TNT Magazine / Issue 1426

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December 27 2010 - January 2 2011 Issue 1426 tntmagazine.com

2010’S TOP CELEBRITIES We reveal the hottest people and biggest stories making the headlines

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

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this week December 27 - January 3 / Issue 1426 Free every Monday tntmagazine.com

Front Cover:

EDITOR’S LETTER So that’s it then – Christmas is all over and one with for another year. But, with 2011 just around the corner, there’s still plenty of reasons to celebrate. Make sure you make the most of the new year and join in some of the activities lining London’s streets (P8). If you have got a raging headache from one too many glasses of wine, it could be because you picked a bad bottle, so read our expert’s advice on choosing the perfect vino (P14). To celebrate all that was 2011, TNT has looked back at the biggest news stories which hit the headlines (P33).

Happy New Year!

33 Check out the people and the stories that made the news in 2010

43 TRAVEL

CAROL DRIVER

6 LONDON 6 8 10 14 16 18

London Life GET OUT OF BED!: There’s plenty to do on New Year’s Day Food & Drink A DECENT DROP: Become more discerning with your wine choice Spotted Silly Buggers

20 ENTERTAINMENT 20 TNT Life 21 Look Who Talked: The best quotes from the big names in 2010 22 Cinema 23 Culture

54 Meet the locals in Havana, Cuba

24 MUSIC & CLUBS 24 PICK OF THE BUNCH: Aussie guitarist Tommy Emmanuel 26 TNT MUSIC AWARDS: Music editor Alison Grinter’s best of the year 28 Music Listings 30 Clubbing Listings

43 Global Vision 44 WEIRD AND WONDERFUL: The UK’s strangest museums 46 Late Deals 47 TNTT Weekender: Prague 48 SOUK OF IT ALL: Unwind in the hammams of Marrakech 50 Travel Tips 51 Travel News 52 On The Road 53 Top Five 54 VIVA CUBA!: Get off the beaten track and discover the real Cuba

14 Good body, nice nose: get to know your wines

33 NEWS & SPORT TNT Magazine brings you the people and events that shaped the biggest stories in news and sport in 2010.

From the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to the Chilean miners’ miraculous rescue and Julian Assange’s WikiLeaks revelations, we’ve got it all covered.

REGULARS 4 Letters 12 Wins 82 Desperately Seeking 26 Dirty girl Ke$ha is up for a TNT Music Award - but which one?

8 A fresh start: London has lots to offer on New Year’s Day

YOUR SAY EDITORIAL Editor Carol Driver Sub-editor Jahn Vannisselroy Travel editor Janine Kelso Sport editor Tom Sturrock Music editor Alison Grinter Web editor Frankie Mullin Staff writer Rebecca Kent Editorial assistant Inger Smith

London is best city for NYE

I’ve been lucky enough to have travelled to a few countries for New Year’s Eve parties.

I’ve wandered around beaches in Thailand drinking ‘buckets’, I’ve been skiing on mountains in Andorra, I’ve sunbathed in Spain and I’ve seen the fireworks explode over Sydney’s Harbour Bridge.

All of these were amazing experiences. However, there’s something quite special about seeing in a new year while in London.

There’s always a great atmosphere and everyone is really friendly as you stroll along the Embankment and watch the mayor’s fireworks. I know where I’ll be on Friday night!

Claire B, via tntmagazine.com

DIGITAL & IT Head of digital marketing and development Syed Ahmad IT manager Stephen Dann ART & PICTURES Art director Shabir Mahmood Senior Designer Astrid Breacker Designer Laura Doyle Picture editor Shila Sultana Picture researcher Laila Pacheco SALES Head of marketing and sales Jim Zambrano Acting Sales Manager Jaqui Ward Portfolio Manager Stephen Warman Sales Executives Matt Syder | James Berry | Tyler Harrison | Eddie Clinton | Thomas Wheeler | Stephen Doyle Sales Administrator Abby Nightingale MARKETING & EVENTS Marketing and events assistant Phoebe Cherrill Social media co-ordinator Daniel Cape ACCOUNTS Finance director Nick Crampton Accounts Margaret Roberts | Alexandra Buchlakova PRODUCTION Head of production Libby West Production manager Jon Cooke Production assistant Justine Mackay TNT PUBLISHING CEO Kevin Ellis Chairman Ken Hurst Receptionist Lisa Lowe TNT Publishing Ltd Emblem Direct Ltd PRINTED BY St Ives Web Ltd NEWS AAP SAPA 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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It’s baffling me as to why supply teachers need an agency – does anyone know the reasoning behind this?

As a supply teacher I earn £130 a day BUT if I wasn’t with an agency I would be earning as much as £200+ a day.

How can we supply teachers cut out the middle man from the equation and take home all our hard-earned cash while working in the UK? I know in New Zealand and Australia it’s simply a process of turning up at a local school with a CV and your teacher registration, so why isn’t it the same here?

Bob, via tntmagazine.com

MOVING TIPS PLEASE! I live in Mexico City and I’m moving to London at the beginning of January.

I’m packing my winter clothes but I’m not sure

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whether I should pack some kind of down coat or jacket.

I don’t know if it’s necessary to pack all my winter clothes , or if I pack my normal office clothes and then normal coats.

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Laura Gonzalez, tntmagazine.com

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We also have regular socials.

Email teddingtonswans@ hotmail.com or pop along to one of our training sessions.

Your first one is free!

Elaine Garner, via tntmagazine.com

HURRY UP SUMMER! Am I the only one who hates the cold weather in Britain?

All I hear is how cozy London is and how much people enjoy wrapping up warm to go and see the festive sights – I’m bored of it now!

There’s nothing worse than actually looking forward to getting on to a Tube train just so you can get warm.

Hurry up summer – I think I’m going to have to book a sunshine filled break to keep me going.

Adam, W1

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Prize is not transferable. Your Say is a reader forum and does not represent the opinions of TNT or its staff.

Travel

Culture

Biking in Barcelona

Kick off 2011 with a trip to the theatre

Getty Images, TNT Images

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.

Speical: London on New Year’s Eve

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LONDON LIFE

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LONDON PREVIEW: THE HURLY BURLY SHOW This is definitely one for your 2011 diary. All singing, all dancing show The Hurly Burly will be rocking into the West End for the first time.

Starring Miss Polly Rae, the event magically fuses the traditions of burlesque and bawdy cabaret with modern day fashion, music and popular culture.

With spectacular costumes, sets and lighting, the beautiful Miss Polly Rae and her six Hurly Burly Girlys elegantly focus on the tease and take audiences on a

Interview

unique, provocative journey full of wit, joie de vivre, and celebration of the female form.

One of the masters behind the show is William Baker – best known for his creative work with Kylie Minogue including directing her world tours. But the show’s only in town for a short time – so miss it, and you really will miss out.

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LONDON LIFE

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

LONDON

NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS FREE WHAT: London throws a massive party to ring in the new year and while there will be venues packed with merry-makers all around the capital, the epicentre of the celebrations and the fireworks is on the South Bank.

WHEN: December 31.

DO IT BECAUSE: Well, it’s New Year’s Eve and London marks the occasion in epic style. If you’re only here for a short time, it could be one of the enduring memories of your London adventure. Rug up, though. It will be bloody freezing.

6

»

London Eye, South Bank, SE1 7PB (london.gov.uk/newyearseve).

Check out the primates at London Zoo

Capital idea: London Zoo Remarkably, London Zoo has been open to the public since 1847 – for 20 years before that, it was a purely scientific establishment. Today, it’s still going strong, thanks in part to its central, picturesque location at the northern end of Regent’s Park – just follow the canal from Camden and you can’t miss it.

Whatever kinds of animals fascinate you, you’ll find something here to perk your interest – the zoo has more than 15,000 inhabitants

so it’s impossible not to.

Meerkats are a predictable favourite, but the pygmy hippos and bearded pigs are not to be overlooked either. The big cats are always popular, and London Zoo is home to a Sumatran tiger as well as an Asian lion.

It’s off-peak season at the moment, so is cheaper than usual. TS

NEW YEAR’S DAY PARADE FREE It’s big, loud and colourful – ring in the new year in the streets of London with clowns, acrobats and brass bands.

» Parliament Square, SW1P 3JX Westminster (london parade.co.uk). Jan 1

» Saatchi Gallery, King’s Rd, SW3 4SQ Sloane Square (saatchi-gallery.co.uk).

Until Jan 16

1. TWO COURSE MEAL Hit the New Year’s Day 2011 parade

THE MAZE PRISON strike to protest the British government’s refusal to grant special status to political prisoners. Ten inmates, of various affiliation, starved

Check out this eclectic exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery – showcasing Chilean art across various media.

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BRITAIN EXPLAINED themselves to death. The leader of the protest, Bobby Sands, was elected to the UK parliament during the hunger strike, before he died. He was 27 years old.

This week in 1997, loyalist paramilitary Billy Wright was shot by republican inmates as he sat in the back of a van, awaiting transfer to the Maze’s visitor centre.

The Maze was closed in 2000 and demolition started Some starved themselves, others in 2006, but has since halted. TS smeared the walls with excrement

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The Maze was a notorious prison in Northern Ireland used specifically to house paramilitaries between 1971 and 2000, the period known as The Troubles, marked by violent clashes between Catholics and Protestants that often spilled over into attacks on British targets.

In 1981, seven inmates at the Maze embarked on a hunger

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This off-beat adaptation of the classic Grimm fairytale presents as one of the season’s real highlights.

Visually bonkers and shot through with black humour.

Take a trip through the history of drug use, from Egyptian poppies to Victorian cocaine eye drops to Gatorade bottles with hosepipes wedged into them. But keep your hands off the snuff, druggie.

» Southbank Centre,

» Wellcome Collection, 183-

Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX Waterloo (southbankcentre. co.uk). Until Jan 2

193 Euston Road, NW1 2BE Euston Square (wellcome collection.org). Until Feb 27

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Richard Herring crucifies the followers of Christ

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Richard Herring has been an Edinburgh favourite for years, and what more fitting time to riff on the son of God than at Christmas? Wowsers steer clear. You won’t like it.

Shakespeare’s comedy gets a dusting-off and an updating, but retains its wry edge. The Roundhouse is a great venue, so this is a perfect excuse to get along.

» Leicester Square Theatre,

» The Roundhouse, Chalk

Leicester Square WC2H 7BX (leicester squaretheatre.com).

Until Jan 22

Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8EH Farm (roundhouse.org.uk).

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Join the parade in central London

F O T U O T E G

!

D E B I

f the most ambitious thing you’ve ever done on New Year’s Day is staggering down to your local for a hair of the dog then make this year different. Here’s where to drag your sorry self to on the first day of 2011. Good luck!

tntmagazine.com

WORDS FRANKIE MULLIN

TAKE STOCK Car lovers should get themselves to Wimbledon for the Winternationals’ stock car race. Unlike its scrappy younger brother, banger racing, this is no-contact driving, so don’t expect demolition.

Don’t worry if you’ve never heard of 2.0 Hot Rods, Lightning Rods or Superstox, the atmosphere will be buzzing and you’ll find someone you want to cheer on.

See spedeworth.co.uk.

BOWLED OVER Keep yourself occupied until pub time by hitting the bowling alley. Tenpin (tenpin bowling.co.uk) has locations all over London that are open on New Year’s Day. PARK LIFE If you think you can avoid dashing behind a tree to throw up, then getting outside in one of London’s parks on New Year’s Day will make you feel highly virtuous. For

TNT

Go bowling

ON PARADE This year marks the 25th anniversary of the London Parade (londonparade.co.uk), so if marching bands and cheerleaders are your thing, this is for you. Join the 500,000 people expected to pack central London as thousands of performers from all over the world process past Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and other iconic landmarks.

A number of free concerts will also be taking place. If you like the sound of it but can’t quite face the crowds then the parade will be shown on TV. It begins at the Ritz Hotel at 12pm and finishes in Parliament Square at 3pm.

Don’t waste New Year’s Day - there’s loads to do in London Town

LAST-MINUTE NEW YEAR

LONDON

If you haven’t planned New Year’s Eve yet, the Mayor of London’s Fireworks (london.gov.uk/newyearseve) are a safe bet for a spectacular midnight. Be warned, though, the banks of the Thames get hideously crowded so you’ll need to get there early for a good view. Venues in sight of the London Eye, where the fireworks are set off, may have a cover charge on the night. For a view of the fireworks without the crowds, try Primrose Hill or Parliament Hill in Hampstead. Bring your own booze and watch with breathing space.

9

Crowded London on NYE

have kicked off so you can spend the first day of 2011, well, spending.

Big department stores such as Harrods, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols will all be offering bargains and shopping centres like Westfield will be welcoming shoppers will open arms.

Alternatively, some of London’s Christmas markets will still be doing business if you want to keep the festive spirit alive. Covent Garden’s Love Market (coventgardenlife.com) and the Christmas Fair at the 02 (christmasfairattheo2.co.uk) will be open on New Year’s Day.

Brave the sales

the most masochistic, the Serpentine Run (serpentine.org.uk) is an annual event that takes place on a traffic-free course around Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. You can sign up for the 10k or 3k race, which start 11am and 12pm respectively.

For a slightly less hardcore take on fresh air, take a meander around Kew Gardens’ glasshouses, galleries and treetop walkway (kew.org).

Getty Images

TAKE A BREATH Start the new year off on the right foot with a free yoga class. According to Triyoga (teddyfoundation.com), the Indian tradition dictates that what you do on the first day of the year sets the tone for your year ahead. Join in for nada at their Primrose Hill studio on Jan 1.

SHOPATHON If Christmas wasn’t enough consumerism for you then don’t fear, the January sales

CRUISING Check out London from the water with a Thames Cruise (citycruises.com).

Boats are running on New Year’s Day and you can jump on at various points along the river between Westminster and Greenwich. If the weather’s bad then plonk yourself below deck with a mulled wine and watch the city glide past.

FIND INSPIRATION If you’ve gained a bonus day by not partying too hard on NYE then use it to visit one of the museums you’ve been meaning to see.

Somerset House (somersethouse.org.uk) is open on New Year’s Day and as well as the permanent exhibitions, it’s currently hosting a collection of Christian Dior’s illustrations.

The Science Museum (sciencemuseum. org.uk) is a high-octane extravaganza of exhibits, and the 3D IMAX theatre will be showing Hubble Space Telescope and Wild Ocean documentaries.

The V&A (vam.ac.uk) is also open and worth seeing are the camera-less photography and magic lantern exhibitions. Enjoy!

Start 2011 on “ the right foot with a yoga class ” DON’T GO TO BED ❏ Just because you’ve been out all night, doesn’t mean you have to take it easy on New Year’s Day. Plenty of Londoners will be keeping the party going on Jan 1. Resolutions can start tomorrow ❏ 93 Feet East (93feeteast.co.uk) on Brick Lane is putting on a New Year’s Day rave from 6am-1pm ❏ Spitalfield’s Public Life (publiclife.org) also opens at 6am ❏ Fabric (fabriclondon.com) in Farringdon opens its doors again at 7pm if you’ve still got the energy

Keep on clubbing

tntmagazine.com

FOOD & DRINK

RESTAURANT REVIEW The Elbow Room ★★★★★

LONDON

Curtain Rd, EC2A 3BS Shoreditch High St

THE SCENE American-style pool with plenty of tables from which to choose – if you arrive early enough. Rock up later in the evening and you could be looking at hours before you get to shoot some

10

pool. We head there on a Saturday afternoon, and it’s already busy. The staff are about as friendly as Sir Alan Sugar on a bad day. There are stains on some of the tables – and the toilets are really dirty.

Venue is also a bar and a club.

BEHIND THE BAR Choose from beers and spirits as well as cocktails – if you can get served, that is. Oh, and if

you’re playing pool, remember to show your tab card to the barman first (else he could get a bit narky).

THE GRUB Burgers, wraps and light-bite food.

BILL PLEASE Pints from £3.90, cocktails from £7. Bar food from £3.

VERDICT Good fun night if you enjoy pool and can ignore the bar staff. CD

Restaurant review YO! Sushi ★★★★★

95 Farringdon Rd, EC1R 3BT 020 7841 0785 See yosushi.com Farringdon

THE SCENE Sit at a table beside a conveyor-belt which transports plates of sushi around the restaurant and past your hungry eyes. Plates are colour-coded for price and you can see what’s what from the menu if you’re not brave enough to simply grab what you like the look of. Tables have still and sparkling water on tap and are stocked with wasabi, ginger and soy sauce.

The atmosphere is casual and fun rather than elegant. Great for lunch with your mate, less so for a hot date.

