TNT Magazine / Issue 1427 by TNT Magazine

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January 3-9 2011 Issue 1427 tntmagazine.com

THE REAL LION KING

£1 where sold

David Youldon on his new TV series and ditching London to work in Africa

RESOLUTION REVOLUTION

‘THE PARTY’S OVER, BORIS’

NEW YEAR EPIC ADVENTURE

How NOT to be Ken Livingstone Your guide to the good in 2011 fights back trip of a lifetime

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

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Front Cover: Anglia Productions/ITV

EDITOR’S LETTER So, you’re sitting back at your desk, sipping a green tea and trying to stick to your New Year’s resolutions. Bored? Check out our guide on how to make 2011 your wildest year yet (P10). Then take our advice and book an adventure of a lifetime (P60). We also have a chat with Ken Livingstone about the big issues London faces this year (P38). But if that’s too much doom and gloom, turn to P36 for the stories you won’t see in 2011. Happy New Year!

14 David Youldon is a real-life lion king

45 TRAVEL

CAROL DRIVER

8 LONDON 8 London Life 10 RESOLUTION REVOLUTION: Forget boring goals. Go wild in 2011 12 Food & Drink 14 KING OF THE JUNGLE: Meet lion man David Youldon 16 Spotted 18 Silly Buggers

21 ENTERTAINMENT 21 22 23 24 25 26

60 Start planning now for your 2011 big adventures

Celebrity News TNT Life 36 NEWS & SPORT Look Who’s Talking: Amanda Warner 36 THE NEWS YOU WON’T SEE IN 2011: Cinema The truth has nothing to do with it Culture 38 THE PARTY’S OVER, BORIS: Ken Livingstone wants to be mayor THE STADE OF AFFAIRS: Comedian Tom Stade is Frankie Boyle’s mate 40 THE SCRIPTS ARE WRITTEN: The year ahead in sports 42 HALF TIME REPORT: The state of 28 MUSIC & CLUBS this season’s Premiere League 28 Music 32 Music Listings 34 Clubbing Listings REGULARS 35 Clubbing 4 Letters 6 Wins 90 Desperately Seeking

10 Spice up your sex life this year

45 Global Vision 46 NEW YEAR DETOX: Cleanse your body after Christmas 48 Late Deals 49 TNTT Weekender: Krakow 50 Hotshots 52 SCOOTER DIARIES: Explore Barcelona on two wheels 54 Travel Tips 55 Travel News 56 On The Road 59 Top Five 60 CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE: Hit the road on an epic big trip 38 Ken Livingstone wants to put Boris Johnson out of a job

40 Will Karmichael Hunt succeed in the AFL? We preview 2011 in sports

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

BA mess brought us together!

I, like many other Christmas travellers was become a victim of the snow-affected Heathrow airport. I managed to get to South Africa. My first flight from London to Paris was cancelled. There were no Eurostar or National Express seats available, so I caught a train from King’s Cross to Dover, then a ferry to Calais, then a train to Lille, then a train from Lille to Paris, then a cab to Charles de Gaulle airport. There were delays, route changes, lengthy waits. But throughout it, I experienced wonderful human spirit. So remember, while we can’t count on BA, at least we can count on each other. Happy new year! Livania, Shoreditch

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Head of design and production Jon Cooke Graphic design manager Astrid Breacker Design and production executives Justine Mackay | Laura Doyle Picture researcher Laila Pacheco DIGITAL & IT Head of digital marketing and development Syed Ahmad IT manager Stephen Dann 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 Executive Domenica Ribaudo Marketing and events assistant Phoebe Cherrill Social media co-ordinator Daniel Cape ACCOUNTS Finance director Nick Crampton Accounts Margaret Roberts | Alexandra Buchlakova 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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I was the lucky reader who won the iPad competition! This has made me want to write in to say I hope you all had a merry Christmas and a happy New Year! You made our Christmas so very special and I wish you could have seen my children’s faces when I told them we’d won (mine also was quite a picture when I ran through the house as mad as a hatter and crying). Many thanks to you all! Carla Morris, via email

FOOD HABITS? EAT AND LET EAT ... What rubbish David Stocker was spurting (TNT 1425, Dec 20) about veganism? I’ve been a vegetarian for years and never had a problem. I know lots of vegans as well – and we all eat out regularly. Is he living in the Dark

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Ages? Get with it, David. There are lots of alternative food sources. Why do you have such strong feelings about what other people eat? It’s strange. Live and let live is what I say. Joanna, via email I once fell heavily for a girl who changed from vegetarian to vegan. She was a beautiful, friendly, warm-hearted, fit and healthy – and blonde. And we did eat out together more than once. In other words – as one meateater to another, I say that David Stocker is talking rubbish and knows some idiots! Mark Taha, SE26

FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED FOR SNOW FUN We’re a group of nine fun and friendly Aussie guys and gals aged 22-27 who have three spare spots on a ski-trip to the

French Alps in March 20 - 27. Here’s the skinny: includes one week in our own, private chalet (three-storey, six-bed, six-bath) with a pool and sauna, breakfast, lunch, snacks and four-course dinner everyday – as well as unlimited wine. It also includes flights and transfers for only £620. You don’t have to be Aussie or even ski very well, anyone’s welcome. First in, gets ‘em. If you’re interested, get in touch skifrenchalps@ gmail.com. Kelly Boyle, via email

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Interview

Travel

We speak to Gyton Grantley

Learn to sail in the Whitsundays

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.

Chaos at Heathrow caused by snow

THANKS FOR THE IPAD!

