Free Entry Pre register: to claim a free Elk Irish Punch before 2pm

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TRAVEL LATE DEALS | HOTSHOTS | TRAVEL TIPS | TOP FIVE | TOURS | BIG TRIP IMAGE OF THE WEEK

THE GREEN LIGHT A dancer performs in the Sambadrome as part of Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival, which set the city alight last week.

Photos: David Andre; Getty

INSIDE

THE HIGH LIFE /52

POWDER PERFECT /64

PICK A PARADISE /68

A road trip through the Highlands – the perfect way to learn about whisky and Scotland’s ‘real’ Braveheart.

It’s two ski trips in one as we tackle – and get decked by – the best of the French Alps at Espace Killy and Les Trois Vallées.

Whether you want a wild night raving on the sands, beach sports galore or just a swaying hammock, head to Thailand’s islands.

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TRAVELDIARY Helen Elfer TRAVEL EDITOR

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Real Halloween: join in a black mass at Catemaco

TRAVELLING SOLO Should women travel by themselves?

There has been a colossal amount of noise created about this issue over the past week, so much so you’d be forgiven for thinking it was 1928 and we were talking about getting the vote. We did win that one, didn’t we?

Sometimes it’s hard to tell.

On the side of the naysayers, there’s the sad story of New Yorker Sarai Sierra, who was murdered in Istanbul on the last day of her threeweek (solo) holiday.

But bizarrely, many people’s reactions indicated they were as riled by the fact she was in Istanbul by herself as they were about the fact she was killed. A comment left on nbcnews.com said: “A single woman travelling alone is risky. In a foreign country, it is downright foolish.” Unsurprisingly this attitude was echoed by numerous Daily Mail readers.“Sorry about her death, but a woman travelling alone in a less-than-friendly-to-women country is just reckless,” wrote one less-than-sympathetic commenter.

Anyone who says it’s not safe for women to travel alone is trotting out a nasty combo of thinly disguised sexism (women need someone to look after them at all times) and plain old xenophobia (those foreign barbarians are the ones that rape and murder).

I won’t go over obvious reasons why travelling alone can be an absolute blast, whether you’re male or female. You already know them. But if you do fancy a cheering reminder of just how many people are in favour of women travelling freely, take a look at the #wegosolo hashtag on Twitter. Here you’ll find links to a super collection of blogs, tips and opinion pieces on the topic.

Agree or disagree? Is it dangerous to travel

Imagine if Halloween wasn’t just a big excuse to party and dress up, but was, well, real. That should give you some idea of the vibe 1-2 of Noche de Brujas. Each year hundreds of shamans, witches and spiritual healers descend on the Catemaco to perform a mass cleansing ritual, which is supposed to get rid of all the previous year’s bad energy.

MARCH

WHY: Witchcraft in this region of Mexico dates back centuries, but it was only in 1970 that a shaman launched this supernatural get-together. The event has since become a bit of a tourist trap and visitors will be pulled in every direction to be sold amulets or have their fortune told at considerable expense.

VASALOPPET Sweden

This highly ambitious 90km race across the vast slopes 3 of north-western Dalarna, is the oldest, longest and biggest cross-country skiing race in the world.

Every year 15,800 skiers travel on the same course while 1.8 million come out to watch this spectacular.

MARCH

vasaloppet.se

SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST

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catemaco.info

BOOKWORM LIT FEST

China

Unite with fellow literature lovers at this international 8-22 festival. Every year, Beijing’s adored Bookworm bookshop becomes a centre for workshops, debates and talks from writers and fans of wordsmithery.

MARCH

bookwormfestival.com

DEAD RAT’S BALL

Belgium

US

Part carnival, part pubcrawl, the Dead Rat’s Ball 8-17 is now in its 115th year. The event began when 16 drunk Belgian men decided to make one last stop at a small dive called the “Le Cafe du Rat Mort” and had such a blast they decided to recreate the fun every year.

MARCH

A music and film festival that sprawls across Texas, 8-17 with the HQ in Austin, SXSW puts on 10 days of live performances with more than 1200 acts. Shows and movies take place everywhere from grocery stores to the airport.

MARCH

sxsw.com

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DO IT BECAUSE: Whether you fancy yourself as mystic or not, you can still dive into the festivities – after all, Catemaco is known as the capital of witchcraft. So visit a ‘bruja’ (witch), join a black mass and try your hand at casting a spell or two.

eng.ratmort.be

Photo: Getty

solo? Email helenelfer@tntmagazine.com

NIGHT OF THE WITCHES Mexico

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missing: photos An internet campaign has reunited a backpacker with her lost holiday snapshots. Catriona Bowman, 22, went on a European jaunt with her friend last summer, but left a camera memory card with more than 300 pictures of their trip in an Amsterdam bar. The tiny card was later found at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport by Dutchman Peter van Leeuwen, who launched a social media campaign to find her. He posted a montage of some of her snapshots on YouTube, and eventually Catriona heard about it. “We are truly grateful to Peter for going to so much effort to track us down. The pictures hold so many amazing memories for us,” she said.

Photo: YouTube

100 mile run Some people consider completing a bogstandard 26 mile (42.195km) marathon a pretty decent achievement, but the folks at 100 Mile Run are up for going one better – or actually, almost four times better. They’ve launched a long distance event that’s going to take place in the first week of August in which runners will cover a trainer-knackering, ligament-wearing 100 miles over a four-day period. This ‘ultra-marathon’ will take place along the Cotswold Way trail in Gloucestershire.

Are you crackers enough to attempt it? If so, go to 100milerun.com to find out more.