THE GRUB YO! Sushi sells itself as “more than sushi” and it is indeed somewhere you could go even if you don’t do raw fish. There’s a selection of sashimi, nigiri, rolls and handrolls which will satisfy those who like the real deal

s Good reason : ex to use tntfor

FONDUE VENUES St Moritz

but the extensive menu also has veggie options, cooked dishes and some meat.

Especially tasty are the soft shell crab rolls and the spicy tuna hand rolls.

For those who like it hot, there are lots of noodle and rice dishes to choose from. £2 gets you unlimited miso soup.

BEHIND THE BAR Unlimited green tea is £1.50. There’s also beer, wine and saki.

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L’Art du Fromage Lose yourself in cheese. It’s easy to do at this French restaurant in Chelsea where cheese is worshipped and the fondue is sinfully delicious. Yummy. See artdufromage.co.uk

Tiroler Hut Kitschy Austrian hut in Westbourne Grove.

Kasefondue, an Alpine delight, is a favourites as is the chocolate fondue.

See tirolerhut.co.uk

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BILL PLEASE Plates range from £1.70 to £5. You’ll be able to fill up for about £12 before drinks.

VERDICT Sushi connoisseurs probably won’t like it, but if you’re after the novelty value of sushi without having to be too adventurous with taste, then this is for you.

The gimmicky-ness of the set up is fun and the staff friendly and relaxed.

With pots overflowing with gooey chocolate and cheese, this Swiss restaurant in Soho certainly knows its fondue and you should get to know it too. See stmoritzrestaurant.co.uk

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A DECENT

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How do you buy a good bottle of wine? Listen to expert Justin Knock’s advice WORDS REBBECCA KENT

C

Australia’s Barossa Valley

tntmagazine.com

How do you choose a decent wine?

Don’t buy half-priced bottles because the price you pay for them is closer to their true value. For example, for a £5 bottle, half of that is tax, a third is packaging and

Tourism Australia, Getty Images

hoosing the right bottle of wine can often be a difficult task. If you don’t know your sauvignon blanc from your shiraz you could offend the host of your new year dinner party – or, worse, be left to drink a stinking vino.

Wine selection is a science as much as it’s an art. And it takes a fine nose to be able to pick up the array of ingredients and influences in a bottle, with experts able to narrow down intricate details such as chocolate or tobacco.

Justin Knock, 36, who hails from Gosford, Australia, is one of only 289 people in the world to hold a Masters in wine. The MW is the highest recognition anyone in the trade can receive so needless to say he knows his stuff. Here, he gives TNT wine novices invaluable information on how to buy wines over the festive season.

LONDON

Cheers! Sparkling wine is good for Xma s part ies

transport and that leaves about 60p to spend on the wine. Whereas if you spend £7-£8, you’re probably getting double or triple the quality of the wine because the tax is about the same, the packaging and transport are about the same, so most of the extra money spent is on the quality of the wine. So, the biggest improvement you can make in your wine consumption is to go from a £5 to an £8 bottle.

The best wines “ are the ones you enjoy regularly ”

TNT Images

Are the best wines necessarily the most expensive?

Absolutely not. The best wines are the ones you enjoy and can drink regularly. For example, this summer my housemate and I were drinking Txakoli at about £10 a bottle from the Basque country in Spain. It’s simple but delicious on a summer’s day.

How do you rate wines from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa?

Australia’s got the most diversity. You get top quality shiraz, chardonnay, sparkling wine, worldclass fortified wines and very good quality coolclimate wines like pinot from Victoria or sauvignon blanc from Tasmania. You also get unique wines such as semillon from

Silky: Sophie Marceau

15

The weather can affect wine quality

the Hunter. Then there are the extremely full-bodied wines such as Barossa shiraz or aged wines like Margaret River cabernet. NZ has a better reputation for high-quality wines and is really only known for two styles – Marlborough sauvignon blanc, which you can buy in any bar now by the glass, and pinot noir from Central Otago. Shiraz and sauvignon blanc are what South Africa does best.

They’re still coming from a long way back in terms of wine-making, though.

What wine would you suggest for a blind date?

If she’s average, a sauvignon blanc because that’ll cover 75 per cent of most dates.

If she’s above average, a chardonnay or riesling, even though they’re considered unfashionable. History has shown that they are the two greatest white wine varieties hands down.

What is a good wine to buy as a gift for your boss?

Go for something that’s not too expensive, but that’s still good quality, such as a bin wine from Penfolds. Spend between £13-£20. Their wines are fullbodied and good if they want to drink it straight away, but also to put in the cellar where they can be forgotten about for a good number of years.

What about to take to a dinner party?

Sparkling for sure. Not just champagne, but also sparkling from the Loire, which is pretty good quality, but not too expensive.

Or for someone you fancy?

A bottle of white or red burgundy. It’s complex and it’s silky and conjures images of Sophie Marceau in a champagne silk dress gliding down a red carpet at the Oscars. It’s so sexy.

How important is a wine’s vintage?

Knowing what the summer was like in a certain year can be a really helpful guide.

Over here, people have fond memories of the great summer in 2003, but as a wine expert, I hate the 2003 vintage because it was just too hot for wine.

WINE & DINE JUSTIN’S TOP LONDON WINE SPOTS ❏ 28°-50° wine workshop and Kitchen (2850.co. uk) “they do good wine by the glass”. ❏ The Sampler wine merchant (thesampler.co.uk) “you might be able to sample a £200 bottle for £3”. ❏ Artisan & Vine bar and restuarant (artisanandvine.com) “an interesting natural wine bar”.

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18

I’ve got a girlfriend but I recently hooked up with a colleague at my office Christmas party. I’m torn between the two women – how can I avoid hurting one of them?

Q

A

Stop beating yourself up – the whole point of office Christmas parties is for people to cheat on their spouses with their colleagues. You simply followed the script and I don’t think anyone can hold that against you.

However, I advise you not to tell your girlfriend. Women can be irrational about this

TOOL OF THE WEEK Fashion can be cold Preserving a cutting-edge look isn’t meant to be easy; sometimes, you need to be prepared to suffer a little bit in order to be super-cool.

Certainly, Russia’s soldiers have been going the extra mile recently.

Fashion designer Valentin Yudashkin put together some snazzy new uniforms – their gold thread making them the very embodiment of tsarist chic. But his flimsy materials weren’t thick enough for the freezing conditions, and hundreds of serviceman have been taken ill.

kind of thing and it’s unlikely she’ll take your infidelity in the spirit of festive cheer.

At the end of the day, the heart wants what the heart wants and if you fancy your colleague more than your girlfriend, I don’t think you can really be held responsible.

If anything, you’re the victim here.

Ultimately, you should hitch your cart to whichever girl is more attractive.

You’re shallow – why fight it?

A

Love triangles appear have been an enduring theme in human relationships and history demonstrates how destructive they can be.

Cleopatra’s hold on both Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony threatened to bring the Roman Empire to its knees. Death by cobra was far too good for her.

And that Creekside Jezebel Joey Potter was unable to choose s In happier time between

sensitive, thoughtful Dawson and selfish, devil-may-care Pacey for an interminable six seasons.

It may sound crudely empirical, but I suggest you tot up a list of criteria, all the essential traits embodied by your perfect woman – work ethic, good with numbers, counterfeiting skills, shelterbuilding – and figure out who most ticks those boxes.

I gave Joey Potter the same advice but she didn’t listen and look how that worked out.

» Got a sex or relationship dilemma? Email dearreuben@ tntmagazine.com

THINGS THE QUEEN SHOULD DO BEFORE SHE DIES

# 410

HEAD TO TIMES SQUARE AND GET LOOSE ON NEW YEAR’S EVE

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Celebrate the arrival of 2011 at TNT’s Roaring 1920s New Year’s Eve bash at Gigalum this Saturday night.

Tickets are only £10 which includes a glass of champagne on arrival (before 9pm), plus drink specials, live music, awesome DJs and a bestdressed competition with a prize from Sail Croatia. » Gigalum, Cavendish Pde, SW4 9DW Clapham South. 7pm-3am. Fri, Dec 31. Buy your tickets at tntmagazine.com/nye

Wish you could combine work with travel? Then teaching English as foreign language could be the perfect job for you.

To get you started, TNT and ITT are running 18-hour TEFL weekend courses this winter.

Courses are only £150 (normally £200) and include training on how to structure a lesson, grammar, vocabulary, pronounciation as well as teaching to classes and on a one-to-one basis.

Anyone attending will get a guide to job opportunities, and certificates awarded are

LOOK WHO’S TALKING

From Chopper Read discussing murder to Richie Sambora remembering groupies, we bring you the best quotes of 2010

ENTERTAINMENT

Look Who Talked WORDS ALISON GRINTER

21 “She’s a witty, intelligent and experienced woman, who’s very easy company …

I was invited to what’s called a ‘dine and sleep’ at Windsor Castle. I was fortunately seated right next to the Queen – and we had a good old chat.”

Australian High Commissioner John Dauth tells us what the Queen is really like “I can’t believe my voice was so high and mousey and that my hair was so awful.

Oh my God, it doesn’t even look like real hair, it looks like a wig. “ Actress Linda Hamilton on seeing herself in the early Terminator films “I find it funny that anybody would care enough to hate me like that … I guess it’s like calling a CEO of Sony a million dollar music lover. Because I’m independent, my record company essentially hasn’t changed since [I started] busking, 75 per cent of the money I make goes back into the business.”

Singer-songwriter John Butler doesn’t like being called a “million dollar hippie” in the press

Getty Images

“Oh yeah, they’re crazy. They take the piss. But I don’t blame them. The government we had before insisted on beating black people and making them do awful jobs, and were just racist. And the new politicians have a lot of sex and are a bit corrupt. I’ll take the latter.”

Comedian Trevor Noah on South Africa’s new breed of politicians

then. That period finished for us when the grunge era entered. Rock ’n’ roll shifted. Aids came around so women weren’t as promiscuous as they were back in the ’80s.”

Bon Jovi bassist Richie Sambora reminisces about wilder times with the band “I don’t think funniness is stored in your fat cells.”

Funny gal Magda Szubanski doesn’t think losing a quarter of her body weight will affect her approach to performance “I thought I was cooler than I was. I probably said something like:, ‘You guys must score lots of chicks’ but they’re really not like that. They thought I was kind of a goofball.”

Arj Barker recalls failing to impress Flight Of The Conchords’ Brett McKenzie and Jemaine Clement when meeting them for the first time “I’ve been questioned about 53 times for murder, right? And that’s for murders they think I’ve done. If you don’t admit to it, they can’t get ya. And you can confess to murders all day long if you don’t tell

them who you killed, where the bodies are buried, what murder weapon was used and what day you killed them on.”

Notorious ex-con Mark “Chopper” Read explains why he’s never been convicted for murder “I think people were a bit disappointed by my Logie acceptance speech. I think they were waiting for ‘flaming mongrels’ or ‘long-haired yahoos’ or the others, but no.”

Ray Meagher talks about the gap between his real-life self and his character Alf in Home & Away “I’m dying to kick his brains in because he really beat me up badly in that movie.”

Sylvester Stallone would love to square up again to Dolph Lundgren, his nemesis in Rocky IV “It’s all Jason Derulo, Tinie Tempah, Katy Perry – it ain’t fuckin’ Jason Donovan, I can tell you that! I’m only good for bloody loans or taking them out to a premiere. They’re not very interested in my back-catalogue.”

Jason Donovan’s kids couldn’t give a toss about his 80s popstar past “I put covers on my nipples.

And I wear underwear, not that I don’t trust the directors, but just in case.”

Upcoming actress Sophie Lowe isn’t taking any chances

“We were young and riding the rocket ship to fame and stardom, and rock ’n’ roll was a different animal back Linda Hamilton, Jason Donovan and Sylvester Stallone

tntmagazine.com

CINEMA The Big Sleep

SCREEN TEST: DETECTIVES

Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall

ENTERTAINMENT

STARRING:

22

CERT PG RT 114 MINS

★★★★★

More than 60 years after it was first released, film noir classic The Big Sleep remains the blueprint for how to adapt a book for the big screen.

Smart, sexy and utterly compelling, Howard Hawks’ take on the hard-boiled crime novel by Raymond Chandler deserves to be dusted off this week and presented to a whole new generation.

That The Big Sleep has been able to stand the test of time is all the more remarkable since it has a notoriously confusing storyline.

Bogart is pitch-perfect as private detective Philip Marlowe, hired by General Sternwood (Charles Waldron) to make the person who is blackmailing him “go away”.

No sooner does Marlowe start his digging than he is up to his eyeballs in dead bodies and double-crosses while

1 Who plays Doctor John Watson in Guy Ritchie’s 2009 film Sherlock Holmes?

2 What info does Hannibal Lecter ask Clarice Starling for in return for clues in The Silence Of The Lamb?

3 Name one of the Aussie actors who play detectives in LA Confidential?

4 What’s in the package delivered in Se7en?

5 What animal is associated with French detective Jacques Clouseau?

For a chance to win a copy of Peep Show Series 7 out on DVD on Dec 27, email answers to grabs@ tntmagazine. com by noon on Wed with ‘Peep Show’ in the subject line.

WIN

Chemistry: Bogart and Bacall

there is real chemistry between the private dick and the general’s daughter, Vivian (Bacall).

While the twists and turns of the plot might leave many cold, it doesn’t really matter thanks to the heat generated by real-life couple Bogart and

Bacall. Most stars together offscreen fail to recapture their chemistry on film, but these two icons smoulder in every scene, making this a fascinating, timeless crime drama.

GOOD FOR: Those who like oldies that are goodies.

PIERRE DE VILLIERS

LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS 1 The Cars That Ate Paris

2 Picnic At Hanging Rock 3 Gallipoli 4 Witness 5 Russell Crowe

PREVIEW 2011 Next year is going to be jam-packed with exciting releases. Book your tickets now, says PIERRE DE VILLIERS If you love blokes who run around in their underpants, 2011 will be an absolute treat.

With Hollywood’s superhero craze showing no signs of slowing down it’s a spandex avalanche, starting with The Green Hornet in January.

It’s hammer-time for Aussie Chris Hemsworth in March when he plays Thor. In June, those freaky mutants return in

tntmagazine.com

The Green Hornet

The Green Lantern

Thor

Francois Duhamel, Jaimie Trueblood

127 hours

X-Men: First Class and ‘sexiest man alive’ Ryan Reynolds steps into the ring as The Green Lantern. That’s followed by Captain America in July.

For a different kind of hero check out Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson’s longawaited collaboration The Adventures Of Tin Tin: Secret Of The Unicorn in December.

Harry Potter works his magic for the final time in July with the Deathly Hallows 2, while The Thing (April) and Footloose (October) are being both being ‘reimagined’. Before that, start the year off right with Danny Boyle’s controversial 127 Hours, about a man who gets trapped under a boulder, and True Grit, the latest Coen brothers offering – both are released in January.

CULTURE END OF THE RAINBOW The legendary Judy Garland married five times, made several suicide attempts and never cracked the pillpopping habit encouraged by the film studios in her early years as a child actor.

Peter Quilter’s play (which premiered in Sydney in 2005) shows her ensconced in a luxurious hotel during a season at London’s Talk of the Town, just months before a fatal overdose in 1969.

It’s scant on biographical detail, but that hardly matters. Hilton McRae is quietly devoted as her gay pianist who instantly disapproves of her toyboy

ENTERTAINMENT

SEE THIS: Theatre

Sensational: Tracle Bennett

fiancé manager, and Tracie Bennett is simply sensational.

She gives what must surely be an award-winning performance as the troubled, insecure star, delivering barbed dialogue and musical numbers with unforgettable emotional power – desperate for drugs, drink and reassurance in (almost) equal measure.

LOUISE KINGSLEY

23

» Trafalgar Studios, SW1 Charing Cross (endoftherain bow.com). Until March 5. £25

TNT online For more reviews visit tntmagazine.com/londonlife

WORTH A LOOK Award-winning creative team 1927 takes you on a twisted journey in The Animals And Children Took To The Streets » BAC, SW11 5TN

Clapham Jctn. Until Jan 8. £16 (Tuesdays Pay What You Can)

are crammed into 80 minutes in Potted Panto » Vaudeville Theatre, WC2R 0NH.

EXHIBITION OF THE WEEK

BOOKS OUT THIS WEEK

OONA HASSIM

HELL’S CORNER

BROKEN FENCES

David Baldacci

Camilla Noli

(Macmillan) DEC 31

(Orion) DEC 31

British MI5 agent Mary Chapman is sent to the US after a White House motorcade containing the British PM and the US President is targeted by a terror plot. But all is not what it seems.