LETTER OF THE WEEK

LONDON LIFE

TNT’S 2011 MUST-DO

The Fitzrovia Hour

PREVIEW: GET INTO LONDON THEATRE

TNT Images

Aren’t you always telling yourself you should ‘do’ more cultural things? Well, make 2011 the year you get down to the theatre regularly. If you’re worried it’ll cost you an arm and a leg, don’t. This week sees the launch of Get Into London Theatre. Now in its ninth year, the campaign offers slashedprice theatre tickets for West End favourites such as The Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia!, Legally Blonde and Priscilla Queen Of The Desert. Award-winning West End

performer and finalist of BBC TV talent show Any Dream Will Do, Daniel Boys kicks off the event at the Royal Festival Hall on Jan 4. Fancy a trip back to the Forties? Book to see the The Fitzrovia Hour, opening on January 11 at the Trafalgar Studios. Get Into London Theatre offers tickets from as little as £10 to nearly 60 London shows until 18 February – cheap at twice the price. CAROL DRIVER

» Get Into London Theatre. getintolondontheatre.co.uk (0871 230 1548)

Career

Detox

Make 2011 the year to get a new job

The lowdown on the best spas

WIN

HOW TO ENTER Go to tntmagazine.com/competitions. See webpage for terms and conditions. Winners will be selected at random

A FOUR-DAY ANZAC TOUR FOR TWO Commemorate the ANZACs at Gallipoli

TNT and Fez have teamed up to give away a four-day ANZAC Fez Bus Ephesus Trooper tour for two people. The tour starts in Istanbul on April 24, and will take you to Gallipoli to experience the Dawn Service at Anzac Cove. The trip includes a tour leader, transportation in an air-conditioned bus, a guided tour of the ancient city of Pergamum, two-nights accommodation, two breakfasts and one dinner, plus a commemorative gift. Enter at tntmagazine.com/ competitions.

» See feztravel com

WIN MORE 4 16 24 35 50 50 54 56

Ireland tour Guidebook Derren Brown DVD Clubbing tickets to Hospitality at Fabric A three-day tour of Scotland Photography course Cash and guidebooks A trip to Bath and Stonehenge

PREVIOUS WINNERS TNT 1424: The Gallery Xmas party tickets: Stephanie Whittaker, Mihai Chiriac TNT 1425: Rinse FM Xmas Party tickets: Pansela Turcea, Reioni Douglas

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ZEBRA CROSSING ON DVD TNT is giving away copies of the award-winning British street film Zebra Crossing to 12 lucky readers. Winning awards at Raindance Film Festival amongst others, Zebra Crossing is the gritty story of a group of boys on a council estate – where gangland violence and street fighting is a way of life and getting out of the game is not easy.

» Zebra Crossing is in cinemas from January 28 and available on DVD from January 31. » See facebook.com/ ZebraCrossingFilm

Check out award-winning film Zebra Crossing

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LONDON LIFE

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

LONDON

LONDON SHORT FILM FESTIVAL TICKET PRICES VARY WHAT: Returning for its eighth year, this film festival showcases the work of independent, up-and-coming film-makers at venues across London. For the truly cutting-edge, there’s also an expanding multimedia section of the festival. WHEN: January 7-16. DO IT BECAUSE: Exploring a well-run film festival can be a uniquely satisfying experience, and in London it’s an opportunity to make the most of living in a city that takes its cultural life seriously. And with short films, you can see a selection of works rather than committing to one for two hours.

» Various theatres around London. (2011.shortfilms.org.uk).

Get fired up about St Paul’s

Capital idea: St Paul’s Cathedral The dome of St Paul’s is one of the most distinct elements of the London skyline, bulging out above the surrounding buildings, a point of reference easily made out from several blocks away. And, regardless of whether you’re a religious follower or not, it’s a remarkable building; massive, but also intricately detailed. As with many of London’s most famous buildings, St Paul’s history echoes a potted history of the capital itself – the current cathedral is reckoned

to be the fifth built on the same site, with the original structure believed to have been built by Saxons in 604, when London was still a Roman city. St Paul’s was twice burned down by fires and the fourth version took more than 200 years to complete, delays caused by – surprise, surprise – another fire in 1136. TS

DAMIÁN ORTEGA: THE INDEPENDENT FREE

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Mexican artist Damian Ortega creates a new work of art every day, drawing inspiration from current events.

The familiar tale retold with through the use of bizarre puppets and hand shadows. Truly inspired stuff.

» Barbican Centre, Silk

» Royal Opera House, WC2E

St, EC2Y 8DS Barbican (barbican.org.uk). Until Jan 16

9DD Covent Garden (roh. org.uk).Until Jan 30

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» St Paul’s Churchyard, EC4M 8AD St Paul’s (stpauls.co.uk). GREAT FOR: ARCHITECTURE NUTS

Check out Damian Ortega’s latest work

RY A U N JA X DETO Y PART With:

BRITAIN EXPLAINED

Godfather cocktail

BULGER KILLERS murderers in modern English history – that ensures visceral reactions to the case almost two decades later. Shortly after they were granted anonymity in 2001, Venables and Thompson were

released. Predictably, it did not go smoothly. In 2004, James Bulger’s mother, Christine, revealed she had received a tip-off about Thompson’s whereabouts – she tracked him down but did not confront him. In the middle of last year, Venables, under his new alias, was arrested for downloading child porn and was sentenced to a further two years in prison. TS

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It was 10 years ago this week that James Venables and Robert Thompson – who, aged 10 in 1993, abducted toddler James Bulger from a Liverpool shopping centre and battered him to death – were granted lifelong anonymity by the High Court. The violence of the crime was shocking enough but it was the age of Thompson and Venables – they remain the youngest convicted

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It’s theatre – but with the streets of London’s South Bank as a stage. Audience members traipse through pubs and around street corners, the story slowly revealing itself.