Happy snaps: a YouTube campaign reunited Catriona with her photos

Hammered ba staff? ”They were running down the aisles, falling over and disturbing passengers.” Would you believe that’s a description of off-duty staff on board a British Airways flight from London to Washington, given by a passenger? According to The Sun, the usually oh-so-formal crew ran amok after downing bottles of champagne and red wine. When the working cabin crew refused to serve them more drinks, they allegedly started shouting and screaming, disturbing passengers who were trying to sleep on the flight. A BA spokesman said: “We’re investigating this incident and will take any appropriate action.”

World record drive A pair of Brits have smashed a world record after driving 16,576km from Cape Town to London in a rather speedy 10-and-a-half days.

Philip Young and Paul Brace beat the previous record for the quickest completion of the route by more than three days. They drove across 13 countries, including some volatile ones such as Libya and Sudan. Young, who is chairman of the Endurance Rally Association, said: “It has been one hell of an experience – tough and, at times, extremely gruelling. We have been effectively living in the car … The thought of reaching Marble Arch has kept us going.”

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Serene: the tranquil Loch Lomond

Highlands scotland

GETTING THERE Fly from London Gatwick to Edinburgh from £58 return with easyJet. easyjet.com scotland

EDINBURGH

Nature’s finest: taking a Perthshire woodland walk

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Hero? A Robert the Bruce tribute

Whisky gets you wild (above left)

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15/02/2013 11:12:22

UKTRIP

Living the high life

A Highlands road trip: the perfect way to learn about whisky and Scotland’s ‘real’ Braveheart WORDS HELEN ELFER

We pile back on the bus, where Don cranks up the “Wild and sexy” is emblazoned across the side of the bright stereo and soon we’re flying through the Highlands to a yellow van that’s waiting for us on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. soundtrack of contemporary Scottish musicians. As I listen to Our group of daytrippers hail from all around the world – the atmospheric strains of the Cocteau Twins, I gaze through Australia, Taiwan and Germany – but we have some things the window at countryside that looks as though it belongs in common. We’re sleepy, and not happy about being being on a tin of shortbread tied with a tartan ribbon. A soft blur outdoors in the cold on a Saturday morning. It’s 8.30am for of purple trees, the wide, shimmering Loch Lomond, vibrant god’s sake – not a wild or sexy time of day in my book. green patches of moss and mustard-coloured bushes are all As the bus begins to roll, our tour guide and Edinburgh so mesmerising, I’m almost disappointed when we finally native Don, possibly the most loquacious man I’ve ever met, arrive at The Famous Grouse Experience. kicks off with a tale so utterly vile, it makes Trainspotting It’s the oldest distillery in Scotland and we’re here, sound like a bedtime story. We drive pass the city centre’s naturally, to learn about whisky. We’re led past the various Princes Street Gardens, where Nor Loch used to lie, and Don tells us that the loch used to serve as a sewage dump and drinking supply. It apparently gave off such a foul stink that it earned Edinburgh its nickname, ‘Auld Reekie’. Worse still, he adds, witches were put on trial here. “Their hands were nailed to their knees before they were thrown into the scummy waters,” Don says with obvious relish. If they survived, they were branded a witch. If they died, well ... oops. It’s hard to believe such a grim tale of this gorgeous tubs and barrels where the liquor is produced, before arriving city, with its Gothic spires and magnificent Georgian at the most important part: the tasting room. The distillery townhouses, but one thing is for sure as we all gasp in horror has always made Glenturret single malt, but was taken over – the cobwebs have been blown away and I’m wide awake

by Famous Grouse in 2002. We start with Snow Grouse, and ready for some serious Scottish Highlands action. a tipple aimed at drinkers who aren’t used to whisky. I’m Our first stop is in Stirling, Scotland’s capital of yesteryear, no connoisseur, but this isn’t for me – the gloopy coconut where we visit the iconic statue of Robert the Bruce. The character just seems a bit wrong. So I wash it down with a famous patriot played a major part in the medieval Wars of dram of Glenturret and everything falls back into place; with Independence against the English. In the film Braveheart, honey and orange peel notes it’s strong and satisfying. In fact, Robert the Bruce is portrayed as a traitor of the highest if pushed, I’d probably even describe it as wild and sexy... order, but Don tells us – obviously disgusted at the twisted So with fire in our bellies, we start the long drive Hollywood version – that in fact there’s no evidence to home, passing the spectacular waterfalls and suggest he betrayed leader William Wallace (played by the woodlands of Penrith, before roaring, blue-faced Mel Gibson), nor fought on the English arriving back in Edinburgh side at the Battle of Falkirk. “Robert the Bruce was in fact around 6pm, just as the city’s Scotland’s true Braveheart!” he tells us. warming up for a raucous The imposing statue stands in front of Stirling Castle, atop Saturday night – good job Castle Hill, and as dramatic as all this history is, it’s more than we got a head start with matched by the views from here. Dark, wet, dense green Glasgow: why it’s that whisky. forests cover hills that stretch out as far as I can see, meeting the funniest city a smoky grey sky way in the distance – the exact same A one-day Whisky Explorer tour costs in the UK £32pp with Haggis Adventures timeless scene these Scottish heroes would have seen from haggisadventures.com here all those years ago.

“

Photos: Getty; Thinkstock

The whisky puts a fire in our bellies

”

NEXT WEEK

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LATEDEALS

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Visit Petra in Jordan for £649pp with Travel Talk

DEAL OF THE WEEK bargain moscow

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A two-night stay with easyJet Holidays (0843 1041000; easyjet.com).

Includes return flights and threestar, B&B accommodation at the Maxima Panorama. Departs London Gatwick on March 24.

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lanzarote Seven nights costs £375pp with lowcostholidays.com (0800 1116271). Includes three-star, self-catering accommodation at THB Flora Hotel in Puerto del Carmen.

Departs London Luton on March 21. morocco An eight-day tour is £285pp (save 45 per cent) with Travel Talk (traveltalktours.com; 0208 0998852). Includes four-star accommodation, some meals and visits to Rabat, Fes, Marrakech and more.

