TNT Magazine / Issue 1375

RETURNING HOME: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW Live, Work & Travel

January 4-10 2010 Issue 1375 tntmagazine.com

GET OUT THERE PLANNING YOUR EPIC ADVENTURE

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TOUR OFO MOROCC

A BETTER LIFE IN LONDON

AN AUSSIE ADAPTATION

WEEKEND ESCAPES

TIPS TO MAKE THE MOST OF 2010

BRINGING THE ROAD TO THE BIG SCREEN

THE BEST OF MANCHESTER

+ JOBS ■ SPORT ■ LONDON ■ NEWS ■ CINEMA ■ FREIGHT

this week January 4-10 / Issue 1375 Free every Monday tntmagazine.com

Front Cover: Getty Images

EDITOR’S LETTER Welcome to 2010! This edition of TNT is jampacked with everything you need to set yourself up for your most awesome year yet.

If it’s an adventure you’re craving, turn to page 76 to find out all you need to know about planing your next big trip.

Looking for ways to overhaul you life?

We’ve got all the London-based options covered on page 12. Get into it.

76 Going big: gear up for that epic travel adventure

63 TRAVEL

DANIEL LANDON

9 LONDON 9 London Eye 10 London Life 12 GET SET FOR 2010: Ways to improve your life in London 14 Food & Drink 16 Spotted

19 ENTERTAINMENT 19 Celebrity News 20 TNT Life 21 Look Who’s Talking: Tom Wrigglesworth 22 Cinema 24 ON THE ROAD: An Aussie director turns an acclaimed book into film 27 Culture

28 MUSIC & CLUBS 28 LISTEN UP: Who’s going to make it big in the music world next year 30 Music Listings 32 Clubbing 33 Clubbing Listings

68 Surf ’n’ turf: learn a new skill on holiday

34 NEWS & SPORT 34 36 38 41 42 44 48

Australia News New Zealand News South Africa News The Week In Sport Cricket General ON THE BREAK: We chat to Aussie snooker player Neil Robertson

63 Global Vision 64 LATE ARRIVAL: Happy belated new year in west Wales 66 Late Deals 67 TNTT Weekender: Manchester 68 LOOK AND LEARN: Try out a new skill while on holiday 70 Hotshots 72 Travel Tips 73 Travel News 74 On The Road 75 Gear Up 76 THE BIG TIME: Tips on planning for your long-haul adventure 12 New year, new you: expand your horizons in London

51 RETURNING HOME 51 Careers 55 CASH POINTS: Sort out your finances before heading home 58 Money 60 Coming & Going

REGULARS 4 Letters 6 Wins 122 Desperately Seeking & Dear Reuben 24 The stars of bookturned-film The Road

28 Who’s going to hit the charts in 2010?

EDITORIAL Editor Daniel Landon Deputy editor Samantha Baden Production editor Claire Goodall Subs Janine Jorgensen | Jahn Vannisselroy London editor Tom Sturrock Travel editor Amy Adams Music editor Alison Grinter Editorial assistant Inger Smith DIGITAL & IT Interim digital manager Lily Nguyen IT manager Stephen Dann ART & PICTURES Art director Shabir Mahmood Designer Astrid Breacker Picture editor Shila Sultana SALES Sales director Jeff Perkins Agency sales exec Sherzod Rizaev Key accounts Jaqui Ward New business Helen Simms Classified sales execs Charlotte Page | Josh Benjamin MARKETING & EVENTS Head of marketing Anna Williams Marketing exec Danielle Tessari Events marketing manager Hazel Willis Marketing assistant Camilla Hibbert ACCOUNTS Financial controller Nick Crampton Accounts Margaret Roberts | Alexandra Buchlakova PRODUCTION Production manager Jon Cooke Deputy production manager Jana Waldmann TNT PUBLISHING CEO Kevin Ellis Chairman Ken Hurst Director Tony Goodman Receptionist Kate Simmonds TNT Publishing Ltd Nightflight Distribution Ltd PRINTED BY St Ives Web Ltd NEWS AAP Freestone Media NZPA PICTURES AAP AP Alamy Getty Images NZPA PA Photos Photolibrary.com Pictures Colour Library Reuters Rex Features Robert Harding SAPA TNT Images PUBLISHER

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What’s the story with the big pub franchises, or pubcos, in this town?

I live in West London, and I often walk into a pub which I immediately warm to. You know the kind – the ones with the traditional dark wood furnishings with quirky contemporary updates, comfy bench seats, cosy corners and a sweet wooden decking flooded with natural light (well, more of a trickle this time of year).

You think to yourself: “wow, this is a great pub” – you can picture yourself tucking into a Sunday roast over the papers, or nursing a pint of Guinness on a rainy Tuesday night.

But, on further inspection, I find the menu is always the giveaway – you discover that the people who run this pub also own the other five or six pubs you like: the ones that you walked into and reacted to in exactly the same way.

It’s a horrible feeling. You think you’ve discovered this quirky little gem, but that’s

TNT Magazine is printed on paper from sustainable forests. There is no business connection between the proprietors of this magazine and TNT Ltd, the worldwide transportation group.

Copyright here and abroad of all original materials is held by TNT Magazine. Reproduction in whole or part is forbidden, except with permission of the publishers. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office.

somehow always lacks its usual sparkle.

But this year I marked my first Christmas in London, and it was one of my best yet. The cold was just a good excuse to tuck into the egg nogg, and besides our balcony served as the ultimate outdoor esky for the wine.

We had the usual spread complete with stuffed turkey, but what made the day one of

Most were strangers “ who I counted as friends by the day’s end ” rudely ripped out from under you – instead, someone has just taken what you like in a pub, reduced it to a formula and reproduced it umpteen times across your stomping ground. It sucks.

Chris, Fulham

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Chain pubs: that’s not the spirit

PUBBED OUT

my favourite Christmases to date was the company in which it was spent.

Most were strangers, who I counted as friends by the day’s end. That is after all one of the great things about living in London: that you can meet so many like-minded people who

have that adventurous spirit and thirst for travel that brings us over here in the first place.

So we may not have got the snow, or had a prawn to throw on the barbie, but it sure felt like Christmas and made me love London all the more.

Jess, Wimbledon

OVER THE WEATHER There is no excuse for this weather! No redeeming feature at all. Not snow, not acid blue sky, not those weak, watery sunsets that make winter in England bearable.

Yesterday I went for a constitutional stroll down my local high street and came back with a cold. Thank God Santa brought me new slippers this year! First chance I get, I’m outta here.

The Grinch, NW1

CHRISSY CHEER Usually Christmas just feels like yet another day when you spend it outside of Australia.

With the heat, barbecues, beach and family missing, it

NEXT WEEK IN

TNT online Catch up with your fellow TNT readers and share your views at tntmagazine.com/forums

London

Fresh ideas for a cracking London night out

Music

Meet Kiwi muso Lawrence Arabia

LETTER OF THE WEEK

YOUR SAY TALKING TURKEY

Your recipe instructions for a Christmas turkey were spot-on. My mates all had a laugh when I revealed it was a TNT inspired lunch. They accused me of being way too clichéd for an orphan Antipodeans’ Christmas in London.

Not only did they have to eat their words but it was accompanied with a tasty piece of white meat. I think it would now be wise to go into retirement in case future

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years aren’t so good!

Ten of us crammed into a lounge room ensured plenty of fun was had, becoming noisier and messier as the day went on.

Considering half the people only met on the day we were all good mates by the end.

Glad it only happens once a year though, because none of us were looking too pretty the next day …

Paul, Shepherd’s Bush

Letter of the week wins a Northern Rocker tour of Ireland from Shamrocker at £89. Letters may be edited. Prize is not transferable. Your Say is a reader forum and does not represent the opinions of

TNT Images, Mario Villafuerte/Getty Images, www.britainonview.com

COMMUNITY CORNER forum talk What you’ve been saying at tntmagazine.com/ forums. Get online and have your say.

Careers

YOU

(shamrockeradventures.com), valued

TNT or its staff.

WHICH LICENCE? I’m planning on doing a van tour around Italy, France and Spain and the UK. I have a valid Australian driving licence. I did have an international permit, but I’ve been in London for 12 months and it’s now expired.

What kind of licence do I need to make my trip?

Joshd

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Take in the art deco architecture of Casablanca, and the lively souks and snake charmers in Marrakesh. You can wander the narrow alleys of ancient Fes, watch the world go by from a cafe in Chefchaouen, experience traditional Berber culture in the High Atlas Mountains, see the sun set over the Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, camp out under a starry Saharan sky, and soak up the laid-back vibe of coastal Essaouira on this incredible trip.

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LONDON EYE

Trafalgar Square, WC2, December 30, 2009 Photo: Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images

LONDON 9

A member of the Saitama Sakae baton team, from Japan, rehearses in Trafalgar Square ahead of London’s New Year’s Day Parade. The spectacular annual event featured 8500 performers, including cheerleaders, bands, clowns and dancers, and was expected to draw crowds of 500,000.

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LONDON LIFE

WHAT’S ON Tom Sturrock PICKS THE BEST OF LONDON THIS WEEK

LONDON

BILLY CONNOLLY FROM £25 WHAT: Legendary stand-up comedian Billy Connolly returns to London throughout January, and his shows are almost certain to sell out – so get organised and book your ticket now.

WHEN: January 5-30.

DO IT BECAUSE: Connolly has been making people laugh for more than 40 years and is now recognised as one of the founding fathers of stand-up comedy. Basically, you should go and see him because he’s one of the all-time great performers.

10

» Hammersmith Apollo, 45 Queen Caroline St, W6 9QH Hammersmith (0844 844 4748; ticketmaster.co.uk)

Capital idea: New London Architecture No matter how long you’ve lived in London, if you’re baffled by the city’s geography – and who isn’t? – there’s no more useful resource than this exhibition.

A sprawling 1:1500 model of Central London occupies one corner, neatly illustrating the proximity of the Gherkin to Hyde Park and the London Eye to Canary Wharf.

It also underlines the fact that if you’re basing your grasp of London’s geography on the schematic Underground map,

you’re probably already lost.

Also on display is a selection of London’s best home extensions, a retrospective on how London has developed since 1909, and a study of how the 2012 Olympics will affect the city’s future growth.

If London fascinates you, this is a must-see. TS

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL £25

THE FRANCE SHOW £10

Cirque du Soleil’s show, Varekai, features traditional circus skills given a surreal makeover, all set loosely around the tale of a man who falls out of the sky one day.

All treats from across the Channel are gathered under one roof in Earls Court.

Whether your interest is in food, wine or travel, there’s something here for you.

» Royal Albert Hall,

» Earls Court Exhibition

Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP South Kensington (cirque dusoleil.com). Jan 5-Feb 13

Centre, Warwick Rd, SW5 9TA Earl’s Court (eco.co.uk).

Jan 8-10

» The Building Centre, 26 Store St, WC1E 7BT Goodge Street (newlondon architecture.org). Free GREAT FOR: FINDING YOUR FEET

THINGS THE QUEEN SHOULD DO BEFORE SHE DIES LONDON BY NUMBERS

Tonnes of electronic items collected for recycling each year Source: London Councils

#352

HUSTLE RONNIE O’SULLIVAN IN THE SNOOKER MASTERS AT WEMBLEY ARENA

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RICHARD HAWLEY £22.50 Your chance to see the Britpop legend and ex-Pulp member belt out sweet tunes.

LONDON INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW £18 Everything from little dinghies to mega yachts is on display here. If you love messing about in boats, or just want to dream of the sea, this is worth a look.

» ExCel London Exhibition Centre, Royal Victoria Dock, E16 1XL Custom House (excel-london.co.uk). Jan 8-17

» Royal Festival Hall, Belvedere Rd, South Bank, SE1 8XX Waterloo (south bankcentre.co.uk). Jan 9

TNT online For a full guide to London see tntmagazine.com/whats_on

BRITAIN EXPLAINED

MJ Kim/Getty Images, Kevin Winter/Getty Images

ESSEX GIRLS Essex is a county located about 50 miles north-east of London and stereotypes about its female inhabitants abound.

Essex girls get cast as “slappers”: dumb, promiscuous peroxide blondes with vulgar mouths who favour white stilettos, short skirts, heaps of fake tan and dodgy

clubs, exemplified by the likes of glamour model Jodie Marsh (left).

The satirical puppet show Spitting Image once produced a song titled Essex Is Crap, claiming it was the only UK county with no redeeming features, describing it as “where page three girls buy their mum a bungalow”. TS

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GET SET FOR

2010 J

ump feet-first into 2010 by making some long-promised improvements to your life.

If you want to travel more, learn to cook, get fit or pick up a language, get cracking and make this year one of accomplishment.

Of course it can be hard to know where to start, so here are some suggestions on how to kick off the year with a sense of direction:

GET FIT Do it because: You’ve over-indulged during the festive season or are sick of sitting at home every night during the London winter.

Get started: Gyms are the obvious solution, and there will be various new year deals on offer to tempt you through the door, but if you want to actually play sport, your options include touch (in2touch.com/uk), cricket (lastmanstands.com), netball (onenetball.com) and Aussie rules (wildcatsfc.co.uk).

Find love this year

tntmagazine.com

FIND LOVE Do it because: You’re sick of hanging out in pubs with your mates, whingeing about

Kick-start those new year resolutions with our guide to making changes to your life in London WORDS TOM STURROCK the opposite sex. Or maybe you just want something ‘casual’.

Get started: If you can stomach online dating, check out antipodate.co.uk. Alternatively, the capital is crawling with speed dating firms. The big one is speeddater.co.uk, which also organises a stack of singles events.

SORT OUT YOUR FINANCES Do it because: You live beyond your means and are sick of existing on bread and soup for the final week of every pay cycle.

Get started: Cut out unnecessary expenses.

If your issues are more deep-seated, you might need cccs.co.uk – a free counselling service that offers money management training. Or rent out your spare room to a dosser for extra cash on tntcrashpads.com.

CHANGE JOBS Do it because: Maybe you’ve built up enough experience in London to do the job you really want, or perhaps you just need a change.

Get started: Be sure to log on to tntjobs.co.uk

PSST … THIS IS THE KEY TO HAPPINESS

week Learn The Lingo courses beginning throughout January. See tntmagazine.com/ languageschool or page 20 for details.

PAMPER YOURSELF Do it because: Run down? Tired? Sick of not feeling your best? You need ‘me time’, and the best way to get it is to pay someone else to make you feel better.

Get started: There are literally thousands of options for pampering in London. The time Get yourself some down Thermal Spa Experience at Spa London’s Bethnal Green outpost doesn’t only have for available positions, but if you feel you need a Turkish bath, it’s also got a hammam, aromasome advice, the government has a free service. infused shower, ice fountain and Kneipp hose Check out careersadvice.direct.gov.uk. to cool the extremities. See spa-london.org.

LEARN TO COOK Do it because: You can only subsist on toast and takeaway food for so long. Cooking is a great skill once you know how. It’s fun, healthy, and will save you money.

Get started: There are plenty of cooking courses in London, so your choice depends on whether you’re a novice or can already boil an egg. Go to cookeryschool.co.uk for a broad selection.

TNT Images

SEE MORE OF LONDON Do it because: You’re new in town or have been working so hard you barely manage to leave your postcode.

Get started: Get out of your comfort zone and explore a new part of London – maybe the East End, Greenwich, Richmond, Angel, Camden or Hampstead – or that famous landmark you haven’t yet seen. See tntmagazine.com/ london_life for more suggestions.

LEARN A LANGUAGE Do it because: You’re tired of visiting Europe and having to get by with crude sign language, or you think being able to speak Spanish will help you pick up.

Get started: Booking on to a language course is a great way to meet people, fill your evenings and learn something new. TNT is running five-

Closer to home, “ take a trip to a new part of the UK ” TRAVEL MORE Do it because: The great advantage of living in London is being able to nip across to Paris or Berlin for a weekend. If you haven’t made the most of that, 2010 is the time to start.

Get started: Closer to home, take a road trip to a new part of the UK. Easy city breaks are Edinburgh, Liverpool and Cardiff; regions are Peak District, Lake District and Cornwall. See tntmagazine.com/travel for more ideas.

BE GREENER Do it because: You’re an environmentalist who is desperate to reduce your carbon footprint, or you just want some greenery in your grey apartment block.

Get started: It starts at home. Grow your own vegetables in your backyard, or just some herbs on your window sill. If you want a bigger project, see farmgarden.org.uk for a gardening collective in your area.

Incy Wincy Spider wasn’t a hit with the kids

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LONDON

Visit a new area of London

You’ve tried to fill the void in different ways, attempted to distract yourself with career, family, travel, football, booze … it’s a long list. But nothing quite does it. So in 2010, get involved in quackery and pseudo-science.

Whether you want your qis centred, your chakras cleansed or your thetan audited, London has a range of answers to satisfy even the most credulous.

The Inner Potential Centre offers a range of healing therapies – its website offers you the chance to learn about “healing, spiritual development and spaceage metaphysics”, including a form of energy healing using the laying of hands.

Alternatively, book a session at Hands Of Light, which offers a combination of healing and tarot readings.

One of the highlights is the New Moon Healing Dance, which employs “music, crystals, wands, clusters, healing energy, symbols and ritual”. Sounds like a goer. » Inner Potential Centre, Kelvedon Rd, SW6 5BW Parsons Green (innerpotential.org). » Hands of Light, Violet Hill, NW8 9EB Maida Vale (handsoflight.co.uk).

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FOOD & DRINK

BAR REVIEW The Easton ★★★★★

LONDON

22 Easton St, WC1X 0DS (020 7278 7608) Farringdon

THE SCENE A gastro pub that manages to feel both hip and happening and cosy and warm.

THE GRUB With meat sourced from rare-breed UK farms and

14

Winter warmers

veggies from their own rooftop garden, The Easton’s largely British-inspired menu is a winner. “This is the best chicken I’ve ever eaten,” was one friend’s verdict.

BEHIND THE BAR A long and varied wine list that looks as though it was compiled by someone who knows their plonk. On tap are the usual suspects – Staropramen,

Kronenburg and Hoegaarden.

SERVICE In the past The Easton has come under fire for its patchy service, but we couldn’t fault the friendly, attentive staff on our visit.

BILL PLEASE Prices are average for this upmarket part of town – which is to say not cheap, but not a rip off.

VERDICT One of my favourite London pubs. ALISON GRINTER

Pubs with fireplaces

A round-up of boozers to keep you warm when it’s cold outside.

COUNTRY COSINESS Wooden floors, open fires, and a short stroll from Wimbledon Common, The Crooked Billet (Crooked Billet, SW19 4RQ) is more rural retreat than urban watering hole.

After a bracing walk on Hampstead Heath, warm up by the fire in old-fashioned pub The Holly Bush (Holly Mount, NW3 6SG).

FRUIT AND VEG BOX DELIVERIES Abel & Cole (abelandcole.co.uk) Get your greens delivered straight to your door. Boxes of British-grown produce start from £10.95.

punters will find an open fire and views over the Thames.

HIDDEN GEM While south-westerners will already know of the merits (and the location) of The Ship (Jews Row, SW18 1TB), first-time

GOOD FOOD The Freemasons Arms (Downshire Hill, NW3 1NT) not only offers comfy chairs by an open fire, but really good

CAFE METRO

SWEET DREAMS Book a sofa by the fire at The Old Queen’s Head (Essex Rd, N1 8LN) and order a bespoke warming drink from their Pimp My Chocolate range.

Toppings include biscuits, marshmallows and liqueurs.

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Riverford Organic (riverford.co.uk) food too. The sharing platters are generous and the puds (crumbles to cakes) irresistible.

Head to The Devonshire (Devonshire Rd, W4 2JJ) – a pub that’s part of Gordon Ramsay’s stable – for roaring fires and good grub.

PROVIDING YOU WITH: • The best fresh smoothies in the area • Fresh salad • Homemade food – best falafels and kebabs in town! • Illy coffee • Beautiful and tranquil atmosphere

Only minutes away from the Hammersmith ‘HMV’ Apollo and a short walk from the beautiful Hammersmith Bridge and river.