Maybe you’re in the market for another super-yacht to race Roman Abramovich’s. Or maybe you just want to browse and fantasise. Either way, this is the place for you.

» Menier Chocolate Factory,

» ExCel London Exhibition

51/53 Southwark St, SE1 1RU Borough (menierchocolate factory.com). Until Jan 23

Centre, E16 1XL Custom House (londonboatshow.com). Jan 7-16

www.bugbitten.com

Nobby Clark

Get involved in Accomplice

NO NEW THING UNDER THE SUN FREE

AN INTRODUCTION TO HOWARD HAWKS £5

Despite drawing its inspiration from scripture, this exhibition casts a pretty wide net, encompassing disparate themes, such as time, transience and human vanity.

The wonderful BFI profiles American director Howard Hawks, who had a prolific career spanning more than 40 years during the Golden Age of Hollywood. An absolute treat for film buffs.

» Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, W1J 0BD Green Park (royal academy.org.uk). Until Jan 9

» BFI Southbank, South Bank, SE1 8XT Waterloo (bfi.org.uk). Until Jan 6

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Shake it baby: Get your hands on a good cocktail

Resolution

REVOLUTION! Why make saintly New Year’s resolutions that will inevitably be too dull to stick to? Instead, resolve to make 2011 your most decadent, slutty and fun year yet! WORDS FRANKIE MULLIN

lanning to brown-nose your way to a promotion, starve yourself thin and settle down with someone reliable this year? Really? Life’s too short, we say. Read on for some alternatives to those life-negating, hackneyed old New Year’s resolutions.

Have a month on the wagon

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Be a nicer person LEARN TO KICK SOME BUTT OK, we know that these two aren’t mutually exclusive but shift the emphasis of your resolution from sweetness-andlight to hard-as-nails. Stride around London this year with the knowledge that you’re a force to be reckoned with. The British Martial Arts and Kickboxing Academy (bmaka.com) has a centre in Wimbledon and offers a free first class. Karate lessons will teach you punches,

Thinkstock

Fear no one on the streets of London

DRINK EVEN MORE IN JANUARY You know you can’t do it anyway, so why torture yourself attempting to stay sober through the January gloom. Instead, give in to your vices, but do it in style. The wonderfully named Callooh Callay (calloohcallaybar.com) runs cocktailmaking classes in Lewis Caroll-inspired surroundings. Learn to make the classics as well as creating your own concoctions. Prices start at £40 but if you make the winning cocktail you’ll get a £50 bar tab.

Combine two resolutions by hitting a champagne bar where you can blow cash and get drunk in one fell swoop. Amuse Bouche Champagne Bars (abcb.co.uk), with branches in Parson’s Green and Soho, aim to make champagne “an affordable everyday luxury” – a worthy goal if ever we heard one – and glasses start from £5.

LONDON

Blow all your moolah on a chopper rider

“

Enjoy deeper, richer and wilder pleasure in 2011

”

kicks, sweeps, take-downs, sparring and self defence. The weapons class will show you the ropes of using nunchuks, kali sticks, swords and bo staff. Hell yeah!

Move up the career ladder DITCH YOUR JOB AND GO TRAVELLING You could spend 2011 sitting at your desk listening to your colleagues discuss how slow their computers are, the highlight of your day being a chocolate biscuit after lunch. Or, you could jack it all in and set off for a year of adventure, freedom and endless lie-ins. “If you’re going to ditch your job and go travelling, start planning about four months before you go to sort out visas, vaccinations, travel insurance and plane tickets,” says TNT Travel Editor Janine Kelso. Check out our feature on planning an epic adventure on P58. If telling your boss to ‘stick it’ is too big a leap, then at least plan to get off the beaten travel track next year. Pru Goudie of On The Go says: “Russia is trending high for 2011 and is an exciting place to visit for the seasoned traveller. It’s not an easy destination to travel though, so book a tour.”

Thinkstock

Fall in love BECOME A BETTER SHAG A happy, fulfilling relationship is a staple of the old New Year’s resolutions’ list, but secretly wouldn’t you rather just have loads of meaningless sex? Either

“And then I said to the boss, ‘you’re a slave driver’ and walked out. You should have seen his face.”

way, hone your technique with one of London’s many sex classes. Everyone’s a winner! Sex & Relationship Coaching (sexandrelationshipcourses.com), based in central London, offers lessons for men, women or couples. By the end of the Drive Women Wild or Unzip His Pleasure class, it promises you’ll have ideas and tricks to take your partner on a journey to “deeper, richer and wilder pleasure”. Female-owned sex shop Sh! (sh-womenstore.com), in Shoreditch, offers classes ranging from spanking, female orgasms, fellatio and pegging. Don’t know what it ‘pegging’ is? Shame on you!

Save money BLOW EVERYTHING YOU EARN Hey, the economy may have collapsed by 2012 and your money won’t be worth the paper it’s printed on, so you might as well spend it now! For some London decadence, take a helicopter trip over the capital’s famous landmarks. London Helicopter Centres (london-helicopters.co.uk) charge £115 for half an hour. Or pop into The Ritz (theritzlondon. com) for Afternoon Tea. Prices start at £40 – satisfyingly steep.