Novel from Aussie author which tells the story of a middle-class family whose leafy suburban bubble is burst when a new family and their spoilt, spawn-of-Satan daughter Chelsea move next door.

PUBLIC ENEMIES

THE WAY OF THE KINGS

With abstract but colourful scenes depicting the crowds of London, Oona Hassim presents an interesting selection of works. Her unique style juxtaposes soft greys against dots of bright hues in the crowds. Subjects include events in the capital such as the G20 protests, where she explores the manner in which

crowds can never move freely due to the constraint of the city landscape and event marshalling. Having opened her studio for a month this winter, if you miss it, you really will miss out.

» 44 Richmond Avenue, Islington, N1 Angel (oonahassim.com). Until Jan 10, by appointment. Free Oona Hassim’s London crowds

TNT images, Bridget Riley

A fun-filled panto-marathon of seven classic pantomimes • Charing Cross (pottedpanto.com). Until Jan 9. From £15.99

Michel Houellebecq & Bernard-Henri Levy

Brandon Sanderson

(Atlantic Books) JAN 1

(Gollancz ) DEC 30

Two of France’s most celebrated intellectuals lock horns on everything, from literature, sex, politics, family, fame in a ferocious exchange of letters.

Bestselling author publishes his latest fantasy tome about a spearman forced into an army and subsequently into war against an enemy he doesn’t want to fight.

MORE EXHIBITIONS The visual works of the UK’s most famous art award at Turner Prize 2010 » Tate Britain, SW1P

Pimlico (tate.

•Aussie eX de Medici has teamed up with UK fashion designers in eX de Medici/Vexed Generation »

org.uk). Until Jan 3. £8

Fashion Space

Gallery, W1G

Oxford Circus (fashionspacegallery.com). Until Jan 29. Free

tntmagazine.com

TNT’S MUSIC AWARDS 2010

We have all the thrills and spills from the year in music WORDS ALISON GRINTER

Trash talking: Die Antwoord

Raw: Ke$ha

tntmagazine.com

year-old’s album was a real grower. Songs like Backstabber, Blah Blah Blah and Dinosaur (about dirty old men preying on young girls) were all gems. And it shat all over the Kings of Leon’s new album, that’s for sure.

THE ‘WISH YOU WELL’ AWARD Winner: Powderfinger After a 21-year career, 2.5 million album sales in Oz alone, a cabinet of Arias and an endless stream of nostalgia-inducing hits such as My Happiness and Passenger, Australia’s best-loved rock outfit decided to call it a day. Given that lead singer Bernard Fanning already has a solo career under his belt, we doubt this is the last we’ll be hearing from them, as individuals at least. But whatever they end up doing, as their own song goes, we wish ‘em well.

BIGGEST ‘WHAT THE FUCK?’ MOMENT AWARD Winner: Die Antwoord They looked like escapees from the trashiest trailer park ever, they sang equally trashy songs in their native Afrikaans (Sample lyrics: “Jou Ma Se poes in n Fish paste Jar” or in English: “Your mother’s fangita in a fishpaste jar”.)

Even so, Die Antwoord’s highly original “zef-rap” became the toast of tastemakers.

Still the bewilderment with which they were met at L.E.D Festival earlier this year, and their failure to light up the Brit charts with their debut album $O$ suggests they’ve got a few more hearts and minds to win over.

INDIE CRED AWARD Winner: The XX Yay, finally, this year the band who

Getty Images, TNT/Laila Pacheco

‘MOST OBNOXIOUS TEEN ATTITUDE FROM A NON TEENAGER’ AWARD Winner: Ke$ha Who says manners will get you everywhere?

Sex-photo fiend Ke$ha sings about pissing in the champers at a party on her debut album Animal and was openly proud of vomiting through Paris Hilton’s closet. Despite the unpleasant imagery, or maybe because of it, the 23-

MUSIC & CLUBS 25

Hamish Brown, Getty Images

Back on track: Take That

“

deserved to win the Mercury Music Prize actually did win the The Mercury Music Prize. The XX’s woozy, dark, enigmatic, self-titled debut album beguiled everyone who heard it, and even though their song Crystalised got flogged on every TV promo going, we never got sick of it.

Talented The XX deserved to win the Mercury Prize

‘THEY CAME FROM NOWHERE’ AWARD Winner: Magnetic Man One minute we were awash with sassy gal singers like Ellie Goulding and Marina And The Diamonds and the next minute dubstep arrives and sweeps all before it.

Yep, we’re talking about Magnetic Man’s arrival in the UK top ten with their storming I Need Air. Made up of dubstep producer/DJs Artwork, Benga and Skream, the trio signed a major-label deal with Columbia, which released a self-titled album in 2010 effectively taking the

largely underground genre to the mainstream.

End of the line: Powderfinger

”

‘QUEST FOR WORLD DOMINATION’ AWARD Winner: Pendulum We’ve watched them grow from fresh-off-the-boat drum ’n’ bass neophytes to UK chart-dominating dance rock behemoths, and Pendulum don’t show any signs of slowing down just yet. The band who originated in sunny Perth but now glower out of promo pics as if they won’t be happy until they have the whole music listening world under their thumb have a support slot lined up with Linkin Park next year. Which is funny cos we could have sworn they said something mildly uncharitable about ol’ LP on these very pages earlier this year, but them’s the compromises you gotta make for mainstream success.

million record deal/tour can achieve, especially when your own career is languishing in the doldrums, eh Robbie? So he’s back, maybe for good, to relight their fire (sorry) and we get to experience Take That mania a second time around.

Only this time it ain’t screaming teenage girls, it’s screaming middle-aged women. Scary.

Now if only Morrissey and Johnny Marr could patch things up.

THE ‘HELL FREEZES OVER WE NEVER THOUGHT WE’D SEE THEM BACK TOGETHER Pushing boundaries: AGAIN’ AWARD Mark Ronson Winner: Take That We thought Robbie Williams’ loathing for his ex-bandmates knew no bounds. But it’s amazing what the promise of £50

REINVENTION AWARD Winner: Mark Ronson Souped up with Dap-Kings horns, Ronson’s debut Version, channelled a distinctly soul/funk vibe and was one of the surprise hits of 2007. But we’re mighty pleased that for his second album Mr UberProducer didn’t choose to rest on his considerable laurels but reinvented himself as Mark Ronson and the Business Intl with a fresh 80’ sound which showcased such singular talents as that of MNDR on single Bang Bang Bang.

tntmagazine.com

PICK OF THE BUNCH Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuel on Michael Jackson, John Mayer and becoming a member of The Order of Australia WORDS ALISON GRINTER

tntmagazine.com

A good year: Tommy Emmanuel has had one out of the box

A

Getty Images

‘ONLY MAN FOR THE JOB’ Emmanuel, 55, who originally hails from the country New South Wales town of Muswellbrook, was sought out by the album’s co-producer John McClain to play a delicate acoustic part on the emotionally charged track Much Too Soon.

He was recommended to McClain by Grammy winning blues hero Keb Mo’ as “the only man for the job”. And yet Emmanuel almost couldn’t fit the job into his manic schedule.

“I got a call from John asking if I could come to LA and I said: ‘No, I’m in England to see my children and I only have a few days before I go to Russia.’”

With only one free day to record, Emmanuel was installed in a London studio, given the Jackson track and told by McClain: “Just do your thing.”

The resultant guitar solo is suitably elegiac, perfectly complementing Jackson’s vulnerable vocal turn on Much Too Soon, a track leftover from Jackson’s Thriller recordings and one of the best songs on the new album.

LONGTIME JACKSON FAN Did Emmanuel feel the full weight of being drafted in to help complete one of Jackson’s unfinished tracks?

“I thought, ‘Oh my god, I’m playing with the king, I’m being trusted with a Michael Jackson track: fuck, this is incredible!’”

He ended up spending eight hours on the track “because I did every alternative idea that I could imagine I could play for them to give them what they wanted”.

Emmanuel, who started performing at the age of nine and went on to become a protege of American blues icon Chet Atkins has always been a “major” Michael Jackson fan.

MUSIC & CLUBS

s year’s go, 2010 has hardly been an annus horribilis for acoustic guitar virtuoso Tommy Emmanuel. Not only was he voted Best Acoustic Guitarist in Guitar Player magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards, he also completed a sold out tour of the States and was honoured on the Queen’s Birthday Honours list Down Under. But surely the cherry on top of this knickerbocker glory of a year was his inclusion on Michael Jackson’s new album Michael.

27

Note perfect: Emmanuel wants to trade licks with John Mayer

“When I was 12 years old my mother gave me a dollar for my birthday, a lot of money for me then,” he says. “I went down to this cafe and put it all into the jukebox to hear Michael Jackson sing Ben over and over and over because I couldn’t believe that a little boy could sing with that much soul and precision. It made me weep and nothing had ever touched me like that before.”

ROYAL HONOURS & DREAM COLLABORATIONS Emmanuel also became a member of The Order of Australia for the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for his services to music and charity work. “The whole thing starts off with the words: ‘He who Australia is proud to honour’ … Just the way it was worded made me get a lump in my throat!”

Best known for his complex fingerpicking style, Emmanuel came to wider fame with his critically acclaimed 1993 album The Journey which showcased his unique combo of jazz, blues, country, rock, and Spanish sounds.

He has contributed to records for Roberta Flack and Diana Ross. He’s also played with such

As a young boy, Emmanuel was touched

by Jackson … in a musical sense, of course

luminaries as Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder and electric guitar inventor Les Paul.

Are there any dream collaborations left for the extraordinary guitarist?

“There are so many – George Benson would be one of them – he’s the greatest – and I’d love to work with John Mayer.”

I listened to “ Jackson sing Ben over and over ” BEYOND ACOUSTIC...

Emmanuel says he has young guitarists coming up to him asking for advice “only every day.” “One of the most important things I tell them is ‘get started with some good songs, make your arrangements interesting, get out there and play for the people. don’t think about impressing other musicians, don’t think about money or fame or any or that’.”

He has a new double album coming out, Little By Little, which he’ll unveil in London early next year with a show that will be “half acoustic and half electric”.

“People only know me as an acoustic performer overseas,“ he adds.

That’s all about to change.

» Tommy Emmanuel performs at The Kentish Town (0844 477 Forum, NW5 1JY 2000). Apr 29. £25. Album Little By Little out on Feb 21 through Favored Nations.

tntmagazine.com

MUSIC LISTINGS Cee-Lo Green

WEDNESDAY 29

MUSIC & CLUBS

Bad Wolf, Long Story Short The three-piece

28

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

Jazz Cafe, Parkway, NW1 7PG (0870 060 3777). £16.50.

Girls On Top, Pussycat & The Dirty Johnsons

blues six-piece with a dash of soul. Dover St Restaurant And Bar,

Garage and punk-rock from the London-based combo.

Dover St, W1S 4LQ (020 7629 9813). £6, free before 10pm.

Dublin Castle, Parkway, NW1 7AN (020 8806 2668). £10, adv £7.

Boy On The Roof, Evans The Death The London-based

New Year’s Eve Extravaganza: The London Funk All Star Band

five-piece plays indie-pop.

Pizza Express Jazz Club, Dean St, W1D 3RW (020 7437 9595/ cc 0845 602 7017). £25.

Joe Gideon & The Shark, Elijah At Sea The Londonbased duo incorporates elements of blues and indie into its alternative sound. The Lexington, Pentonville Rd, N1 9JB (020 7837 5371). £6.

TNT’S TOP BOOKING

CEE-LO GREEN Shepherd’s Bush Empire, W11 8QE Shepherd’s Bush. (08444 77 2000) Thursday, Mar 17. £25 Currently surfing a tsunami-sized wave of success off the back of his debut solo album The Lady Killer, the Gnarls Barley soul star has announced a London date for this coming spring.

Estelle Kokot Presents Bouquet Pervert And Other Stories Jazz and rock covers combo. The Vortex Jazz Club,

London Grammar, Corrine Scotland Hannah Reid and Daniel Rothman lead their acoustic soul project.

The Good Ship, Kilburn High Rd, NW6 7JR (07949 008253). £5.

Dalston Culture House, Gillett St, N16 8JH (020 7254 4097). £12.

Juan Laya and Jorge Montiel’s creation blends 1970s disco and funk with Latin influences.

Remus Down Boulevard

Hampshire Wood, Miles Horn, Ivan And The Wolves The outfit plays Moon, Putney, Lower Richmond Rd, SW15 1EU (020 8780 9383). £4.

HotBeds, Space Heroes Of The People, The Angry Bees Electronic rock

outfit plays rock. The Rdhouse, The Piazza, Covent Garden Market, WC2E 8HB (020 7379 6132). £5, free before 10pm.

The Stayaways, The Good Suns, Sleeping With Wolves, Colour Us In Punk-influenced

The Members The veteran

Tina T And Double O Soul The vocalist leads her soul and funk outfit. Dover St Restaurant And Bar,

the London-based artist.

Dover St, W1S 4LQ (020 7629 9813). £12, free before 10pm.

Montagues, New Manhattan, Remain Indoors Indie-rock band

Dublin Castle, Parkway, NW1 7AN (020 8806 2668). £6, concs £5.

Winter Jam Guitarist James

from Manchester. The Barfly,

TJ Johnson & The Boisdale Blue Rhythm Band Piano-

Daoud leads a collective of jazz musicians. Charlie Wright’s International Bar, Pitfield St, N1 6EN (020 7490 8345). £4, concs £3.

band. Half Moon, Putney,

Boisdale Of Belgravia, Eccleston St, SW1W 9LX (020 7730 6922). £12, £4.50 before 10pm.

FRIDAY 31

Lower Richmond Rd, SW15 1EU (020 8780 9383). £5.

Wilko Johnson The Canvey

Up At Proud Featuring performances from Lady Lykes, The Freewheelers and Johnny Taylor, followed

by Killa K spinning dubstep.

Proud Camden, The Horse Hospital, Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AH (020 7482 3867). £5.

Island guitarist and ex-Dr Feelgood member performs rock and blues. 100 Club, Oxford St, W1D

THURSDAY 30 Black Country Communion Rock supergroup with Glenn Hughes, Joe Bonamassa and Jason Bonham. O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, Shepherd’s Bush Green, W12 8TT (0905 020 3999/ cc 0844 477 2000). £50.

tntmagazine.com

St, WC2H 9JA (020 7836 5005). £25, adv £20, inc meal £40.

Peter And The Test Tube Babies The veteran outfit plays punk-rock. The Gaff, Holloway Rd, N7 6PN (020 7607 1555). £15.

Piccadilly, W1J 9HN (020 7734 8142/ cc 0845 345 6053). £25, £95 inc meal.

SATURDAY 1 Alan Barnes Quartet The saxophonist leads his band as it plays modern jazz standards and originals.

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

Scott Hamilton Quartet Sax-led jazz ensemble.

Pizza Express Jazz Club, Dean St, W1D 3RW (020 7437 9595/ cc 0845 602 7017). £22.

The Procrastinator Hot Club jazz and mainstream standards from the combo.

The Vortex Jazz Club, Dalston Culture House, Gillett St, N16 8JH (020 7254 4097). £10.

Shellac Alt rock from the Chicago-based combo.

Relentless Garage, Highbury Corner, N5 1RD (0870 060 3777/ cc 0844 847 1678). £12.

SUNDAY 2 Katie Brown, Alex Hitchcock, Leon Greening, Julian Bury & Matt Home Jazz ensemble.

Bull’s Head, Lonsdale Rd, Barnes, SW13 9PY (020 8876 5241). £8.

Liane Carroll Soulful jazz from the singer and pianist.

606 Club, Lots Rd, SW10 0QD (020 7352 5953). £10.

Rachel Stamp The band Monto Water Rats, Gray’s Inn Rd, WC1X 8BZ (020 7837 4412). £13.

The Frantastics, Jenny Cash & The Sons Of Sue, The Henry Brothers, JD Smith The band plays rockabilly

Reuben Richards & Soul Train Blues, funk and

and country. The Windmill, Blenheim Gardens, SW2 5BZ (020 8671 0700). £4, adv £3.

plays attitude-laden hard rock with punk influences.

New Year’s Eve Party: Bellowhedonism The folk

Boisdale Of Belgravia, Eccleston St, SW1W 9LX (020 7730 6922). £12, £4.50 before 10pm.

Sam And The Womp’s New Year’s Eve Hat Party The band plays an energetic blend of Balkan, jazz, ska, dub and rave, plus DJ sets from Aaron Audio, Senor Miguan, DJ Cous Cous and Bobby Gandolf.

Lee Gibson The vocalist and colleagues perform the songs of George Gershwin.

Ronnie Scott’s, Frith St, W1D 4HT (020 7439 0747). £10-£13.