3 Queen Caroline Street (opposite Junction with Hammersmith Bridge Road), 30B Broadway Centre. Phone: 020 8741 4500

Fresh from the farm, Riverford’s boxes are filled with organic fruit and veg in season. Small boxes start from £10.85.

The Organic Delivery Company (organicdeliverycompany. co.uk) Apart from the fruit and veg boxes (small from £11.95), this company delivers fresh bread and pastries – all organic, of course.

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SPOTTED ARE YOU SPOTTED IN THE CIRCLE?

LONDON

Call us on 020 7373 3377 or come down to the TNT office so we can ID you.

You’ve won three Lonely Planet (lonelyplanet.com) guides of your choice. PLUS for another chance to win, log on to tntmagazine.com/ gallery and see if you’ve been circled.

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ON ANON Piccadilly, W1J 0DA. Sat, Dec 26 Photos by: tillate.com

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TEACHERS ■ Primary teachers ■ Secondary teachers ■ SEN teachers ■ Support staff

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Are you…  NEW to London?  Looking for a NEW opportunity?

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For a glass of wine or beer on Wednesday, January 20, at The Langley, to find out how you can advance your career in London with Tradewind Recruitment.

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A GOOD WEEK FOR

Kylie Minogue spent the festive season with her prospective in-laws in Spain. The pop princess was snapped taking a stroll with the sisters of her boyfriend Andrés Velencoso Segura.

➩

Rick Diamond/Getty Images, Jemal Countess/Getty Images, Gerard Julien/AFP/Getty Images

➩

FESTIVE CHEER: Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban entertained extended family with a post-Christmas lunch at their new Sydney harbourside penthouse apartment in posh Lavender Bay. The clan, including, daughter Sunday Rose, showed off their multimillion dollar harbour view getaway to Kidman’s parents Janelle and Antony. The couple bought the two-storey apartment six months ago for A$6 million, which makes them virtual neighbours to Kidman’s parents and sister who live in nearby Greenwich.

A BAD WEEK FOR

AC/DC may have to cancel a sold-out concert in Austria in May because their big sound poses a danger to rare birds – called curlews – which will be nesting near the site.

JANA: I STILL LOVE HIM Aussie Olympic hurdler Jana Rawlinson is reportedly preparing to remarry her husband Chris, just as soon as their divorce is finalised.

The athletic couple, who have a son, Cornelis, 3, split in April, with Rawlinson declaring the marriage was over and starting divorce proceedings, according to the Herald Sun. However, last month it was revealed love had blossomed again for the pair. Rawlinson

revealed to New Idea she begged Chris for a second chance after discovering he had started seeing another woman following the end of their marriage.

“I knew instantly I was about to lose my husband forever, and I’d already worked out I didn’t want that,” Rawlinson said.

The couple are preparing to marry again, even though the divorce will only become final early this year.

SAY WHAT?

”Cheryl tells me I need to eat more. She says I’m too skinny” Ms Cole’s protégé Joe McElderry wants to bulk up in 2010

NZ Woman’s Weekly: Kiwi Olympic cycling gold medallist Sarah Ulmer shows off her new baby girl Lily. Take a look at Nicole Kidman’s holiday season spent in Australia.

Plus an astrological preview of 2010 and the latest on Tiger Woods and his marriage.

AUSTRALIA New Idea: The biggest Biggest Loser reunion ever gets past contestants together and asks who has managed to keep off the kilos. Plus, test your knowledge of the noughties with the ultimate celebrity trivia quiz.

Meanwhile, Mel Gibson and his girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva might not be as happy as they seem.

SOUTH AFRICA You: It’s a frothy white wedding bonanza featuring radio and TV star Darren Scott, who has married lovely sevenyear love Sarah-Kate Seaward.

Also walking down the aisle is soap star Hunter Tylo, who has hit some lows in recent years but is now happy again.

Plus, readers share their memories of the 1995 Rugby World Cup win.

Dance somewhere different ...

Snowbombing offers an amazing ski holiday built into the biggest music festival on snow in one of Europe’s top ski resorts. It’s a must do event, a box to tick and one of the craziest weeks of your life!

Visit tntmagazine.com/snowbombing to get a £30 discount off the tntmagazine.com

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CELEBRITY NEWS

GLOSSY GOSSIP FROM HOME

19

ENTERTAINMENT

TNT LIFE

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NETWORKING

AUSTRALIA DAY

Teacher event

WHAT

Working in the teaching industry and want to advance your career? Head to TNT’s networking night, held in association with Tradewind Recruitment, and explore your options.

Celebrate Australia Day in London with TNT and Triple J.

WHEN Sun, Jan 24. 10am till late.

WHERE Infernos, Clapham High St, SW4 7UH Clapham Common. Free

» The Langley, WC2H 9JA Covent Garden. Wed, Jan 20, 4.30pm-6.30pm.

Free. See tntmagazine.com/ networking

LEARN THE LINGO

TNT online

SPOTLIGHT ON SHAKY ISLES THEATRE Kiwi play Skin Tight returns to the UK, and TNT readers can get a £3.50 discount.

» Riverside Studios, W6 9RL Hammersmith. Jan 19-24.

See tntmagazine.com/events

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Is one of your new year resolutions to learn another language? Then take a five-week intensive course in Spanish, Italian, French or Chinese (Mandarin) with TNT. Classes are taught by a qualified tutor and include a language pack. » TNT offices, Child’s Pl, SW5 9RX Earl’s Court. £65 (£75 after Jan 6). Sign up at tntmagazine.com/ languageschool

CINEMA ENTERTAINMENT

The Road

22

SCREEN TEST: CHARLIZE

Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron

STARRING:

RT 113 MINS

★★★★★

After auctioning off kisses for charity and fondling little balls at the World Cup draw, Charlize Theron gets back to what she does best in Aussie director John Hillcoat’s engrossing post-apocalyptic drama The Road.

The South African Oscarwinner joins Viggo Mortensen and talented youngster Kodi Smit-McPhee in a bleak film that doesn’t treat you like an idiot. Based on Cormac McCarthy’s Pulitzer-winning novel, The Road focuses on the journey into hell of a man (Mortensen) and his young son (Smit-McPhee), who are trekking across a scorched landscape in the wake of an apocalyptic event.

As they make for the coast the pair battle unimaginable hardship, even cannibals, and try to keep intact their moral compass while everyone

1 What South African town is Charlize Theron from?

2 For what role did Theron take out the Best Actress Academy Award in 2004?

3 Theron became naturalised as a citizen of which country in 2007?

4 What perfume is Theron representing in a series of adverts in which she is daubed in gold paint?

5 Theron has said that she won’t marry her long-term partner Stuart Townsend until what happens?

For a chance to win two tickets from Vue email answers to grabs@tntmagazine.com by noon on Wednesday with ‘Cinema’ in the subject line.

WIN

around them has lost theirs.

Unrelentingly grim from start to finish, The Road won’t appeal to those who are content being spoonfed blockbusters.

Those looking for something challenging will be rewarded with moving performances from Mortensen and Theron

(as his wife, seen in flashbacks) and a haunting soundtrack by Nick Cave. If half the films in 2010 are as good as this, we’re in for a cracking year.

GOOD FOR: Fans of The Proposition. PIERRE DE VILLIERS

» See page 24 for our

LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS 1 Dude, Where’s My Car? 2 Punk’d 3 That ’70s Show 4 The Guardian 5 My Other Dad

interview with John Hillcoat

LAST WEEK’S WINNER Therese Stapleton

THE REEL DEAL

MUGABE AND THE WHITE AFRICAN

Peter Jackson received a knighthood in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours in New Zealand last week.

The producer, director and writer, whose career began with 1987 horror movie Bad Taste, was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2002.

That honour followed the final instalment of his Lord Of The Rings trilogy, which won nine Oscars – the most won by a single film.

Jackson described his knighthood as

The situation in Zimbabwe is humanised by Lucy Bailey and Andrew Thompson’s gripping doco that chronicles one family’s fight to remain on their land in the face of severe intimidation.

With much of the footage shot covertly, this is a tense, at times infuriating, look at a country in meltdown. Essential viewing.

GOOD FOR: Those in search of enlightenment. PDV

★★★★★

an “incredible moment”.

“I didn’t think anything would surpass the 2004 Academy Awards, but I was wrong,’’ he said.

IT COULD GET LOUD

★★★★★ Jimmy Page, The Edge and Jack White sit around and pay homage to the electric guitar in a doco that’s a must-see for rock fans. The trio drone on a bit and you wish they’d shut up and play more, but this is still a fascinating look at the power of the guitar and the forces that shaped three of the greatest axemen of all time.

GOOD FOR: Those who want to rock. PDV

Macall Polay, Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Avatar director James Cameron clashed with an autograph hunter at LA airport.

In a video on TMZ.com, Cameron is seen telling the man: “I don’t owe you a fucking signature … just get out of my fucking personal space,” and calling him a “fucking asshole”.

Avatar topped the North American box office over the festive period.

on the

Road

Aussie director John Hillcoat shares the journey of bringing Cormac McCarthy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel to the big screen WORDS JAMES MOTTRAM

J

ohn Hillcoat looks dejected. “It’s the worst time,” he sighs. “Sorry to be melodramatic but it really is. The studios are in such a self-defeating spiral. They are literally saying ‘franchise or comedy’ and nothing else.”

FRUSTRATING TIMES You have to sympathise. After a 20-year career that has seen him shoot three feature films and a series of commercials and music videos, the Queensland-born director (above) finally hits on a project destined to make Hollywood sit up and take notice – an adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s gripping post-apocalyptic novel The Road. Then the recession hits.

Sitting in the bar at London’s Mayfair Hotel, Hillcoat tells me he has a script by Nick Cave, who also penned his McCarthy-influenced 19th-century western The Proposition, he’s been trying to get off the ground.

Adapted from the book The Wettest County In The World, it’s a story of rural Prohibition-era gangsters with an attached cast including Shia LaBeouf, Amy Adams and Scarlett Johansson.

“It’s just great,” he says. “But it’s not a comedy and it’s not a franchise, so it can’t get made.”

BIG SCREEN SUCCESS If his sense of frustration is palpable, then it’s also understandable. After all, The Road is a Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee

tntmagazine.com

The US method actor has said he suffered cold and starvation filming The Road’s post-apocalyptic world. He tells us why he bothered.

What made you decide to do The Road?

What initially drew me to the story was the connection I felt being a father. But you don’t really have to be a parent.

Everyone is the child of somebody and in the end for me it’s a love story, between father and son.

born 13-year-old Kodi Smit-McPhee in the role.

Charlize Theron plays the mother, who appears in the film’s flashbacks.

Scenes from The Road

Hope is special “ when it’s against all the odds

Getty Images

”

masterful adaptation of a book many felt was impossible to bring to the screen.

Partly, Hillcoat attributes this to the bleakness of this story – about a father and son attempting to survive, nine years on from an unspecified event that has left the population decimated and the world on the brink of collapse.

“There’s the emotional intensity between that father and son relationship,” notes Hillcoat.

“Maybe – because people were so moved by it – they thought ‘How can anyone film this?’”

While Hillcoat won out in casting Viggo Mortensen as the father, his biggest concern was finding a child actor to play opposite him.

“That was the scary bit,” he says. “It was certainly the thing we were most sweating on, and Viggo was most concerned about it – as I was. That was my single greatest fear.

“At that point, it was like free-fall off a cliff, waiting to land – land gently or very badly.” In the end he landed gently, casting Australian-

A LOVE STORY He also has the blessing of McCarthy. While he admits that he felt the weight of the writer’s growing legacy – not least because he won the Pulitzer Prize for The Road – Hillcoat notes that McCarthy never interfered with the film.

“He never read a script. He released a lot of the pressure. He understands that a film’s a film and a novel’s a novel. He came to the set with his son. And when you see them together, the son is 10 years old and Cormac is 73 – and you can see how this book came about.”

It’s for this reason that Hillcoat calls The Road “a love story between father and son”. As he puts it: “They never say ‘I love you’ – but they say it in so many other ways.”

The tale may be a metaphor for mortality – “the fear of your life coming to an end” – but Hillcoat is swift to point out the story is not entirely bleak.

“I think it’s one of the most hopeful things I’ve ever read,” he says. “I think hope is special when it’s against all odds.”

Maybe he should apply this philosophy to his next film.

Did you have contact with Cormac McCarthy?

Yes – for quite a long time on the phone. He spoke about his son, I spoke about my son, and then towards the end of the conversation I realised that’s all I needed to start with. And he said: ‘Well, if you have any questions, don’t feel shy about calling up and asking for help.’ But I never felt that I needed to.

Who coped better filming in that freezing waterfall – you or Kodi?

Me! I tell you – these Australian guys, they just can’t hack it.

» The Road opens in the UK on January 8

TNT online For reviews of the latest movies go to tntmagazine. com/london_life

Viggo Mortensen and Charlize Theron attend an LA screening of The Road

tntmagazine.com

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VIGGO MORTENSEN

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A TASTE OF HOME RIGHT HERE IN LONDON

CULTURE ELVIS AT 21

★★★★★ Since Elvis Presley died in 1977 his legacy has been obscured by a cult of kitsch, born of Vegas impersonators, dubious convenience store sightings and cheesy Graceland tours.

Lost in all this is the fact Elvis was the first true pop culture superstar – he changed the nature of celebrity. Without Elvis Presley, there would be no Robbie Williams.

With this in mind, this collection of photos, taken when Elvis was still in his early 20s, is a revealing tribute to the man before he became mythic yet ubiquitous.

Shots of Elvis in the back

ENTERTAINMENT

SEE THIS: Exhibition seat of a cab on the way to a concert or in his living room show an improbably goodlooking, nonchalant kid. In these, his Cherokee heritage is strikingly apparent.

Shots of Elvis on stage, on one knee and with arms wide open, complete a captivating collage of an idol on the rise. TOM STURROCK

27

» Proud Chelsea, SW3 5XP South Kensington (proud. co.uk). Until Jan 31. Free

TNT online For info on all the other cool exhibitions in London, go to tntmagazine.com/london_life

WORTH A LOOK Darwin200 Photographic Competition celebrates photographs of the natural world. » Horniman Museum and Gardens, 100 London Rd, SE23 3PQ

• British artist Damien Hirst divides critics – check

Forest Hill (horniman.ac.uk). Until Apr 11. Free

out this solo exhibition. » White Cube, 48 Hoxton Sq, N1 6PB

Old Street (whitecube.com). Until Jan 30. Free

THEATRE OF THE WEEK

BOOKS OUT THIS WEEK

ROPE

THE CONVENT

★★★★★ Inspired by the real-life case of American killers Leopold and Loeb, Patrick Hamilton’s macabre 1929 thriller is an unpleasant study of a supposedly perfect Mayfair murder carried out as an intellectual exercise in superiority.

The initial exposition is

clunky and it’s obvious that a panicky Granillo (the nervier of the two privileged Oxford undergrad perpetrators) will give the game away. But this is a stylish revival played in the round. LOUISE KINGSLEY

» Almeida, Almeida St, N1 1TA Highbury & Islington (020 7359 4404; almeida.co.uk).

Until Feb 6. £8-£32

Panos Karnezis

VOLUNTARY MADNESS

(Jonathan Cape) JAN 7

Norah Vincent

The remote Spanish convent of Our Lady Of Mercy is turned upside down when Mother Superior Maria Ines discovers a box and its disturbing contents in Karnezis’ latest novel.

(Vintage) JAN 7

SOULLESS

THE PILATES BIBLE

Gail Carriger

Lynne Robinson, Lisa Bradshaw, Nathan Gardner

Recovered depression sufferer Norah Vincent goes undercover to investigate the effect of treatment on the depressed and insane in mental health wards across America.

© Alfred Wertheimer / Photokunst.com

(Orbiit) JAN 7

A vampire story with a difference set in Victorian London. When socialite Alexia Tarabotti is rudely attacked by a vampire, Queen Victoria sends the insufferable Lord Maccon to investigate.

(Kyle Cathie) JAN 4

Feeling tubby after the holidays but too lazy to go to the gym? Check out this comprehensive, accessible guide to Madonna’s exercise of choice.

MORE STAGE Cirque du Soleil’s latest is Saltimbanco. » Wembley Arena, HA9 OAA

Wembley Park (livenation.co.uk) Jul

•Rupert Friend and Tamsin Greig star in Hollywood satire The Little Dog Laughed »

28-Aug 1. £40-50.

Garrick Theatre, Charing Cross Rd, WC2H

0HH

Leicester Square (0844 579 1974). Until Apr 10. From £15

tntmagazine.com

Listen up Never heard of these people? Well, give it time and some media hype.

Here are the bands and musos set to make it big in 2010 WORDS ALISON GRINTER ELLIE GOULDING She’s all over the web like a rash and hasn’t even put out so much as a single yet. But with major label backing and insanely catchy single Under The Sheets ready to drop it won’t be long before this 23-year-old Brit singer/songwriter (left) is a household name.

Jack Spla sh

DIONNE BROMFIELD She’s a precocious 14-year-old Brit who’s been raiding her parents’ (or grandparents’) record collection, if her vintage ’60s pop sound is anything to go by. She’s the first signing to godmother Amy Winehouse’s Lioness record label. Expect her debut single Mama Said to rise and rise.

JACK SPLASH Hailing from Miami, Florida, Jack Splash could be the new Prince, if his soulful croon and Missy Elliott-assisted hit-in-the making I Could Have Loved You is any indication.

Dionne Bromfield

tntmagazine.com

Andre Csillag / Rex Features, Getty Images

BERTIE BLACKMAN With art in her blood (her father is iconic Australian painter Charles Blackman), this unconventional singer/ songwriter has been making some serious waves Down Under, where she recently won the Best Independent Release Aria for debut

MORE MUSIC STUFF IN 2010

Bon Jovi will be doing their bit to fill the Michael Jackson-sized void at the O2 Arena from June 7-23.

The Drums

THE DRUMS They might be based in Brooklyn, NYC, but these up-and-coming scenesters have sought inspiration from across the pond with songs drenched in Smiths/Cure/Joy Division style melancholy, finished with an ’80s synth sheen.

They’ll be touring the UK early next year.

PULLED APART BY HORSES Full-throttle rock with a dangerous edge and a lead singer who channels the visceral power of Kurt Cobain is the order of the day from this Leeds indie outfit. Their tune E=MC Hammer is the sonic equivalent of a runaway train. Check it out online.

Bertie Blackman

album Secrets And Lies. She’ll be heading to Blighty in March next year.

JOY ORBISON Good old-fashioned house makes a comeback in 2010 via Giles Peterson-championed London producer Peter O’Grady – otherwise known as Joy Orbison – whose track Hyph Mngo has been bigged up by tastemakers at Pitchfork, Resident Advisor and Fact magazine.

LAWRENCE ARABIA In 2006 erstwhile member of The Brunettes and The Ruby Suns James Milne upped sticks from Auckland to live in London and try his hand as a solo artist. It seems to have worked out for him: he supported Feist on her European tour and has an achingly pretty debut album Chant Darling to plug here next year.

FRIGHTENED RABBIT Scotland’s next great hope is indie folk quartet Frightened Rabbit, whose emotive song writing has won them many fans up north. Excitement is building around their third album, which is set to launch them into the stratosphere.

GIN WIGMORE At 16 she won the US-based International Songwriting Competition and her version of Hallelujah featured on One Tree Hill. She’s also a bona fide star in her native Godzone, where her debut album Holy Smoke went to number one. We look forward to hearing her unique rasp of a voice on these shores soon.

U2 have been confirmed as headliners for Glasto on the Friday night. “At last, the biggest band in the world are going to play the best festival in the world!” as organiser Michael Eavis put it sweetly.

Pendulum are playing a massive gig at Wembley Arena on May 28 Fingers crossed – Amy Winehouse will have a new album out in 2010. A timely reminder that this talented woman is capable of doing more than just drugs.