Departs March 30 and April 6. Excludes flights and local payment. Book by February 28.

Africa A 14-day tour costs £420pp with Intrepid Travel (0844 4998487; intrepidtravel.com), quoting code 9503. Includes accommodation-only camping, game drives and visits to Tanzania and Zanzibar. Excludes international flights and £633 meal kitty. Valid for travel until April 14. Departs Nairobi.

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Egypt and jordan A 16-day tour costs £649pp (save 35 per cent) with Travel Talk (0208 0998852; traveltalktours.com).

Includes five- and four-star accommodation, some meals and visits to Cairo and Petra. Departs March 30 and April 6. Excludes flights and local payment. Book by February 28.

ICELAND Four nights is £682pp with Inn Travel (0165 3617000; inntravel.co.uk). Includes flights and four-star accommodation, some meals and northern lights excursions. Departs London Heathrow on March 2.

DAILY TRAVEL DEALS Go to tntmagazine.com/travel/latedeals where new travel deals are updated daily.

There are more than 30 deals live at any time. Also sign up for TNT’s weekly travel newsletter, which will be emailed to you every Wednesday with the most up-to-date deals and guides to over 170 destinations.

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Amsterdam Two nights costs £121pp with lowcostholidays.com (0800 1116271). Includes direct return flights and four-star, B&B accommodation at the Best Western Blue Square. Departs London Southend on February 27. egypt A nine-day tour costs £159pp (2-4-1) with Travel Talk (traveltalktours.com; 0208 099 8852). Includes five- and four-star accommodation, some meals and visits to Cairo, Giza and more. Departs April 13, 20 and 27. Excludes flights and local payment. Book by February 28. prague A two-night stay costs £94pp with easyJet Holidays (0843 1041000; easyjet.com/holidays).

Includes direct return flights and fourstar, B&B accommodation at the Aida Hotel. Departs London Stansted on March 13.

Lisbon A two-night stay costs £169pp with easyJet Holidays (0843 1041000; easyjet.com/holidays).

Includes direct return flights and fourstar, B&B accommodation at the Lisboa Hotel. Departs from London Gatwick on February 26.

Paris A two-night stay costs £198pp with lowcostholidays.com (0800 1116271). Includes direct return flights and four-star, B&B accommodation at the Hotel Royal Elyseés. Departs from London Luton on March 19.

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HOTSHOTS

CHARLOTTE MAGUIRE Talks travel photography

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3-DAY TOUR OF SCOTLAND + PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE

WIN

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).

RUNNER-UP

WINNER

RUNNER-UP

MARKET MUNCH, KATHMANDU Hayley Cresp, Australia

SHADING CAMELS, SAHARA DESERT Stephanie Mallard, New Zealand WHY IT WORKS Shadows in a photographic image always make for a fascinating subject as they can be interpreted in both an abstract or figurative way. In this case, there is no denying what the subject matter is – camels in the desert. It gives the viewer a sense of trekking on a long, hot dusty journey through a barren landscape, while the focal point in the distance – the seemingly out of place trees – enhances the skyline within the composition.

WHY IT WORKS No one can deny the intrigue of the eclectic, characterful faces staring at us in this image. Hayley has captured a wonderful moment as these men gaze – seemingly bewildered – at the photographer’s lens. The juxtaposition of the disinterested figure facing left adds greater interest. Hayley tells us this was taken on Father’s Day at a monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal, where they were holding a market in celebration. These men are fathers from a nearby village who were offered a free meal. This is a picture-perfect snapshot of life in this part of the world.

WHERE IN THE WORLD?

A TRIP FOR TWO TO BATH & STONEHENGE

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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.

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So many places to see So little time? Travel smart, travel like a local…

Words Alexis Humphrey

Living it up in Contiki’s private château

Making a splash in Croatia

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15/02/2013 17:03:48

ADVERTORIAL So you’ve got two weeks off this summer, are keen to take a break and really want to make it count.

There are a thousand things you have to get right to make sure your holiday is jam-packed with all the right stuff and make the most of the time you’ve got. How do you ensure you pick the right destination? And once you’re there, how do you know you’ve seen or experienced all the best bits?

It is all about travelling smart; choosing your destination to match the type of holiday you want, and once you’re there, tapping into local knowledge so you get to see all the stuff that the guidebooks don’t mention. It’s everything that makes travelling with an experienced operator so great; decide where you want to go and they do the rest. As Contiki would say, you have one life, one shot, so make it count… #NOREGRETS. So go ahead, make your choice…

Sun & Sea: Croatia Croatia really is the hidden gem of the Adriatic. With glistening turquoise waters, a Mediterranean climate, and beaches to rival any paradise this side of the equator, the Croatian islands offer everything the sea and sun seeker would desire. And if you really want to experience something unique, check out Contiki’s Croatian Island Cruising trip. With accommodation aboard an ‘A’ class boat, and a private beach party making up just some of the highlights, you can rest assured that you are going to have a truly exclusive experience.

Brätwurst & Beers: Germany If knowing how to pour a good stein is the making of the man, then Munich flows with more testosterone than a rugby team on a stag-do. Beer and brätwurst are a rite of passage in this city made famous by Oktoberfest – a 16-day homage to the wobbly stuff, but also has a year-round dedication to serving up the finest thirst-quenchers you’re likely to find on the continent. If raising a glass with the locals in a backstreet taverna is your thing, then take a look at Contiki’s Eastern Road trip.

Photos: Contiki Holidays

Wine & Dine: France If you’re more gourmet than grab and go, then perusing Parisian courtyards and roaming the Riviera might be more to your taste. There can be no doubt that France is for foodies, and what could beat finding a hidden corner in a bistro and settling to a meal of camembert, coq au vin and crème brûlée? Feeling full? How about sleeping it off in Contiki’s own Château? Some experiences are hard to put a price on, but Contiki’s European Highlights trip gives you unrivalled access to some of the best accommodation, restaurants and trips on the continent.