Movin’ On Blues originals and covers from the duo.

Colour House Theatre, Merton Abbey Mills, off Merantun Way, SW19 2RD (020 8542 5511). £6.

outfit perform at a circus and cabaret-themed extravaganza.

With DJs, clowning and comedy.

Camino, The Regent Quarter, N1 9AF (020 7841 7331). £20.

Brian Shaw, Anna Bernard

Ian Shaw Contemporary

Mainstream jazz from the vocalist and colleagues.

Joey Negro’s Sunburst Band Soul, funk and disco

Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (0844 847 9910/ cc 0871 663 2500). £50.

from the London-based combo. The Jazz Cafe, Parkway, NW1 7PG (0870 060 3777). £17.50.

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

London-based musician performs swing plus showtunes and pop covers. Floridita,

Mitch Winehouse Swing and jazz from the Londonbased crooner. Pigalle,

1LL (020 7636 0933). £18, adv £17.50.

Ben Waters Boogie woogie and rock ‘n’ roll from the virtuoso pianist.

Alex Mendham & The Rhythm Boys, Zazou The

saxophonist and colleagues.

soul from the seven-piece.

led jazz, blues and swing outfit.

Road, Bad Things Alt rock

Barfly, Camden, Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AN (0844 847 2424). £15.

indie-rock outfit from London.

Blenheim Gardens, SW2 5BZ (020 8671 0700). £4, adv £3.

Camden, Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AN (0844 847 2424). £4.

Hip-hop and indie-dance from the London-based outfit. The

New Year’s Eve Awardwinning DJ Sam Young spins house, electro and club classics. The Langley, Langley

from the duo. The Windmill,

Jayden Rock, Illmatika, Trix, Riddla Hip-hop from

Man Like Me, Mouthwash

Bidder St, E16 4ST (020 7474 3200). £7.

The Barfly, Camden, Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AN (0844 847 2424). £5.

100 Club, Oxford St, W1D 1LL (020 7636 0933). £18, adv £15.50.

The Pheasantry, Kings Rd, SW3 4UT (020 7351 5031). £75 inc meal.

Wardour St, W1F 0TN (020 7314 4042). £30 inc drink, £50-£125 inc meal.

Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (0844 847 9910/ cc 0871 663 2500). Free.

British outfit plays punk.

Funk and soul covers band.

Classic hard rock and metal originals from the Londonbased band. Bridgehouse 2,

Snatch The harmonic

experimental rock. Half

Los Charly’s Orchestra

Bull’s Head, Lonsdale Rd, Barnes, SW13 9PY (020 8876 5241). £30.

Rd, NW5 1JY (020 7344 0044). £30.

Blues Engineers Swing and

and Gary Grainger, Miles Gilderdale, Fred White and guest vocalist Julia Nixon.

MC Mr Bruce and DJ/producer Mr Chuckles combine hip-hop, swing and big band style. The Hootananny, Effra Rd,

Foals The Oxford-based five-piece plays alternative pop from its album Total Life Forever. HMV Forum, Highgate

electronica combo. The

G-Funk Featuring Greg

Don Weller & Willie Garnett Quintet Modern jazz from the

SW2 1DF (020 7737 7273). £15.

The Bays Experimental

The Windmill, Blenheim Gardens, SW2 5BZ (020 8671 0700). £3.

Correspondents, Soul Jazz Soundsystem Electronic duo

Club NME New Year’s Eve Ball: British Sea Power, Joe & Will Ask?, Fiction

Nitkowski, Hold Your Horse Is, Part Dinosaur, Saiga Math rock from

Indie-rockers, plus DJ sets from Jeff Automatic and Ed Wilder. Koko, Camden High St,

the London-based outfit.

NW1 7JE (0870 432 5527). £32.

Vibe Bar, Brick Ln, E1 6QL (020 7247 3479). £6, adv £5, NUS £4.

Pie Trio, Paul Van Gelder The three-piece plays acoustica. The Hideaway, Junction Rd, N19 5LB (020 7561 0779). £3.

jazz from the singer and pianist.

The Vortex Jazz Club, Dalston Culture House, Gillett St, N16 8JH (020 7254 4097). £70 inc meal.

Rock pioneers from the US.

The Trio Jazz standards from the London-based combo. Downstairs At The

HMV Apollo, Queen Caroline St, W6 9QH (0844 844 4748). £40.

King’s Head, Crouch End Hill, N8 8AA (020 8340 1028). £5.

Abdul Tee-Jay & Rokoto

Glen Washington Reggae from the Florida-based singer.

Sonic Youth, Shellac

Joseph Connell Swing Trio The vocalist and his

The combo performs Afrobeat and street music. Charlie Wright’s

band perform swing classics and jazz standards. Le

International Bar, Pitfield St, N1 6EN (020 7490 8345). £15, adv £12.50.

QuecumBar, Battersea High St, SW11 3HX (020 7787 2227). £60.The

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

The Vortex Jazz Club, Dalston Culture House, Gillett St, N16 8JH (020 7254 4097). £8.

Nathan Watson, Roselie The soul singer performs songs from his debut album Student Of Life.

The Forge Venue And Caponata Restaurant, Delancey St, NW1 7NL (020 7383 7808). £45, adv £30.

The Hootananny, Effra Rd, SW2 1DF (020 7737 7273). £20, adv £15.

TNT online For full listings info go to tntmagazine. com/whats_on

CLUB LISTINGS TNT’S TOP BOOKING

Robyn

MUSIC & CLUBS

WEDNESDAY 29

30

Cheapskates Old school hip-hop, electro and disco courtesy of DJ Downfall.

ROBYN Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Rd, SW1 8EH Chalk Farm (0844 482 8008, roundhoiuse.org. uk). Mar 3. £20.35 The Swedish songstress who stormed the charts with her track With Every Heartbeat comes to the Roundhouse to showcase more of her feelgood tunes.

Moonlighting, Greek St, W1D 4DR (020 7287 372). 9pm3.30am. £6, NUS £5, w/flyer £4.

Choke DJ SAI spins hiphop, dubstep, grime and electro. The Roxy, Rathbone Place, W1T 1HJ (020 7255 1098).

10pm-late. £5, NUS/w/flyer £4.

Diffrent Strokes DJs Phat Cat, Zay London, Lonyo and MOBO Award winner and Kiss FM DJ Manny Norte play neo soul, 1980s pop, US house, funk and R‘n’B. Cherryjam, Porchester Rd, W2 6ET (020 7727 9950).

9pm-2am. £10, £5 before 11pm.

Everything Taboo DJ Andrew Elmore plays retro electropop and acid disco. The

Radio The Radio DJs

Shadow Lounge, Brewer St, W1F 0RF (020 7287 7988). 10pm3am. £5, free before midnight.

Place, W1T 1HJ (020 7255 1098).

10pm-3am. £5, NUS/w/flyer £3.

play 1980s pop, indie and disco. The Roxy, Rathbone

Reggae Train David F**k New Year’s Eve DJs

Rodigan, Papa Face and RS Digital play reggae and ska.

Marner Brown, Vinyl Warrior, Hambassador, Lowra Trouble and Colossal Squad play punk, rock ‘n’ roll, house and reggae.

The Hootananny, Effra Rd, SW2 1DF (020 7737 7273). 9pm-2am. £5.

Mother Bar, Old St, EC1V 9LE (0793 9587 625). 8pm-3am. £5.

Soca Central: End of Year Jam DJ Bliss, Mr Hardwine,

The Latin Quarter DJ EC

Hyper Spice, DJ Tate, Digga D and Credable spin soca music.

spins Latin party tunes, plus salsa classes before 9.30pm.

Fiesta Havana, Fulham Rd, SW6 5NH (020 7381 5005).

6.30pm-2am. £7, mems £5.

Trannyshack Miss Dusty O, Tasty Tim and Lady Lloyd spin commercial dance and pop. Madame Jo Jo’s, Brewer St, W1F 0SE (020 7734 3040).

10pm-3am. £5, w/flyer £3.

Hidden, Tinworth St, SE11 5EQ (020 7247 4121). 11pm-4am. £3-£6.

XXL Mid Week House and pop from DJs Joe Egg and Alex Logan. Arcadia, Southwark St, SE1 1RU (020 7403 9643).

10pm-3am. £3, mems free.

THURSDAY 30 Club Remix Eddie Temple Morris provides electro and indie floor fillers, with live music from up-and-coming bands. Proud Camden, The Horse Hospital, Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AH (020 7482 3867).

7.30pm-2am. £8, £5 before 10pm.

End Of Year Salsa Fiesta Reunion Pati Sol and Rico play Latin, salsa, funk and dance, plus Jesus Cutino y Son De Cuba perform live. Bar Music Hall, Curtain Rd, EC2A 3AR (020 7613 5951).

8pm-late. £10, adv £8.

Fiesta Latino Latin and samba from the resident DJs, plus salsa classes before 10pm.

Fiesta Havana, Fulham Rd, SW6 5NH (020 7381 5005). 7pm-2am. £7.

The Hot Caribbean New Year’s Eve DJ Djahman, Dtee and DJ QT 2 Hype play reggae, soul, hip-hop, R‘n’B and funky house. Parker McMillan,

Ace Of Spades VS Queens Of Hearts NYE Party Dolly Rockers DJs, Queens Of Hearts and Tender Love DJs play rock and pop, plus Dansu perform live. Hoxton

Kuch Kuch New Year’s Eve Bollywood Party DJ Ritu plays Bollywood, bhangra, Arabic, R‘n’B and chart.

The Livery, Wood St, EC2V 6DL (020 7600 9624). 9.30pm-4am. £20.

Disco and pop from DJ Rikki Rock in the main room, while DJ Milo plays party anthems in room two. The Electric Ballroom, Camden High St, NW1 8QP (020 7485 9006). 9pm-4am. £30.

Cirque De La Nuit Ealing

Diamonds Are A Gay’s Best Friend Munroe Bergdorf, Andrew Elmore and DJ Sonathaq play house, techno, dance, disco and chart. The Shadow Lounge, Brewer St, W1F 0RF (020 7287 7988).

9pm-6am. £30, adv £25, mems £20.

Gaz’s Rockin Blues DJ Gaz Mayall spins R‘n’B, rock ‘n’ roll and ska, plus live music from The Caezars. St Moritz, Wardour St,

and Varoni play pop, punk, new wave, synth pop and modern electronica. The London

W1F 8WL (020 7437 0525). 10pm3.30am. £9, £8 before 11pm.

Stone, Cannon St, EC4N 5AD (020 7626 8246). 10pm-late. £10.

Traffic, Technicality & Fizzy Beats Present NYE Fabio, Doc Scott, Storm, Bryan Gee, Survival, Future Thinkin, Chris Inperspective and Silent Witness play garage, drum ‘n’ bass and funk. The Rhythm Factory, Whitechapel Rd, E1 1EW (020 7375 3774). 10pm-7am. £15.

The Ultimate New Year’s Party Special guests Gwen

W1F 0SU (07833 327002). 9pm3am. £5, free before 10pm.

Roller Disco Old school roller disco with Mr Shiver and DJ Bradley playing disco, funk, soulful house, electro and breakbeat. Renaissance Rooms, Arches, Miles St, SW8 1RZ (0844 736 5375). 8pm-2am. £15.

Salvation NYD Party Raul Gonzales, Fat Tony, Miswhite, Oliver M, Paul Coals and Pier Morrocco play house and electro. Koko, Camden High St, NW1 7JE (0870 432 5527).

7pm-3am. £20, adv £15.

SUNDAY 2 Ben Summers The DJ provides classic Northern Soul and rare vintage vinyls.

The Regent, Regent St, NW10 5LG (020 8969 2184). 5.30pm-late. Free.

Beyond Recharged: The Second Coming Steve Pitron, Mikey D, HiFi Sean, Fat Tony, Alan K, D’Johnny, Paul Christian and DouG’uim play house, techhouse and funky house. Area,

Disco Fag Bar Resident DJs

The French Riviera Club DJs Neil Thornton and Johnny Hiller play disco, funk and house. The Player, Broadwick

Alan Cherry Cola, Tom Bungalow and Stuee spin rock ‘n’ roll, Northern Soul, swing, blues, retro hits and classic rock. The

Nice Guy Eddie, Sam Bellisimo and Oli Forster play house classics, disco and electro.

Remix DJ Julio Bravo spins dance from the last four decades, plus Kitsch Cabaret and karaoke with Dame Vesta Blues. Escape Soho, Brewer St,

St, N1 1RU (020 7359 6191). 10pm4am. £3, free before 10.30pm.

Golden Birdcage Rich Pack,

Shake New Year’s Eve

City Rd, EC1V 1JN (020 7253 0367).

10.30pm-4.30am. £5.

Albert Embankment, SE1 7HD (020 7091 0080). 6am-1pm. Adv £12.

Rumba Caribe New Year’s Eve Party DJs Lio, Loco and Marito play Latin, R‘n’B and reggae, plus live samba dancers. Volupte, Norwich

Oniani and Matteo Manzini spin underground house, electro and techno. East Bloc,

Carolyn and Clare play pop, indie, dance, hip-hop, R‘n’B and electronica. Buffalo Bar, Upper

5PW (020 7242 8600). 8pm. £30.

The Big NYE House Party

The Mall, W5 3TA (020 8567 0173).

7pm-4am. £20, adv £25.

Crimes Against Pop DJs Paul,

St, W1F 8HN (020 7494 9125).

8pm-2am. £5, free before 9pm.

St, EC4A 1EJ (020 7831 1677).

9.30pm-5am. £20, adv £13.

Acrobatic dancers, modern circus and clowning, with music courtesy of guest DJ Venom. The Lodge Tavern,

St, EC2A 3AY (020 7739 3440).

7pm-3am. £15, adv £10.

Cubans play Brazilian beats, Latin, house, funk and hiphop. Guanabara, Parker St, WC2B

Square Bar And Kitchen, Hoxton Sq, N1 6NU (020 7613 0709).

8pm-3am. £25, adv £20.

The Driver, Wharfdale Rd, N1 9RY (020 7278 8827). 9pm-4am. £20.

Students’ Union, Macadam Building, Surrey St, WC2R 2NS (020 7848 1588). 11pm-4am. £3.

Martin, Guy Williams, Robert Outch, Andy Blake, Dan Williams and Tension & Release play house and techno. Cargo, Rivington

New Year’s Eve The Lonely

FRIDAY 31

indie, electro, disco and retro hits. King’s College London

I Love Music New Year’s Eve Party DJs Hooch, 279,

Raduno, Charterhouse St, EC1M 6HJ (020 7490 5790). 9pm-5am. £15.

Club Colosseum, Nine Elms Ln, SW8 5NQ (020 7720 3609).

10pm-5am. £15, adv £8.

After Skool Klub DJs spin

Black Rabbit And Caligula Present James Priestly, Damon

Winter Wonderland Rave Dub Freaks, Majestic, Scruffy, Ryder, DJ Myles James, Fixion and Flatline play drum ‘n’ bass, dubstep, chart, R‘n’B, hiphop, electro and house.

SATURDAY 1

Chiswell St, EC1Y 4SB (07921 891611).

9pm-4am. £25, adv £20.

Babalou Bugbar, St Matthew’s Church, SW2 1JF (020 7738 7875).

7pm-1am. £5, free before 9.30pm.

Electric Dreams NYE 1980s Party DJs Stix, Valeriun

tntmagazine.com

IndigO2, Peninsula Sq, SE10 0DX (0871 220 0260). 7.30pm-late. £30.

Brian Norman, Dave VJ, Renegade, Jimbo, Miss Di and Mikey J play hip-hop, funk, house and club classics.

Work! Old school funk, hip-hop and pop courtesy of Big John and Biggy C.

Garage Nation NYE DJs play garage, hip-hop and R‘n’B.

Paris Is Burning Georgio

Bathhouse, Bishopsgate Churchyard, EC2M 3TJ (020 7920 9207).

8pm-4am. £7, guestlist £5.

Horse Meat Disco New Year’s Gymkhana Part One Luke Howard and Severino spin disco and house, with special guest DJ Bobby Viteritti.

Eagle, Kennington Ln, SE11 5QY (020 7793 0903). 8pm-3am. £6.

Luke Howard, John Sizzel, Boja Pena, Jo Gibson, Julian Gainio and Laurente C spin electro, disco and house. East Bloc, City Rd, EC1V 1JN (020 7253 0367).

10.30pm-4.30am. £5.

Horse Meat Disco New Year’s Gymkhana Part Two James Hillard and Jim Stanton spin disco and house, with special guest Ashley Beedle.