Gabriella Cilmi will be back with a new single Woman On A Mission (well, she ain’t 16 any more) on March 8 and a new album to follow.

EVERYTHING EVERYTHING With the crazed momentum of They Might Be Giants, this Manc quartet’s tunes Photoshop Handsome and Suffragette Suffragette have been big hits in cyberspace. They’re inspired by everyone from R Kelly to Ezra Pound, which gives you some indication of the highbrow/ lowbrow lark they’re rocking.

KE$HA This Nashville native with dubious numeric name spelling has already slain the Saffa and Antipodean charts with upbeat hip-hop anthem Tik Tok. And she’s set to do the same in Blighty.

ESBEN AND THE WITCH A trio hailing from Brighton, their atmospheric, noirish soundscapes have already bewitched the UK indie press.

They also do a haunting cover version of Kylie’s Confide In Me. Sarah Blasko

tntmagazine.com

MUSIC & CLUBS

Sarah Blasko will release her UK debut album with As Day Follows Night next spring.

29

MUSIC LISTINGS MONDAY 27

SATURDAY 2

Casiotone For The Painfully Alone, Concern, Mewgatz

Dub Pistols The hip-hop, breakbeat and ska collective use horns and turntables for the performance. Koko, Camden High

The Chicago-based indiepop performer promotes his album Vs Children. The

St, NW1 7JE (0870 432 5527). £14.50.

Luminaire, Kilburn High Rd, NW6 7JR (020 7372 7123). Adv £8.50.

Jooks Of Kent, The Nuns The trio play blues and boogie crossed with rock and roll.

Kenny G The saxophonist promotes his album Rhythm And Romance. Royal Albert

The Grosvenor, Sidney Rd, SW9 0TP (020 7733 1799). £5.

Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP (020 7589 8212). £29-£50.

Left With Pictures, My Sad Captains, The Riff Raff

Rosemary Branch Festival: Pete Letanka Trio South

The London-based combo play melodic indie-pop. The

African swing band. Rosemary

Lexington, Pentonville Rd, N1 9JB (020 7837 5371). £6, w/flyer/NUS £5.

Branch Theatre, Shepperton Rd, N1 3DT (020 7704 6665). £10.

Raphael Saadiq The Grammy Award-winning American soul singer and producer plays tracks from his back catalogue.

IndigO2, Peninsula Sq, SE10 0DX (0871 220 0260). £22.50 & £30.

Chris Wood Acoustic folkrock from the singer-songwriter and guitarist. The Slaughtered Lamb, Great Sutton St, EC1V 0DX (020 7253 1516). £14, concs £12.

NOFX American punk-

TNT’S TOP BOOKING

NINE INCH NAILS O2 Arena, Peninsular Sq, SE10 0DX North Greenwich (0870 534 4444). Wed, Jul 15. £32.50 You want to what me like an animal? Trent Reznor’s nihilistic rock vehicle rolls into town this summer. Expect to hear 20 years’ worth of hits.

rockers. Shepherds Bush Empire, Shepherd’s Bush Green, W12 8TT (0905 020 3999). £20.

Gary Moore, Buddy Whittington The veteran guitarist promotes his album, Bad For You Baby Baby.

Hammersmith Apollo, Queen Caroline St, W6 9QH (0844 844 4748). £26.91-£34.26.

TNT online

Reuben Richard & Soul Train

TUESDAY 28

KT Sullivan The vocalist

The Bug, DJ Adrian Sherwood The London outfit

performs the songs of Jerome Kern. Live! On The Park At Pizza

play experimental rock. The

On The Park, Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LY (020 7235 5273). £15 & £25.

Rhythm Factory, Whitechapel Rd, E1 1EW (020 7375 3774). £10.

Easy Star All-Stars The New York four-piece perform covers with a reggae twist. Koko, Camden High St, NW1 7JE (0870 432 5527). £17.50.

Jayson Norris, Rhys Morgan, Amphibic Acoustic rock singer-songwriter originally from New Zealand. Halfmoon Putney, Lower Richmond Rd, SW15 1EU (020 8780 9383). £5.

Sleepercurve, White Light Parade, HK:UK The London trio play progressive indie-rock to promote their forthcoming EP. Dublin Castle, Parkway, NW1 7AN (020 8806 2668). £6, w/flyer £5.

The Yeah You’s, Meg Hutchinson Alternative duo

FRIDAY 1

Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo, Danny Schmidt

Skinny Molly

The Wednesday Night Showcase Acoustic showcase of signed and unsigned acts. The Bullet

The Luminaire, Kilburn High Rd, NW6 7JR (020 7372 7123). £8, adv £6.

Herne Hill, SE24 9HU (020 7274 2733). £12, adv £10.

The Deadly Vibes, The Risk, The Branded

Tarrbaby, Three Times Daily

The Blockheads The veteran

punk-rockers play their hits. The

Electric Ballroom, Camden High St, NW1 8QP (020 7485 9006). £23.50.

The American three-piece play country-rock tracks from their album Feels So Good I Wanna Do It Again. Boston Arms, Junction Rd, N19 5QQ (020 7272 8153). £7, concs £5.

Willie Garnett’s Big Band Gravity, Spector, Gunner Sgt, Continental Train Wreck The outfit play indie-rock songs.

Hope And Anchor, Upper St, N1 1RL (020 7354 1312). £6, concs £4.50.

Sax-led swing from the 17-piece.

Bull’s Head, Lonsdale Rd, SW13 9PY (020 8876 5241). £7.

Hayze, I’m Spartacus, Hipsters Fix, The Blockade Indie-rock trio from Ipswich.

The Troubadour, Old Brompton Rd, SW5 9JA (020 7370 1434). £7.

12 Bar Club, Denmark Place, WC2H 8NL (020 7240 2622). £6.

Okkyung Lee, Christian Marclay, Steve Beresford, John Butcher Experimental

WEDNESDAY 29

Zoot Money’s Surprise Party The veteran blues man

tracks from the New York performer. Cafe Oto, Ashwin

plays his monthly residency.

St, E8 3DL (020 7923 1231). £10.

Bull’s Head, Lonsdale Rd, Barnes, SW13 9PY (020 8876 5241). £10.

James Marsters

Kentish Town Rd, NW5 2TJ (020 8826 5000). £5, concs £4.

Nina Ferro with Boisdale Blue Rhythm Band The Australian jazz singer performs with the outfit. Boisdale Of Belgravia, Eccleston St, SW1W 9LX (020 7730 6922). £12, diners £4.50.

José González The Swedish singer-songwriter plays lo-fi pop.

The Cavendish Arms, Hartington Rd, SW8 2HJ (020 7627 0698). £5.

Old Brompton Rd, SW5 9JA (020 7370 1434). £8, £7 before 10pm.

The Wolfetones Brian Warfield and his band play upbeat interpretations of Irish ballads and songs.

Irish Cultural Centre, Blacks Rd, W6 9DT (020 8563 8232). £15.

SUNDAY 3 Ian Anderson Jethro Tull flautist. Barbican Hall, Barbican Centre, Silk St, EC2Y 8DS (0845 120 7500). £17.50-£25.

Rhydian The Welsh X Factor finalist performs tracks from his self-titled album, which features covers and originals.

Hammersmith Apollo, Queen Caroline St, W6 9QH (0844 844 4748). £22.02-£39.15.

trio play experimental rock.

Dublin Castle, Parkway, NW1 7AN (020 8806 2668). £6, concs £4.50.

Compton Terrace, N1 2UN (020 7226 1686). Adv £20.

John Standing The vocalist performs the songs of Noël Coward. Live! On The Park At Pizza

Ultravox The 1980s

Pink

new wave and electropop band perform tracks from their repertoire. Roundhouse,

The pop singer performs tracks from her album Funhouse. O2

On The Park, Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LY (020 7235 5273). £15 & £25.

Tacoma The Paris-based

Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8EH (0844 482 8008). £32.50 & £35.

Arena, Peninsula Sq, SE10 0DX (0871 220 0260). £35.

Jim White The Americana

Mick Thomas, Rachel Hatfield, Natalie MCcool

country singer plays tracks from his extensive back catalogue.

The Australian soloist performs folk-rock. The Troubadour,

Jeniferever, Red Skys, Caesura, Codes In The Clouds Indie-rock from the

Union Chapel, Compton Terrace, N1 2UN (020 7226 1686). Adv £17.50.

Old Brompton Rd, SW5 9JA (020 7370 1434). £12, adv £10.

Rd, WC1X 8BZ (020 7837 4412). £6.

The London singer and instrumentalist plays soul, funk and electronica. The Troubadour,

The acoustic pop vocalist plays songs from his album Like A Waterfall. Union Chapel,

East Wintergarden, Canada Sq, E14 5AB (020 7334 3922). £17.

Swedish four-piece playing tracks from their album Spring Tides. Monto Water Rats, Gray’s Inn

Southern US rock band featuring Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Mike Estes. The Half Moon, Half Moon Ln,

For full listings info go to tntmagazine.

THURSDAY 30 com/whats_on

Bar, Kentish Town Rd, NW1 8PB (020 7485 6040). £5, w/flyer £4.

Sam Lewis Soul, blues and folk from the guitarist and his band playing tracks from album Everything You Are.

Heavy soulful rock four-piece from London. Bull And Gate,

And Bar, Dover St, W1S 4LQ (020 7629 9813). £15.

Folk from the Australian singer-songwriter and her band, including tracks from her album Despite The Snow Snow.

Mike Kintish and Nick Ingram perform electro-rock tracks.

Bridgefire, Son Of Bitch

Blues, funk and soul from the seven-piece. Dover St Restaurant

Submit your free listing at least three weeks prior to the publication by emailing gigs@pressassociation.com.

Tina Turner The Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter performs hits from her back catalogue.

O2 Arena, Peninsula Sq, SE10 0DX (0871 220 0260). £50-£200.

tntonline For full listings info go to tntonline.co.uk/ whats_on

FAST FORWARD AC/DC Wembley Stadium, Jun 26 (0871 2200 260). £55 Animal Collective Brixton Academy, Aug 20 (0844 477 2000). £18 Blur Hyde Park, Jul 2-3 (0870 534 444) £45 British India Dublin Castle, May 24 (020 8806 2668). £6.

John Butler Union Chapel, Jul 17 (0870 264 3333). £17.50 The Cat Empire Shepherds Bush Empire, Jul 3-4 (08444 77 2000) £17.50 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Latitude Festival, Jul 16-19, Henham Park, Suffolk, (latitudefestival.co.uk) £150 Die! Die! Die! Cargo, May 10, (020 7403 3331). £6.50 The Drones The Luminaire, May 21 (wegottickets.com). £8.50 Gurrumul Union Chapel, May 13 (0844 576 5483).£12.50 Manic Street Preachers Roundhouse, May 28-30 (0844 482 8008). £26.50 Mr Scruff Koko, May 23 (0870 4325 527). £15 Pet Shop Boys O2 Arena, Jun 19 (0870 534 4444). £30 Shapeshifter Forum, May 22 (0844 847 2405). £17.50 Toast Festival: Dave Dobbyn, Jayson Norris, Goldfish Clapham Common, Jun 26-28 (0871 230 5583). £15-£150

CLUBBING

32

Natasha Vuckovic PICKS OUT THIS WEEK’S BEST CLUB NIGHTS

CLUB OF THE WEEK PACHA’S EIGHTH BIRTHDAY It’s been eight years since clubbing’s most glamorous brand opened its London nightclub, and in true Pacha style it’s going all-out for its birthday celebration. Pacha Ibiza’s Sarah Main, an Aussie girl done good, heads the line-up with her smooth style of house music. She’s joined by Andy Baxter and Seb Fontaine. More treats for the feet can be found in the Global room with Shane Watcha of Zombies Ate My Brain fame.

» Pacha, Terminus Pl, SW1V 1JR

Victoria (0845 371 4489; pachalondon.com). Sat, Jan 9, 10pm-6am. £15 adv, £20 otd

beats/breaks

funk/soul

drum ’n’ bass

electro

hip-hop

CLUB NEWS

The International Music Summit (IMS) will return to Ibiza for the third year running in the last week of May. Organised by Radio 1 DJ and Ibiza regular Pete Tong, the

Deadmau5

summit aims to shape the future of electronic music, and is attended by a host of the industry’s leading professionals. The event has been known to open up a wide level of debate about the dance music business.

20%

hard house/trance

house/garage

PLUSH DAFUNK

Having travelled from club to club for years, Button Down Disco has now overcome its commitment issues and settled at Koko for a monthly residency, where electro meets indie. There’s a catch though – entry is by invitation only, which you have to request in advance at buttondowndisco.com.

Plush Dafunk has been rocking dance floors for about six years now with phenomenal house parties and impressive line-ups.

This week is no different as the Plush crew has scored Frenchman Martin Solveig with his oh-so-catchy house music to head up the party.

Other names include Afrojack and John Paul.

» Koko, Camden High St, NW1 7JE Mornington Crescent (0870 432 5527).

Sat, Jan 9, 9pm-3.30am. Free before 10pm, £10 after

» Matter, Peninsula Sq, SE10 0EN North Greenwich (020 7549 6686). Sat, Jan 9, 10pm-6am. £15 adv

We have two pairs of VIP tickets to Pacha’s eighth birthday to give away. To enter, email grabs@tntmagazine.com with ‘Happy birthday Pacha’ in the subject line by noon on Wed, Jan 6.

WIN

OFF

tntmagazine.com/shop tntmagazine.com

techno

BUTTON DOWN DISCO

all your favourites at

SHOP

rock/metal

A TASTE OF HOME RIGHT HERE IN LONDON

Tilllate ,Charley Gallay / Getty Images

Joel Zimmerman, aka Deadmau5, is heading to Brixton Academy. The Canadian dance music phenomenon, who has gained both commercial and underground credit, hits the South London venue on Friday, April 30, for a live show, and he’s got a brand new LED mouse-head that he’ll be donning for the first time in the UK. Tickets are on sale now for £26.50. See o2academybrixton.co.uk.

UP TO

MUSIC & CLUBS

CLUB GUIDE

news & sport

NEWS IN REVIEW

The week that was MONDAY

» TUESDAY » WEDNESDAY » THURSDAY » FRIDAY » SATURDAY » SUNDAY quote unquote

wrap up of last week’s events from australia, new zealand and south africa

“If it was any other normal part of the state, this amount of water would have definitely caused major flooding.

So it was a bit of a saving grace that it was sort of drought-stricken because the ground absorbed 75 per cent of that water.” SES spokesman Terry Pappas on flooding in northern NSW.

34

AUSTRALIA Unborn baby killed Police charged a man over a Melbourne crash that resulted in the death of an unborn baby.

The baby died in hospital after its mother, who was eight months pregnant, was seriously injured.

He was charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury and failing to stop at the scene of an accident.

Watson nears halfway Teen sailor Jessica Watson said the Southern Ocean had provided the toughest challenge since her departure on her bid to

Jessica Watson

Party time: Thousands of people flocked to Sydney Harbour to welcome 2010 with the traditional fireworks display on the Harbour Bridge. Police reported that crowds across the country were well behaved while they celebrated the start of a new decade.

sail solo around the world.

The 16-year-old from Queensland was just under 2100km from rounding Cape Horn.

Child killer freed Notorious child killer Austin Allan Hughes walked free from a Sydney jail but will spend the next three months in a community offenders’ support program.

Hughes, now 36, was sentenced to a minimum of 14 years’ jail in 1994 over the fatal bashing of his girlfriend’s sixyear-old son, John Ashfield, on the NSW south coast the

previous year. The then 20-yearold and the murdered boy’s mother attacked the child in front of his siblings over the course of several hours at their home in Nowra.

Drink driver off track An unlicensed drink driver more than four times the legal alcohol limit tried to evade police by driving through camping grounds.

He had been driving his unregistered vehicle along roads in the foreshore camping area and told police he did it to avoid the chances of being stopped for a breath test.

*And finally … idiots in croc trap

tntmagazine.com

Wildlife rangers described the act as “absolute stupidity”.

“It won’t be tolerated anymore,” senior ranger Peter Phillips said.

“We will investigate this case and if we find out who they are, they will be fined.

“The agency has zero tolerance with people interfering with croc traps.”

“He was a normal student, a student that was passing his subjects.” University of Wollongong vicechancellor Gerard Sutton on accused Nigerian terrorist Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab who studied at the university’s Dubai campus in the UAE. “If you live in an area with a catastrophic fire danger rating you should put your survival first and leave early.”

The Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia.

TNT er th weaport re

A crocodile trap

Avg min Avg max

Adelaide

21

37

Brisbane

23

29

Canberra

15

29

Darwin

26

34

Hobart

14

28

Melbourne

19

31

Perth

19

32

Sydney

20

25

Getty Images

Northern Territory authorities slammed two young men who got inside a baited crocodile trap while their friend stood on top of the cage.

Pictures of the men in the cage were posted on Facebook.

The Northern Territory News reported that the image was taken 73km south of Darwin.

Northern Territory Parks and

“If you’re one of these fools that can’t handle their grog and likes to go out and ruin other people’s nights, make yourself a new year’s resolution to grow up and behave yourself.”

NSW police minister Michael Daley.

What’s happening across the country

SUMMARY

■ Fires devastate the Western Australian community of Toodyay.

■ Premier Colin Barnett declares a state of emergency.

■ No deaths recorded.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA A man was killed in a gyrocopter crash east of Adelaide near the Murray River. The crash occurred a few kilometres from the riverside town of Mannum and was reported to police from houseboats on the river, police said.

A

devastating fire that destroyed more than 30 homes near the West Australian wheatbelt town of Toodyay was declared a state natural disaster.

Premier Colin Barnett said in Toodyay on Wednesday that people who had lost their properties could be eligible for a $3000 government hand-out that would be made available immediately through the Toodyay Shire.

He said agencies including child welfare services and power utilities were also being co-ordinated to respond to the “devastating” situation.

After touring the fire-

WESTERN AUSTRALIA A fire fighter surveys the damage in Toodyay

affected area, about 4km south of Toodyay, Barnett told reporters the scene had been one of devastation.

“It’s a devastating fire with great destruction,” he said.

“I want to express my sympathy to those who have lost their homes, over 30 houses destroyed by a very severe, very intense bushfire in

the surrounding area of Toodyay.

Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) chief operations officer Craig Hynes said the fire was on the “worst scale” with the potential for a “catastrophic result”.

He said the advice for people to leave their homes could result in a backlash.

Getty Images

Abbott turns on asylum seekers Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said he would turn back boats carrying suspected asylum seekers if elected, while accusing the Government of lacking the nerve to do it.

The interception of three boats in as many days renewed scrutiny of Australia’s border protection policy.

It was an untimely hat-trick for Australia, Abbott said, adding things would be different under an elected coalition government.

Turning back boats would be part of opposition policy, he told Fairfax Radio.

“An Australian government

COAST TO COAST

that doesn’t have the option of turning boats back in the right circumstances is a government that is not doing enough,” he said.

“It’s got to be part of your policy arsenal.”

Earlier, he said the Rudd Government lacked the “steel” needed to deter boat arrivals by turning them away.

“It’s not just that you get to Christmas Island and you get to Australia, it now seems that if you get to Indonesia you also get to Australia, because of the deal that Mr Rudd did with the people on the Oceanic Viking,” Abbott said.

Graffiti vandals in Western Australia face two years in jail or a $24,000 fine under tough new laws which came into effect on January 1.

NEW SOUTH WALES The $250,000 sports car reportedly given to model Lara Bingle by her cricketer fiance Michael Clarke was stolen. Media reports said the dark blue Aston Martin was an early Christmas present to the model in December 2008.

VICTORIA The husband of a woman found dead with her throat cut in her western Sydney home appeared briefly in a Melbourne court where he was remanded in custody over her death.