Museums & Markets: Denmark If it’s bargains you love, then Copenhagen has flea markets you can get lost in for hours. Add to that museums celebrating everything from Viking bloodshed to the production of Carlsberg, and a contemporary art scene to rival that of Paris, and you’ll have culture (and a couple of beers) oozing out of every pore. Contiki’s Scandinavia trip has something for everyone – whether it’s shopping in cosmopolitan Copenhagen or sailing through the breathtaking Norwegian fjords, memories will be made thick and fast on this trip.

Festivals & Frisbees: Spain Green Day, Kings of Leon, Fatboy Slim and Alt J… if this lineup has got your blood pumping then there’s only one place to be: Bilbao BBK 2013! This is a festival to beat all others; with three main stages, almost guaranteed sunshine and 360˚ views over beautiful Bilbao, you’re sure to be in festival paradise! If it takes a little more to get your heart really racing, then why not start your holiday with a herd of angry bulls chasing you through the streets of Pamplona, before partying with locals into the small hours? Want to guarantee you don’t miss out on a moment of the action? Contiki’s Pamplona and Bilbao BBK Live trip gives you unrivalled access, and more inclusions than any other operator; it really is the only way to get the full festival experience!

Can’t choose?

Contiki offers over 90 trips across Europe, with over 1000 definite departures and six styles of travel to suit your budget, time-frame and preference. Whichever you choose, it is the exclusivity offered on all Contiki tours that makes you feel like you have been given a backstage pass to Europe.

Whether it is skipping the queues at the Eiffel Tower, exclusive use of a beachside resort in Greece or your own chef cooking up a storm in a French château (where you are spending the night of course), it is that exclusive treatment that sets the Contiki experience apart from the rest. ❚

Discover your next adventure at

contiki.com

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TOP FIVE

1

fashion Cities

@tntmagazine

Paris

If you see an unusual proportion of terribly beautiful people appearing on the streets this week, hungrily dragging on Marlboro Lights and wearing expensively shredded denim and purple lipstick, don’t be alarmed – it’s London Fashion Week. We’ve got plenty to boast about here, from K-Mid’s royal threads to street style in spades. But is London the fashion capital of the world?

While this city might lead the fash pack in terms of edge and influence, there’s no denying that Paris, our best frenemy on the other side of the Channel, definitely takes the crown in terms of heavyweight haute couture.

Parisian style has become practically synonymous with the great heritage houses, including Dior, Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Yves Saint Laurent, among many others.

Of course, for anyone making less than a six-figure salary, outfits from these labels are not so much for actually purchasing (god forbid!), but more for gazing at in the glamorous shop windows of the Champs Élyseés 60 00

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– as much a part of the sightseeing experience as the Eiffel Tower or the Arc de Triomphe. Put it like this: while Parisians wouldn’t be caught dead with envy on their faces, wide-eyed admiration is de rigueur for tourists.

France’s obsession with fashion really caught light under the rule of the rather vain Louis XIV, who popularised the trend for those flamboyant curly wigs when he began to go bald.

During his reign, the first fashion press emerged, along with the concept of style ‘seasons.’ In other words, without Paris, there would be no fashion weeks.

For more Parisian fashion history, visit the Musée Galleria, which has displays of the fabulous numbers Marie Antoinette used to wear and other vintage outfits. Dior devotees can also visit significant sites such as Granville House, where the designer once lived.

And really dedicated trend followers can try and get a seat at one of the shows at Paris’s own fashion week which runs from February 26- March 6.

Good luck with that ... parisfashionweek.com

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TOP top FIVE five checking in

2

Milan

With a well-deserved reputation for being a rather good-looking bunch, it’s no surprise that the Milanese seem to have fashion flair in the blood.

In fact, among the many fashion elements the English have borrowed from Milan is the word for hat maker – ‘milliner’ is derived from the city’s name. Pretty much all the big Italian labels in fashion – Armani, Valentino, Versace, etc – have bases in the city’s extremely upmarket shopping districts. milano.it/en

Photos: Getty

4

Madrid

Once upon a time, Barcelona was Spain’s capital of cool, while Madrid was seen as a city that clung to its oldfashioned traditions.

But all that is changing now with Madrid coming into its own as a style powerhouse. The city is full of young and trendy types dressed down in boho threads, but the ones really splashing cash on fashion are the ‘pijos’ – the closest English equivalent is ‘posh’ – who dress in head-to-toe designer labels. Sharp. turismomadrid.es/en

3

New York

Cheap Nepal retreat

From Sex And The City’s Carrie Bradshaw and her ever-expanding collection of pricey high heels to the fearsome New York-based editor of US Vogue, Anna Wintour, the Big Apple has no shortage of fashion icons.

But influential as the fash mags and international brands are in New York, the city is also known for its wild and quirky street style, which is celebrated on high-profile blogs such as The Sartorialist (sartorialist.com). nycgo.com

5

tokyo

Nowhere exemplifies out-there fashion quite like Tokyo. Harajuku kids dress up in outfits that wouldn’t look out of place in a Tim Burton movie, with clothes that nod to anime, goth and cyberpunk culture.

But as well as the Tokyoite taste for eccentric clothing, there’s also a trend for looking impeccably groomed, boosted by Japanese fashion houses, such as Kenzo and Issey Miyake, which prove Tokyo is a haute couture force to be reckoned with.

kathmandu guest house Overview This place is a real stalwart for travellers in Nepal’s capital. Built in 1967, it was the first hotel in Thamel, which is the city’s most touristy district – in fact The Beatles stayed here in the Sixties. There still aren’t a huge amount of decent budget options in Kathmandu, and this guesthouse is not only reliably clean, but also has a lively, communal atmosphere. Bike hire shops and tour operators are just a stone’s throw away, and there is a decent bar and restaurant on site. Staff are keen to help with any travel questions you might have and lots of tours depart from here. wow factor The guesthouse has some well-kept, pretty gardens which are perfect for lazing in on sunny days or meeting other travellers. rooms A massive range in quality, from ultra basic rooms to more lavish suites.