Explore your sexual boundaries

HOW TO STICK TO YOUR RESOLUTIONS LIFE COACH REBEKAH FENSOME (REBEKAHFENSOMELIFECOACH. COM) TELLS US HOW TO SUCCEED IN 2011 ■ Set ‘goals’ rather than ‘resolutions’. ■ Think about where you want to be in five years time, then work out what steps you should take to get there. ■ Make incremental, short-term goals with the aim of achieving big in the long run. ■ Make sure your goals are realistic. Don’t set yourself up to fail. ■ Changes don’t need to happen at a particular time of year but if the New Year seems like a good excuse to set some new goals then use it as such.

TNT online For more great ideas about life in London see tntmagazine.com/londonlife

FOOD & DRINK

BAR REVIEW The Hoxton Pony ★★★★★

LONDON

Curtain Rd, EC2A Shoreditch High St

The scene: Ultra-trendy two-storey bar/club. It’s less pretentious inside than you may think. The DJ (there’s some pretty high-profile musicians from around

the world) plays a mix of surprisingly good tunes – from cheesey Eighties to funky stuff from today. The owners are driven but very down to earth. Behind the bar: The bar staff are extremely talented and will be able to bespoke a cocktail to suit your tastes. You must try one of the infusion jars – choose from blends of vodkas, whiskies or gins with

fruit juices served with tea cups (with saucers attached). The grub: Try a mixed platter of sweet potato tempura, smoked tomato tartare bruschetta, BBQ chicken and grilled tiger prawns. Delicious. Bill please: Infusion jugs from £60. Bar food from £3.50. Verdict: Not cheap, but you’ll definitely have a top night, so it’s well worth the spend. CD

RESTAURANT REVIEW Supper Club ★★★★★

A house in Balham, 07795 411517, thesupperclublondon.com. Balham

THE SCENE The notion of eating dinner in a stranger’s home is all very Come Dine With Me, but the joy of Supper Club is that you don’t have to return the favour (and there’s no bitching behind people’s backs). Our host for the evening is John Carmichael, a language professor with a passion for cooking, who has transformed his spacious dining room into a 16-seater restaurant for the night. Our waitress is John’s bubbly daughter Sophie, and my friend and I have the choice of either dining alone or joining a mix-in table. We opt to join a friendly couple to eat our dinner with. Guitarist Simon Prager provides the entertainment between the main and dessert with two comical blues numbers.

JUICE BARS Vita Organic

THE MENU There is a set menu and diners bring their own booze. My starter is a flavoursome caramelised endive with serrano ham, which was delicious. For the main, I have a delectable lamb dish which is served with butternut mash and green beans, while dessert was meltin-the-mouth lles flottantes. If this was Come Dine, I would

have given John a ‘10’ scorecard during my taxi journey home. BILL PLEASE The recommended minimum contribution is a very reasonable £20. VERDICT Gorgeous food in a convivial setting. Great for sociable types who like to try new things. JANINE KELSO

Start the year as you mean to go on with a healthy Rosehip and Rose ‘Living’ Latte or a Raw Cocoa and Nut ‘Mylk’ shake in this West London venue. See vitaorganic.co.uk

Whole Foods Market Hold your nose and down a shot of wheatgrass followed by a fresh fruit juice fusion or a creamy smoothie. See wholefoodsmarket.com

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These bars can be found all across London, which is handy if you fancy kicking off 2011 with a supersmoothie – there’s one made with detox cactus which is 98 per cent fat free. See crussh.com

TNT images

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ANZAC DAY HAVE WE FORGOTTEN WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT? BEING AN AUSSIE I have always had a deep understanding, interest and respect for the ANZAC legend. Ever since I first attended a Dawn Service back in Australia while researching a university project I decided I must one day attend the Dawn Service at Gallipoli. Years later I now live in London and work in the travel industry which has allowed me the incredible good fortune of attending the Dawn Service at Gallipoli several times over the last few years. It is one of those things that truly must be experienced firsthand to really get an understanding of how hard those Diggers had it and how no matter what sporting events or rivalry do crop up between ourselves and our Antipodean brothers, New Zealand, we have a bond that was forged through blood, mate ship and terrible circumstances allowing us to rise up and finally feel a sense of individuality or independence from the Motherland – Britain. We do not commemorate ANZAC Day only due to the loss of life suffered by both New Zealand and Australia, as there were many other conflicts during World War I where the loss was far greater, we commemorate it due to it being that moment where we both truly found our National spirit. That is why we shiver in the cold on that early morning of the 25th of April. For those that gave so much then and helped create the country’s we now hold so dear, and for all the conflicts since where we have fought under the command and the flag of our own Nations, yet together still as ANZACs. If you are planning to travel to Turkey for the Dawn Service in Gallipoli, then you need to be fully prepared for the build up to the 5am service. The weather can get extremely cold in the early morning hours and the crowds will continue to arrive all throughout the night. If you are one of the lucky people to grab a spot on the grass you may be able to get a few winks but don’t count on it. This experience is more or less a pilgrimage, it is uncomfortable at times and emotional but absolutely well worth the effort. As long as you are well prepared with a sleeping bag, warm clothing and a good attitude you will be fine and one thing you will know for sure is that you are far better off than our Diggers were. Lest we forget

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KING

OF THE

JUNGLE

David Youldon talks about ditching the London rat race for Africa and his TV series Lion Country WORDS CAROL DRIVER

Lion’s play: David with one of the beasts

ow many times during your working day do you slip into a daydream of leaving your job in pursuit of a childhood dream? For many of us, the fantasy remains just that – but there are a brave few who change them into their reality. People like David Youldon. On a salary of nearly £50,000 and working as a travel agent in London, from the outside, he had an enviable career. But the 38-year-old was acutely aware he wasn’t entirely happy. David had

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longed for a job which involved working with animals since his childhood. But, not being very good at science at school, never believed he would have the opportunity to pursue that role and decided to stick with his second passion – travel. However, after the 9/11 disaster, the American company where David worked was hit financially – so he decided he needed another challenge. “I started to get restless and realised this was an issue that wasn’t going away very quickly,” he tells TNT.