Eagle, Kennington Ln, SE11 5QY (020 7793 0903). 8pm-3am. £6.

Orange The Oli, Paul Martin, The Sharp Boys and Terry Bryan spin house in room one, while Gonzola Rivas and Hi Fi Sean provide minimal techno and tech-house in room two. Fire, South Lambeth Rd, SW8 1UQ (020 7582 9890). 11pm-9am. £10£12, w/flyer £2 before midnight.

Roller Motion The residents Inferno Andrew Elmore spins funk, house and dance.

play R‘n’B, hip-hop, house, electro, soul and funk.

The Shadow Lounge, Brewer St, W1F 0RF (020 7287 7988).

10pm-3am. £10, free before 11pm.

Renaissance Rooms, Arches, Miles St, SW8 1RZ (0844 736 5375).

7pm-midnight. £11.50.

Juicebox Pop, dance and

Sound Sundaze The resident DJs spin commercial R‘n’B. Sound, Leicester Sq,

R‘n’B from the residents. The Westbury, Kilburn High Rd, NW6 5UA (020 7625 7500). 8pm-3am. £5, £3 before 10pm, free before 9pm.

Dickie and Nick Snaith, plus residents play house, dance, funk and soul. The Loop,

New Year’s Day Resident DJs play R‘n’B, funky house and club classics. Carbon,

Dering St, W1S 1AH (020 7493 1003).

10pm-late. £30, adv £25.

Old Quebec St, W1H 7AF (020 7479 5050). 10pm-3am. £15.

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

WC2H 7NA (0870 863 1010).

10pm-3am. £5, £3 before midnight.

Urban Nerds X ATG New Years Day Party Dubstep, electro, hip-hop and garage.

The Queen Of Hoxton, Curtain Rd, EC2A 3JX (020 7422 0958).

5am-noon. £5 & £10, adv £8.

We Party London: We Attacks Resident DJs play Balearic beats, funk and disco.

The Coronet, New Kent Rd, SE1 6TJ (020 7701 1500). 11pm-6am. £18.

CLUBBING

CLUB GUIDE MUSIC & CLUBS

Natasha Vuckovic

Mark Knight

PICKS OUT THE BEST NYE CLUB NIGHTS

PARTY OF THE WEEK TOOLROOM KNIGHTS PRESENTS THE BIG BANG The Big Bang is one of the finest NYE parties the capital has to offer. Mark Knight’s Toolroom Knights have gained a massive following thanks to a no-fuss diet of playing great house music that gets under your skin. This impressively secured him the NYE slot in the capital’s most prestigious nightclub, Ministry of Sound. D Ramirez and Dave Spoon also take to the main room. Expect pyrotechnics, confetti cannons and CO2 ice jets. See you in 2011.

31

» Ministry of Sound, 103 Gaunt St, SE1 6DP

Elephant & Castle (ministryofsound.com). Fri, Dec 31, 9pm-6am. £40 adv

beats/breaks

funk/soul

BODYMOVE PRESENTS WHITE & GOLD RIO CARNIVAL NYE Egg is transformed into Rio Carnival as the club is decked out in gold and white while the Sambatralia troupe of musicians, percussionists and dancers all add to the festival atmosphere. Expect funky house and techno. The afterparty kicks off at 6am.

» Egg, 200 York Way, N7 9AP King’s Cross (020 7609 8364, egglondon.net). Fri, Dec 31, 10pm-6am. £40 adv

drum ’n’ bass

electro

hip-hop

SAVED NYE WITH NIC FANCIULLI

hard house/trance

house/garage

TOGETHER NYE

rock/metal

techno

Annie Mac

If you wanna go large, then look no further as Together’s NYE bash is crammed packed with an all-star line-up. Roll call please: Mark Ronson, Annie Mac, Katy B (live), Fake Blood, Krafty Kuts, Evil Nine and the list goes on and on.

Nic Fanciulli has got an impressive CV having played on some of the finest dancefloors around the world. Now the Kent boy-done-good brings his undisputable talents to Brixton’s Dex Club – a corker of a venue – for a feast of his finest techno and house.

» Brixton Academy, 211 Stockwell Rd SW9 9SL Brixton (020 7771 3000, o2academybrixton.co.uk) Fri, Dec 31, 9pm-6am. From £35

» Dex Club, 467-468 Brixton Rd, SW9 9HH Brixton (020 3301 4588, dex-london.com).

Fri, Dec 31, 9pm-6am. £15 adv

SANCHO PANZA The duo are famous for their long-running and legendary Notting Hill Carnival shindig, so you’ll be in safe party hands with this one. Deep, funky house takes over arch one while arch two is all

WIN

We have a pair of tickets to Toolroom Knights to give away. To enter, email npalmer@ ministryofsound.com. We’re also giving away a pair of tickets to Together, email jack@locknloadevents.com. Deadline for both is Thurs, Dec 30 - put ‘TNT NYE Comp’ in the subject.

SPANISH • PARIS • AMSTERDAM • HOTELS

about twisted disco or sip on Clerkenwell caipirinhas in the cocktail lounge.

» Secret location (full details on ticket; sanchopanza.org) Farringdon. Fri, Dec 31, 9pm-7am. £25

ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES e: info@bzxinvestmentsltd.com • t: 07733 391925

TAX REFUNDS AVAILABLE Half boa prices frrd

£ 20 ppp

n

All Spanish Hotels with Swimming Pool! near Bacelona in Lloret, Costa Brava, Costa Del Sol etc.

Hotels in Paris & Amsterdam city centre.

Transport, Flights,Coach & Eurostar available seperately

e: info@bzxinvestmentsltd.com • t: 07733 391925

If you are in the UK Temporarily

¸ Preparation of wage slips £25 ¸ Preparation of accounts for contractors & CIS

¸ Accountants reference provided ¸ Mortgages & Investment property funding

NO REFUND NO FEE tntmagazine.com

2010

YEAR IN REVIEW

YEAR IN REVIEW: THE NEWS MAKERS CHERYL COLE’S BAD YEAR

C

YEAR IN REVIEW

heryl Cole was hit by allegations that her footballer husband Ashley had cheated on her with five women in February. The Girls Aloud singer announced the couple had split and filed for divorce – but not before images of Ashley in his underwear – allegedly sent to a “fling” – had circulated.

Just as she was picking herself back up, Cheryl, 27, was hit by malaria in July after a trip to Tanzania with dancer friend Derek Hough. Although the starlet was on the brink of death, it did wonders for her popularity. That, along with her X Factor stint, has seen Simon Cowell offer Cole a judging slot on his American show.

THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

I

t was a mixed bag, wasn’t it? The Saffas thrilled at times and gave France a touch-up but still didn’t get past the group stage, while Australia and the Poms disappointed – both got bent over by zee Germans. The Kiwis were the only ones who came out with enhanced reputations, carving out three dogged draws to secure their first points at a football World Cup.

34

NEW ZEALAND EARTHQUAKE In the early hours of September 4, an earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale ripped through Canterbury.

No one was killed but the city centre was left resembling a bomb site. Water and power went down and hundreds found were left homeless. The army moved in to manage the immediate aftermath. The cost of the damage ran into billions and the reconstruction remains a work in progress.

T

wenty-nine miners were killed when three explosions rocked the Pike River coal mine, northeast of Greymouth. It came just weeks after the Chilean miners were rescued. There was hope that a similar operation would be carried out after the first blast in November. That hope soon faded to despair when two more explosions hit the mine days later – killing all the men trapped. There were no survivors.

It was the worst disaster in New Zealand for almost a century.

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PIKE RIVER TRAGEDY

YEAR IN REVIEW: THE NEWS MAKERS YEAR IN REVIEW 35

STUDENTS TAKE TO THE STREETS

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housands of angry students caused chaos in central London in protest of government proposals to hike up university tuition fees. In November, they surrounded Millbank Tower, the

Conservative Party HQ and battled with riot police. Some labelled as “anarchists” by police occupied the rooftop of the building. One protester hurled a fire extinguisher, and only just

missed officers, who faced a volley of missiles and were hit with flaming torches. Violent clashes continued again in Trafalgar Square two weeks later where Nelson’s Column was defaced.

JOEL MONAGHAN’S ‘DOG ACT’

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n Mad Monday, at season’s end, Canberra Raiders player Joel Monaghan allowed himself to be photographed while a friend’s dog licked his genitals – there’s no other way to say it. The photo found its way on to social media and attracted worldwide exposure.

Monaghan quit the club and looks set to come to the UK to play Super League. He can change clubs and countries, but the humiliation and the sledging will follow him around for the rest of his life.

NEXT TOP MODEL STUFF-UP

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t was a blunder watched by millions.

Australia’s Next Top Model host Sarah Murdoch crowned runner-up Kelsey Martinovich as the show’s winner – only to U-turn minutes later. “I’m feeling sick about this. I’m so sorry, this was a complete accident,” Murdoch said, before announcing the real winner was 18-yearold Amanda Ware. The error by Murdoch – married to media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s son Lachlan – cost Granada Media Australia its contract with the show.

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YEAR IN REVIEW: THE NEWS MAKERS THOSE CRAZY KOREANS

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YEAR IN REVIEW

t was a pretty quiet year in foreign affairs – no new wars or political assassinations – right up until last month.

That was when North Korea, for reasons that left most experts scratching their heads, launched an artillery bombardment on South Korea. Confirming that the international community regards the North Korean regime as the geopolitical equivalent of a rabid dog, the US and China piled in on both sides, urging restraint. A war, fought by proxies on the Korean peninsula, all under the spectre of a mushroom cloud, would be super inconvenient at the moment.

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GARY ABLETT JOINS GOLD COAST SUNS The intrigue lasted all season – will he stay or will he go? At the end of it all, Gary Ablett, the AFL’s best player, ended up going and collecting the biggest payday in the history of the sport. In 2011, as the AFL expands into new territory, Ablett will run out as the marquee player and likely captain of the incoming Gold Coast Suns after signing a five-year deal reportedly worth somewhere between $1.6m and $2m annually. It was sad to see a player with such powerful family ties to Geelong leave the club; almost as sad as it was inevitable.

THE ROONEY SAGA

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Cheshire, Then, in October, Rooney, announced he wanted to leave Man U and sign with hated rivals Man City.

The fans revolted, camping outside his house and sledging him mercilessly at every opportunity. Eventually, Rooney changed his mind and decided he wanted to stay after all. All it took was for United to give him a shitload more cash – a reported £250k a week for five years. Rich never looked so cheap.

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lthough he tried his best to stop it, Wayne Rooney hit the headlines in September after allegedly sleeping with a prostitute. Jennifer Thompson, 21, claims she had sex with the Manchester United striker on numerous occasion – including when his wife, Coleen, was pregnant with their child, Kai. After a brief split, the Rooneys got back together – and he was allowed to return to their £4.5million marital home in

YEAR IN REVIEW: THE NEWS MAKERS

BEN COUSINS CALLS IT A DAY

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he rollercoaster career of AFL footballer and recovering drug addict Ben Cousins finally came to an end this year, the former West Coast and Richmond retiring after 238 games. In August, Cousins’ self-made documentary, chronicling his battles with addiction screened in Australia. There he was one last time, a bunch of contradictions: spoiled but charismatic, intensely talented but prone to horrendous judgement.

UK ELECTION – THREE’S A CROWD

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obody liked Gordon Brown, but a lot of people weren’t too sure about the Tories either. Enter Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats, transforming UK election season into a fascinating opera about the ins and outs of third-party politics. At the end of it all, the Tories got home by a whisker, the Lib Dems jumped into bed with them and came to regret it soon after.

EVERYBODY HATES BP

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he explosion of BP oil rig Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico in April killed 11 men and caused the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry – a gusher flowing at 35,000 to 60,000 barrels per day.

For all its supposed expertise, BP took three months to contain the leak, leading film director James Cameron to offer the oil giant the use of his private submarines and Barack Obama to call it as “an environmental 9/11”. The spill’s aftermath continues to poison wildlife and marine habitats as well as the Gulf’s tourism industry.

DANNII HAS A BABY After telling the world she was pregnant on Twitter, Dannii Minogue gave birth to baby Ethan in July.

The X Factor judge, who is engaged to model and exprofessional rugby league player Kris Smith, was admitted to hospital, despite wanting a home birth. Dannii, 39, won over her critics after releasing a fresh-faced photo of her with Kris and Ethan shortly after he was born.

She returned to judge ITV’s X Factor in September and her protege Matt Cardle won the competition this month.

YEAR IN REVIEW: THE NEWS MAKERS YEAR IN REVIEW

SONNY BILL DEBUTS, BRO

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his year saw the long-awaited return of league-tounion convert Sonny Bill Williams to New Zealand. After carving it up with Canterbury at provincial level, Williams was called into the All Blacks for the endof-year tour and was man-of-thematch in his second game. He’s a supreme athlete and great player and if he helps the All Blacks win the World Cup next year, he’ll be an absolute hero.

In the meantime, he continues to train as a boxer and plans to step back into the ring in the months before the global tournament.

Coach Graham Henry must be having some sleepless nights as he imagines his star player breaking his fist or, worse still, being KO’d.

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HAITI LEFT IN RUINS

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he western hemisphere’s poorest nation, Haiti was struck by a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 earthquake in January, killing an incomprehensible 200,000 or more people. A major global relief effort ensued. However, the devastation continues, with a cholera outbreak further decimating the population and blighting an election.

PAUL HENRY LOSES HIS MIND

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irst the eccentric NZ TV host asked whether Governor-General Anand Satyanand, a Kiwi of Indian descent, was “even a New Zealander”. Then he decided Indian minister Sheila Dikshit’s name was the funniest thing he’d ever heard. On air, he said: “It’s so appropriate, because she’s Indian, so she’d be dick-in-shit wouldn’t she?” He resigned from TVNZ in October.

ASYLUM SEEKER SUICIDES

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he festering issue of asylum seekers in Australia came to the fore in September when Fijian national Josefa Rauluni, 36, who was due to be deported, died after jumping off the roof of a building at Sydney’s Villawood Immigration Detention Centre. Chaotic scenes followed when Tamil detainees, also due to be deported, climbed the same building and also threatened suicide. In November, Iraqi national and year-long detainee Ahmad al-Akabi, 41, hanged himself there amid destructive scenes from other inmates who lit fires and hurled furniture.

It came immediately after the high court historically ruled as invalid some aspects of the government’s “Refugee Status Assessment” system.

YEAR IN REVIEW: THE NEWS MAKERS ASH BRINGS EUROPE TO HALT

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YEAR IN REVIEW

other nature threw up a curve ball in April with an eruption of an impossibly named volcano. Eyjafjallajokull spewed volcanic ash for weeks, bringing airports to a halt across Europe and leaving travellers stranded in all corners of the globe. Private transport services were at a premium as some people were prepared to pay through the nose to get moving.

Airport owner BAA cited a revenue loss of £28m and insurance companies blanked travellers seeking compensation.

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DELHI DEBACLE

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he Commonwealth Games’ facilities were ramshackle, the bureaucracy corrupt and the competition lukewarm.

And really, how much money should be spent on this kind of dog-and-pony show, made all the more jarring by the backdrop of abject, grinding poverty? Even Australians, who love a winner, struggled to care, despite romping home to top the medal tally. Could there possibly be a more damning confirmation of the Commonwealth Games’ utter, mindnumbing irrelevance?

QANTAS DISASTER AVERTED

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isaster was averted when a Qantas Airbus 380 superjumbo bound for Sydney was forced to make an emergency landing after one of its engines exploded mid-air over Indonesia. It had taken off from Singapore airport only minutes earlier before debris rained from the sky over Batan. Qantas grounded its six A30s as Rolls Royce, which manufactures their engines, was implicated. The airline reportedly lost $460m in revenue.

KATE SAYS ‘YES’ TO WILLS

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rince William finally popped the question to his commoner girlfriend, Kate Middleton after a nine-year courtship. Kenya’s dusty plains were the backdrop to the proposal, which elicited amusing reactions from the royal clique.

Camilla, the ‘down with the kids’ Duchess of Cornwall, described it as “wicked”. The declaration of a public holiday on the wedding day – April 29 – makes the inevitable drip feed of media coverage slightly more palatable.

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MINERS MAKE GOOD NEWS

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he world became gripped by the plight of 33 miners who were trapped underground in a northern Chile coal mine in September for more than two

months. It was a bad news story that came good, as a slowly evolving rescue mission saw the men, including Edison Pena, who became known as “the runner” because

he ran up to 5km a day through the mine tunnels to keep himself fit, emerge to emotional crowds alive and surprisingly, in decent health.