Sound proofing isn’t great and when busy, the corridors can be incredibly noisy.

Bill please The most basic room is just £1.30, but an average budget double room costs £10.

ktmgh.com

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TRAVELTIPS

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THE INSIDER

High life: the altitude of Saas-Fee means great snow is guaranteed

ANDRES OYARZUN GONZALEZ Tour Guide LocalGuiding

My best travel experience was...

A 10-day horseback ride in the

YOU ASKED FOR IT...

LAURA LINDSAY FROM LONELY PLANET

Q A group of us are planning on going skiing for my girlfriend’s 30th birthday in Jan 2014. Where would you recommend going? None of us have ever skied before!

Kam, via email A Being a beginner puts you at a surprising

READERS’ TIPS ON THAI ISLANDS ISLAND PARADISE Ko Phi Phi Don features all the usual things Thai islands have to offer (seafood, cocktails, sun and smiles) – the bonus is the most spectacular sunrise, best seen from the Viewpoint.

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My top travel tip is...

Just carpe diem!

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advantage when booking a skiing trip as you can be more flexible when choosing a destination (experienced skiers are more limited as some resorts don’t offer challenging enough slopes).

Make sure you choose somewhere with a good sized ski school, because decent lessons will make a big difference to your holiday.

Look for places which offer free or discounted lift passes for beginner slopes. And opt for a town that has a bit of life beyond the slopes as the après-ski scene is well worth experiencing

– if anyone in your group doesn’t take to the slopes, they’ll be glad for a bit of alternative entertainment.

Your best bet is probably one of the larger resorts in the Alps, such as Saas-Fee in Switzerland. This area has virtually guaranteed snow thanks to the large glacier and high altitude. The car-free town has plenty of charm, but at the same time offers some decent aprèsski. The beginner slopes are set away from the main piste making it more relaxing to learn as you won’t have more experienced skiers and boarders whizzing past you. The intermediate slopes aren’t too difficult if you do progress well.

You can buy a limited lift pass, which is less than £20 for the day and will be sufficient for beginners. The resort also has a British-run ski school, which has great reviews.

Patagonian Andes Mountain Range, near to the Tronador volcano. I got to spend a lot of time with the local baqueanos (cowboys) and had such a great time. I would particularly recommend this trail to anyone who is an adventurous person.

I always pack... My small Chilean flag, multi-tools, my facón (gaucho´s knife), a first aid bag, mate tea and a good rain jacket or poncho, because you never know what the weather will be like in Patagonia!

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Pristine: conquering the Alps' powdered runs

Skifari

paris

france

France

Courchevel

Stunning slopes of Courchevel and, right, Val d’Isere’s aprés-ski nightlife is raucous 64

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GETTING THERE Take the train from London St Pancras to Moutiers with Rail Europe (Eurostar and TGV) from £109pp return.

Regular buses run from Moutiers to Courchevel for £9.40. raileurope.co.uk

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Powder perfect It’s two ski trips in one as we tackle – and get decked by – the best of the French Alps at Espace Killy and Les Trois Vallées Words Alasdair morton

Skiing – it’s like riding a bike, right? Skills once learned you never lose, there at the ready to be recalled when and where they are required … right? Wrong, as I learn quickly when venturing out on to the slopes of the Trois Vallées and Espace Killy. This ‘Skifari’, run by Powder White, takes us on a journey through two of the French Alps’ most prized destinations in what is not so much a ‘best of both’ but more a ‘best of it all’ adventure.

Our first port of call is the 600km of powdery terrain in Courchevel, which offers some of the best on- and off-piste action the region‘s finest resorts can throw at us. But before I can take it on I need to get my skiing skills up to speed.

As the rest of our group heads for the intermediate red slopes, myself and another opt – wisely – for a ‘refresher’ course. It ends up being more a ‘refresher ... for beginners’ lesson, however, as my ski legs are clearly elsewhere.

Thankfully, our New Generation instructor Tom is friendly and informative, his smile assuring me it will all be OK. He points out Mont Blanc miles away on the edge of the skyline: “The clouds round its summit mean snow is on the way,” he informs us as we peer, impressed, into the distance.

Initial hesitancy as my heart jumps several inches towards my throat quickly subsides as I begin to find a rhythm, and I’m quite pleased with how well I’m doing. But there are several things that are unavoidable when skiing – you will spend more time on your ass than you thought, and ski school pricks will whiz past you with such ease they can turn around and ski backwards while throwing you the sort of look that says, ‘look how much of a bumbling, unbalanced buffoon you are!’ Or maybe it’s just me. Once Tom’s dispensed the essentials – balance, looking down piste, resting on the balls of your feet, managing that creeping terror – it is time to head out solo.

Warming up with a smattering of easy green runs, starting with the long Bellecote, it’s not long before I’m picking up speed with hordes of other nascent snowploughers – Courchevel is well equipped for both entry level skiers and the more experienced – before impatience (a trait both essential and detrimental to improving your skiing) sees me jump straight for a tasty blue where the predictable happens.

I’m cruising, feeling good, before a moment’s concentration lapse through an increasingly steeper, narrowing, icy section sees me careering like Mr Bean into a snowbank, where I’m left embarrassed and clutching my knee. Time for lunch.

I navigate my way to Le Chabichou to join the rest of my group for a bite and swap stories of our morning escapades,

and I’m relieved to find I’m not alone in my premature exhaustion – one of our group threatens to fall asleep in her dessert. I manage a couple more post-grub runs before retiring to the Savoyard-style Chalet Nid d’Aigle, to try and salvage muscles that haven’t been used in a long time, and for dinner, courtesy of our chalet hand Nathan.