QUEENSLAND

Tony Abbott

Rescuers found the body of a 13-year-old boy in a swollen Brisbane creek 24 hours after he was last seen going under, clinging to a broken tree branch.

tntmagazine.com

NEWS & SPORT

Fires devastate WA

AUSTRALIA

35

NEW ZEALAND

The week that was

news & sport

MONDAY

36

» TUESDAY » WEDNESDAY » THURSDAY » FRIDAY » SATURDAY » SUNDAY

Whales beached

87

The average life expectancy in years which Kiwi women are expected to live by 2030.

Wakelin makes Pole

Breakout foiled An attempted breakout by a number of Auckland prisoners was foiled by Corrections staff.

The prisoners disabled a security camera in an internal yard at Auckland Central

70 running mad: A wild bull jumped the holding pens at the 46th Annual Rerewhakaaitu Rodeo south of Rotorua and heads for spectators. The bull managed to avoid trampling any spectators.

There were no injuries but some very shaken up rodeo fans.

Remand Prison and tried to prise open a mesh fence.

There were nine prisoners in the yard at the time, but it was not known how many were trying to escape, acting assistant regional manager Neville Mark said.

Former All Black dies

Auckland Central Remand Prison

Former All Black Paul Sapsford died in a jet-boating accident in the Mackenzie Country.

Sapsford, 60, a dentist, died as a result of injuries received on Lake Ohau, senior constable Les Andrews told the Otago Daily Times.

Sapsford, a prop who played

*And finally … hoarders a fire risk

tntmagazine.com

of the high amount of fuel.

“There are often narrow internal pathways and blocked exits which make it difficult for people to get out and also make it hard for firefighters to get in to rescue them and attack the fire,” Beever told stuff.co.nz.

Christchurch area commander Dan Coward said hoarding was an issue in 2 per cent of fires.

seven games for the All Blacks on the 1976 tour to Argentina, also played for New Zealand Universities from 1973-76.

Grandfather drowns A 55-year-old man drowned at 90 Mile Beach in the Far North while saving his two grandchildren from a rip.

Jackie Maynard Wiki of Te Kao, 46km south west of Cape Reinga, was gathering seafood when he saw one of the children being carried out by the rip.

Wiki was under the water holding his grandson up until another person on the beach rescued the child, police said.

The percentage rise in calls to youth help lines during the 2009 Christmas period.

25m

The amount in dollars that it cost fire services as a result of false call-outs.

41

The percentage of fire service call-outs that were false alarms.

80

The percentage of people who use the internet to look up medical matters.

2850

The amount in dollars a punter bet at the Ellerslie races to win $776,245. He placed a boxed multi-bet over six races and chose 57 line combinations at $50 each.

TNT er th weaport re

Avg min Avg max

Auckland

16

Wellington

12

21

Christchurch 10

20

11

18

Dunedin

22

Getty Images, NZPA

Hoarders beware – you’re more at risk of dying in a house fire.

Fire Risk Management for the New Zealand Fire Service director Paula Beever said elderly men were particularly at risk as hoarding became a growing problem.

Beever said more fire fighting resources had to be used than normal residential fires because

82

The average life expectancy in years which Kiwi men are expected to live by 2030.

More than 120 whales died in separate beachings.

Sixty-three whales, mostly cows with calves, beached themselves at Colville Bay, north of Coromandel township, on the North Island’s east coast.

Twizel’s Kylie Wakelin and her Commonwealth Antarctic expedition team made it to the South Pole after 50 days’ trekking – making her the first New Zealand woman to achieve the feat.

Wakelin described her sevenwoman team’s effort as “absolutely brilliant”.

Each woman was in good health, having towed an 80kg sled loaded with food, fuel and equipment for 39 days.

WEEK IN NUMBERS

SUMMARY

■ Helen Clark takes out top award in New Year Honours list.

■ Five new Knights and one Dame announced.

■ First titular awards since 2000 when they were abolished by Clark.

A man arrested in connection with the shooting of an Auckland police officer was given bail. The policeman suffered serious injuries when he walked into a hail of bullets on December 22 in Papatoetoe while investigating a car that looked like it was being tampered with.

Helen Clark has been honoured for her work

government in 2000.

Prime Minister John Key announced the reinstatement of the titles in March, saying it was about celebrating the success and contribution of outstanding New Zealanders.

Film director Peter Jackson, Professor Mason Durie, Douglas Myers and Justice Bruce Robertson were made

Knights Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (KNZM), and American billionaire Julian Robertson, was made an honorary KNZM. Lesley Max was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Clark was prime minister from 1999 to 2008.

Getty Images

Advertising drug letter causes stir An advertising agency that invited people to try the methamphetamine drug P, in a letter accompanied by a bag of rock salt, has apologised.

Hundreds of people, including New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, got the letter and the rock salt from the agency, CreativeBank, which said it was supporting the Stellar Trust and its antidrug campaign.

The letter was crudely written and purposely misspelled, The New Zealand Herald reported.

“Don’t know if u ever tried P before but lots of Kiwis have

What’s happening across the country

UPPER NORTH ISLAND

H

elen Clark topped the New Year Honours, being appointed a member of the Order of New Zealand (ONZ).

Five firefighters were recognised with the Queen’s Service Medal (QSM) for their roles during or after the explosion and fire at the Tamahere coolstore in Waikato which claimed the life of their colleague and seriously injured seven others.

Five people have been made Knights and one a Dame – the first new titular honours to be awarded since their abolition under Clark’s Labour

COAST TO COAST

and they cant get enough of it. its such awesomly mindblowing stuff!” the letter said.

It also said the recipient’s name came from “the guys at creativebank, their into P and looking 4 people to join them”.

The agency’s executive director, Marco Marinkovich, said in an apology email the letter was designed to shock.

“The intent to shock was deliberate and has reacted badly on seven of the 241 people we sent this card containing rock salt to,” he said.

One unnamed recipient filed a complaint with police.

LOWER NORTH ISLAND Two French tourists narrowly escaped a prison sentence because a Wellington judge didn’t want to spend taxpayers’ money. The pair admitted to stealing food from a supermarket in the city.

UPPER SOUTH ISLAND A 26-year-old man accused of a Christmas morning break-in where children’s presents were taken, abandoned his bid for release on bail as more burglary charges were laid against him in Christchurch District Court.

LOWER SOUTH ISLAND

The drug P

A Dunedin woman was attacked at her home twice while her young children slept. The 31-yearold was assaulted by a man outside her house. About 15 minutes later one of the assailants returned and sexually assaulted her, senior sergeant Kallum Croudis said.

tntmagazine.com

NEWS & SPORT

Clark honoured

NEW ZEALAND

37

SOUTH AFRICA

The week that was

news & sport

MONDAY

38

» TUESDAY » WEDNESDAY » THURSDAY » FRIDAY » SATURDAY » SUNDAY

Call for extradition

97.42

The percentage of students who passed the Independent Examinations Board matric exams.

79.54

Vultures struggling

Zuma optimistic President Jacob Zuma called on South Africans to work together in making 2010 the most important year in the country’s

Jacob Zuma

The percentage of students who sat the matric exams who qualified for university. happy days: About 150,000 New Year party revellers and holidaymakers take to the North Pier Beach to spend New Year’s Day in Durban. National police commissioner Bheki Cele said more than 1000 people were arrested during the festive season.

history since 1994.

Referring to the Fifa World Cup in his New Year’s message, Zuma said it would be the impetus behind nation-building and economic recovery.

could, while those who opted for a refund were also assisted.

The SA Civil Aviation Authority grounded Airlink’s 14 Jetstream aircraft last month.

Airlink fighting on

A South African teenager lost a leg and an arm after he was attacked by a shark in Ponta de Ouro in southern Mozambique.

Local media said the boy, who was on holiday with his parents, was airlifted to a KwaZulu-Natal hospital after the incident.

The area is popular among South African tourists for its scenic diving and fishing sites.

SA Airlink said it was continuing to reroute and refund flights following the grounding of 14 of its Jetstream aircraft due to safety concerns.

Talks between the airline and the manufacturer about the problems also continued.

Airlink’s Karin Murray said they were accommodating and rerouting passengers where they

Teen loses limbs

tough ride: Thirtyseven-year-old photographer Geoff Brink is pictured on the road to unicycle a distance of 1700km from the city of Durban to the city of Cape Town to raise awareness of the scourge of landmines. The ride will take six weeks.

tntmagazine.com

840

The amount of drivers who were killed on South African roads during December.

The family of notorious criminal Ananias Mathe said it would ask for him to be extradited back to Mozambique.

Mathe was sentenced to 54 years in prison last month after being convicted on 64 charges including armed robbery and rape.

His brother said he would better off in Mozambique so he could be closer to his three wives and children.

Vulture numbers were being threatened by people keen on improving their luck.

Traditional medicines advocate vulture brains being dried out to be smoked.

Researchers said if the practice continued at its current rate vultures could be extinct in southern Africa by 2040.

WEEK IN NUMBERS

60

The number of homes destroyed during a storm near the town of Brits in the North West Province.

18

The number of large dagga bags a female police station commissioner in the Western Cape allegedly stole from the evidence room.

50m

The record amount in rand the National Lottery operator Gidani set aside for the first two Lotto draws of 2010.

TNT er h weat rt repo

Avg min Avg max

Johannesburg 16

26

18

28

Cape Town

17

26

Durban

20

26

Pretoria

East London 16

26

Bloemfontein 15

28

Port Elizabeth 16

25

What’s happening across the country

SUMMARY

■ President Jacob Zuma is set to marry Thobeka Mabhija this week.

■ It will be the president’s fifth marriage.

■ The wedding is expected to be a private affair.

GAUTENG A security guard at a girl’s school was involved in a shootout with a man attempting to break into the school.

Nobody was injured in the shootout, which happened at St Mary’s School in Waverley.

P

resident Jacob Zuma will marry his fifth wife this week.

While no official statement had been released by Zuma’s office, it was believed he would marry 36-year-old Thobeka Mabhija.

He was due to marry Mabhija last year but his political commitments made the timing of the union difficult to organise.

Zuma apparently paid ilobolo to the Mabhija family two years ago.

The Sowetan reported the wedding at his homestead at Nkandla would be a private affair with only a small

MPUMALANGA Thobeka Mabhija with her husband-to-be Jacob Zuma

amount of family, friends and locals present.

The union comes only two years after Zuma married Nompumelelo Ntuli-Zuma.

Zuma first married Sizakele Khumalo in 1973.

He also married foreign minister Nkosazana DlaminiZuma, though the pair divorced in 1998, while his

third wife Kate Mantsho Zuma died in 2000.

Mabhija was born in Durban and graduated from the University of Zululand with a Bachelor of Commerce.

She has been at Zuma’s side during many official engagements already, including his state of the nation address in June.

Getty Images

Brutus dies after battle with cancer Poet and anti-apartheid campaigner Dennis Brutus died aged 85.

Brutus died in Cape Town after battling prostate cancer for more than a year.

He was hailed across the nation as a man who used his influence to further the cause of the disadvantaged.

He was born in what was then Rhodesia but spent most of his formative years in Port Elizabeth.

He studied at the University of Fort Hare and the University of the Witwatersrand and was instrumental in having South Africa banned from the

COAST TO COAST

Olympic Games after helping to found the South African Non-Racial Olympic Committee in the 1960s.

He was an active member of the Anti-Coloured Affairs Department (ACAD) organisation and was jailed for 18 months on Robben Island in 1963.

After being released form jail he fled overseas and spent 25 years abroad, mostly in the US and the UK. Brutus was later listed by the South African government as among the 20 “most dangerous” South Africans living abroad.

Barberton Magistrate’s Court released a former Mbombela municipal manager who was charged with attempted murder. It was alleged Bruno Simon Vilane doused a 30-year-old in fuel and set him alight.

EASTERN CAPE A man survived a shark attack at Port Alfred. The Witness reported that the man was bitten five times by a raggedtooth shark.

LIMPOPO Five security guards were arrested after two shops were robbed. Police said the guards were on duty when the robberies occurred and were assisting with inquiries.

KWAZULUNATAL

An undated photo of Dennis Brutus

Owners of unauthorised resorts in iSimangaliso Wetlands Park have refused to demolish them. The Durban High Court ruled they should be demolished by January 1.

tntmagazine.com

NEWS & SPORT

Zuma to wed again

SOUTH AFRICA

39

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Sporting life MONDAY

CRICKET Australia’s Twenty20 Big Bash gets underway. The imports were the big hits in the first week with players like Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo making strong impressions.

TUESDAY

FOOTBALL Bafana Bafana hit another hurdle when officials have to delay naming a squad for a January 16 training camp because coach Carlos Alberto is still holidaying in Brazil.

WEDNESDAY

FOOTBALL Socceroos stalwart Craig Moore parts ways with the Brisbane Roar after issuing the club an ultimatum over the manager. It seems Moore is now heading to Scotland.

THURSDAY

TENNIS Australia’s Casey Dellacqua’s comeback gains momentum as she gets a wildcard to the Sydney International. She’s also got a wildcard for the Australian Open.

THE

FRIDAY

BOXING Organisers of a fight between South African ‘White Buffalo’ Francois Botha and Evander Holyfield confirm the fight will go ahead in Uganda on January 16. Let it go boys.

SATURDAY

CYCLING Aussie star Robbie McEwan takes another step on his comeback trail by finishing third in the opening race of the Jayco Bay Classic criterium series at Geelong.

SUNDAY

ON THE

BOX

TUESDAY ICE HOCKEY NY Rangers V Boston NHL 12am ESPN

ON THE

BOX

WEDNESDAY FOOTBALL Man City V Man Utd Carling Cup semi-final 7.45pm BBC1

BOX

ON THE

TENNIS Lleyton Hewitt’s ex-fiancée Kim Clijsters marks her return to Australia with an easy win at the Brisbane International. With a few more wins the Belgian will be ‘Aussie Kim’ again soon.

Even through the “ good times I have

reassessed whether I’m the right man for the job

”

MONDAY DARTS World Darts Championships Best of the best 6pm BBC2

Graeme Smith answers ridiculous questions about whether he is the best man to be leading the Proteas.

THURSDAY TENNIS Qatar Open Quarter-final action 12pm British Eurosport 2

FRIDAY GOLF 2010 Africa Open European Tour in South Africa 1.30pm Sky Sports 2 SATURDAY RUGBY UNION Leicester V Wasps Guinness Premiership 5.30pm Sky Sports 1 SUNDAY FOOTBALL Juventus V AC Milan Serie A 7.45pm Sky Sports 1

PUB TALK: BRITISH SPORT EXPLAINED

Getty Images

Football transfer window What the hell is going on here?

There are two periods during the year when clubs can stock up. They can only buy players in January and from the start of June until the end of August.

What’s in it for the players?

Money is one big carrott,

but some players also want out of a club because they’re not getting much playing time.

Do many players move at this time of year?

Most of the big moves are in the summer. The rumour already going around is that Real Madrid will bid for Wayne Rooney (pictured) in June.

tntmagazine.com

NEWS & SPORT

ON BOX

This week’s winners and losers

41

cricket Around the NEWS & SPORT

grounds

42

England celebrate as Morne Morkel departs

Afridi willing Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi said he was willing to drop a lucrative Twenty20 deal to play Test cricket again. Afridi is currently playing for South Australia in the Twenty20 Big Bash.

Big Bash success Cricket Australia said it would investigate creating a special window for the Twenty20 Big Bash in coming years. Big crowds in the 2009/10 competition have prompted officials to look at ways of getting Australia’s Test stars involved.

Johnson flying Despite an indifferent Ashes series Mitchell Johnson finished the 2009 calendar year as Test cricket’s leading wicket-taker. Johnson took 63 wickets at 27.42 with Graeme Swann coming in second with 54 wickets at 27.92.

Ponting cautious Ricky Ponting expressed his concerns about the future of Sheffield Shield cricket with the promise of riches luring young players to Twenty20.

Ponting said Cricket Australia officials had to protect the Shield competition to ensure Australia stayed near the top of Test cricket.

Taylor in top 10 New Zealand’s Ross Taylor cracked the ICC’s top 10 batsmen for the first time in the latest rankings. Taylor was ranked at No.9 with Jacques Kallis. Michael Clarke was the only Australian in the top 10 coming in at No.6.

Steyn still on top

tntmagazine.com

South Africa found themselves with a battle on their hands after falling behind 1-0 in their Test series against England.

The Proteas took a battering at the hands of Andrew Strauss’s men in the second Test at Durban.

After the first Test finished in a draw, England won the second by an innings and 98 runs.

South Africa struggled to get

into the match as the English took control from the outset limiting the hosts to 343 in their first innings.

Captain Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis top-scored with 75 each.

Strauss’ men capitalised on the opportunity they created by amassing a huge 9-574 declared in their first dig.

Smith’s men had no answer to Alastair Cook (118) or Ian Bell (140) who removed any

doubt about their positions in the England set-up.

Morne Morkel finished the best of the South African bowlers with 3-78.

Needing 231 to even make England bat again, South Africa folded to be bowled out for an embarrassing 133.

Graeme Swann (5-54) was the chief destroyer, but he was ably supported by Stuart Broad who bowled superbly to take 4-43.

Ntini’s career at crossroads Makhaya Ntini

The cricket career of Makhaya Ntini may be over after he was dropped for the third Test against England.

While the Proteas’ legend racked up his 100th Test in the opening match of the series he went wicketless in the second Test after his form was already under the microscope.

Leading into the match South Africa captain Graeme Smith admitted dealing with Ntini’s future was a delicate operation because of his status in South Africa.

“Makhaya is an icon through the country, not only the most iconic player of colour that we have but also one of our most iconic cricketers in

Take a punt

9-2

The odds being offered on Hashim Amla

being the top scorer for South Africa in the third Test.

Source: williamhill.com

terms of performance over the last decade,” Smith told cricinfo.com.

“When senior players are at the point where there are a lot of questions being asked about them it’s always a terrible, tough time for any leadership group to manage.”

ON THE BOX Monday 8.30am Sky Sports 1 South Africa v England

Getty Images

South African Dale Steyn was the No.1 bowler in the latest ICC rankings. Steyn edged out Mitchell Johnson while Makhaya Ntini was at 8 and retiring New Zealander Shane Bond was 10.

England take lead

cricket

Pakistan swing bowler Mohammad Asif made a mockery of Ricky Ponting’s decision to bat first on one of the greenest SCG pitches in living memory as Australia were bundled out for 127.

Asif (6-41) made the most of the early inroads by fellow quick Mohammad Sami (3-27) as the home side crumbled in the humid, overcast conditions on a rain-affected opening day of the second Test.

It was Australia’s equal fourth-lowest total against Pakistan but it could have been even worse.

The hosts slipped to 7-62 at one stage before No.8 Mitchell Johnson (38) and No.9 Nathan Hauritz (21) put on 42 to save their side from even greater embarrassment.

Sami (3-27) initiated the

Hughes back

Michael Clarke checks everything is where it should be after copping one where it hurts

Young gun Phillip Hughes returned to the Australian side on Sunday after Simon Katich failed a fitness test.

Katich suffered an injured elbow after he was struck in the first Test against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

43

carnage by having Australia’s three top batsmen back in the pavilion with the tally having only just reached double figures.

Sami started in sensational fashion by dismissing Phillip Hughes and skipper Ponting for ducks in successive deliveries.

Pakistan were 0-14 in reply.

ON THE BOX monday 11.25pm Sky Sports 1 australia v pakistan

Getty Images

Aussies win Boxing Day Test Ricky Ponting believes his bowlers are at the top of their game and that Australia are again headed for world domination.

Delighted by his attack’s efforts in the 170-run win over Pakistan in the first Test, the Australian skipper hailed the victory at the MCG one of the best of recent times.

Ponting could not think of an occasion where this group of bowlers had performed better, after they took just 27 overs on the fifth day to claim the remaining seven Pakistani wickets.

“The bowling through the game has been as good as it’s been in our team for the last couple of years,” he said.

“It’s been a great game for us. It’s one of our best Test wins in quite a while, I think, right from the start of the game, from the [Simon] Katich and [Shane] Watson partnership which really

Shane Watson was man of the match in the first Test

set the platform.”

Set 422 to win, Pakistan were all out for 251 in their second innings, two overs after lunch.