WIKILEAKS

THERE AND BACK AGAIN

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hen the Lords Of The Rings trilogy was filmed in New Zealand ten years ago, it delivered an enormous boost to the Kiwi economy and an ongoing boon to the tourism industry. But with production set to begin on a two-film adaptation of Tolkien’s prequel, The Hobbit, it all got a bit sticky when the actor’s union spat the dummy about the film not employing performers on union-approved contracts. The union issued a stop-work order and the production team began looking elsewhere. Had that happened, it could have cost the Kiwi economy $1.5bn.

Happily, it got sorted meaning thousands of Kiwi extras have jobs next year.

Thousands of diplomatic cables between Washington and US embassies around the world were published by whistleblower website WikiLeaks – founded by Julian Assange – and five major newspapers around the world. The data within represents a nightmare for US intelligence agents and diplomats but absolute paydirt for journalists and historians.

YEAR IN REVIEW: THE NEWS MAKERS YEAR IN REVIEW

PAKISTAN FLOODS

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ntire villages in Pakistan became submerged in the worst floods in the country’s history, killing more than 1600 people and affecting some 20 million through the destruction of property, infrastructure and livelihood. Crops were swept away in the torrents and livestock perished – a devastating blow for rural Pakistanis who rely so heavily on their land and animals for sustenance. “In my opinion, when assessments are complete, this will be the biggest disaster in the history of Pakistan,” said General Nadeem Ahmed, of the National Disaster Management Authority.

US$1,792m in relief money poured in from around the world.

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LINDSAY LOHAN IN THE SLAMMER

ALL SQUARE AT THE MCG

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s the final minutes of the AFL grand Final between Collingwood and St Kilda ticked away, the expectation built.

Both sides had had their chances to win the match and, now, in the dying seconds, the scores were level. And they remained all square when the siren sounded, heralding the first drawn Grand Final since 1966. As players from both sides slumped to the ground, exhausted and bewildered, the neutrals exulted. The next week, though, Collingwood won the replay and the neutrals wept.

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ith a reputation as a wildchild, it didn’t come as much of a surprise when Lindsay Lohan was jailed. The actress spent just two weeks in prison after being sentenced to 90 days in July for violating her probation from a 2007 drugs case. She was then ordered into rehab – but was released after 23 days instead of the expected three months. Her year went downhill from there, with the Mean Girls star failing a drug test in September. She said she was “prepared to face the consequences” – which was another jail sentence. However, after an appeal and forking out US$300,000, she was bailed.

She’s expected to be in rehab until January.

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RUDD GOES, LABOR RE-ELECTED Kevin Rudd tried to levy a 30 per cent tax on mining companies and it cost him his prime ministership as the industry heavyweights and members of his own party conspired to dethrone him, installing Julia Gillard in his place.

The tumult nearly cost the Labor Party government as well, as they went dangerously close to losing a seemingly unloseable election before Gillard managed to hang on to power by corralling a disparate group of independents into supporting her.

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TRAVEL GLOBAL VISION A white-sided dolphin carries a present during a show at the Aqua Stadium aquarium at

TRAVEL

the Shinagawa Prince Hotel in Tokyo.

Photo by Yoshikazu Tsuno/ AFP/Getty Images

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Get freaked out at the witchcraft museum

AND

WEIRD WONDERFUL Get off the tourist trail to discover the UK’s strangest museums

WORDS MATT RISLEY

Weird museums UNITED KINGDOM

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t’s an unquestionable fact that with the Natural History Museum (life-sized blue whales), British Museum (mummies!) and the Imperial War Museum (big guns), the UK boasts some of the world’s best museums. But, really, when you’ve seen one T-Rex and abstract cubist painting, you’ve seen them all.

MEDICAL HORRORS Far from the hustle and bustle of London lie some of the UK’s more ludicrous Witch pickings : The Museum of Witchcra ft, Cornwall

world. From the skeleton of ‘Irish Giant’ Charles Byrne (2.5m) to contorted, seemingly half-human foetuses, each and every exhibit is a refreshing, occasionally stomach-churning, change from the norm.

» Free. See: rcseng.ac.uk/museums

PAMPERED POOCHES If you’re looking for something less squeamish, Leeds Castle’s Dog Collar Museum, in Kent, is sure to scratch the dog-loving itch.

As if the 202ha of lush parkland, moat and near 1000-year-old historical décor weren’t captivating enough, the castle prides itself on its ‘unique collection of historical and fascinating dog collars’ dating back over five centuries.

The – ahem – fascinating array of collars range from hefty, bronze hunting dog cuffs to the barking mad, exclusive haute couture available to modern pooches.

» Admission to Leeds Castle £17.50.

See leeds-castle.com

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museums. Before setting off cross-country in search of eccentric exhibitions, it’s worth visiting one of the capital’s hidden secrets, The Hunterian Museum.

Nestled in The Royal College of Surgeons but open to all, The Hunterian brings the terrifyingly pre-anaesthetic realities of medical history to life. Centred around the personal collection of renowned pioneer surgeon John Hunter, it houses a comprehensively wince-inducing array of mini-movies showing keyhole and brain surgery in all its close-up squidgy glory, and something to truly stop you in your tracks – a two storey, four-walled row of glowing tubes housing every Mad Scientist’s dream: preserved specimens of the creepiest and most fascinating biology from around the

SHORT BREAK BIZARRE MUSEUMS ABROAD PHALLUS MUSEUM, ICELAND

MUSEUM OF FUNERAL CARRIAGES, BARCELONA, SPAIN Faithful sidekick: the lawnmower

LAWN AND ORDER Man’s other best friend, his lawnmower, is given a bafflingly dignified showcase at the British Lawnmower Museum in Southport, Merseyside. There’s more than 200 vintage machines. It’s an oddly inspirational tale of how one man’s mission to make gardening even lazier revolutionised the agricultural world.

MENTAL AS ANYTHING The chilling ‘icing on the collection cake’ undoubtedly goes to the Stephen Beaumont Museum Of Mental Health in Wakefield though – a lunatic asylum that, despite relocation, has undergone little conversion into the interactive museum it is today.

With worn restraining equipment (muzzles, chains and strait jackets), » Admission £2. See lawnmowerworld.co.uk mortuary baskets, medical and surgical equipment, its very own padded cell and WHICH WITCH photos dating back to 1862, If lawnmowers aren’t there’s an eerie air and bewitching enough, it’s maudlin mood that’s unlike more than likely anything you’ve experienced Cornwall has the magic before. touch you’re looking for.

And after a childhood The Museum of museum visits chock One for a seriously of Witchcraft is a full of countless stuffed pampered pooch fascinating insight otters and po-faced portraits, into the colourful that’s as much of an attraction (ie bloodthirsty) history behind Britain’s as anything the regular tourist traps pagan background and ongoing obsession have to offer. » Free admission. The museum is open with the occult. every Wednesday. See wakefield.gov.uk The museum’s popular array of all things ‘dark arts’ was set up by former MI6 agent Cecil Williamson, who was once tasked with uncovering the occultist leanings of top-ranking Nazi officials.

The comprehensive collection is as chilling as it is captivating.

There’s the display of dipping chairs (used to determine whether a woman was a witch), leering skulls, demoniclooking sacrificial tools and voodoo dolls hinting at the magical mayhem that claimed the lives of an estimated 100,000 women during the worldwide witch-hunts of 1480-1700.

» Admission £4. The museum is currently being revamped, but will open in April.

See museumofwitchcraft.com

The Hunterian Museum, London

If Barcelona’s extensive exterior architecture has left you all Gaudied out, head to the increasingly popular, fascinating selection of ornately carved carriages, hidden deep within the basement of the city’s Municipal Funeral Services. Tel: 0034 93 484 17 00

His and herse at the Museum of Funeral Carriages, Barcelona

THE MUSEUM OF BAD ART, BOSTON, US Boston’s hilariously frank museum is, as far as we’re aware, the world’s only space dedicated to every kind of rubbish art you can think of.

Art’s supposed to be subjective, but we defy anyone to champion the paltry paintings and sad, sorry sculptures on show. Ogle the landscapes on display and decide if a picture is showing an ice-cream or a mountain, then laugh your head off at the odd looking nudes.

See: museumofbadart.org

TNT online For a full travel guide on the United Kingdom go to tntmagazine.com

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In a world stuffed with iconic, classic collections housing the greatest creativity history has to offer, fledgling museums have to have a selling point.

And you could argue Iceland’s penisobsessed attraction has a few. As if the extensive range from the world’s smallest (shrews) to the biggest (blue whale) mammal phalluses on offer wasn’t enough, there’s even a section on fabled penises (elves, sea monsters etc). See: phallus.is

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LATE DEALS

TRAVEL

UNDER £250

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A three-night break in Barcelona is £128 with lowcostholidays.com (0800 1116271), including room-only accommodation and flights. Departs Jan 12.

Hire a two-seater camper van for seven days for £167 (was £470) with Wicked Campers (0808 234 8461; wickedcampers.co.uk), including pick-up from Italy and drop-off at Barcelona.

Valid for two drivers aged 25 and over. Vans come equipped with a bed, table, camping chairs, CD player and/or iPod connection, builtin kitchen and storage space.

Valid until the end of Jan. A weekend break in the gorgeous Bulgarian city of Sofia is £144 with lowcostholidays.com (0800 1116271), including three nights’ B&B accommodation and flights. Departs Jan 27.

Glam up and get yourself a hat for Royal Ascot Finale Day on June 18 for £69 with Anderson Tours (0207 436 9304; andersontours.co.uk), including coach travel, light refreshments and entry.

A January shopping break to Milan is £209 with Flight Centre (0844 800 8628; flightcentre.co.uk), including three nights’ B&B accommodation and flights.

Valid for travel between Jan 14 and 28. Offer ends Jan 31.

DEAL OF THE WEEK A 16-day tour of Europe is £1092 (save £193) with Contiki (0845 075 0990; contiki.com/lates). Departs Jan 20. Excludes flights.

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Explore Ubud on a six-day tour of Bali for £375

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.

£250 - £500

OVER £500

A 10-day Egypt Unplugged tour is £380 (save £70) with On The Go Tours (020 7371 1113; onthegotours.com). Excludes flights. Departs Jan 11.

A six-day Anzac tour is £255 with Travel Talk (0208 099 8852; traveltalktours.com). Excludes flights. Departs April 22. Book

by Dec 31.

Escape a chilly start to the New Year in 2011 with a six-day tour to Bali for £375 (was £499) with Gap Adventures (0844 272 2040; gapadventures.co.uk), including transport, B&B accommodation and local transport. Highlights include Sanur Beach, Ubud and Lovina.

Excludes flights.

Seven nights in Fuerteventura is £285 with lowcostholidays. com (0800 1116271), including flights and all-inclusive accommodation. Departs Jan 23.

A seven-night beach escape to Goa is £579 with Flight Centre (0844 800 8628; flightcentre.co.uk), including B&B accommodation and flights. Departs February 17. Offer ends December 31.

Tour Syria and Jordan for nine days for £879 (was £925) with Topdeck Travel (0208 987 3300; topdeck.travel). Excludes flights. Departs Jan 20.

An 11-day Zululand & Kruger Wildlife safari in South Africa and Swaziland is £2080 with Explore (0844 499 0901; explore.co.uk), including flights, B&B accommodation and all transport. Departs Feb 3.

Explore Spain for 14 days for £935 (save £104) with Contiki (0845 075 0990; contiki.co.uk/lates), including Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Madrid, Pamplona and more. Excludes flights. Departs Feb 14.

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

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TRAVEL 47

TNT Weekender Prague CZECH REPUBLIC

Cobbled streets, a towering castle, atmospheric bridges and one of the best-preserved Jewish quarters in the world makes Prague the jewel in Central Europe’s crown.

Views of snow-capped spires will take your breath away.

HEADLINE ATTRACTION Prague Castle is almost a small town in its own right.

It’s huge and old, dating back to the 9th century. Nowadays, it’s the seat of the modern Czech Government.

TNT Images

BEST OF THE REST Stroll through the Stare Mesto (Old Town) to discover the wonderful Old Town Square, the Orloj and the Jewish Quarter with its synagogues and museums. Head across Charles Bridge, lined with dramatic Baroque statues, to Mala Strana (literally the Little Quarter) at the foot of Prague Castle, then up to the castle itself. If there’s still time, pay a visit to Wenceslas Square.

CHOW DOWN

OUT OF TOWN

You’ll find plenty of old-school Praha winter warming food here, with dumplings, pork knuckles and potatoes aplenty.

Modern Prague has a number of eateries where you can sample anything from excellent Italian to fancy French fare, and even Indian.

There’s also a good vegetarian presence, including the ultra chic Lehka Hlava in Stare Mesto close to Charles Bridge, which is always stuffed full of hip Czechs.

Visit Kutna Hora to see the Sedlec Ossuary, where the remains of 40,000 people have been used as decorations.

GET THE CAMERA OUT The Orloj, or Astronomical Clock, dates from 1410. It spins its medieval mojo every hour on the hour, when death rings a bell and inverts his hourglass, and the 12 apostles come out to parade past the window at the top, nodding at the crowd.

LOCAL TIPPLE For most travellers, Prague is all about the crisp, cheap local beer (pivo to the locals). For a taste of Czech traditions seek out a subterranean cellar bar such as Ujezd (or the Gate) at the base of Prague Castle, the perfect place to warm up from the bitter cold.

A BIT OF HISTORY

NEED TO KNOW WHEN TO GO The winter offseason has fewer crowds so try then.

GETTING THERE Fly direct to Prague with Wizz Air, easyJet and British Airways.

VISAS South Africans need a Schengen visa.

CURRENCY Czech Republic Koruny.

1 GBP = 29.86CZK. PRAGUE

Prague’s Jewish Quarter is the best-preserved Jewish ghetto in Europe. The Nazis saved it as part of a planned museum of extinct races. Six synagogues, Jewish town hall and Old Jewish Cemetery are CZECH REPUBLIC now mainly museums.

GERMANY

LANGUAGE

Czech.

GOING OUT

A beer costs about 35 CZK.

NEXT WEEK KRAKOW

HOSTEL

ORANGE If you are planing trip to Prague and looking for a quite comfortable, cheap and just cool hostel right in the center of Prague – Hostel Orange is the right place!

Phone: +420 775 112 870 +420 776 238 563 Email: hostelorange20@gmail.com Web: www.hostelorange.com

Location: Václavské nám. 20 110 00 Praha 1

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of it all

Escape the hubbub of the souks and discover Marrakech’s chilled-out side WORDS SHILA SULTANA

Marrakech MOROCCO

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orocco’s cultural capital is famous for its colourful souks and frenzied vibe, but it’s actually the perfect destination for a chilled-out detox break. Leave the maze of markets behind and find magical gardens and steamy hammams. You’ll also be treated to a welcome dose of winter sunshine as temperatures rarely fall below 22C.

SCRUB UP WELL For starters, I decide to make like a local and check out a hammam, a traditional bathhouse. Marrakesh’s medina has a deluge of reasonably priced hammams, most of which can be found in luxury hotels and riads.

Set right in the middle of the hubbub of the old town, the ISIS spa is a haven of

tranquility, filled with candles and trickling fountains, to enhance the feeling of calm.

As I’ve never been to a hammam before, I’m not sure what to expect, but I soon discover that it’s an intensive bathing and scrubbing experience. To begin with, I sit and steam for about 20 minutes then my skin is rubbed down with a detoxifying mud mixture. I’m then led to a table where I lie down and am given a no-holds-barred scrub by a local lady (hammams are single sex) with Morocco’s ubiquitous black soap, before being washed down and treated to a soothing massage. I leave feeling completely rejuvenated with silky-soft and super-clean skin.

Unwind at the Beldi Country Club, Marrakech

SHORT BREAK Haggle to get the best deals

SOUKS AND THE CITY

■ YOU HAVE TO HAGGLE You don’t need to go backwards and forwards on the price, usually walking away brings down the cost dramatically. Other discount ploys are to say you’re a student and from Africa or Eastern Europe, or show the exact amount of money you’re willing to spend.

Wander the Majorelle Gardens

SPA TIME Fancying an escape from the dust and mayhem of the city, I take a cab 6km south of the medina and travel down a dirt track to Beldi Country Club spa, an ideal spot to get away from the crowds. Surrounded by flowers and cactus gardens, this spa is very much a case of East-meets-West – a blend of Moroccan hammams and modern influences. I enjoy a blissed-out massage using scented oils of my choice.

Beldi feels a million miles away from the whirl of snake charmers and leashed monkeys that can be found in Marrakech’s central square Djemaa el Fna. If you’re a fan of spas and Sex And The City, the second movie was filmed at the soon-to-open Mandarin Oriental Jhan Rahma Hotel. Its spa will be Morrocco’s biggest.