Waking the following morning, a peek out the windows reveals four inches of fresh powder has arrived overnight and with this good news, we head to our new location, the Espace Killy. This resort is home to 300km of pistes, and the resort of Val D’Isere, which hosted the prestigious FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in 2009.

“

Skiing, it’s just like riding a bike? Wrong!

”

Taking in the breathtaking downhills that the world’s best would have descended at 80mph, I opt for some ‘warm up’ slopes – Val D’Isere is certainly for the more skilled. As the morning progresses, the clouds shift and the sun comes out and it is, quite simply, stunning – as the peaks reach into the sky it’s easy to feel on top of the world (I ignore the pantomime cow ‘skiing’ downhill in the distance). But as ››

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any skier will know, holidays on the slopes are just as much about the après-ski as the sport, and we kick it off early today. So it’s lunch at La Fruitière (lafoliedouce.com), where a few glasses of vino (or more) are sunk before we head outside to the accompanying La Folie Douce. This can best be described as a daytime nightclub at 2700 feet, complete with pumping tunes, live percussion (an electric violinst from London holds sway amidst the amassed throng), singers and a defiantly up-for-it-crowd of thrill-seekers. And it is a castiron fact – I decide – you ski better after alcohol.

On our final morning, some in our group venture off piste, others stick to pushing it out towards reds (or rather rouge-y blues) while I set out to settle a score with that earlier nemesis piste. Second time round, with my teeth gritted and certainly not much grace, I manage to conquer it without making a fool of myself.

We’ve enjoyed some of the finest skiing the Alps have to offer – next season, it’s all about the black runs. Maybe. ❚ Powder White Skifari. Prices from £549 per person, including interresort transfers and catered chalet. Lessons can be booked with New Generation powderwhite.com; skinewgen.com

Top view: TNT's Alasdair at Saulire, the highest point in Courchevel [Caption]

next week The year’s greatest festivals: which ones should you hit up?

MIDRANGE

LUXURY

Les Chenus offers a buffet at the top of the Chenus bubble car, with plain and hearty grub ideal for refuelling.

Mains from £7. It’s packed from 12.30pm onwards so get in early. courchnet.com

Fire and Ice offers spectacular outdoor eating at the foot of the slopes, where simplicity is done with style with burgers, pastas, pizzas and ice shots. Mains from £17. leportetta.com

Simply put, Le Chabichou is Courchevel’s finest. It boasts a menu to die for and has two Michelin stars to show for it. A true experience to keep your energy levels up and your tastebuds in awe. Eight course menu starts at £90. chabichou-courchevel.com

drink

Rocky’s Bar is a Brit-heavy sportsthemed bar fond of boozy, fancydress themed nights. It’s ideal for tanking a few beers – from around £5 a pint – and getting amongst it.

You have been warned: we were there on Burns Night with loads of kilt-wearing, whisky-downing Scots. courchnet.com/nightlife/bars/ rocky’s-bar

Courchevel’s The Funky Fox is a top venue for good times (live music, DJs, pool tables, etc) and passable prices (beers from £6). The ever-popular bar is open 'til 4am and really only gets going once the crowd descends from elsewhere. funkyfox.fr

If you’re after a sophisticated touch then check out Purple Cafe, a stylish Parisian cocktail bar. You’ll pay more for your drinks here, around £13, but the ambiance and glam setting makes it shekels well spent. courchevel.com

sleep

Le Peupliers is a three-minute walk away from the heart of Courchevel 1850, with ample rooms and friendly service. And at £80 a night, tres reasonsable for one of Europe’s premier ski locales. You can save your money for the après-ski. lespeupliers.com/en

For home comforts and a view to stun you every morning, head to Chalet Nid d’Aigle in 1650. It’s comfy, spacious and has its own hammam room. Perfect for dining, resting and recouping and getting ready for that big night out. Book as part of a package with Powder White. powderwhite.com/chalets

If you have recently won big then team up with some mates and hire one of the Le Portetta‘s six lofts for the week. Prices start at £2390 per loft per week, but they sleep up to six, and offer privacy, space and elegance to make it a stay to remember. They’re self catered but the hotel offers use of a chef. leportetta.com

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Photos: Getty; Thinkstock; TNT

BUDGET

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Island hopping thailand

thailand bangkok

GETTING THERE Fly from London Heathrow to Bangkok from ÂŁ775 return with Thai Airways. thaiairways.com

Rope burn: blazing hot fire poi performance on Koh Pha Ngan

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Pick a paradise

BIGTRIP

Whether you want a wild night raving on the sands, beach sports galore or just a swaying hammock, head to Thailand’s islands Words helen Elfer

Many backpackers associate Thailand primarily with mountains of piping hot pad Thai, ridiculously cheap Chang beer and the odd ping-pong show – and, well, they’re not far wrong. But after a few nights in the chaos of Bangkok there are an infinite number of ways to spend the rest of your time in Thailand, namely by heading to one of the many idyllic islands dotted around the coast. Here you’ll find everything from specialist diving sites, golden Buddhas, extreme beach sports, snorkeling and secluded beaches to spots to swim with sharks. Oh, and naturally, plenty more places to party very, very hard indeed. So sling your flip flops into your bag and head to one of these perfect island paradises. You can hop between them, stay for a month on your favourite or just arrive and see how you feel once you’re there with hot sand underneath your toes – you might decide to never leave ...