Mitchell Johnson’s 3-46 gave him a match return of 6-82 and Hauritz’s 5-101 was his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class

news & sport

Pakistan hit back at SCG

cricket, after his Test-best 75, as nightwatchman.

Watson was man of the match for his 93 and unbeaten 120 in the second innings.

After being run out in the first innings, Watson was lucky the second time around when he was dropped on 99.

Ponting gets more records Victory in the first match in Melbourne made Ricky Ponting the most successful captain and player in Test cricket history.

Australia’s win was Ponting’s 42nd as skipper and 93rd as player, both more than anyone else in the game.

Ponting was proud of those achievements and optimistic he had a side that could return Australian cricket to the top of the tree.

Under Steve Waugh and then Ponting, Australia dominated world cricket last decade until the exodus of several champion players across 2007-08 and series losses to India (away in 2008), South Africa (home in 2009) and England (away in 2009).

“We haven’t won everything that we’ve played in, but we’ve been ultra-competitive against every team in every condition,” Ponting said.

tntmagazine.com

general

NEWS & SPORT

Sam Stosur

44

Aussies in trouble Australia’s Hopman Cup team’s hopes were hanging by a thread after a shock 2-1 loss to Romania.

World No.13 Sam Stosur was upset 3-6 6-4 6-3 by 19-year-old Sorana Cirstea before Lleyton Hewitt came from a set down to notch a fighting 3-6 6-3 7-6 (7-2) triumph over 198cm giant Victor Hanescu.

But Stosur and Hewitt, despite boasting 24 doubles titles between them, struggled to gel in the mixed format,

crashing to an embarrassing 7-5 6-1 defeat to hand the tie to Romania.

The tournament’s top seeds must now win their encounters against the US and Spain, plus rely on other results to fall their way, in order to top their group and reach the final.

“I haven’t played a lot of doubles in the last few years, I’ve been getting older so I’ve been concentrating on singles a bit more,” Hewitt said.

“But they played too well,

they played smart tennis out there and they served a bit better than we did.”

Hewitt struggled to cope with Hanescu’s towering reach and deft drop shots early in the men’s singles as the Romanian took the first set in 38 minutes.

But Hewitt displayed his trademark fight throughout the remainder of the contest, taking out the second set before saving several break points in the third.

Hewitt ready for Australian Open

tntmagazine.com

Take a punt

5-1

The tasty odds being offered on Rafael Nadal to

win the Australian Open in Melbourne later this month.

Source: williamhill.com

with a quarter-final appearance at Wimbledon and an ATP title win in Houston the highlights of his 2009.

“I feel as fit as I’ve ever been and I feel as strong as I’ve ever been,” Hewitt said.

World No.13 Sam Stosur believes she needs to tidy up her game before she can achieve Grand Slam glory.

But the 25-year-old said she had the on-court weapons needed to win a major.

“If I match up my game against a lot of the girls that have won Grand Slams, I’ve got as good a serve as them, I’ve got as good a forehand, I move well and everything else,” Stosur said.

“It’s just tidying all those things … and making it happen for those two weeks of the year.”

Stosur enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2009, winning her maiden WTA title, breaking into the world’s top 20 and making the semifinals at the French Open.

Comeback trail busy Australia’s own comeback queen, Alicia Molik, said it was not surprising Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin had returned to add spice to world tennis.

All three, aged between 27 and 28, were restarting careers or continuing early steps back when the 2010 Brisbane International began on Sunday.

Molik, now ranked 198th in the world after two years off, likened their respective breaks to long service leave.

“A lot of us have played for so many years that it’s no different to anyone else in another job ­– 10 years of the same occupation you are deserving of long-service,” Molik said

ON THE BOX monday 9am British Eurosport Lleyton Hewitt

Brisbane international

Getty Images

A fighting fit Lleyton Hewitt will attempt to cause “serious damage” at the 2010 Australian Open as he embarks on a campaign to snare his third Grand Slam title.

Hewitt said he was injury free and in the best shape ever ahead of yet another careerdefining year.

The 28-year-old’s ranking slumped to 108 in February last year following careersaving hip surgery but the South Australian has since rocketed to 22 in the world,

Stosur still confident

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general Around the NEWS & SPORT

grounds

46

Green still hoping Aussie boxer Danny Green should know by January 10 whether his fight with Bernard Hopkins will go ahead. While internet reports suggested the fight could fall through due to financial disagreements, Green stressed he was doing everything he could to bring the former long-standing middleweight world champion to Australia.

Smeltz in demand All Whites star Shane Smeltz was apparently close to a deal with a European club.

The Kiwi striker has been in superb form for the Gold Coast in the A-League bagging his second hat-trick of the season last week.

Super 15 trouble The new Melbourne Super 15 franchise, which was due to enter the competition in 2011, was in disarray with investors pulling out after failing to agree to terms with the Australian Rugby Union over funding. The parties reached an impasse over funding, with the ARU unwilling to match an annual grant of A$4.2m to the existing Australian Super sides.

Sydney to Hobart winner Alfa Romeo

Alfa claims classic New Zealand maxi Alfa Romeo took line honours in the 65th annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race for her 146th consecutive ocean classic victory.

Alfa Romeo, skippered by Kiwi salt Neville Crichton, was never headed after leading the 100-strong fleet out of Sydney Heads on Boxing Day. She completed the slow 630 nautical mile voyage (1170km) in two days, nine hours, two

Newcastle veteran Steve Simpson said he might retire at the end of the 2010 NRL season. Simpson said he was unsure if his body could stand up to another year.

Thurston blow

Perry Crosswhite

The 2010 Commonwealth Games would proceed and Australia was set to compete even if England pulled out over security concerns, Australian Games chief Perry Crosswhite said.

Crosswhite said he had no reason to question security arrangements but was seeking more information over a report citing senior government sources saying there’s “virtually no chance” England would send a team to the New Delhi Games in October.

Crosswhite, a member of the co-ordination commmission overseeing Delhi’s preparations, said Australia remained committed to the

Games where it’s expected to field one of the largest teams.

And he was confident the Games would go on even if England withdrew.

“Absolutely. The Games will happen. Whether it’s only one team out of 71 nations, it won’t be good for the Games, but they will happen,” he said.

“I have nothing new to change our view … everything is on track to go.

“We will take the best advice we can get and at this stage it [security] is adequate.

“I have not had one athlete, one manager, one coach ­– no one has contacted me with the view that they shouldn’t be going.”

Getty Images

tntmagazine.com

her staggering credentials from the start, gradually building her lead throughout the race and holding off a late charge from Wild Oats.

Alpha caught a decisive breeze in waters off the NSW/ Victoria border on the first morning to elude her rivals.

Fourth-placed Investec Loyal, a yacht crewed partly by sporting stars including boxer Danny Green and Wallaby Phil Waugh, was more than 70 nautical miles off the pace.

Australia commits to 2010 Games

Simpson unsure

Johnathan Thurston’s hopes of playing for the Wallabies were dealt a severe blow when the ARU said it would not pay him anywhere near the A$1 million he hoped for.

It was reported Matt Giteau had the ARU’s biggest base contract at about $500,000 and Thurston could expect to earn less than that.

minutes and ten seconds.

The 100-footer was last defeated in 2005 by Wild Oats XI in this race, when the record was set of one day, 18 hours, 40 minutes and 10 seconds.

The masterful victory by the internationally accomplished crew ended the four-year consecutive line honours reign of Wild Oats XI, skippered by the humble Mark Richards.

Crichton said Alfa asserted

Fairfax media reported that Mason had agreed to a two-year deal to join the NRL premiers, but Waldron quickly denied the story.

In a statement released by the Storm, the club was emphatic in their inability to sign the former Test forward.

“I personally communicated to Willie Mason over a fortnight ago that we were not and would not be in a position to offer him a contract for 2010,” Waldron said in the statement.

“That message was also communicated to his manager.

“We wish Willie all the best

Olympic, World and Commonwealth shot put champion Valerie Vili is zeroing in on a three-peat after predictably being named among the finalists for New Zealand sport’s 2009 Halberg Awards.

Sportswoman of the year and the supreme award winner in 2007-08 Vili, who defended her world crown in Berlin in August, will become only the second athlete to win three successive supreme awards if she is crowned on February 4 in Auckland.

The All Whites appear favourites for the team of the year award ahead of women’s 420 sailing world champions Alexandra Maloney and Bianca Barbarich-Bacher.

Ricki Herbert is favourite for coach of the year.

Willie Mason doesn’t have much to smile about

for the future but unattributed reports that we have signed him for next year and 2011 are completely false.”

Mason remains on the outer at the Roosters, with new coach Brian Smith offering the second rower extended leave

to pursue opportunities elsewhere at other clubs.

It was believed Mason’s agent was in Europe last week pursuing deals with European rugby league and union clubs, but Mason said he hoped he could stay in the NRL.

Local Socceroos get chance Defender Simon Colosimo said the Socceroos’ predominantly A-League squad had brought just as high an intensity to their Asian Cup qualifier preparation as the European stars they had replaced.

The Socceroos said they were focused and confident of a result against Kuwait on Wednesday in a match that would shape both their Asian Cup hopes and players’ World Cup destinies.

The squad of mainly A-League players blended with eight overseas-based Socceroos brought in the New Year with some gruelling sessions at their training camp in Dubai.

And Sydney FC defender Colosimo said the mood in the camp was focused and intensity just as high as a full-strength squad as the team prepared to seal Australia’s qualification to the 2011 Asian Cup finals.

“All the boys have gone in

Pim Verbeek has taken a young squad to Kuwait

and there’s no easy passes, everything’s at a pretty high intensity, everyone’s focused,” Colosimo said from Dubai.

“I wouldn’t expect anything different [in the intensity] if the majority of the squad came from Europe.

“You’re with the national team and you’re under Pim’s [Verbeek] watchful eye, and you go out there and it’s been quite intense.

“Knowing you’re playing for your country, every

Take a punt

7-2

The odds of a

draw between the Socceroos

and Kuwait in this week’s Asia Cup qualifier, Source: betfair.com

training session counts.”

The Socceroos share the top of Asian Cup Group B with Kuwait and the winners will book a place for the tournament finals in Qatar.

Herbert toys with rivalry New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert wasn’t ruling out resurrecting trans-Tasman football rivalry with a clash against the Socceroos in the lead up to the World Cup. The Socceroos and All Whites have not played each other since clashing in London in June 2005, when the Australians prevailed 1-0.

Both teams have yet to finalise their warm-up matches prior to the World Cup. “From a historical point of view there’s nothing better than when you played against Australia,” Herbert said.

“I think that trans-Tasman rivalry in any sport is massive.

“We will see. Maybe I will have a chat with [Socceroo coach] Pim [Verbeek] one day and see what we can do.”

Herbert hopes to keep his locally-based players together once their domestic commitments finish.

tntmagazine.com

news & sport

Mason unwanted

Vili aims for award

Melbourne Storm chief executive Brian Waldron said the club had not and would not sign out-of-favour Sydney Roosters forward Willie Mason for the 2010 NRL season.

Getty Images

general

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ON THE

BREAK Aussie snooker star Neil Robertson talks about tempering his attacking instincts and facing the great Ronnie O’Sullivan WORDS TOM STURROCK

T

his weekend, the 2010 Masters kicks off at Wembley Arena, pitting the best snooker players in the world against each other for one of the sport’s biggest purses. The stakes are high but Australia’s Neil Robertson (pictured), ranked ninth in the world, insists anything can happen.

“You see matches where someone breaks, and hasn’t hit a great shot, and the other guy then clears the table. It’s a harsh part of the game,” Robertson says.

“Those centimetres or inches can really count and any shot can turn a match. If another player

MAKING THE MOVE Robertson, 27, was born in Melbourne, but has been based in Cambridge since 2003 – a trade-off considered inevitable by professionals.

“With snooker the way it is, the best players and biggest tournaments are over here, so you have to base yourself here. Even the Chinese players are all here,” he says. ”I practice with Joe Perry, who’s ranked 12th in the world, so there’s good practice every day. It’s amazing looking back – I’ve had some great success.”

Playing snooker for a living might sound like a laugh – kicking around with your mates in a pool hall over a few pints – but Robertson knows a more intense focus is required.

“If you really don’t feel like it, you can give yourself a day off and I’ve had periods where I’ve been a bit lazy like that, taking a week off when I shouldn’t – but I’m better now,” he says.

“Practice can be anywhere from three to six hours – I’ll play matches throughout the day, just like I would at a real tournament.”

A STEEP LEARNING CURVE As any garage pool shark knows, it’s one thing to produce your best when no one is watching, but quite another to perform under the pressure of a packed house.

“A lot of players have that problem – they play well in practice but in front of crowds or TV cameras, they struggle,” Robertson says.

“I’ve been lucky with that – if anything, I play my best snooker like that. If I play in the early rounds against a lesser-known player, I’ve often

If another player “ gets on a roll, you can be out of it ”

Getty Images

been vulnerable because I haven’t felt like I’m really buzzing.”

When Robertson first emerged, he impressed with his shot-making and his ability to take control of a frame quickly. But tactically, he was often exposed against the best players.

“I used to just be an all-out attacking player and I could only win against the top players if I brought my A-game,” he says. ”If I was a little bit off, I’d always get beaten, but I’ve developed my tactics a bit more and I can now rely on that to create opportunities even if I’m not playing at my absolute best.”

RONNIE AWAITS At the Masters, Robertson is set to face Ronnie O’Sullivan in the first round. For the uninitiated, O’Sullivan is to snooker what Tiger Woods is to golf – maybe not as dominant, but arguably

Lining them up

more talented and definitely more combustible.

“It’ll be fantastic – a great way to start the event,” Robertson says of his meeting with the three-time world champion and four-time Masters winner.

“In previous meetings it’s 2-2 – I’ve always played my own game and tried to take him on. I’m not the kind of player to tie up the game and have people turn off their TV.” While backing himself in, Robertson is effusive about O’Sullivan’s OTT ability.

“He’s a genius, there’s no doubt about that. That word gets used a lot in sport, but the way he plays with both hands is just amazing, and the speed he plays and reads the game.

“He can see the shots within half a second, when it takes most guys a bit longer. On an all-round level he’s great to watch.

He’s one of the guys I’d pay to see play.”

» The Masters at Wembley Arena (0844 815 0815; worldsnooker.com/ masters). Jan 10-17.

From £10

ON THE BOX SUNDAY 11am British Eurosport 2

2010 MASTERS

Ronnie ‘The Rocket’ O’Sullivan is the archetypal Essex lad. His old man is in jail for murdering one of the Kray twins’ bodyguards and his mum did time for tax evasion. O’Sullivan (below), 35, suffers depression, has been treated for drug issues and often threatens to quit – he’s also the most naturally talented player ever.

O’Sullivan can play with his left or right hand, enabling him to hit otherwise awkward shot with relative ease.

When he first displayed this ability in the 1996 World Championship, he was accused of disrespect, but claimed he played better with his left hand than his opponent could with his right. After he played three frames of snooker against former world championship runner-up Rex Williams, and won all three, the charge of bringing the game into disrepute was dropped.

For evidence of his ability, type ‘Ronnie O’Sullivan maximum’ into YouTube. Or try ‘Ronnie O’Sullivan nosh’ for a hilarious press conference.

NEWS & SPORT

WHAT MAKES ‘THE ROCKET’ SO SPECIAL?

gets on a roll, you can be out of it, and there’s not much you can do about it.”

49

CAREERS

Did your London experience make you more employable?

ON THE JOB REBECCA TARVIT Career Acting director of Statewide Recruitment Services, Queensland Health Shared Services Partner Age 30 Lives Brisbane, Australia How long were you in London and why did you leave?

I ended up staying for three

I began my time in London as an agency ITU nurse and ended up having a total career change. I found my work experience in London to be beneficial when it came to employment in Australia.

51

My job, friends, the history and culture, long walks, Carluccio’s, sitting by Richmond Bridge, Twickenham Tandoori and the Eel Pie Pub in Church Street, easy access to Europe and beyond, long twilight in summer, and the excuse to drink hot chocolate in winter.

KIWIS RECOVERING

New data shows more than 500,000 older Australians say they intend to never retire as a result of the global financial crisis, while the number of Australians already retired has shrunk by 65,000 in a year.

New Zealand is on the road to recovery after emerging from a “once-in-a-lifetime” crisis, according to the Government’s latest report, with projections for growth and unemployment improving since June.

OFFICE GURU Samantha Baden TACKLES YOUR CAREER DRAMAS

TNT Images

Your monthly guide to moving to Australia and New Zealand

What do you miss most about London?

WORK UNTIL YOU DROP

Are a lot of people moving to Australia in the current economic climate?

Rachel Baldy, of Hays, says she has up to 200 enquiries a month in the UK from people seeking work in Australia and New Zealand, and of those

RETURNING HOME

applicants around 60 per cent are people from the UK and Ireland, while 20 per cent are Australians and Kiwis.

Some have used the downturn to reassess their priorities, but others want to be closer to their families.

Blue collar drop-off A

ustralian managers and professionals have prospered through the economic downturn, while tradespeople, machine operators and clerical staff have been laid off.

New employment figures show big swings in the labour force as industries such as manufacturing, property and construction bear the brunt, while health and education are relatively untouched.

Managers have been the big

winners, with around 100,000 new full-time positions created over the past year.

The number of full-time tradespeople has dropped by 107,400, while the number of machinery operators is down by 65,300, and labourers down by 28,400.

tntjobs.co.uk Sign up for job alerts and get more career advice at tntjobs.co.uk

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A GREAT JOB MAKES IT ALL WORTHWHILE Welcome to the UK. Robert Walters is a leading global recruitment consultancy, specialising in placing high calibre professionals into permanent, contract and temporary positions at all management OHYHOV :H VSHFLDOLVH LQ WKH DFFRXQWLQJ À QDQFH EDQNLQJ ULVN FRPSOLDQFH ,7 OHJDO VDOHV PDUNHWLQJ KXPDQ UHVRXUFHV DQG VHFUHWDULDO VXSSRUW À HOGV Our approach will give you the best chance of getting a great job.

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54

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RETURNING HOME 55

CASH POINTS

Get your financial house in order before you head home and you’ll save yourself one almighty numerical headache WORDS SAMANTHA BADEN

TNT Images

T

he number one rule for those going home is to ensure your finances are in good shape before you even step on the plane.

GET SORTED Brielle Frampton from Commonwealth Bank of Australia says preparing for the move means less stress. “Once you’re in Australia or New Zealand, transferring funds can be difficult

because of time differences, restrictions on internet banking, and not being able to go into your UK bank in person,” she says.

But many banks can open an account for you before you get back, and will transfer funds at competitive rates of exchange.

PAPER TRAIL If you’ve been away from home for a reasonable

tntmagazine.com

RETURNING HOME

SENDING MONEY HOME Provided you’ve managed to save any, getting your hard earned cash back home is one of the most important factors of moving back. Here are a couple of ways to do it: Banks: Go to your UK bank and make an international transfer to your Aussie or Kiwi bank. It’s generally straightforward, but will usually set you back up to £35 and take three to five working days to clear. The exchange rate might also let you down as it can be hard to find out exactly what the bank’s rate is at the time of your transfer.

56 amount of time, Frampton suggests keeping six months’ worth of your bank statements, credit card statements and other loan or financial statements as the credit rating you’ve built up in the UK does not apply in Australia or New Zealand. “Having that paper-based history will help when you are applying for credit back home,” she says.

Transfer agents: These companies, for example TNT Forex, offer a cheap, flat-fee transfer and usually also offer competitive rates, although they tend to take a couple of days either end as you wait for the money to clear into the company’s holding account and then into your account.

BRICKS AND MORTAR If you’re thinking about getting on the property ladder back home, Antipodean banks in London can sometimes help you organise a pre-approved mortgage even before you get off the plane. But Frampton warns you will still need proof of income, which means it remains easier to apply for a loan when you have arrived.