“Sometimes when you’ve dreamed about something for so long, you have an image in mind which isn’t always the reality. “So I went to Namibia on a volunteer programme to see if the day-to-day of that work met with my expectations. And it did.” However, David’s decision to leave wasn’t so easy – when he returned from his trip, he was offered a promotion. “I decided to take it, and, for a few years, it was great,” David admits.

You fall in love “ every time you see a lion ” Numbers have dropped by a staggering 80 per cent in the past 50 years – there are many factors behind the decline including loss of habitat, disease and over hunting. Along with his colleagues at the African Lion & Environmental Research Trust (ALERT), David reintroduces lions into the wild that are from a captive source. “You can’t just take captive lions and shove them back into the wild … because it fails,” David explains. “Lions we breed will go as far as living in a semi-wild environment. It’s fenced and extremely protected. They can’t go into unfenced Africa as they have been raised by humans and have no fear of humans. “Those lions will have cubs in that release, and those cubs are the end product. “They are raised in a natural environment and with no human contact. And it’s when those cubs are two or three years old, they can be taken out and put back in the national park. “The ITV series looks at one element of our entire programme – and it’s specifically trying to create a source of lions that can be reintroduced

LONDON

“I was extremely well paid and everything was going OK. “Then, two years down the line, I was putting together targets for the following year and I sat back and thought, ‘I have no interest in meeting these’. “At that point I decided I was going to explode my life – get rid of the job, lose my lifestyle, give away the house.” So, in 2003, David left the UK for Zimbabwe and found himself working at the Antelope Park – “they needed someone to run the volunteer programme, that gave me more of a chance to learn about lions, and it snowballed from there”. Today, you might recognise David as the face of an ITV series called Lion Country which was screened last year – averaging 3.2million viewers an episode. The second series of which is due to be screened in February. Based at the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park in Zambia, David is spearheading a conservation project to increase the number of wild African lions.

The project aims to increase the number of lions in the wild; below, David playing with a cub

into the wild from an original captive source. “In the new series, we catch up with the lions we met in the first and find out how they’ve progressed. “We also meet the new arrivals and then we join one group as they are released and follow them for a short period. There’s a lot going on. “Do I build a strong bond with the lions? Absolutely. But my favourite is whichever one is in front of me at the time – you fall in love with them each time you see a lion.” David is a long way from his Buckinghamshire roots – and a world away from his career in travel. But does he have any regrets? “You can go months and months without having a day off, it’s very tiring, but it’s such rewarding work, so you don’t notice,” he says. “I have no regrets. I go back to the UK as little as I can. I have everything I need here –

including bright and sunny days.” That said, David will head back to the UK to host an ALERT evening with charity patron the legendary Sir Ranulph Fiennes on January 17. The event will raise money and awareness for the conservation projects. Tickets cost £40 – £25 for NUS students – and the event kicks off at 7.30pm.

» To book tickets, see http://lionalert. org/pages/events.html. The event takes place at the Mermaid Conference & Events Centre, Puddle Dock, EC4V. St Paul’s or Mansion House

tntmagazine.com

SPOTTED ARE YOU SPOTTED IN THE CIRCLE?

LONDON

Call us on 020 7373 3377 or come down to the TNT office so we can ID you. You’ve won a Lonely Planet (lonelyplanet.com) guides of your choice. PLUS for another chance to win, log on to tntmagazine.com/ gallery and see if you’ve been circled.

TNT CHRISTMAS PARTY Elk Bar, Fulham, Tuesday, December 21 Photos by: Laila Pacheco/ TNT Images

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My girlfriend’s birthday is coming up and I want to give her a present that enriches our sex life but I suspect that might seem a bit sleazy. Is it OK to give sex toys as gifts?

It’s fine – you’re consenting adults in a loving relationship. You can buy each other sex toys as often as you like – for Easter, Anzac Day, whatever. There was once a stigma attached to sex toys – I’ve certainly had a few employers who reacted in a narrowminded way when they discovered my dildos in the

TOOL OF THE WEEK Useless invention No 546 Apparently, some people struggle to open bottles of wine the old-fashioned way. It appears the timehonoured corkscrew confounds them. That’s why the folks at Bosch have come out with a cordless drill that comes with a superconvenient corkscrew attachment. So it’s perfect for dinner parties: “Need another bottle of vino? No worries – I’ll just nip out to the garage to get my power drill.” Who are the tools here? The muppets who invented this or those who actually use it?

You should be office filing cabinet – but these comfortable enough in attitudes are rapidly changing your relationship to address wherever you go. this with your girlfriend. For example, I recently And sex toys have a come bought my younger brother a long way recently – I a Tenga – it’s a male sex toy or ‘onanism cup’. It’s a Japanese actually worked in research and development on some invention – that’s what makes of the early models and I can it so cutting-edge – that looks tell you, they really sleek were pretty and stylish. primitive. Since I gave The my brother Chattanooga, his Tenga, he for example, barely comes was the first out of his room vibrator. It and he insists stood two it’s the best metres tall gift he’s ever Firing the Chatanooga and required received.

a couple of men to operate it. It was steam-powered as well, so the engine was in another room, with two guys shovelling a coal furnace. Equally, some principles of sex toys remain unchanged. I mean, in Victorian psychiatry, vibrators were regularly used to treat female hysteria and neurosis. And that holds today as well; let’s face it, we all know a few women whose hysteria and neurosis are best treated with an energetic roll in the hay.