The Similan Islands BEST FOR: Diving Practically every list of the world’s top diving locations rates the Similan Islands near the top, and that’s because they have some of the most jaw-dropping underwater sights. The archipelago of nine islands is a National Marine Park with calm, clear waters (up to 30m visibility) that are just ideal for underwater explorations. The west coast is famous for its huge granite boulders that peek above the water’s surface and drop up to 50m underwater, creating tunnels and swim-throughs for divers to investigate. Keep an eye out for the clown triggerfish and the whitetip reef sharks here, along with rare oriental sweetlips and harlequin sweetlips (both psychedelic-looking creatures). On the east coast of the island there are lush coral gardens with sea anemones and a wide variety of reef fish, and if you’re lucky you might catch a glimpse of ghost pipefish, sea moths, frogfish and ribbon eels. Of the many famous dive sites here, Elephant Head, East of Eden and Christmas Point are three of the most popular.

WHAT ELSE? The best beach in Thailand is, naturally, hotly disputed, but many agree that Donald Duck Bay on Koh Similan, the most developed of the nine islands, is a strong contender. It’s so named because you can see a huge boulder out to sea that is bizarrely shaped a lot like the cartoon

character. If you want a few hours’ break from diving, this is a great place to lay down your towel and enjoy the scenery.

MORE: kohsimilan.net Koh Pha Ngan BEST FOR: Full moon parties Haad Rin, the beach on the far south of Koh Pha Ngan, is notorious for having the wildest, most debauched full moon parties in Thailand. Long-standing traditions for a night out here include tripping out on magic mushroom shakes (not that we’d recommend it), drinking buckets (yes, actual buckets) of Sang Som rum with Thailand’s lethal Red Bull, painting faces with fluorescent squiggles, jumping through burning skipping ropes and watching fire poi … in no particular order, but always followed by a rave on the beach that lasts until the sun comes up.

WHAT ELSE? If you’re feeling a little toxic after a few days of partying here, give the boozing a break and make the most of all the sports. There are two Muay Thai boxing schools on the island where you can sign up for lessons (kobramuaythai.com) or you can join in games of beach football, table tennis or volleyball at sundown on most of the bigger beaches.

MORE: kohphangan.com Koh Tarutao BEST FOR: Wildlife Once upon a time, the Thai government used to send its crooks to the island of Tarutao – to look at it now, this seems like the last thing that would put anyone off a life of crime.

The island is full of dense forest that’s teeming with wildlife: on the land and in the surrounding waters you can see sea turtles, whales, monitor lizards, crab-eating macaques, mouse deer and countless species of birds. Some of the island is signposted in English, making it easy to follow wildlife trails, either on foot or by mountain bike (it’s easy to hire these on the island). Just be sure to ask the island’s rangers before planning a lengthy trek, as parts of the island are more difficult to navigate than others.

WHAT ELSE? There is plenty of budget guesthouse accommodation on Tarutao, but it’s also very popular with campers, because while there are decent facilities, it rarely ›› tntMagazine.com

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Peace: scuba-diving the Similan Islands

Paddling: it’s table tennis or allnight partying in Koh Pha Ngan gets too crowded. It only costs 65p per night to camp if you have you own tent and other roughing it equipment.

MORE: kotarutaothailand.com Koh Samui BEST FOR: Watersports This island isn’t for everyone, particularly not if what you’re after is an unspoilt, serenely beautiful corner of the world to relax in. But if you don’t mind your tropical paradises filled with blaring night clubs, crowds of tourists, international fast food chains and a bit of a seedy underbelly, then there is actually plenty of fun to be had on Samui – especially in the form of watersports. Since the island is so developed this is the place to get stuck into activities, as there are heaps of established facilities. There’s sailing, snorkeling, kayaking and kiteboarding for starters, as well as a few more extreme options – ever fancied a go on a Jetlev-Flyer? This uses powerful jets of water to blast you into the air, Iron Manstyle. Book yourself a session with Wateredge Sports (wateredgesports.com).

WHAT ELSE? Always wanted to tick ‘bungee jump’ off your bucket list? Chaweng Beach is the place to do it. The 50m jumping platform is suspended over a giant plunge pool, and you can choose whether or not you want to get dunked.

MORE: kosamui.com

guaranteed to get to swim with black tip reef sharks. You’re taken out on a long-tail boat to an area of shallows where the sharks like to swim, then you’re given the opportunity to do some snorkeling and swimming in the water with them.

The company is known for being environmentally conscious and promoting sustainable tourism. Plus, they’re so confident that the sharks will be there that if you don’t see any you get a full refund.

WHAT ELSE? Toughen up those muscles by scaling the

Tranquil: Koh Kood is one of the last secluded Thailand beaches

Koh Phi Phi BEST FOR: Swimming with sharks Ko Phi Phi is probably best known for a combo of diving and partying, but the most exciting activity on the island is The Adventure Club’s Shark Watch tour (phi-phi-adventures.com).

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limestone cliffs at one of Ko Phi Phi’s top rock climbing spots, such as Hin Taak Climbing Area or Ton Sai Tower.

MORE: phi-phi.com Koh Kood BEST FOR: Deserted beaches Well there certainly aren’t many of these left in Thailand, but there is one sandy spot left that you could genuinely call secluded. Koh Kood is an absolute pain to get to (from Bangkok it’s a flight to Trat airport, then an hour’s boat ride from the mainland), which puts off lots of tourists but explains its serenity. But once you get there ... no landlines, virtually no internet access or electricity, just clean white sands, the odd hammock tied to a palm tree and plenty of blue waters if you fancy a dip. Aow Pharo, Bang Bao and Siam Beach are some of the most pristine stretches, perfect for a lazy day sunbathing, while Tapao Beach is also known for being a top swimming and snorkeling spot.

WHAT ELSE: If you can be bothered to climb out of your hammock, Koh Kood island has lots of pretty waterfalls to visit. Klong Chao Waterfall is a top spot for splashing about and has the royal seal of approval, as it was once visited by Thailand’s King Mongkut in the 1850s.