PLANNING Bear in mind that Antipodean banks in the UK can also help with pension advice, loans to service investment properties, access to “commercial” as opposed to “retail” exchange rates, and financial planning.

» For more see commbank.com.au Q&A WITH SAMANTHA WILLIAMS FROM EASY REFUND What are the rules about tax refunds?

Anyone who’s leaving the UK and has worked here during their stay can apply for a tax refund if it’s owed.

tntmagazine.com

How long does it take?

Once the forms have been submitted, you should expect a refund within eight weeks.

» For more see easyrefund.co.uk

Brendon Bishop - TNT Images

Who can apply for a tax refund?

Anyone who has worked in the UK as a visitor, been on the wrong tax code, earned less than your tax-free allowance (£6475) or left their job.

How much will I get back?

This depends on how much money you have earned. Part-time, seasonal and low-paid workers will be most likely to be due a refund.

Those who have worked full-time for a year would be unlikely to get a refund unless they were very low income earners.

Money transfer companies: You won’t need a bank account either end to use these money transfer services. MoneyGram UK and Ireland senior regional director Mark Perryman says the name of the game here is speed, aided by the fact it’s a person-to-person, cash-to-cash service. You’ll pay as little as £4.50 to transfer up to £25 to Australia or New Zealand, but the price goes up as the amount you transfer increases.

Perryman says the company prides itself on competitive rates. “It’s a very, very quick service where you send it and ten minutes later your receiver can pick it up anywhere in the world.”

MoneyGram operates through every post office and Thomas Cook agency.

See moneygram.com.

RETURNING HOME

MONEY Your monthly guide to moving to Australia and New Zealand

WHERE DOES YOUR DOSH GO?

58

Jo Glover Job Journalist From Hobart, Australia Age 26

Aussies screwed on petrol ustralian motorists are being gouged on fuel prices, according to a report by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which claims fuel giants are sharing information to co-ordinate price hikes in the weekly cycle.

The ACCC’s report says

A

EASY MONEY Tom Sturrock MAKES YOUR CASH GO FURTHER

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companies means motorists risk paying more for petrol.

“This co-ordinated behaviour associated with the jump in fuel prices … was closely scrutinised during the ACCC’s investigation into the proposed acquisition of Mobil’s service stations by Caltex Australia Ltd,” he says.

KIWIS IN TOP BAND

MELBOURNE BOOM

Wage rises will push most Kiwis into the top tax bracket within then next 15 years. The Treasury’s forecasts show the average New Zealand income will top $70,000 by 2024, and finance minister Bill English says workers on the average wage would be taxed 38c to the dollar if rates remain the same.

The population surge and housing shortage means a house in Melbourne costs at least $100,000 more than a year ago, with the median price up to $525,000 last year.

Melbourne has been the epicentre of Oz’s economic recovery, with price growth outstripping other capitals.

I’ve been in London for 16 months. I’m leaving as I can’t legally work in the UK for much longer, and I’m keen to see some sun.

Will you need to spend much to set yourself up back home?

I’m going to move to Brisbane so I’ll have to start from scratch – car, bond, furniture etc – so it’ll be pretty pricey, at least a few thousand dollars.

Do you expect your spending habits to change?

A little. I’m keen to travel and see more of Oz, but I definitely won’t be doing as many big trips as I have done over here, so hopefully I’ll save a little money there.

THE GADGETS THAT SUCKED Someone invents the iPhone and suddenly everyone wonders how they lived without one, but there were other techy products in 2009 that no one needed » Windows Mobile 6.5 – it head-piece combo. Badly wasn’t terrible, but it was too little, too late; a half-baked runner-up to the iPhone. » Twitter Peek (left) – a device for posting messages on Twitter. Totally unnecessary. » CellMate – an ugly, cumbersome phone and

designed and dumb. » Amosu Curva – an ordinary Blackberry Curve, but costs £150,000 as it’s encrusted with diamonds. Ugly. » iCarta iPod dock – an iPod dock and loo paper dispenser all in one. Seriously.

TNT Images

Kiwis heading home will need to set themselves up with a new broadband and home phone package.

The big four broadband companies are Telecom, Vodafone, Orcon and Slingshot – naturally, the right deal depends on what kind of volume and connection speed you want. Slingshot is the cheapest and best value for the basics, offering 2G per month for $69. The others offer faster download speed, but have a 1G limit for about the same price.

With Slingshot, an extra $5 will get you a home phone line as well – but if you make a lot of calls from that landline, the other providers have more attractive offers.

major retailers share price information so they know what they are charging at all times. As a result, when one retailer raises its prices, its competitors follow, knowing they will not be undercut.

Petrol commissioner Joe Dimasi says the information exchange between petrol

How long have you been in London and why are you leaving?

Find a new passion – learn to sail in sunny Cape Town.

9!

RETURNING HOME

A new year, a new start?

59 Whether you are learning to sail for personal pleasure or to work in the industry, Yachmaster can help you discover a new passion in the new year.

Our Cruising Instructors, Yachtmaster Instructors and Yachtmaster Examiners are fully RYA and SAS qualified. They will ensure that you have a safe, exciting, interesting, enjoyable and successful learning experience.

We’ll find you a place, back home.

For the latest employment opportunities in New Zealand, contact us now!

P^ k^ Z _nee&l^kob\^ anfZg k^lhnk\^ Zg] recruitment company, specialising in accounting Zg] ÛgZg\^%lZe^l Zg] fZkd^mbg`% h_Û\^ lniihkm Zg] fZgZ`^f^gm' KrZg K^\knbmf^gm Ebfbm^]' I'H' ;hq *, ,*0% <akblm\ank\a 1*-*% G^p S^ZeZg]' IA3 $/- , ,/. )+2fZbe9krZg'\h'gs ppp'krZg'\h'gs K<L: F^f[^k

Open 6am to 6pm Monday to Saturday

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We go get the go-getters. tntmagazine.com

RETURNING HOME

COMING & GOING

60

Your monthly guide to moving to Australia and New Zealand

ASK THE EXPERTS

JUST ARRIVED

Stephen Aitkinson VISA MANAGER, 1ST CONTACT

ACCOMMODATION

Q

I’m Australian and have been here on a five-year ancestry visa. My Aussie partner lives here on a sponsored work visa.

We plan on getting married within the next two years and want to go home for a year, during which we plan to start a family.

If I apply to renew my ancestry visa, can we come back to the UK on my visa and can my partner work as a dependent on it if I’m not working, as I’d like to be a full-time mum?

A

You may either apply to extend your current ancestry visa shortly prior to its expiry, or, if you would have completed five continuous years of residency in the UK on the

visa prior to its expiry, you could apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

As long as you do not spend more than two consecutive years outside the UK while holding ILR, it will stay valid. Your soon-tobe husband may then apply for a settlement visa to join you in the UK, granting him full and unrestricted employment rights.

As you would be a permanent resident, you need not be in employment and can therefore be a full-time mum.

» For more, see 1stcontact.com. To ask a question about getting started or moving on email realitycheck@tntmagazine.com

MOVING ON CHECKLIST Resign from work How much notice you need to give your employer will depend on your contract (usually two weeks to three months). You must give at least one week’s notice if you’ve been in your job for a month or more.

There are Antipodeans calling all parts of London home, but generally they tend to head west (Acton, Shepherd’s Bush, Fulham, Hammersmith), north (Dollis Hill, Kilburn, Willesden Green) or south (Clapham, Southfields, Tooting).

For listings see tntmagazine. com/accommodation.

Dossing Offer to chip in £5 a night minimum.

Hostels Expect to pay at least £10-£25 a night.

Sharing You can share a room for about £50 a week.

A room to yourself is about £80 a week.

Going it alone A bedsit or studio is at least £150 a week.

Bills Bills can include phone, gas, electricity, water, council tax and a TV licence.

Bond This is usually a month’s rent. You may also have to pay one month’s rent in advance.

Leases You may need to sign a lease for six or 12 months.

Give notice on your flat

Check the conditions of your Tenancy Agreement. If you want to leave before your lease is up you may be liable to pay until new tenants are found. If you’re living in a sharehouse and haven’t signed a contract, you can move out whenever you want, though it’s usual to give a month’s notice and find someone to move in.

Pay and cancel your bills

Namely council tax, internet, phone, gas, electricity, TV, gym membership, insurance.

Settle overdrafts and credit cards Any defaults on bank

payments will be filed with a credit reference agency (making it difficult for you to set up an account or rent a flat if you return), or you could receive a County Court Judgement.

TAX

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per year – so if you earn less than this, you won’t pay any tax. You’ll need a P45 (when you leave a job) and a P60 (at the end of the tax year).

If you’re leaving the UK and won’t work again before the end of the tax year, you can claim a rebate by filling in a P85.

TNT’S TOP TIP

SHIPPING

» Email your tips to reality

Get plenty of quotes, checking sizes and whether customs and tax charges are covered.

For sea freight (which should take no longer than 12 weeks to arrive) you’ll pay about £80£150 for your first box – less for suitcases – and £30-£90 for additional boxes.

Flights to Oz and New Zealand often get cheaper in February/ March, once the holidays are over. check@tntmagazine.com

TNT online Check out tntmagazine.com/ leavingtheuk if you’re going, and tntmagazine.com/moving tolondon if you’ve just arrived.

Getting a job doesn’t have to be an impossible task. Register with a couple of agencies, the cream of which advertise in TNT and at tntjobs.co.uk.

Most recruitment agencies handle specific sectors: IT, banking, finance, secretarial, legal, medical and teaching are the broad categories.

Make an appointment to see a consultant, and take your passport, CV and references with you. Some agencies will help you open a bank account.

NATIONAL INSURANCE You need a National Insurance (NI) number to work in the UK. Call 0845 600 0643 to make an appointment to apply for one.

Some NI contributions go into a State Second Pension (S2P). You can contract out of this and direct the money into a private pension fund instead.

You’ll need to do this before the end of the tax year or your contributions will be lost.

TNT Images

The UK tax year begins on April 6, and if you work only part of the tax year you should get some tax back.

The tax threshold is £6475

EMPLOYMENT

Heading Home?

Let us help you make the move easier.

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia and ASB Bank have been helping migrants and expats move their finances to Australia and New Zealand since 1949. With an office based in London, and support from dedicated International Customer Services offices throughout Australia and New Zealand you can be confident that your finances are in good hands.

Our specialised International Customer Services team can help you: 2SHQ EDQN DFFRXQWV DQG HQVXUH GHELW FDUGV DUH ZDLWLQJ for you on your arrival in Australia or New Zealand.

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Contact our London Office today for more information Australia Ph: 0845 074 2657 E: commbankuk@cba.com.au W: www.commbankuk.co.uk

New Zealand Ph: 0845 074 2658 E: asbuk@cba.com.au W: www.asbuk.co.uk

Important Information. Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124 is incorporated in Australia with limited liability, registered in England No. BR250 and authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Services Authority. ASB Bank is a part of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia Group and incorporated in New Zealand with limited liabilty. A Disclosure Statement and Personal Banking Terms and Conditions are available from the Commonwealth Bank and ASB Bank.

with

LANGUAGE SCHOOL H

IN ASSOCIATION WIT

‘Learn The Lingo’ courses, part of TNT’s Language School, are ideal for beginners or those who’d like to brush up on the basics.

Ë CHINESE 1

VENUE TNT HQ, Earl’s Court TIME Mon - Thurs 6.30-8pm Saturday 10.30am -12pm COST £65 (£75 after Jan 6, 2010)

Ë FRENCH 1 / SPANISH 1

Courses include:

Once a week, for five weeks starting:

Ë ITALIAN

Every Monday from January 18 Every Tuesday from January 19 Every Wednesday from January 20

u

Ë FRENCH 2 / SPANISH 2

u

Every Thursday from January 21

Ë SPANISH 3 / SPANISH 4

Every Saturday from January 23

u u u u u

5 week intensive sessions Private language machine tutor Language pack & reading materials Jumbuck’s pie Other refreshments On The Go travel discounts TNT goodie bag

//////////////////////////////////////

FOR MORE INFO & TO BOOK YOUR PLACE SEE tntmagazine.com/school Places are limited, only 15 per course, book early to avoid disappointment!

TRAVEL

TRAVEL 63

GLOBAL VISION An Indian Hindu devotee performs rituals on Paush Purnima, an important bathing date at the Magh Mela festival. Thousands of people take holy dips at Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Saraswati and Yamuna rivers, to cleanse away sins they have committed in their present and previous lives.

Photo by Diptendu Dutta / AFP / Getty Images

tntmagazine.com

Late arrival Celebrate New Year two weeks after everyone else with the residents of the Gwaun Valley in west Wales WORDS ALF ANDERSON

Gwaun Valley WEST WALES

B

Better late than never: New Year is on January 13

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AVERAGES FOR SWANSEA

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KEY: Hours of daylight Average rainfall (mm) *Statistics based on monthly averages Weather information provided by weather2travel.com

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TNT Images

8 MAX

y the second week of 2010 it’s a fair bet that any after-effects of New Year’s Eve partying will have worn off – unless you’re in the Gwaun Valley in west Wales, where you’ll just be gearing up for the turn-of-the-decade celebrations on January 13.

That’s because the locals in this secluded valley, between the rolling Preseli Hills and the storm-lashed Pembrokeshire coast, celebrate new year according to the Julian calendar and not the Gregorian, like the rest of us. No idea what that means? Not surprising really, since much of mainland Europe stopped using it in 1582, though Britain didn’t drop it till 1752.

But not so for the good people of Pontfaen and Llanychaer, the two hamlets that make up the tiny population of the Gwaun Valley. They continue to ignore the Papal bull that resulted in thirteen days being docked to ensure the accuracy of the Christian calendar, and led to riots around Europe as peasants reacted to ‘losing’ 13 days of their lives.

The Gwaun Valley celebrations are known as ‘Hen Galan’ in the Welsh language. Len Davies, the owner of the tiny local brewery, points out: “It’s been a long tradition for many

SHORT BREAK NEED TO KNOW

of the farmhouses in the area to host a party”, while celebrations also take place in the valley’s two pubs (in Pontfaen the pub is the front room of Bessie Davies’ house, and the beer is served through a hatch from a jug dipped straight into the barrel).

The fact that the 21st century (along with the 20th, 19th and 18th) hasn’t gained a secure foothold in this lovely corner of Pembrokeshire is apparent from more than just the arcane New Year celebrations.

The valley’s dark woodlands have a mystery to them at this time of year that isn’t felt in the more bucolic summer months, perhaps partly

OUT AND ABOUT

explained by the presence of the Preseli Hills.

The hills were a stronghold of the ancient Celtic tribes who once lived here, and home to monuments such as the spectacular Bronze Age megalith of Pentre Ifan (main image), some 6000 years old. More enigmatically, bluestone blocks were quarried from the hills and transported 400km east to make up part of Stonehenge. How this was done is still a mystery.

You can immerse yourself in all this history in just one day – but why not give yourself a little more time in this lovely region of Wales and take part in one of the world’s more bizarre New Year celebrations too?

SEA KAYAKING Pembrokeshire has some of the finest sea kayaking in Europe – local guide Nige Robinson can help you explore its cliffs, beaches and islands. See nigerobinson.co.uk.

SURFING Get a good wetsuit and hit some of the quietest waves in Britain along the Pembrokeshire coast. Boards and wetties can be hired at Ma Sime’s Surf Hut in St David’s. See masimes.co.uk

ENGLAND WALES Fishguard Gwaun Valley

CARDIFF

Richard Sowersby / Rex Features

WALKING The Golden Road is an easy-to-follow 12km Bronze Age trading route, which takes you across the spine of the Preseli Hills and provides a panorama that on a clear day can take in much of Wales and even the Wicklow Hills of south-east Ireland. See visitpembrokeshire.com.

MOUNTAIN BIKING/CYCLING You can also mountain bike along the Golden Road, while the quiet country lanes of this part of Pembrokeshire are great for road cyclists.

Bikes can be hired at Pembrokeshire Bikes in Fishguard. See pembrokeshirebikes.co.uk.

tntmagazine.com

TRAVEL

Gwaun Valley

WHEN TO GO January 13.

GETTING THERE Public transport is generally poor.

The train station in Fishguard has two trains a day from London, but note that one arrives at 1.30am. See nationalrail.co.uk.

GETTING AROUND The best bet is to hire a car as buses are few and far between.

LANGUAGE Welsh and English (most locals are bilingual but Welsh is the language of choice for many).

GOING OUT A beer is about £2.50-£3.

ACCOMMODATION Hamilton Backpackers (hamiltonbackpakers.co.uk) is at the mouth of the Gwaun Valley in the harbour town of Fishguard and has rooms for £16. B&B accommodation is not readily available in the valley – try Plain Dealings (01348 873655/01348 873655) in Fishguard which has ensuite rooms from £30-£35.

SEE visitpembrokeshire.com.

65

LATE DEALS

TRAVEL

UNDER £200

66

Visit the capital of Belgium on a two-night break in Brussels for £119 with Flight Centre (0844 800 8628; flightcentre.co.uk). The trip includes return Eurostar travel and three-star B&B accommodation. Valid February 1-March 31. Offer ends January 31.

Enjoy a midweek winter walking break at The Trigony House Hotel (01848 331211; countryhousehotelscotland. com) in Dumfries, Scotland, for £130. Valid until January 31, the trip includes two nights’ half-board accommodation, local maps and guide books, recommended walks, a packed lunch, and hip flask filled with a tipple of choice.

Whisk your loved one off to the New Forest for Valentine’s.

Five-star B&B accommodation in the village of Brockenhurst is £100 this February with New Forest (01590 622296; thenewforest.co.uk).

Rent a cottage in East Devon for a week for £196 with Helpful Holidays (01647 434063; helpfulholidays.com). The offer applies to accommodation sleeping four in the hamlet of Dunkeswell Abbey throughout January and February.

A three-day ski break in Chamonix is £229 with Ski Weekends (0844 406 0600; skiweekends.com). The trip includes return coach travel and two nights’ B&B accommodation. Departs January 22.

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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.

Sign up at tntmagazine.com/travelemail.

Need to send money between Australia, New Zealand and the UK? You don’t need a bank to do it. We also do money transfers to South Africa

Transfer fees from £7

Money transfers For live transfer rates, see tntforex.com

£200 - £400

OVER £400

Depart January 23 on a week’s skiing in Méribel Valley, France, with STA Travel (0871 230 8512; statravel.co.uk) for £259, including seven nights’ accommodation in Brides-lesBains and return fights.

Visit Paris for Valentine’s Day on a two-night break with Flight Centre (0844 800 8628; flightcentre.co.uk) for £225, including return Eurostar travel, B&B accommodation and a river cruise. Book by January 15 and travel before February 12.

Hit the road in Spain with Wicked Campers (0808 234 8461; wickedcampers.co.uk). The ‘Run To The Spanish Sun’ package is £230 and valid for travel until April 1. It includes a two-berth campervan with pick-up from London and drop-off at Malaga or Barcelona, insurance and unlimited mileage.

Depart January 12 for a fourstar break in Malaysia for £995 with Travelmood (0800 8407 802; travelmood.com). The offer includes seven nights’ roomonly accommodation in Penang and return flights.

Depart February 9 on an 11-night cruise round Greece, Israel and Egypt for £834 with Costa Cruises (0845 351 0552; costacruises.co.uk). Departing from Civitavecchia, the trip visits Savona, Athens and Alexandria, and includes fullboard accommodation and transport (no flights).

Contiki (0845 075 0990; contiki.co.uk) has a 10-day tour of Europe for £805.

Departing January 30 from London, the trip visits Paris and Rome, and the price includes transport, some meals and accommodation.

*All fares are ex-London, unless otherwise stated.

or call 0870 898 8996 Exchange rates* Australian dollar New Zealand dollar South African rand Polish złoty Euro US dollar Canadian dollar Hong Kong dollar Japanese yen Norwegian krone Swedish krona Swiss franc Singapore dollar Thai baht

1.82 2.28 12.30 4.66 1.12 1.60 1.68 12.37 146.53 9.38 11.69 1.67 2.25 53.20

Why use tntforex?