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

THINGS THE QUEEN SHOULD DO BEFORE SHE DIES

# 409

HOSE DOWN PRINCE HARRY’S BEDROOM AFTER HE’S ‘HAD A FEW MATES OVER’

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26/03/2010 13:15

STAR SPOTTING ENTERTAINMENT

CELEBRITY NEWS Inger Smith WITH THE LATEST FROM THE WORLD OF SHOWBIZ

TNT CELEB PREDICTIONS 2011 3 CHARLIZE THERON

As in 2010, Charlize will be romantically linked to every hunky actor on the planet, but our bet is that The Proposal hottie Ryan Reynolds, is the one to come out on top. Both have been nominated People’s Sexiest Man/Woman Alive, and he’s now a singleton too – a match made in celeb news heaven.

4 MEL GIBSON

Trying to resuscitate his blemished career, Mel signs on to a new movie in which he plays a teetotal Rabbi who spearheads a woman’s rights group on his days off. The new Mel goes down well with the public and by the end of the year, the troubled actor is back to former glory.

OF THE 5 FLIGHT CONCHORDS

Kylie and Dannii become one force

Getty Images

1 KYLIE & DANNII

After years of separate solo careers, the Minogues finally join forces, creating the band The Stapler Sisters. Not surprisingly, The Scissor Sisters are not keen on the new band name, however, the two groups soon team up, signing a £1bn contract to promote stationery retailer Ryman. It’s cutting edge!

Kiwi comedy duo Flight Of The Conchords change their name to The Conchords - No, We Don’t

21 Brad and Angelina goes Sound Of Music

Do Flights, after an angry mob of plane passengers who are stuck at Heathrow for Christmas attack the band, demanding that they bring out their Concordes and fly them home for the festive season.

6 BRANGELINA

The Hollywood power couple continue to expand their already humongous family. But Brad, who’s had enough of nappy-duty, puts his foot down and the couple instead adopt a bunch of failed Hollywood actors. After a few months of voice training, the Brangelinas take to the stage as the Von Trapp family.

2 JUSTIN BIEBER

As scary as it may be, Bieber-Fever continues into the new year and the 16-year-old YouTube sensation keeps on pulling out No1 hits right, left and centre. There’s no stopping him. But by the end of 2011, The Bieber retires from the world of pop to follow his dream of becoming a professional dart player. Good luck!

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ENTERTAINMENT

TNT LIFE Break the language barrier with TNT

TNT AUSTRALIA DAY PARTY 2011

Take a TEFL course with TNT Combine work with travel and teach English as a foreign language to kids and adults all over the globe. To get you started, TNT and ITT are running TEFL weekend courses for £150 this winter. Sign up now!

Come celebrate Australia Day with TNT at Infernos on January 23. There will be a free drink on arrival, Aussie beer and pies, plus DJs.

» Infernos, SW4 7UH Clapham Common. Sun, Jan 23. See tntmagazine. com/australiaday

» TNT offices, 14-15 Child’s Pl, SW5 9RX Earl’s Court. Jan 22-23 or Feb 5-6. See tntmagazine.com/tefl

LEARN THE LINGO SPOTLIGHT ON JOIN TNT ON FACEBOOK ‘Like’ TNT on Facebook and use the new TourRadar tab to find cheap overseas tour deals, and the ‘Competitions’ tab for our latest giveaways. Enjoy!

» See facebook.com/tntmag

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Keen to learn a new language in 2011? Sign up to TNT’s five-week intensive classes in French, German, Portuguese, Spanish or Italian with start this January. Courses are only £75 and include a qualified teacher from The Language Machine, a language pack, reading materials plus refreshments. » TNT offices, 14-15 Child’s Pl, SW5 9RX Earl’s Court See tntmagazine.com/school

LOOK WHO’S TALKING

The US synth genius and vocalist who featured on Mark Ronson’s catchy tune Bang Bang Bang is about to hit the big-time fronting her own band MNDR

ENTERTAINMENT

Amanda Warner

Timothy Saccenti

INTERVIEW ALISON GRINTER In the UK you’re best known as the gal who sings and plays synths on Mark Ronson’s Bang Bang Bang. Is it true you didn’t know who he was when he sought you out for his album?

it wasn’t a huge stretch. But my French is actually awful – I don’t think any Parisians would enjoy my French accent too much.

Yeah, but that doesn’t really reflect on the visibility of his career in the States … I lived in California at the time and was involved in more counter-culture things. It didn’t take me long to put it together – I was like, ‘oh he’s a producer’ and we just met each other. He gave me some tracks to write on and asked me if I could do Bang Bang Bang which was proving a little tricky. It was just one of those moments where things come together.

You got pretty sick while you were making Bang Bang Bang is that right?

Did you need to brush up on your French to sing the “Je te plumerai la tête” bits borrowed from Aloutte?

Well, my mother’s French-Canadian so

Two things happened: my parents had their 40th wedding anniversary and we took them on a three-day cruise and the water was really choppy. But when I got off the boat I felt like I was still on the boat! I had to go to a specialist at NYU and he said, ‘oh, you’ve got a really rare case of vertigo’. And aside from that I got a horrible flu which put me in the hospital for three days – I had a burning fever of 105 [Farenheit] and they said I maybe had dysentery. I lost 20 pounds in a week. MNDR’s debut album is slated for release in late January – how’s it coming along?