GARDEN GLORY After being scrubbed and kneaded to perfection, I head to the Majorelle Gardens, once owned by Yves Saint Laurent. I’m greeted by a tranquil

■ EXPECT TO BE HASSLED If you’re a woman, especially a blonde one, the sellers won’t leave you alone.

Expect calls of, “Kiss, kiss me, beautiful girl” and offers of camels.

■ WHAT TO BUY

labyrinth of exotic plants, towering palms and flowers set against a striking backdrop of bright blue and yellowpainted fountains, tiled floors and buildings, all in the traditional Moroccan style. Designed by French artist Jacques Majorelle, who went to live in Morocco after the First World War, the gardens contain an eye-popping 300 species of plants from five continents.

After all that relaxation, I finally feel ready to head off to the souks for an adventure steeped in colour and chaos.

Rich in vitamin E, Argan oil is said to reduce wrinkles and scars, as well as relieving rheumatic pain. The so-called miracle oil is available at herbal shops in the souk. Beautifully painted and terracotta-glazed ceramics are great value for money, as are tagine dishes if you fancy cooking up the Moroccan stew when you get home.

■ YOU WILL BUY SOMETHING YOU DON’T NEED Souk shopping is irresistible. You’re bound to return home with some lime green babouches (slippers), a gaudy lantern and a large packet of tea leaves.

Phil Lutton, Shila Sultana / TNT Images

NEED TO KNOW WHEN TO GO Winter is warm and don’t need visas. South Africans do. summer is mega hot.

CURRENCY Dirham. 1 GBP = 13.8 MAD. GETTING THERE Royal Air Maroc LANGUAGE French, Arabic (020 7307 5800; and Berber. royalairmaroc) offers GOING OUT A beer is about flights to Marrakech 25 MAD. from Heathrow or ACCOMMODATION Grab RABAT Gatwick from £162, a room in a riad for 180MOROCCO including taxes.

300 MAD a night. Rooms Marrakesh GETTING AROUND at the Beldi Country Club Taxis, but set the fare (beldicountryclub.com) before riding. start from ¤160.

VISAS Aussies and Kiwis SEE marrakech.travel

You will buy something you don’t need

TNT online For a full travel guide on Morocco go to tntmagazine.com

tntmagazine.com

TRAVEL

Post-spa, hit the souks, located behind Djemaa El Fna, a riot of spices, bright fabric and interior accessories.

In order to get the most out of the experience, there’s a certain art to souk shopping.

49

TIPS Go skiing in Scotland’s Cairngorm mountain range

READERS’ TIPS BAG IT UP

TRAVEL

Having just come OF through Stansted THTIEPWEEK airport, I noted with pity the poor bastards who had to go to a vending machine to pay £2 for a clear bag for their liquids.

Buy a packet of 20 before you go and give the spare ones out for free to others.

Money saved, feels good.

50

Smitty, via email

FREE THEATRE

YOU ASKED FOR IT Laura Lindsay FROM LONELY PLANET

Anyone aged 26 or under can obtain free theatre tickets in London thanks to the Arts Council of England. Tickets are available until the scheme closes in March 2011 so get in quick to secure a free night out. See anightlessordinary.org.uk to find participating theatres in your area.

Ross, via email

A group of nine of us are off to Sofia from December 29 until New Year’s Day, so I was wondering if you could recommend any cool places to visit and any good bars to go too, especially on New Year’s Eve. Adam, via email

Q

A

tntmagazine.com

Q

A

Given the snow at the moment and with more forecast; Scotland should have some great skiing. Cairngorm Mountain has almost 30 runs spread over a large area, and Glenshee offers the widest range of runs in Scotland. An adult full-day lift pass at Glenshee is a mere £27 and a beginner pass only £17. As all British weather can be temperamental, check skiscotland.com for the latest ski conditions. You could also think about spending a couple of weekends heading out to one of the indoor snow centres near London so you can practice your skiing before you head up to Scotland, that way you’ll waste less time falling over when you get there and have more time to try out the choice of runs. There are ski centres at both Milton Keynes (xscape.co.uk) and Hemel Hempstead (thesnowcentre.com). All that said, if things go on as they are, you might be able to ski in central London soon. Antipodeans not liking the cold weather may be unhappy to note that there are at least three months of this crazy weather left. Wrap up warm.

Email your words of wisdom to traveltips@tntmagazine.com. Tip of the Week wins a Lonely Planet guide and other published tips win a fiver.

WIN

Lonely Planet’s Laura Lindsay will give you the benefit of her infinite wisdom if you email a question to traveltips@ tntmagazine. com. If she answers your question, you’ll win a Lonely Planet guide of your choice. TNT readers can get 20 per cent off all Lonely Planet guides valued at more than £12.99. Enter promotional code PTNT01 at shop.lonelyplanet.com.

This is a reader forum — TNT and Lonely Planet accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone using the information provided.

VisitScotland

New Year’s Eve is great in any city and Sofia will be no exception. Renowned for its nightlife, you can expect crowds gathering in the streets and fireworks. There are a number of bars and clubs south of the city in Studentski Grad you could try. You probably won’t have much choice but to try Rakia. It’s a Bulgarian brandy-type drink with quite a kick to it. Head also to Vitosha Boulevard in the centre of the city, as this pedestrianised area is full of bars.

Definitely check out Pri Kmeta – the micro brewery and cellar beer hall are a great way to spend the evening, and are just minutes from the Aleksander Nevski Square. New Year’s Day will also be full of partying as it is St Vasil’s Dayfolk Concert which is a much-loved festival.

In terms of sights, don’t miss the Aleksander Nevski Memorial Church – it is one of the highlights. If it’s not too cold, Borisova Gradina is a huge green space for a head-clearing walk.

While here, wander past the Monument to the Soviet Army, it is a pretty impressive structure.

The Central Hali shopping centre is an elegant covered market hall built in 1911. It is worth escaping from the cold in here.

I’m from South Africa and my mother and brother are coming over to visit in December. We want to fit in a few days skiing, but as my mum only has a UK visa, we were thinking of going somewhere in Scotland. We’re not looking for huge slopes.

Have you got any suggestions?

Jo, via email

r e k c i u q s e v i r r Cash a

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ON THE ROAD

WORDS FRANKIE MULLIN

RHYTHM AND VINES

TRAVEL

Giborne, New Zealand Dec 29-Dec 31 The Waiohika Estate vineyards provide the vines and the rhythm comes courtesy of NERD, Chromeo and Mystery Jets among others. And if that’s not enough, it’s near the beach. Get us there now!

52

» rhythmandvines.co.nz

WOODFORD FOLK FESTIVAL QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA DEC 27-JAN 1 WHAT: Six days of music,

peace and love as performers – this year including Arrested Development and The Dynamites – congregate for some laidback partying. Also expect costumes, comedy, crafts, food and lots of hippies.

The festival ends with a fire ceremony on New Year’s Day. WHERE: Set in 200ha of forest owned by the Queensland Folk Federation, which also

holds tree planting weekends and Australia’s largest indigenous festival, Dreaming, in June.

WHY: Began in 1987 as the Maleny Folk Festival but moved when it grew too big.

HOW MUCH: From AUS$392.

» woodfordfolkfestival.com

TNT online For more upcoming events, see our destination guides at tntmagazine.com/travel

ON THE ROAD WITH FRANKIE MULLIN

LOCK IT IN KAAPSE KLOPSE Cape Town, South Africa Jan 2-Feb 2 tourismcapetown.co.za

CARNAVAL DE BLANCOS Y NEGROS Pasto, Colombia Jan 5-6 tourismocolombia.com

CAMEL FESTIVAL INCWALA Swaziland, Africa Four days after full moon A New Year’s celebration to ask for blessings from the ancestors. The festival begins with foam being collected from the Indian Ocean and on the third day an ox is slaughtered.

» welcometoswaziland.com

Where in the world?

Bikaner, India Jan 18-19 rajasthantourism.gov.in

DESERT FESTIVAL Essanke, Mali Jan 6-8 festival-au-desert.org

VOODOO FESTIVAL Ouidah, Benin Jan 10 benintourisme.com

THE TRAVELLER …

Jeremy Dufour, 26 Adelaide, Australia What’s the best party you’ve been to?

A Halloween party in London.

I don’t remember where it was.

What’s been your craziest travel experience?

The hostel I stayed at in Budapest was amazing – like a big brotherly house!

Everyone ended up like a family.

Craig Sturzaker from Leytonstone, London, at Gullfoss, the largest waterfall in Iceland.

Scandinavia.

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.

What do you miss about home?

WIN

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The weather and my dog!

Paul Hoelen, Mark Pokorny

Where have you met the hottest girls?

TOP FIVE

FIVE BUDGET SKI HOLIDAYS JANINE KELSO GIVES A HIGH FIVE TO SAVING MONEY ON THE SLOPES TRANSYLVANIA, ROMANIA WHAT: The ski resort of Poiana Brasov provided the backdrop for Cold Mountain. Recently hailed the best value resort for budget skiing by Post Office Travel Money, the town has a good snow record with cover lasting until March. Spend a chilly night in Romania’s Ice Hotel – considerably cheaper than its Swedish counterpart.

SEE: romaniatourism.com

1

TRAVEL 53

ZAKOPANE, POLAND WHAT: Zakopane offers access to more than 50 worldclass lifts. The slopes of Kasprowy Wierch, Kocio Goryczkowy and Gubawka accommodate skiers of all abilities. Zakopane’s bars buzz at night with traditional music and spicy, warm beer.

SEE: poland.travel

2

3

BANSKO, BULGARIA

WHAT: Package ski

holidays to Bansko are among the cheapest you’ll be able to find, with a six-day ski pass costing just £84. The town of Bansko has a rich history and a nightclub scene that kicks on until the early hours.

SEE: visittobulgaria.com

KRANJSKA GORA, SLOVENIA WHAT: Slovenia claims to be the birthplace of skiing, but there is also plenty to keep you entertained offpiste in this well-equipped resort, with top facilities for tobogganing, ice skating and ice climbing.

SEE: slovenia.info

4

HIGH AND LOW TATRAS, SLOVAKIA WHAT: Slovakia’s ski resorts became more accessible to the UK market since Danube Wings introduced a new flight from Luton to Poprad-Tatry on December 1.

SEE: slovakembassy-cd-london. co.uk

TNT Images

5

THE INSIDER DOMINIC FERRY, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, HOSTELSCLUB.COM The best part of my job is the travel perks.

My first ever big trip was sailing around the world with my parents for four years when I was 10 years old.

My favourite place in the world is Ibiza because it's such a fun destination,

and Egypt because of its ancient wonders My most challenging travel experience was visiting five cities in one day as I had business meetings in each place: Bruges, Brussels, Paris, Rome then Venice.

My most memorable travel experience was the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert, in the US. It's a crazy and amazing festival.

tntmagazine.com

VIVA

tntmagazine.com

BIG TRIP

Shun the package deals and see Castro’s Cuba on a backpacking adventure WORDS JANINE KELSO

Cuba THE CARIBBEAN

T

TNT Images

he orange Chevrolet that we’re sitting in couldn’t accurately be described as a convertible because the top has clearly been hacked off, but it still looks the business as we cruise through Havana’s atmospheric streets. Like a film set, the time warp town is loaded with vintage rides, from Buicks to Chryslers, most of which are used as taxis. Some are beautifully restored, while others show their age with creaking bodywork, windows that don’t open and clapped out doors that have to be held closed.

Time warp town: Havana is loaded with vintage rides

RIDE ON THE WILD SIDE Latin beats spill out from the balconies of crumbling art-deco and 19th century mansions where hanging washing flutters in the breeze.

There are no adverts in Cuba, only revolutionary slogans and huge photos and paintings of Che and Fidel. The only brand we ever see is Havana Club rum.

Our ride begins along the Malecon, Havana’s sea wall, where we spot snogging couples, transvestites and an elderly man oblivious to the world as he boogies to some salsa blaring out of a small beat box.

At Plaza de la Revolution, we pose for pictures in front of a giant frieze of the world’s sexiest revolutionary, Che Guevara, his face a ubiquitous presence

tntmagazine.com

TRAVEL

CUBA!

55

Roll up: visit a cigar factory

See the tobacco fields of Viñales by horseback

NEED TO KNOW WHEN TO GO Dry season runs from November until April, while May to October is hot and humid with occasional but short-lived rain showers.

GETTING THERE Fly direct with Virgin Atlantic, Air France and Iberia.

Flight takes around eight hours.

GETTING AROUND Buses serve the major cities and are punctual and cheap.

VISAS Everyone who visits Cuba needs to buy a visa for £15 from the Cuban Embassy in Holborn.

CURRENCY Cuba Convertible Pesos.

1 GBP = 1.46 CUC. LANGUAGE Spanish.

GOING OUT A mojito is $2.50CUC and a bottle of Cristal beer is $2CUC. ACCOMMODATION Stay in Casa Particulares from 20-25CUC per night for a double room.

SEE cubatravel.cu

in Cuba. Surrounded by grey monoliths, the famous Plaza doesn’t look that impressive, but it provided the setting for Fidel Castro’s speeches where up to a million people used to cram in to listen.

SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE Our tour ends at Fabrica de Tobaco Partagas, the city’s oldest and largest cigar factory, where we watch hundreds of nimble-fingered workers hand-roll cigars for 12 brands, including Cohiba and Monte Cristo. The employees, who produce about 100 cigars daily, are read to from novels, plays and newspapers for two hours each day.

ON A MISSION My boyfriend and I are backpacking around Cuba for two weeks, travelling by bus and staying in casa particulares, the

HAVANA Viñales

Santa Clara

HORSING AROUND We’re told that the best way to see Vinales is on horseback, so we trot through tobacco and sugarcane fields where men in cowboy hats use two bulls to plough the land. We stop at a farmhouse where a Cuban farmer rolls a cigar for us from his own tobacco crop.

We’re told not to breathe in deeply, to just loll the smoke around our mouths and then blow it out. We wash it down with a mojito, a minty rum cocktail, to which the farmer adds a dash of honey, a local spin on Cuba’s favourite drink.

CUBA

tntmagazine.com

Get up close and personal with the real Cuba

MOJITOS AND SALSA Our trip morphs into a blur of mojitos and salsa as we leave Viñales for the beautiful

TNT Images,, Getty Images

Trinidad

Cuban alternative to B&Bs (see box, right).

Our one rule was that we wanted to avoid any foreigners-only all-inclusive resorts: we want to see the real Cuba.

Leaving Havana behind, we head west to the tiny village of Viñales in the province of Pinar del Rio, famed for its brilliantly green valley dotted with bizarre pin-cushioned shaped limestone hills, known as mogotes.

Vinales is a sleepy spot, where horse and cart is the transport of choice, chickens, goats and pigs wander into the road, and locals smoke cigars while sitting on rocking chairs on their porches. But Cuba’s infectious energy is ever-present: music booms out of the pastel-coloured colonial-style houses and the Polo Mantanez Centro Cultural club, which offers top-notch live music and sees a mix of hip grannies and cool twentysomethings taking to the dancefloor, both of whom could show Beyonce a thing or two about booty shaking.

BIG TRIP A casa particular is the best way to meet the locals

MEET THE LOCALS CASAS PARTICULARES AND PALADARES

town of Trinidad. The colonial city’s cobbled streets are like a living museum with vintage cars on every corner and perfectly preserved 16th-century houses.

It’s impossible to be in Cuba and not attempt to dance salsa, a sizzling hipshaking dance that all Cubans learn as soon as they can walk, so we take a class in a tiny backyard at a rear of a shop with a local instructor, Michael.

After perfecting (ahem) the basic steps, I’m soon being twisted and twirled until I’m dizzy. After the class, we reward our efforts with Mojitos and Cuba Libres at Casa de la Musica, an open-air live music venue which offers nightly entertainment followed by salsa dancing.

CHASING WATERFALLS Just outside Trinidad is the Topes de Collantes nature park, which offers hiking and horse-riding opportunities.

We trek along a steep and winding path flanked by a steamy tangle of jungle that leads down to a gushing waterfall, Cubano. At the foot of the waterfall is a natural swimming pool where we take a chilly yet refreshing dip.

Janine Kelso / TNT Images

GIVE BACK TO CUBA As a communist country, Cuba has a complex financial system with two currencies – pesos for locals and convertible pesos for tourists. The average Cuban earns only 30CUC (£20) a month. There are many commodities that Cuban people just can’t afford, such as pens which cost a whopping 1CUC, a day’s pay. If you want to make friends, and help out, rather than doling out cash, hand out pens and crayons, especially to children. Cubans are also grateful for clothes, aspirin, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and dental floss.