■ Great rates ■ No hidden bank fees ■ Faster transactions ■ Easy-to-use online systems ■ Safe, secure and ■

fully compliant Unrivalled customer service

*Transfer rates are as of December 23, 2009. Please note that these are mid market rates in relation to GBP

Mau Kae Horng, Dumfries and Galloway, TNT Images

DEAL OF THE WEEK

Athens

TRAVEL 67

TNT Weekender Manchester ENGLAND

Formerly known as Madchester, home of New Order and England’s clubbing capital, the city took a smack in the ribs after an IRA bomb in 1996, but it has been reinventing itself ever since.

Now, with a new shopping centre and glitzy cultural hubs, it’s a worthy rival to London – something none of its inhabitants need telling.

Visit Manchester, Glyn Kirk / AFP / Getty Images

HEADLINE ATTRACTION Whether you want to limber up for a ski holiday, or hit the slopes for he first time, The Chill Factore is the place to do it. Manchester’s snow dome in Trafford Quays Leisure Village boasts the largest indoor slope in the country as well as a 60m luge slide and an Alpine village full of shops, bars and restaurants.

BEST OF THE REST The Madchester days might be long gone, but the city still leaves night owls spoilt for choice. Take

your pick from the cavernous bars of Deansgate Locks, the quirky clubs of the Northern Quarter, and the superstar DJs at Pure and One Central Street.

for tours. Walk down the player’s tunnel, and stand in Alex Ferguson’s spot in the dug-out.

RETAIL THERAPY CHOW DOWN Head to the world-famous Curry Mile that stretches from Rusholme to Wilmslow Road.

The area boasts the largest concentration of Asian restaurants outside the Indian subcontinent. Nearby King Street also offers great places to dine out, from Greek eatery Bacchanalia to buzzing Italian restaurant San Carlo.

GET THE CAMERA OUT Arguably the most stunning modern building in the city is The Lowry (above), a futuristic glass and metal construction.

Located in redeveloped Salford Quays, go there to wander its art gallery, see some theatre or relax in one of the bars.

STADIUM OF DREAMS You might struggle to get a ticket to watch Manchester United, but their homeground, Old Trafford, is open

Check out The Trafford Centre just outside of town, with 47 restaurants 230 and stores all under one roof. In the city centre, the Northern Quarter has some great shops – try Rags To Bitches boutique for vintage gear.

MUSEUM TIME Manchester Museum on Oxford Road is stocked with almost 6 million specimens and objects – its Egyptology section is particularly good.

Manchester Art Gallery on Mosley Street houses 25,000 objects of fine art, decorative art and costume. Reopened in 2002 after a four-year, £35 million redevelopment, it’s worth spending a couple of hours admiring its wonders.

NEED TO KNOW WHEN TO GO Manchester’s nightlife, shops and snow dome are open all year round.

GETTING THERE Virgin Trains go direct from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly. The journey takes 2 hours and 5 minutes, and advance single tickets start from £8.

GETTING AROUND The Metrolink light rail system is fast, efficient and covers the entire city. A taxi from the town centre to The Trafford Centre and Chill Factore costs about £15.

GOING OUT A beer is about £3.

ACCOMMODATION Dorm beds in the city start from £15 and private rooms from £22.

NEXT WEEK AMSTERDAM Manchester

TNT online For a full travel guide on visiting Manchester go to tntmagazine.com/travel

ENGLAND LONDON

tntmagazine.com

TRAVEL

COOKING IN MOROCCO Gain an insight into Moroccan culture and cuisine by enrolling in a one-day cooking course in Morocco. At La Maison Arabe in Marrakesh, the art of making the perfect chicken tagine is taught by a dada, a traditional Moroccan chef. Alongside the dada, translator and local expert Mohammed Nadir interprets the dada’s lesson into English and gives you tips on where to buy the best spices in Marrakesh’s souks. The course costs 1600 dirhams (approx £120) per person and includes lunch.

Info: +212 524 387 010; lamaisonarabe.com

69 LANGUAGE COURSE IN PARIS If you’d like to be able to say more than ‘please’, ‘thank you’ and ‘croissant’ in French, you can enrol at Institut Parisien and study the language while holidaying in Paris. Classes are from nine in the morning until noon, leaving you plenty of time for putting the theory into practice in Parisian cafés and bars. An intensive one-week course costs €296.

Info: +33 140 560 953; institut-parisien.com

Tap into the beer necessities in Belgium

LEARN ABOUT BEER IN BELGIUM You may think you know a bit about beer, but to become a real expert you can go on a beer tour in Belgium. Weekend tours run

by Belgium Beer Tours cost €250 and include accommodation and visits to three different breweries to learn about how the amber liquid is produced. Saturday night is spent at the Delirium café in Brussels, which has more than 2000 beers on its menu – so there’s no danger of running out of new beers to try.

Info: +32 495 362 542; beertour.be

Mustafa Ozer/AFP/Getty Images, TNT Images

YOGA AND DIVING IN EGYPT For over-achievers who don’t want to return from holidays with just one new skill, eightday yoga and diving holidays are available in Dahab, Egypt, through Yoga Travel. Mornings

PHOTOGRAPHY IN BARCELONA If you are going to learn about how to take great photographs anywhere, then Barcelona – the city of colourful mosaic architecture and vibrant light – is the place to do it.

Barcelona Photographer runs two-day intensive photography “safaris” for €240, which include a photographic tour of Barcelona by day and night, a studio shoot with a professional model, and a live photographer-friendly flamenco show.

Info: +34 645 968 417; barcelonaphotographer.com Snap on to it in Barcelona

are spent saluting the sun while afternoons are devoted to exploring beneath the waves of the Red Sea. An eight-day course costs £295 and includes bed and breakfast.

Info: 01579 320547; yogatravel.co.uk

HOTSHOTS

HOLIDAY SNAPS

HOW TO MAKE YOUR PHOTOS STAND OUT

THEME: FIRE Battersea Park by Jessica Halls

TRAVEL

Photographing fire means you are photographing a light source, which can be tricky.

Jessica managed to capture the might and power of this bonfire on Guy Fawkes night.

WHY THIS WORKS:

71

1 Fire fills the frame, making it seem enormous.

2 Good contrast with the broken pallets, adding scale and focal interest.

3 Excellent exposure, with strong colours.

4 The edges of the fire make impressive shapes.

5 The image can be cropped in a number of ways, making it an ideal stock photo.

HOT TIPS: 1 Turn off the flash. The fire is your light source.

2 Use fast film/ISO (1600) to freeze the flames into classic fiery shapes. Use a tripod and slow film/ISO (100) to achieve blurry, romantic fiery effects.

3 Just point at fire and shoot, but use interesting silhouettes to bump up the composition – trees, people, animals, or buildings. These will be black against the fire, so make sure their shapes are clear.

4 Smoke and heat can be a problem. Make sure you are upwind so the smoke is blowing away from you.

5 A long lens is good as it is unlikely you will be allowed to get up close to big fires without special permission.

Looking for a tour?

Overwhelmed by choice?

Check out our new TourSearch at tntmagazine.com/toursearch.

We’ve done the legwork so you don’t need to, and put hundreds of tours in one place.

00s 1 of tours in one

place

TOURSEARCH

Ëtntmagazine.com/toursearch tntmagazine.com

TRAVEL NEWS Sri Lanka

HOW MANLY

TRAVEL

The ‘mancation’ will be one of the travel catchphrases of 2010, according to cheapflights.co.uk.

The website claims the hit film The Hangover has increased the popularity of man-friendly hotspots, such as Las Vegas, Amsterdam and Riga.

TOP TRIP FOR 2010 According to TripAdvisor’s TravelCast, the top destination for 2010 will be Troncones, Mexico.

The TravelCast, which identifies up-and-coming destinations based on site data, predicts Nairn in Scotland, El Chalten in Patagonia, Patara in Turkey, and Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Germany will also be in the top five.

TREAT YOUR FEET To coincide with The Madeira Islands 2010 Walking Festival, the fivestar Casa Velha do Palheiro hotel is offering three nights with a complimentary foot massage for €270.

See casa-velha.com.

Rob Elliott / AFP / Getty Images, TNT Images

What to do in Devon Visit Devon has launched a new guide to the region’s attractions and events in 2010.

From a private beach hut with a hot tub, to Europe’s first surfing museum, see the hot list at visitdevon.co.uk/ site/hotfor2010.

73

GET SET FOR ADVENTURE Pent-up wanderlust could see areas that are emerging from troubled times increasing in popularity next year, according to The ABTA Travel Trends Report.

Sri Lanka may be among the countries to jump from 2009’s news pages and back into the travel supplements. Even Iraq is promoting itself as a future holiday destination for 2010, according to ABTA. Other long-haul destinations the report says look set to recover from the issues they recently faced include Mexico and Thailand.

With many of these countries being further afield, and in regions with different cultures

and laws, the Foreign Office warns travellers to ensure they research their destination in advance by visiting fco.gov.uk/travel.

Frances Tuke from ABTA says: “This year has been remarkably resilient for the travel industry, and prospects are good for 2010, with the trend of adventurous destinations continuing.

However, regardless of the destination, a holiday could be remembered for the wrong reasons if travellers fail to check Foreign Office advice before heading off.”

Holidaymakers are also advised not to scrimp on travel insurance, and ensure they have the relevant medication before they leave.

See the far-flung Scottish isles Head to the extremes of north-west Europe’s last great wilderness on a 16-day islandhopping tour of Scotland with Rabbie’s Trail Burners.

The new tour visits eight of Scotland’s West Coast islands, including the prehistoric northern Orkney Islands and dramatic Outer Hebrides, as well as the outermost tip of north-west Europe, the isles of Lewis and Harris.

Here visitors can explore the otherworldly stone Brochs of Carloway and the stone circles of Callanish, or watch the birds and wildlife on the pristine, white sandy beaches

Lamb Holm, Orkney

TNTMAGAZINE.COM MOST POPULAR DESTINATIONS 1 France 2 Italy 3 England 4 Spain 5 Egypt

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of Uig and Luskentyre.

Other highlights include a visit to the whisky island of Islay, the rolling splendour of Mull, and Scotland’s most famous island, Skye.

The new trip starts in May and costs £922.

See rabbies.com.

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FREE ONLINE GUIDES Go to tntmagazine.com/ travel for travel guides on more than 170 destinations.

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ON THE ROAD

WORDS DANIEL LANDON

CARNAVAL DE BINCHE

TRAVEL

Binche, Belgium February 16 The 150-year-old ritual begins with locals shaking sticks at each other to ward off evil spirits and culminates with the crowd being pelted with oranges to celebrate the forthcoming summer.

74

» carnavaldebinche.be

PASOLA HARVEST FESTIVAL SUMBA, INDONESIA WHAT: Ostensibly it’s

» tourismindonesia.com

TNT online For more upcoming events, see our destination guides at tntmagazine.com/travel

RIO CARNIVAL Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Feb 13-18, 2010 rio-carnival.net

ST VALENTINE’S DAY Terni, Italy Feb 14, 2010 umbria-turismo.it

NEW ORLEANS MARDI GRAS New Orleans, US Feb 16, 2010 mardigrasneworleans.com

LAS FALLAS MASLENITSA Moscow, Russia February 15-21 Russia’s surviving pagan festival celebrates the beginning of spring, with pancakes the order of the day. There are also storytelling clowns and beerdrinking bears. Sold.

» moscow-city.ru

Where in the world?

Valencia, Spain Mar 15-19, 2010 turisvalencia.es

ST PATRICK’S DAY Dublin, Ireland Mar 17, 2010 stpatricksfestival.ie

ANZAC DAY Gallipoli, Turkey Apr 25, 2009 anzacsite.gov.au

THE TRAVELLER …

Renee Moana, 25, from Waiheke Island, New Zealand Where’s the best place you’ve been to?

Amsterdam. I liked the coffee shops, and there were so many crazy people all in the mood to party.

Dream destination?

Venice. On TV it looks so beautiful, and you have to get everywhere by boat.

Andrew Bettiol from Sydney, Australia, in Reykjavik, Iceland

WIN

Been somewhere good lately? Send us a horizontal photo of yourself with a copy of TNT from anywhere around the world and, if we print it, you’ll win a day trip for two to Bath and Stonehenge with Anderson Tours, valued at £90. » 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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What’s the weirdest thing you’ve eaten?

Escargot, in Lyon, France. They were yum, and tasted like paua.

Virginie Lefou r/ AFP/ Getty Images , Jason Childs/Getty Images

a harvest festival, but is marked by a violent polo-like sport played by two teams of spear-wielding horsemen.

Before it all kicks off, priests in full ceremonial dress must wade into the ocean at dawn.

WHEN: February 19-24, but subject to change – the timing is determined by the arrival of a special kind of sea worm called nyale.

WHY: Human blood must be spilt – apparently –to keep

the spirits happy and ensure a good harvest.

DO IT BECAUSE: It’s different.

Tribal traditions run strong in Sumba, and it’s a great excuse to do some island hopping across Indonesia’s beaches.

HOW MUCH: It’s free to attend.

LOCK IT IN

GEAR UP

GET PACKING: GREEN GEAR Amy Adams SOLVES YOUR TRAVEL GEAR PROBLEMS PACK IT IN This Osprey Helix 20litre daypack is made from recycled material and comes with plenty of pockets and a bungee lace loop for extras.

THE DAMAGE: £34.95 WHERE: ethical superstore.com

TRAVEL

IT’S A WIND-UP This handy wind-up Dolphin Dynamo torch also doubles as a phone charger – cables for most phones are available – and one minute of winding provides more than 30 minutes of light.

THE DAMAGE: £10 WHERE: store.cat.org.uk

75

SOCK IT TO ’EM According to Teko, the company makes the best socks on the planet, and the best socks for the planet.

These trekking socks are made from chlorine-free organic merino wool.

THE DAMAGE: £13.95 WHERE: anatom.co.uk

MARKET KNOWLEDGE It’s hard to reconcile a passion for travel with a concern for the environment. Yes, you know flying is bad, but you’ve been wanting to see the northern lights for ages, and a trip to Kerala has always been a dream of yours. Then there’s that weekend break in Prague you’ve been looking forward to.

The first step to easing the guilt is by carbon offsetting, but there are other ways you can make your travel greener, such

THE INSIDER SOFIA BERMEJO SANZ, PRESS ASSISTANT, MERIBEL TOURISME The best part of my job is … Working with journalists from different countries who come to visit the ski resort.

My first big trip was …

After university some friends and I went on a trip to the Czech Republic,

as buying ethical travel products. Hard-wearing outdoor gear doesn’t need to be tough on the environment too.

Companies such as Teko (see above) pride themselves on creating eco-friendly, highperformance products, from using raw materials to recycled packaging.

So if your new year resolutions include saving the planet as well as getting fit and cutting down on the booze, here are some ideas.

Austria and Hungary. I fell in love with Prague despite the cold.

My favourite place in the world is … Tornavacas – the village where I was born in the north of Extremadura, Spain.

My most memorable travel experience was …

Vsiting New York and finally seeing all those places I had seen in films. It was like a dream come true.

ON TOP OF IT The Sprayway Energy Half Zip is a lightweight pullover fleece for women made from Polartec’s recycled Thermal Pro material, making vital CO2/energy savings.

THE DAMAGE: £39 WHERE: nevisport.com

The next destination on my travel wishlist is …

Mexico, especially Ciudad Juarez and Tijuana.

I always pack … My pillow, because I think sleep is one of the the most important things, and sometimes hotel pillows are really uncomfortable.

My guilty travel pleasure is … I spend a lot of money on souvenir mugs from the different cities I visit.

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THE BIG T Doing the right amount of planning can be the difference between a holiday of a life time and Spanish omelette all over your face WORDS DAMIAN HALL

tntmagazine.com

TNT Images, Brendon Bishop / TNT Images

SIX-12 MONTHS AWAY It’s best to start with the big question: where?

And you’re spoilt for choice: Africa, Asia, the Americas, Luxembourg … Perhaps a better question is: why do you want to travel?

If it’s about opening up to foreign cultures (India? Africa? The French can be pretty weird too …), fulfilling those Indiana Jones fantasies (South America?), giving something back, or a childhood obsession with warthogs (me too!), the decision is easier.

If you can’t pinpoint what’s behind your urge to travel, that’s fine. Talk to other travellers, dig around online, peruse guidebooks in bookshops, and see what catches your fancy. Chances are the simple thrill of being released from wage slavery and having a long holiday somewhere exotic is rewarding enough.

The next big question is: when?

If you must travel in January, snorkelling in Siberia is probably out of the equation. Likewise, you need to check the date of any major events and activities that interest you, such as Rio’s

BIG TRIP

TRAVEL

TIME

77 Machu Picchu, Peru

Jordan

CLASSIC ITINERARIES THE TRANS-SIBERIAN The 9259km sore-backside-athon will take you from Moscow all the way to the Sea of Japan.

Pack some good books.

SOUTH AMERICA From Patagonia’s glorious ice kingdoms in the south to the extraordinary Galapagos Islands in the north, with Brazil, Bolivia and Peru in between, you’ll not get bored on this one.

AFRICA Hardy souls go it alone on trucks and local buses, but most book tours. Nairobi to Cape Town is the classic, but take in a side trip to Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana or Mozambique.

TNT Images, Lyn Eyb / TNT Images,

THE MIDDLE EAST

Carnival (in mid-February). Bear in mind many tropical places aren’t fun to visit in high summer as it brings monsoons and cyclones.

Most countries have a peak tourist season, which means tourist infrastructure is up and running, but you may need to book things well in advance. Generally speaking, if you can be flexible, often shoulder seasons are the best times to visit.

How much time do you have? Travel snobs say they’d rather spend more time in fewer places – like, really getting to know them, man – but going hell-for-leather has its thrills too.

That said, fast travel costs more. Which brings us on to money.

How much do you have? Different places cost very different amounts. Most of Asia and South America are brilliantly cheap, for example, whereas you won’t find any of those 25p beers in Australasia or North America.

Think about how long you can afford to stay in pricey places. Are you going to travel in Asia rather than North America purely

A region of culture and contrast, see Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Turkey, with perhaps a side trip into Lebanon and/or Israel.

NORTH AMERICA It doesn’t get any bigger than the ol’ US of A, with its glorious national parks and gleaming cities. Or nip north for more of the same, but with beavers. Or south to Mexico and its great people, astonishing ruins and hot food.

The Trans-Siberian

Overland in Africa

tntmagazine.com

WHAT TO PACK

because you’ll be able to travel for longer?

As a rule of thumb, you’ll almost always have saved slightly less (leaving dos can be a kick in the fiscal nuts), and spend slightly more (flights are appealing after your umpteenth overnight bus journey) than you planned.

FOUR-FIVE MONTHS TO GO Now’s probably a good time to get that plane ticket (if you need one). This may be your biggest expense, so shop around. For longer flights it generally pays to buy well in advance.

You should think about how you are going to travel. Are you comfortable with the challenge of buying a bus ticket in a foreign language at the arse end of Dustville? Or happier joining a tour, reducing the hassle factor but equally increasing your outgoings? Or a bit of both? Or are you adventurous enough to go by bicycle/ foot/rollerblade?

Also, do any parts of your trip need to be booked in advance? For example, the Inca Trail needs to be booked about three months ahead, or if you want accommodation for New Year’s Eve in Sydney, five months in advance.

That said, many find it better to keep a fairly loose itinerary. You’ll most likely want to go off on tangents, following recommendations by other travellers (especially when invited to join those Swedish sisters/dashing Danish dudes.

At this point consider things such as couch

tntmagazine.com

TWO MONTHS BEFORE TAKE-OFF You should be aware of what visas you need by now. Some require you to queue at an embassy and hand over a fair wedge, photos, a rough itinerary and passport for a week or so (yes, that’s you India).

Others are simple online transactions, or better still a quick stamp at the border. But to avoid lengthy delays, do your research. Criteria change regularly, so check embassy websites.