The album is nearing completion. It’s going to be more of a classic pop album more than a dancefloor/electro album. I love your “geek chic” look. Where do you get your fab glasses?

It’s not purposeful, it’s just kinda how I dress. I‘ve had those glasses for almost five years, they’ve been with me all over the US – I was living in San Francisco and I used to go to a eyewear couturier in the Bay area and he has 20,000 pairs of one-offs and these ones were just kind of

glaring at me and had all this weird detail, and I was like, ‘oh they’re cool’ and just bought ’em.

I don’t think “ Parisians would

enjoy my French

”

You’re originally from the town of Fargo in North Dakota. Did the Coen brothers’ film Fargo get it right?

Yeah, I’m from 40 miles north of there, so pretty much. And yeah, it’s exactly like the movie. It’s not as hick – it has four colleges so there’s a lot of college kids. But the accent and the niceties are dead on. The funny thing is that the accent is really difficult and the only people who could really it were the local actors – the leads were a little off. So Frances McDormand, who won an Oscar for that film, didn’t even nail the North Dakota accent?

No, she didn’t. She had a Milwaukee, accent. She didn’t really get it. She was alright but it was more of a Wisconsin accent.

» MNDR’s debut single Fade To Black/I Go Away is out now through Trouble Records.

YOU DON’T SAY? Tell us your signature karaoke tune? Magic by Olivia Newton-John off the Xanadu soundtrack. What’s your guilty pleasure? I will unapologetically stop at a Starbucks and get a soy latte and make no excuses for it. But only when I’m touring.

Have you ever been mistaken for someone famous? [Laughs]I know what you want me to say: Deirdre Barlow from EastEnders ! [TNT informs her Diedre’s actually in Coronation Street]. The press in the United Kingdom is always saying I look like her, which I find really hilarious.

tntmagazine.com

CINEMA 127 Hours

SCREEN TEST:

James Franco, Amber Tamblyn, Kate Mara

ENTERTAINMENT

STARRING:

CERT: 15 RT: 94 MINS

TRUE LIFE DRAMAS

★★★★★

A film with the power to make people pass out is worth a butcher’s. As it turns out Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours is every bit as gross and shocking as you’ve heard – in addition to being one of the smartest and most entertaining biopics for a very long time. The film follows the misadventures of Aron Ralston who likes living life on the edge, whether it’s mountain biking or clambering into dangerous places. One day Ralston’s luck runs out and he falls into a crevice, his arm getting trapped under a boulder. With time running out, the maverick has to make some tough choices about freeing himself. Many will walk into the cinema and brace themselves for the scene where Ralston takes a knife

1 Which film told the story of a climber forced to cut his climbing partner’s rope in the Andes? 2 Sean Penn’s Into The Wild tells the life story of which idealistic young man? 3 Name the author who wrote the book on which the above film is based? 4 Scuba-dive drama Open Water is set where? 5 Name the fishing boat in The Perfect Storm? For a chance to win a copy of Derren Brown – Enigma, out on DVD on Jan 10, email answers to grabs@ tntmagazine. com by noon on Wed with ‘Enigma’ in the subject line.

WIN

‘Me? I’m just after a bit of armless fun’

to his arm (which famously caused cinema-goers to pass out in the aisles) but what precedes it is every bit as engrossing. As you’d expect from Boyle the cinematography is eyepoppingly vibrant, the director using everything from splitscreen to videocamera

footage. Boyle also gets the best out of Franco who does a sensational job transforming Ralston from a goofy, cocky thrill-seeker into an introspective man who realises the folly of his ways. GOOD FOR: Those with a sick bag handy. PIERRE DE VILLIERS

LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS 1 Jude Law 2 Events from Starling’s childhood 3 Russell Crowe or Guy Pearce

4 A head 5 Panther

THE REEL DEAL

THE KING’S SPEECH

Mia Wasikowska has been named as one of the top box office earners of 2011 in Forbes Magazine’s annual list of highest grossing actors, much to the shock of the movie industry. Star turns in Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland ($1billion) and indie flick The Kids Are Alright ($29 million) helped catapult the young, previously unknown Australian actress to second equal in the list with Johnny Depp. The number one spot, however, was predictably occupied by Inception and Shutter Island superstar Leonardo DiCaprio.

Colin Firth stakes a claim for an Oscar with a breathtaking performance as Prince George who, to get rid of a debilitating stammer, turns to Aussie speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). The costumes, cinematography and crowd-pleasing story are all spot-on. GOOD FOR: Those who like period dramas. PDV

CERT: 12A RT: 118 MINS

THE NEXT THREE DAYS

★★★★★ CERT: 12A RT: 132 MINS

This remake of French drama Anything For Her – about a teacher (Russell Crowe) who decides to bust his wife out of prison after she is accused of murder – suffers from an unbelievable plot. Solid performances by Crowe and Liam Neeson, help lift this to a decent action movie. GOOD FOR: Those who don’t ask too many questions. PDV

Picselect, Getty

Aussie-born writer James Mullighan will produce 2011’s Edinburgh International Film Festival in what promises to be a radical shake-up for the world-famous event. The new format, overseen by patron Tilda Swinton and film critic Mark Cousins, will involve fewer awards and more guest curators in an attempt to reverse the slump in ticket sales at 2010’s event. For 2011, the festival’s theme will be “All That Heaven Allows”. Mullighan is currently creative director at Shooting People, the world’s largest network of independent filmmakers, with 38,000 members in the UK and US.