MORE: kohkood.com Koh Sirey BEST FOR: Temples It wouldn’t be right to visit Thailand without checking out at least some of the country’s fabulous monuments to Buddhism. Most of the most impressive temples and statues are on the mainland, but the tiny Koh Sirey, which is connected to Phuket by a bridge, has one that’s well worth exploring. Wat Sirey, located at the top of a hill, is an unusual Buddhist temple with a series of rooms housing golden Buddha images. There’s also a giant reclining Buddha statue here. Once you’re at the top of the hill, the views of the island are every bit as impressive as the Wat itself.

WHAT ELSE? The island is home to hundreds of cheeky wild monkeys. Every evening islanders and tourists go to the recreation park near a mangrove swamp to feed the savvy primates their favourite bananas.

MORE: phuket.com

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1973

2013

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4 DAY OUT ANZAC Raid

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L8291 / Y2992

TNT_1538_082 82

*Terms and conditions apply. Prices quoted are for specific departures only. All trips subject to availability. Discounts are off the base trip price only, and do not apply to food funds and local payments. Flights not included. Egypt trip price includes local payment based on $1 = £0.618, which must be paid locally in USD. Exchange rates correct at time of printing, and subject to currency fluctuations, depending when payment is made.

Offer subject to availability. This discount can be combined up to a maximum of 20% using one standard brochure discount with the exception of the ‘Early Payment Option’. Please contact our friendly team for further details. The discount does not apply to Food Fund or pre/post accommodation.

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desperatelyseeking

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@tntmagazine

Post your message at tntmagazine.com/seeking or email seeking@tntmagazine.com. Text TNT and your message to 81707* SCOTCH UPRISING: To Al from last week. What’s your problem with Scots? R u jealous? Or maybe you had a bad experience?

Either way – uncalled for! Should be the I-ties that get kicked out of the Six Nations! D-man D-Man, we’ve found Al’s a Scot who was being ironic after a big loss to the English, but a win and he’s changed his tune. The Italians beat the French though, so not sure where you’re coming from there. Ed

be gone, but we’ll always have the funny fork. Stay O for Awesome!

Mandy Pants CLEVER REUNION: Seeking any of the old crowd from Cleveland Square from the early Nineties, especially Alan Brick, Red, Macca and Mike Aughey. Please contact me via TNT. SOLAR PANEL: Seriously Toohey, stop banging on about SolarMovie. Every day for the past few weeks you’ve mentioned

Things the Queen should do before she dies

#517 Strap on a bow and do something about London’s urban fox problem

FAREWELL BIG RED: Hang on a minute … aren’t you from the 5th floor? RANGI PANTS! Woe-woewoe-woe! Don’t go! Thanks for all the good times, the all nighters, the Wednesday to Sunday seshes and those times you let me and Liz play one Nickelback song early in the night before the cool people arrived to find out you had them on your iPod. Chacton won’t be the same without you – but it’s time for you to return back to your two special girls. I think the Chatty should put a plaque in your honour...you’ve lived there long enough! Big Red may

something about Solar fucking Movie and it’s getting ridiculous.

We get it – it’s a website to stream movies, we’re just sick to death of hearing about it. Jordi and Coops SAFFA PASHA: To the SA guy I met on the dance floor at Covent Garden on Australia Day, your kiss was very sweet. Maybe we can have a rematch. TNT has my details if you want them.

MIGHTY MORPH: Mr White Power Ranger, I had a good night in Camden last Saturday, too bad you’re like every other member of the male species on this continent!

Clearly your powers have failed you this time! Have fun cuddling up to your dog! Tiffany WETHER A WALKIE : Why have they taken this ridiculous action against She-Bu Walkabout?

Seriously, try looking at ANY Wetherspoons on any night of the week. Actually, just try walking past the one opposite Tooting Broadway station, especially around 10am as they’re queueing to get in, and see what you think.

Honest Aussie HEAVY LEGS : To the lady I offered a seat to on the District line towards the City last week, your rude response of “I’m only 30!” really pissed me off. Yes, you’ve aged prematurely and dress a bit like a granny, but I thought you needed to sit down because of what a polite person would call your horizontal gift. Yes, you’re fat.

I was being nice. Fuck you. Eddie SUNDAY SESSION: Seeking somewhere to have a few quiet beers this Sunday. If the Walkie isn’t letting people in after 4pm where will I go in She-Bu with a big screen to watch the La Liga games (from 6pm)? This has been a routine for ages. We’re not yobs, just love watching the Spanish football in a sports-loving pub. Samuel GAME FACE ON: This winter shit is starting to do my head in.

I would be mad for some sort of weeknight social sport to make it go a bit quicker. I’d even give mixed netball a run if the team wasn’t too serious. Anyone short of a bloke who’s always gets his shout in? Ben

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SWEET TRIBUTE : Drobz – the adventure is over and it hurts my heart. Mondays aren’t the same without weekend regrets.

I’ll always laugh about the time I missed the train, the effect Verve has on you, your rule breaking in Amsterdam, that time you taught me to snowboard, when you, me and K-Cos went to Whitney’s funeral and, of course, that time we learned sometimes you need to BYO blanket. I miss you like the desserts (sic) miss the rain. Tara MISSED CALL : Not impressed with the bloke who took me on a blind date last Friday to J Sheekey.

It would have been a top evening if you’d actually managed to stay off your phone for more than 30 seconds at a time. I sat there like a mug all night with only my dinner for company. Poor show, and no, I don’t fancy meeting up again.

Lonely Lara IT’S NOT A TUNA : Am I the only one who believed you when you said that tuna is a traditional filling for a pancake? While everyone else was having sugary goodness, you made me eat flaked fish from a tin! And there is just no reason for fish to be in a tin in the first place anyway – but that is a whole other kettle of fish, don’t get me started. Andy SHOUT OUT: Dirty D, just for future reference, when I offer to buy you a drink and give you a twenty to take to the bar, I expect at least a handful of change. I don’t expect you to buy a round of apple sourz for you and all your tight-ass friends. You owe me. Gary

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