Oh, and make sure your passport isn’t going to expire soon.

Guidebooks aren’t essential, especially with all the online info available now, but when you arrive in a strange town at 4am you’ll be glad of that little map. The most popular guidebook is popular for a reason, but everyone else will have it too. With it, for better or worse, you probably won’t feel all that lonely.

Without wanting to sound like your mum, please get travel insurance.

The risks of not doing so simply aren’t worth it.

Shop around and research online, but ultimately you tend to get what you pay for. So check, does that bargain basement quote actually cover your camera? Are all the countries included? How about extreme sports, such as scuba-diving, skiing, and trekking at altitude?

➟

TNT Images

surfing (couchsurfing.com) – it doesn’t suit everyone, but many find it a great way to meet people and save money. Wwoof (wwoof.com) is a cracking scheme where you work for food and a bed on organic farms around the world, and have the chance to meet locals and slow your trip down a little. If you want to volunteer, it needs organising (see responsibletravel.com, i-to-i.com, charitychallenge.com , among others).

And do you need some classes to brush up on French or start learning Español (worth it for Latin America)? Perhaps buy language guides you can listen to on your way to work.

The old school rule is to pack your bag, then bin half of it. Idealistic perhaps, but do under-pack. Most things can picked up on the way – often more cheaply. It’s no fun dragging around three heavy pairs of jeans.

Talking of jeans, they’re not comfy for those long bus journeys. Don’t take clothes you really like – they’ll never last the trip – while military clothing isn’t quite as cool in, say, Colombia, and other war-affected countries.

Bring along cards/pocket chess, a first aid kit, a head torch, only a few books (you can swap them at hostels), plug adaptors (for camera batteries), a sewing kit, a penknife, ear plugs and an eye mask (if you need them), flip-flops for shower hygiene, a padlock, an alarm clock, a travel towel, a camera and a day pack.

You probably won’t need a sleeping bag unless you have trekking planned.

Looking for a tour?

Overwhelmed by choice?

Check out our new TourSearch at tntmagazine.com/toursearch. We’ve done the legwork so you don’t need to, and put hundreds of tours in one place.

Enter the details of what you want, read what other TNT readers have to say about it, thenselect your ideal tour!

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SIX WEEKS BEFORE YOU LEAVE Speak to a doctor about what vaccinations and tablets you need for where you’re going. Paying £40 for someone to stick a needle in your arm may seem perverse logic, but it’s considerably more amusing than typhoid. Some jabs take a few weeks to fully take effect.

You should also get any prescriptions/contact lenses/etc and a dental check-up. The NHS isn’t perfect, but it’s a lot better than some backstreet Bangkok horror show.

ONE MONTH TO SAY GOODBYE You should be down to the nitty gritty: what to take? First, how comfy is that backpack?

Especially if you are trekking, you want a bag that fits properly. Walking boots should be worn in.

THREE WEEKS TO GO Clearing out furniture, CDs, books (and your flatmate’s bike?) might be a way to earn some last-minute cash – get on eBay and fling an email round the office. Do you need to freight your favourite teddy bear home? You should also order any foreign currencies/travellers cheques and inform your bank of where you’ll be, so they don’t cancel your card when it’s used in Venezuela.

ONE WEEK LEFT Last chance to set up a blog so your mum knows you’re safe (worldnomads.com, bugbitten.com, traveleor.com and plenty more), and have that leaving do.

Often, after months of planning, it feels like the big day will never come. Then suddenly it’s about to engulf you and it can be overwhelming. But fear not, you’re about to have the time of your life.

TNT online For free travel guides on more than 170 destinations go to tntmagazine.com/travel

See the ’stan s: journey into Central Asia

Greg Wood / AFP / Getty Images, Eric Feferberg / AFP / Getty Images, Norway Tourist Board

TWO WEEKS AND COUNTING Photocopy your passport and visas, and jot down their crucial digits along with phone numbers for your bank/credit cards and any other crucial information. Then email this to

yourself. Shop for last-minute items, such as insect repellent, sun block and condoms.

And are you sure those ostentatious white earphones are wise?

NEXT WEEK: VOLUNTEERING Do your bit while on the road

ALTERNATIVE ITINERARIES ALASKA-ANTARCTICA

THE REST OF AFRICA

Take in all that North, Central and South America has to offer by going from top to bottom. You’ll need money and time, but few will be able to top this trip.

There’s plenty to see on the continent. In the west, Senegal, Gambia, Ghana, Mali and Cameroon are among the safer countries, with links to other parts of Africa.

LONDON TO SYDNEY OVERLAND

SCANDINAVIA

The ’70s hippie classic is still a challenging but rewarding trip through Europe, Central Asia, South-East Asia and Australia.

It’s expensive to spend a long time in a Scandinavian country. But save your pennies and you’ll find one of the world’s most unspoilt regions — explore fjords, mountain peaks, and the Arctic Circle by husky.

Cool destination: Scandinavia

THE HIMALAYAS

Overland epic: explore Africa

The jewel in the crowns of India and Nepal, and home to Mount Everest. A more rugged yet beautiful region is hard to find.

CENTRAL ASIA

tntmagazine.com

Xxxxxxx

Pakistan and Afghanistan may be politically unstable but Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are safe and unspoilt.

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INCLUSIONS

> Your Fan-feckin-tastic Irish guide > All transport around the Emerald Isle > 4 nights on-tour hostel accommodation > 3 nights Dublin accommodation > All breakfasts > Award winning Derry City walking tour > Dunluce Castle > Giantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Causeway > Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge > Black Cab tour of Belfast > St. Patrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Survival Pack - full of info, maps and tips > Exclusive Shamrocker t-shirt > Guinness Storehouse Ticket > Cliffs of Moher > Blarney Castle > Mitchelstown Caves %FQBSUT %VCMJO .BSDI

.0/,4 .06/5"*/4

%":4 Â&#x192;

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INCLUSIONS

> Your Fan-feckin-tastic Irish guide > 3 nights accommodation in a Dublin city centre hostel > All breakfasts > Guinness Storehouse Ticket > St. Patrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Survival Pack - full of '-*()5 015*0/ %":4 Â&#x192; info, maps and tips > Exclusive Shamrocker t-shirt %FQBSUT -POEPO (BUXJDL "JSQPSU .BSDI > Day trip of County Wicklow See website for full details. > Glendalough monastic settlement $IFDL JO %VCMJO .BSDI

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HORSE RIDING IN WALES Relax and recharge your batteries with us at the weekend. Great for singles, couples or groups of mates We pick up every Friday evening in our luxury mini coach at 6:30pm from West London. We ride all day over the Brecon Beacons national park through rivers, ancient bridleways on and around the third highest peak in the UK â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it is rugged. On Sunday we do a tour of the Cotswolds on the way home. Suitable for beginners, intermediate or the experienced. You will stay in our own Welsh cottage with large hot tub next to a river. The food is all homemade and high quality. At night we party and do not get up early on Sunday. Group size 16 max. Price is ÂŁ195 and includes return transport, 2 nights' accomm, all food, full day's ride and tub. The sore ass is on us. There are no hidden extras. Other activities fishing ÂŁ165, hill walking ÂŁ155, cycling ÂŁ195 or you can just chill ÂŁ155.

info@bushwakkers.co.uk www.bushwakkers.co.uk Or call 01874 636552. Open till 10 pm.

We look forward to meeting you. We are fully qualified for everything we do and all legalities are in place so no wukking furries.

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general employment

A N W O

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LY PP

116

Career opportunities TNT is the market leading magazine, new media

Travel editor

and events brand serving UK-based Australian,

» At least two years' experience as a magazine or newspaper journalist, preferably as a section editor

New Zealand, South African and other international and young communities.

TNT brings out a weekly magazine that’s been around for more than 25 years, and has a circulation of 50,000. It has vibrant interactive websites and puts

» Must have a demonstrated passion for travel and a strong commercial awareness of the travel sector

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» Proven ability to manage a demanding workload » An eye for quality writing, design and pictures

on an impressive range of events from community

» Able to develop and write online travel content

parties to award celebrations and major exhibitions.

Telesales executives

We have a number of job opportunities for people

» » » » »

with attitudes and ambitions that match our own to join the team and help TNT into 2010 and its next phase of growth.

More information on each position is available at tntjobs.co.uk.

Sales and customer service experience The drive to meet and exceed individual targets Ability to demonstrate relationship-building skills Have proven organisational and computer skills A genuine commitment to delivering outstanding customer service

» Ability to confidently make outbound sales calls to potential advertisers

» Experience in travel, recruitment or publishing is an advantage

Digital marketing manager » Ability to lead all things digital » Experience implementing large scale traffic and retention driving campaigns through SMM/SEO/PPC

» Detailed understanding of managing web content through CMS interfaces

» Understanding of where online marketing fits in the wider marketing mix

» Confidence in writing creative briefs and functional specifications » Experience of project managing web builds (including basic user experience/IA)

» Ability to work with all departments, other suppliers and key stakeholders

Production assistant » Sound knowledge of Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator – Flash an advantage

» Experience of working on printed publications – preferably magazines

Please send your CV, covering letter and salary expectations to careers@tntmagazine.com with the relevant job title in the subject line or post your application to: Alina Manolache, HR Administrator, 14-15 Child’s Place, London, SW5 9RX

tntjobs.co.uk for 1000s more jobs

» Good design skills – ability to produce eye-catching advertising material

» Knowledge of PDF workflows coupled with a healthy respect for deadlines

» Know the difference between RGB and CMYK and be confident flightchecking supplied artwork » Ability to manage flatplans in liaison with other internal departments

general employment

general employment

You will have a professional and friendly telephone manner and be used to multi-tasking.

Excellent IT skills, including Excel, are required, along with the ability to take ownership of problems. You will need to be pro-active, highly organised, and good at building relationships.

The role will involve:

» » » »

Running the reception area and switchboard; Administrative support for the sales department; Managing the subscription database; Overseeing facilities issues including security, cleaning and building maintenance; » Health and safety administration; » Liaising and managing relationships with various suppliers.

The Government of Western Australia Research & Information Officer The Government of Western Australia wishes to appoint a Research & Information Officer at its European Office in London. The Officer will undertake research to assist Trade & Investment Managers to promote Western Australia in areas of priority as determined from time to time, currently Mineral Resources, Food & Agriculture, Wine, Education, Migration, Biotechnology and ICT. The Officer will be responsible for organisation of company and State Government visits.

Other duties include preparation of quarterly reviews, website and database maintenance, and KPI’ s A good team member, computer literate with excellent communication skills will find this an ideal opportunity to work in a friendly and interesting environment.

Salary negotiable dependent on experience

Please send your CV, covering letter and salary expectations to careers@tntmagazine.com with ‘Receptionist’ in the subject line, or post your application to: Alina Manolache, HR Administrator, 14-15 Child’s Place, Earl’s Court, London SW5 9RX.

Please apply in writing to: Brian Barnes, Chief Executive Officer European Office, Government of Western Australia 5th Floor, Australia Centre, Strand, London WC2B 4LG

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CLASSIFIEDS

Receptionist

117

CLASSIFIEDS 118

general employment

general

The Friendly Agency

EXPANDING SALES OFFICE needs enthusiastic people. Full training given. OTE £25K. Ph Mel 0207 025 2011

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CHEAPEST CAR rentals in London. From £66 per week. www.thegaragecarrental.co.uk Phone 020 8681 2885

If you like the sound of the above, call for an interview now and start on same day.

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Value Vehicle hire 020 8521 0641. Next to Blackhorse Tube. www.economyvehiclehire.co.uk

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ESCORTS WANTED 0208 577 7713 • 0207 439 2223 01923 630 621 • 01483 538 151 Northern Star Escorts are the South East’s most successful Visiting Escort & Massage Service, top earnings for top people, no experience necessary, all nationalities welcome, you may be petit, slim or busty, you may be small or tall, average looks or stunning – the fact is we have a vast well vetted client base including a high proportion of high nett worth individuals keen to meet new faces. Full security service, transport to and from work (and interview), we’re open 7 days – 24hrs.You may have just a short term agenda or thinking medium to long term, whatever your needs we can work with you to achieve them! Call now for further information or an immediate interview!

trades + labour WANTED FULLY QUALIFIED QUANTITY SURVEYORS REQUIRED MUST HAVE AT LEAST 5 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN COMMERCIAL AND SHOP FIT OUT. Please send your C.V including a covering letter to: recruitment@fitoutuk.com or Fax 0208 963 6901

WANTED HIGHLY SKILLED & EXPERIENCED SITE MANAGERS, CARPENTERS, PAINTERS, LABOURERS & DRYLINERS. Please send your C.V. including copies of CIS card, CSCS card and any Trade Certificates to: recruitment@fitoutuk.com or Fax 0208 963 6901

tax services

AUSSIE/KIWI DENTISTS Free Consultation Travel Emergencies ● Quality Cosmetic Dentistry

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Dr. Peter Mendelsohn 31 Carnaby Street London W1 Tel: 020 7734 6421 Web:

CAUTION: PROTECT YOUR MONEY! If you claim a tax refund, be sure to use a company bonded by the Association of Tax Agents (ATA). If a company is not bonded by the ATA and goes out of business, you could lose your refund.

Also, we recommend you avoid agents who charge unusually low commission rates – three such agents have gone out of business in the last 4 years and clients, like yourself, have lost their money.

Advertisers in the TNT who are bonded by the ATA are: • 1st Contact • Rapid Refunds • Anglo Pacific • TaxBack

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32786

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09/07/2009 09:38

Need to send money between UK and home?

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ons Good reas rex: o to use tntf

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accommodation tntmagazine.com/accommodation Whatever type of accommodation you’re looking for you can find it here, and loads more at tntonline.co.uk/accommodation.

121

To advertise your property call 020 7341 6767 renting

renting CANADA WATER House share.

Double Room £475pm, All inclusive Sky, Internet, cleaner ph. call 07779106374.

HAMPSTEAD NW3: large studio flat available for 2, couple suited. £800pm, inc bills. Seperate Kitchen, lge bathroom and close to all ammenities. call 07949216010 LEYTONSTONE Double room for two. Opp tube, all mod cons, wireless Sky TV £60pppw . 0793 096 4564.

QUEENS PARK 5mins to tube, free internet, f/f, incl. bills £165pw. Tel: 020 8459 6203.

WWW.PAYANDSLEEP.CO.UK. Flat rate £30 per night. double, triple, quads. including cooked breakfast. call 02085714350.

ZONE 2 - Mins 2 Tube. 1 WK FREE RENT! Free internet, low bond, bills incl. excl. elec, move in now, no ref.

Triple rm £70pppw, Twin rm £65pppw. Tel: 020 8459 6203.

www.CheapestRoomsLondon.com Why Hostels in London? Private House Cheaper than Hostels!

Rooms near Tube Station Fm £55/week Single Rooms from £75 | Double from £90 | Shared rooms from £55 • One months’ deposit + one months’ rent in advance • One weeks’ fee at the end of the term if less than 6 months’ contract

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hostels

hostels / hotels

JAMES HOTEL Sgls, Dbls, Tpls.

Colour TV. Reasonable rates, near Earls Court Station. 21 Longridge Rd. Ph 020 7373 7907

The Back Pack Shack 5 minutes walk from Acton town tube.

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magazine.com/accommodation tntmagazine.com

Professor Barry-Jones: Well

122

the time has come to leave this place after almost two years of fun. A few things to remember: be a good friend, dig a little deeper, drink to cam, wiggi-wah, E=mc what?

We love you, babe. London won’t be the same without you! We’ll miss you heaps.

See you on the other side.

Excuse me, are you off it?

Love Laura and your girls.

Lost iPod: I lost my iPod at the She Bu Walkie on Sunday, December 27. It’s the black, classic variety. It was last seen near the coat check area. If you find it, could you please return it to the staff at the Walkie or call Patrick on 07508 563120. Cheers. Love my iPod and too skint to afford a new one.

New black Samsung Camera: I lost my camera at

the Walkabout on Christmas Day. It contains photos of trips all around Europe.

These are very important to me as I do not have them backed up anywhere. Even if somebody could please hand in the memory card to the staff at the Shepherd’s Bush Walkabout or give me a call on 07778 502575.

Thanks, Lauren.

Ben: I thought I’d see you soon but you left for the Alps the day I flew in. Thankfully your housemates let me in

post your message at tntmagazine.com/seeking or email seeking@tntmagazine.com

and I slept in your bed. It wasn’t the same without you there. I’ll be back in Acton on the 14th. Hope we can share a bed together then. Love Glocks xox. PS Stay away from the Reddy.

My pretty Afrikaans lady: We did the talking thing at The Barracuda Bar. I was the big Dutchman chatting to you while that feeble Aussie guy was talking rubbish in your ear about the cricket. You were with the portly lady with the skin allergy. Email me if you would like to hook up for a conversation and perhaps a little more. Wink, wink.

She_bu_baby@live.co.uk.

Red hat tour: I just want to thank the people on the Chrissy ‘tour’ to Bruges last weekend! You were all so helpful when my bag was stolen, and it was lovely to meet you all. See you round

London, perhaps for a beer or two! Cheers, George :-).

Roadrunner: Just wanted to wish you a happy new year.

May it be filled with lots of dashing about and chock full of near misses. Cayote.

Happy 21st, Renee aka J-team: We hope you enjoy your birthday on Sunday – bet you’ll be pretty hungover from Saturday’s shenanigans.

The Naval Crew.

Shilleen: It’s been great having you over this Chrissy and glad you can stay for a couple more months. We’ll miss your unique cooking skills (stir-fry with cheese, anyone?). Everyone at No 46.

Blonde Aussie on the Central line: You got on a crowded Tube at Baker Street wearing a red beanie and black and white striped gloves. It was December 16 about 4pm.

Email me at blonde_aussie@

Desperately Seeking is a reader forum, and all messages should be within the spirit of the page; TNT cannot take responsibility for offence caused. No phone numbers can be printed. Messages may be edited for publication. See tntmagazine.com/seeking

Q

I’m planning a trip home, and I’m not sure whether I should invite my boyfriend.

I’m from a small town in South Africa. My parents don’t yet know he’s Bangladeshi, or how serious it’s getting.

I’m worried they’ll say things he might find offensive. What should I do?

A

It’s sad to say that mixedrace couples still have it pretty hard in some places, but if the relationship is as serious

as you say, then you’ll have to take your fella home to meet the folks sometime.

The answer is to make sure your boyfriend, your family

and yourself, are all prepared.

If you suddenly show up on your parent’s doorstep with a “strange man”, chances are they’ll be far less inclined to be

Visit tntmagazine.com/snowbombing to get a £30 discount off the tntmagazine.com

gmail.com if you fancy finishing our conversation about unicorns.

Skanky Meg: Are you sure you really want to go home to sunny Brissy and leave us other skanks behind? Don’t go! It’s not too late. The Acton Skanks Club.

Les, Simon, Bruce and Dan: Thanks for a brilliant Chrissy lunch. Who would have thought we could cook a turkey? And thanks again for not making me eat the Brussels sprouts. Yuck! Leanne.

Matt: Thanks for holding my hair back after all those red wines the other night. You’re a true friend. Mel. Lolly P: Are you back from Thailand yet? We have the cava on ice and the curry puffs in the oven. Ready when you are. The Loftus Road crew.

Cheerio, Parker: Well, the Goodge Street dream has ended! Goodge Street won’t be the same without our quicksilver crew. Thanks for being a quality boss. We’re all gutted not to be working with you any more. All the best at the new store, mate.

Vixen: Thanks for looking out for me and helping me with finding Mr Right (Now).

I know it’s a tough job, but I’m glad I’ve the best of the best on my side. Love and kisses from the Mabe-ster and sometime band of merry dwarfs.

kind over the dinner table.

You’ll probably end up mediating some awkward situations, but if you really care about your boyfriend it’s kind of your duty. Plus, if your man and your parents care about you, they’ll probably put in considerable effort to like each other for your sake.

»

Got a sex or relationship dilemma? Email dearreuben@ tntmagazine.com

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