TRAVEL

Staying in private houses, known as casas particulares, is the cheapest way of travelling around Cuba, with most double rooms costing from $20-25CUC per night.

It’s also the best way of meeting the locals and getting an insight into Cuban life. Most casas are homely, spotlessly clean and have private bathrooms.

Rooms are brightly painted with floral bedspreads and art-déco furniture, and many have attractive roof terraces. Most

provide a hearty breakfast of fruit, eggs and bread, and dinner at an extra cost – about $3-4CUC for breakfast and $6$8CUC for dinner. Casas particulares can be booked by visiting HostelBookers.com.

The website is the cheapest way of booking quality properties in Cuba.

Alternatively, feast on Cuban home cooking in a paladar, run from a spare room in a family home. Trinidad and Havana teem with legal and illegal paladares. Whether you eat in a paladar or a casa, expect generous helpings.

57

IN SEARCH OF CHE SANTA CLARA

Feel alive at the Topes de Collantes nature park

Vibrant Cuba’s “ infectious energy is ever-present ” ON YOUR BIKE Next day, we hire bikes, which terrifyingly have no brakes or gears, and cycle 13km to the beaches on the Ancon Peninsula, overtaking horse and carts pumping out reggaeton, Latin hip-hop.

The first beach we arrive at, Maria Aguilar, is completely empty, a palm-lined paradise, where we spend several hours swimming and soaking up the sun.

We cycle onwards to Playa Ancon, home to several all-inclusive resorts. The sheltered bay is great for swimming but is teeming with European tourists, with not a Cuban in sight aside from the workers.

We grab a quick mojito then get back on our bikes to escape this artificial allinclusive could-be-anywhere beach and return to Castro’s Cuba.

NEXT WEEK: PLANNING AN EPIC ADVENTURE

Everything you need to know to undertake that trip of a lifetime

Che Guevara devotees should make a pilgrimage to Santa Clara, a threehour bus ride from Havana, as this is where his ashes lay. See the Monumento a la Toma del Tren Blindado, the derailed train that has lain here since 1958 in the Battle of Santa Clara, marking one of the last military encounters of the Revolutionary War. The armoured train, containing dictator Batista’s forces, was derailed by tractors deployed by 300 rebels, led by Guevara. Also in Santa Clara is the Museo Memorial al Che, where you’ll find a giant statue of the man. There’s also a museum with photos and memorabilia, including his clothes, pipes and asthma inhaler. Spend the night at Casa de Consuelo Ramos y Nelson Turino, in Calle Independencia, where Guevara apparently slept for several nights in 1959 with his girlfriend, who later became his wife.

Cuban legend: Che Guevara

TRAVEL 59 TOURS tntmagazine.com

TRAVEL 61 TOURS tntmagazine.com

TRAVEL

WEEKEND BREAKS AND DAY TOURS DAY TRIPS

WEEKEND BREAKS

¸ Wed 29th Dec: A Day in Wales £49 ¸ Sat 8th Jan: Cambridge £45 or A Day in Wales £49 ¸ Sat 15th Jan: York £49

AMSTERDAM & BRUGGE BUDGET

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Fri 14th - Sun 16th Jan

£165 PARIS BY EUROSTAR £229 EDINBURGH BY RAIL

PLUS Stonehenge & Bath EVERYDAY & Windsor, Eton & Oxford

Fri 21st - Sun 23rd Jan

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Fri 28th - Sun 30th Jan

AMSTERDAM & BRUGGE BUDGET

62

£189

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TOURS

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LUXURY MINI COACH TOURS

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¸ EVERYDAY - Oxford, Stratford & Cotswolds

30th Dec 2010 - 2nd Jan 2011

SPECIAL EVENT TOURS

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HORSE RACING: GRAND NATIONAL, AINTREE

¸ EVERY SATURDAY & SUNDAY - Leeds Castle, Canterbury & White Cliffs of Dover

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OVERNIGHT TOURS Sat 22nd - Sunday 23rd Jan Overnight Hilton Hotel Southern England (Oxford, Bath & Stonehenge) £109 Isle of Wight (with entrance to Osborne House + visit to the Needles) £109

BOOK ONLINE AT:

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TAKE THAT AMSTERDAM 17-19 July 2011

£349pp

Take That concert tickets, Amsterdam Arena, Monday 18th July. Return Eurostar rail travel and transfers, 2 nights B&B hotel accommodation, all rooms (Silver Ring Enclosure) Sat 18th June with ensuite. Two course meal + free pp Included in the price: return bar (Sunday night only). Transfers to and luxury coach travel, light refreshments from the hotel to central Amsterdam and concert. Services of a Tour Manager. including bubbly & entry.

Sat 9th April from

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DON’T BE FOOLED - CHECK FOR LOCAL PAYMENTS!

Many companies don’t show compulsory local payments they collect on top of entrance fees and tipping. Be sure to add this in when comparing prices.

TRAVEL

EGYPT IN THE FOOTSTEPS

PHARAOHS

TOURS

OF THE

63

Egypt’s Top Spots & The Red Sea PHARAOHS ADVENTURE - 6 days KING TUTANKHAMEN - 9 days EGYPT UNPLUGGED - 10 days DIVE DAHAB - 10 days KING RAMSES - 13 days 5-STAR JEWEL OF THE NILE - 10 days

£299 £349 £399 £429 £449 £779

Egypt Off The Beaten Track SIWA TO ALEXANDRIA - 7 days SANDBLASTER - 13 days DUNES & TOMBS - 17 days NILE VALLEY TO SIWA OASIS - 15 days

PLUS Bolt-on one of these beauties! £599 £549 £649 £779

ABU SIMBEL AT DAYBREAK FLIGHT HOT AIR BALLOONING IN LUXOR PHARAOHS PASS - TRAVEL IN STYLE PADI LEARN TO DIVE - RED SEA

Why ON THE GO are number #1 for Egypt • • • • •

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Best accommodation - properly rated 4&5 star hotels Airport transfers always included Legendary Egyptologist guides - travel with Sam & Sherif!

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“ THAT WAS THE BES

£129 £109 £209 £399

T TRIP EVER!

We had Waleed as our tour guide an d he is Abu Simbel when the sun came up on phenomenal. Going into the Solstice was SO With the drums go INCREDIBLE! ing it still gives me go and the whirling tanoura dancer s ... ose bumps when I think about it!

Thank you for ever ything I will book ON TH E GO for everything I can!

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Next Stop?

TRAVEL

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1st Contact Travel Clinic can take care of all your travel health needs – with free advice plus vaccinations, tablets and accessories. Low prices, online vaccination search, same day appointments & free consultation.

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ANZAC DAY 2011

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ANZAC 2011SPECIALISTS WITH THE

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• We offer unbeatable ON THE GO quality throughout – we always deliver what we promise!

Secure your booking today with a £100 deposit As a testament to our quality of tours check out onthegotours.com, find us on facebook.com/onthegotours or follow us on twitter.com/On_The_Go_Tours and read what our previous ANZAC travellers have to say. Here’s one for starters...

In recognition of the effort the Commonwealth War Graves Commission undertakes at Gallipoli and other memorial sites ON THE GO are proud to make a donation to this organisation on your behalf for every ANZAC package booked – see www.cwgc.org

“YoBIG THANKS TO ALL ON THE GO

STAFF! u guys rock, I have never experienced su organised and fun tour as the Gallipoli ch a well tour I am just back from. I ha ve but you guys are by been on quite a few tours far the most organ ised I have ever experienced. Ke ep recommending you up the good work. I will be to all my mates. Ch eers!”

Be n Symons, May 20

CALL OR GO ONLINE FOR OUR BROCHURE ABTA, AITO AND ATOL PROTECTED

10

ONTHEGOTOURS.COM

AFRICA CHINA EGYPT INDIA RUSSIA SOUTH AMERICA JORDAN HIMALAYAS MOROCCO CROATIA TURKEY SRI LANKA ANTARCTICA

020 7371 1113

ON THE GO TOURS, 68 NORTH END ROAD, WEST KENSINGTON, LONDON W14 9EP

ON THE GO ADVISORS AVAILABLE 9AM - 9PM

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TOURS

ON THE GO have over 12 years experience of operating ANZAC day tours. We know how important this day is to you and each year our teams from the UK and Australia attend this event ensuring our tours run smoothly.

65

TRAVEL

www.topdeck.travel/tnt

MAKE YOUR OWN WAY

7 DAYS

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13 DAYS

8 DAYS

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WAS

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^

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£385^

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Dep. 23 JAN 2011

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£595

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NATURAL SNOW!

WAS

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WAS

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Includes local payment

MARRAKECH ATLAS TREK WAS

£360

£329

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LES DEUX ALPES

FROM

TOURS

66

^

Includes local payment

83 72

2))

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CALL US 0845 257 5210

^ Flights not included. Discounts apply to the base trip price only Prices include local payments. For Egypt & Middle East trips, payments must be made locally in USD. Prices quoted based on US$1 = £0.646.

Exchange rate correct at time of printing, and subject to currency fluctuations, depending when payment is made. For Morocco trips, payment must be made locally in British Pounds.

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TRAVEL

AFRICA WILDLIFE, SCENERY, CULTURE & ADRENALINE

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MOROCCO MOUNTAINS, DESERTS, COAST & SOUKS!

TREK THE ATLAS - 6 days MARRAKECH & BEYOND - 9 days CAMELS, SOUKS & KASBAHS - 15 days MARRAKECH, SAHARA & SURF - 11 days

JORDAN DEAD SEA, PETRA, WADI RUM, RED SEA! Why ON THE GO are number #1 for Group Tours • • • •

Excellent rated 3-5 star accommodation Local qualified and enthusiastic guides ABTA, AITO, ATOL - 100% financial protection No single supplements for solo travellers FIND US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER: ON THE GO TOURS

PASSAGE TO PETRA - 6 days TOTALLY JORDAN - 8 days ROAD TO JORDAN - 16 days ARABIAN HIGHWAY - 11 days

£549 £749 £979 £1219

“THE TOUR WAS G

I T R U LY E N JO Y E R E A T A N D M IN U T E O F IT ... D E V E R Y

The tour has been ve ry well organised an d I feel like I have seen a core of Jordan without being rushed.

I very much enjoyed Petra on the 3rd da y, when I had the opportunity to explore the site from many different angles and have the time to absorb it!

Tom May

CALL OR GO ONLINE FOR OUR BROCHURE ABTA, AITO AND ATOL PROTECTED

£519 £549 £649 £699

”

ONTHEGOTOURS.COM

AFRICA CHINA EGYPT INDIA RUSSIA SOUTH AMERICA JORDAN HIMALAYAS MOROCCO CROATIA TURKEY SRI LANKA ANTARCTICA

020 7371 1113

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TOURS

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67

TRAVEL TOURS

68

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TRAVEL

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69 TOURS

GO BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN AND DISCOVER PUKKA RUSSIA SIMPLY ST. PETE’S - 4 days MOOD FOR MOSCOW - 4 days VODKA SHOT - 6 days

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TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAY

PURE ANZAC - 4 days AEGEAN EXPLORER - 7 days TURKEY UNPLUGGED - 10 days ANZAC BONZER - 11 days Why ON THE GO are number #1 for Group Tours • • • • •

Excellent rated 3-5 star accommodation Local qualified and enthusiastic guides ABTA, AITO, ATOL - 100% financial protection No single supplements for solo travellers No local payment - just kitty & tipping paid en route FIND US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER: ON THE GO TOURS

TURKEY

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& ANZAC DAY 2011

“ KATYA WAS A GREA

T GUID ... knowledgeable, frien dly, efficient and org E anised.

Thank you for makin g my 30th birthday one to remember! I enjoyed every minute in Russi a!

Would highly recom mend this tour...

– thanks On The Go .”

Chris Thomson

CALL OR GO ONLINE FOR OUR BROCHURE ABTA, AITO AND ATOL PROTECTED

ONTHEGOTOURS.COM

AFRICA CHINA EGYPT INDIA RUSSIA SOUTH AMERICA JORDAN HIMALAYAS MOROCCO CROATIA TURKEY SRI LANKA ANTARCTICA

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TRAVEL TOURS

70

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And now three years later, here we are celebrating our third anniversary, and waiting for our little monkey child to be born. Life is almost too good to be true. You rock! Jx.

Sean from Perth, who lives in Ealing Broadway and works as a builder: I met you on a

night out at Pacha back in November. Had a great time with you in the club … and later that night. We were meant to be meeting up, but I have since lost my phone with your number – aaarrrggghhh!

Email hopeyouseethis@ hotmail.com if you’re still keen to meet. Veronica.

82

Rachel Wood aka Queen Bitch: Happy New Year

honey! Let’s hope that 2011 brings lots of fun and good times for you over in Dubai.

We miss you! The girls xox Happy birthday Danni: You were born on the same day as Jesus so clearly you’re a very special young lady who’ll go onto doing some very special things in life. Well, you might not be able to walk on water, but hey, you know how to down a whole bottle of Savanna in only three sips.

Now that’s impressive! Lots of love, The Kenway Crew.

Adrian, the accountant from PE, South Africa: We met at

your work Christmas party at Embankment on Thursday, December 16. My friend and I sneaked into your private party (naughty, naughty), but you said that we could stay and told your colleagues we were your long-lost cousins.

You even got us some free drinks from the bar tab – champ! We’d love to meet up with you some time in the new year to repay the favour, and get up to some more shenanigans :-). Email xmasshenans2010@hotmail. com. Annie and Sheena, the Jo’burg massif.

tntmagazine.com

post your message at tntmagazine.com/seeking or email seeking@tntmagazine.com Our lovely Jen: We can’t

believe that you’re leaving us to fend for ourselves, while you’re heading off to greener pastures to be with the man you love on the other side of the world, to be happy forever after. It’s just not fair … but you deserve it all!! You’ve been a wonderful flattie and friend and No.54 just won’t be the same without you. Good luck with everything in Auckland.

Bec and Laura xox The guy on the 74 nightbus on Tuesday, December 14:

Thanks for gettting off the bus to give me my wallet that I dropped when I left. A pity that the bus driver drove off before you could get back on.

Hope you didn’t have to wait long for the next one! I tried to give you some money but you said it was your good deed for the day. Well, I do believe in karma, and I hope your reward will come to you soon. Eternally grateful, Lisa.

Jase and Mon: Hope you had a great Xmas in York, and I hope Santa brought you both some very cool pressies. I’m so sorry I couldn’t make it to your festive soiree (would have loved to celebrate Christmas

with you!!) but we’ll have to make some plans for the new year instead guys. Jeanette x Sarah Lahandi: Hi Sarah, it’s Tracey here, who you worked with at Cobo’s in Brighton two years ago. I went through some pictures the other day and I found some pics from our weekend trip to London – remember? Hahaha, that’s some funny shit! Would love to see you again if you still are around. Email trjpwilde@ yahoo.com.au. Tracey xox James P: Just want to say thank you for an amazing year – from chilling in the geysers in Iceland, to running amok in Pamplona, the madness of Okotoberfest, and lazy Sundays at the HQ. 2010 is coming to an end and you’ll soon be starting a new chapter in your life, but all the memories will still be with us forevah. Deano.

Happy anniversary Monkey:

It’s been three years since you were running around the streets of Putney doing the monkey walk, and singing Christmas carols from the top of your voice. I’m not sure, exactly what it was, but you certainly got my attention.

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

Steve from Leicester at the Baa-Baas game on Saturday, December 4: We met on the

train from Twickenham to Wimbledon and started chatting after you said the Boks were ‘useless’. Well, you’re obviously wrong and you know it, but I still enjoyed the banter … and your good looks … and would be keen to see you again sometime so we can continue where we left off … and maybe more ;-) Email hotbutfoolishrugbysteve@ hotmail.com. Michelle, the Saffa wearing the Springbok hat and gloves.

Duncan aka D-Dogg: Happy 30th for Thursday bro. We hope it will be an aweome way to finish off 2010. We’ll party with ya like it’s ‘99 on Friday, and all the way into 2011.

J-dogg and R-dogg.

Jess, the Canberra girl in the blue Billabong hoodie at She Bu Belushi’s on Saturday, December 18: Can’t believe

we only met the last week I’m in the UK. What’s the chances?!! Good news is that we both come from the same place in Oz (yep, God’s gift to the world), so even though we probably won’t be able to meet on UK soil again, it would be cool to hook up when you go home next time.

Email canberrachick@hotmail. com. Tom. Ricardo: Have an awesome birthday Ricky! Can’t wait to take you out for a drink and a boogey. Nadine xx

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