★★★★★

CULTURE

SEE THIS: Theatre Snow falls outside, but David Greig’s delightful play lights up the stage and warms the heart as its charts the intertwining paths of lawyer Helena and petty crim Bob after a chance encounter in an Edinburgh bar. They’d never have met if her married lover hadn’t stood her up but a one-night stand turns into something more rewarding as, through a series of adventures and misadventures, the two unfulfilled 35-year-olds end up spending a rollercoaster weekend together. This encompasses a wedding, an Ikea carpark,

ENTERTAINMENT

MIDSUMMER

Cora and Matthew in Midsummer

a bit of bondage, a swanky hotel, as well as too much rain and booze. Strumming guitars and occasionally slipping out of character to address the audience directly, versatile Cora Bissett and Matthew Pidgeon are perfect in this beguiling yet poignant romcom for all seasons. LOUISE KINGSLEY

» Tricycle Theatre, Kilburn High Road, NW6 7JR Brondesbury (tricycle. com). Until Jan 29. From £12

TNT online For more reviews visit tntmagazine.com/londonlife

WORTH A LOOK Set in the Second World War and performed in surround sound, the dance production of Cinderella tells the

classic love story with a modern twist » Sadler’s Wells, EC1R 4TN

•Five authors act out their

Angel (sadlerswells.com). Until Jan 23. From £10

chilling plays in Winter Tales – a session of good ol’ storytelling » Kings Arms, WC1N 2JF

Farringdon (thekingsarms.org.uk). Until Jan 16. £10

MUST-SEE EXHIBITION

BOOKS OUT THIS WEEK

SERPENTINE GALLERY: PHILLIPPE PARRENO

AWAKENED (HOUSE OF NIGHT)

Move in sequence through four rooms at Algerian-born Parreno’s show. There’s a multichamber video journey with pin-drop crisp sound systems, digital projection screens and illuminated snakes of wiring glowing in the dark. The best film is June 8, 1968, a recreation of the journey made by Robert Kennedy’s

funeral train from New York to Washington. This is a surreal voyage between two cities. The disconcertingly and magical Invisible Boy ends abruptly in total darkness. Stunning shooting and camera work. Enjoy the trip! MR

» Kensington Gardens, Lancaster Gate W2 3XA (serpentinegallery.com). Until Feb 13. Free Strange creatures in Invisible Boy

PC & Kristin Cast

THE PICADOR BOOK OF LOVE POEMS

(ATOM) JAN 4

John Stammers

Latest in the series by paranormal fantasy writer PC Cast – with help this time from her daughter, Kristin. This instalment sees Zoey distracted by romance as she and the gang fight evil.

(Pan Macmillan) JAN 7

OURS ARE THE STREETS

THE COMPLETE POSTCARD ART OF GILBERT & GEORGE

Sunjeev Sahota (Pan Macmillan) JAN 7

This debut novel tells the story of Sheffield-born Imtiaz Raina, a bright young man with everything to live for, who becomes radicalised after the death of his father.

Acclaimed poet John Stammers’ eclectic collection of love poems puts old faves from Sappho and Tennyson alongside modern voices, like Carol Ann Duffy.

Michael Bracewell (Prestel) JAN 14

Four decades of postcard art from subversive Brit artists Gilbert & George, with an introduction by novelist Michael Bracewell.

MORE EXHIBITIONS Norman Rockwell’s America shows TNT Images

the work of the 20th Century illustrator » Dulwich Picture Gallery, West

Dulwich, SE21 7AD (dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk). Until Mar 27. £9 2010 showcases exciting new • Bloomberg New Contemporaries Charing Cross (ica.org.uk). Until Jan 23. Free

talent » ICA, SW1Y 5AH

tntmagazine.com

Andrew Stade appreciates lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s little ironies

THE STADE OF

AFFAIRS Tramadol Nights co-writer Tom Stade offers his opinions on Frankie Boyle, faggots and crossing Jordan WORDS ALISON GRINTER

Elis O’Brien, Getty Images

Nobody hates “ Harvey, if you know what I mean … ” It’s this appreciation for life’s little ironies which has made Stade such a hit. His immigrant status means he is perfectly placed to deliver scathingly funny putdowns of British life. One such joke goes: “I arrived in Wolverhampton, saw everyone in their tracksuits and thought: ‘Hey this place is pretty healthy!’” As someone who originates from the backwoods of British Columbia, Stade is also fascinated by British language and words. “Sledging is the latest one, with all this snow around,” he says. “Where I come from we call it sledding or tobogganing: ‘sledging’ sounds dirty to me!” (And this is even before it’s explained to him what it means in cricketing terms). He also has a whole piece devoted to the British straight-faced use of the words “faggot” or “fag” in this country. ”’Faggots’ has so many terms over here: cigarettes and little sausages or whatever the fuck they are … imagine having them all in the one place, like having meat faggots with your gay friends while you’re trying to have a cigarette!” Stade’s laughter dies down a little when we discuss the Tramadol Nights furore sparked by the series’ main comedic

ENTERTAINMENT

ome comics are much less funny in person than they are on stage. Not Tom Stade. The Canadian stand-up, who now calls the UK home and is a co-writer/co-star of the controversial, headline-hitting Tramadol Nights (more of which later), is just as entertaining over the phone as he is delivering one of his sharply observed routines. He’s an upbeat chap whose conversation burbles with irrepressible laughter. ”I see this world as a very funny place because everybody knows what the right thing to do is, but then they don’t do it,” he says from his home in Edinburgh, where he claims to be “bringing the property prices down”.

Depending who you talk to, Frankie Boyle is either a very funny man or an offensive ginger twat. Some say both

force Frankie Boyle. “I have a theory about the reason Jordan married a cage fighter – she needed a man strong enough to stop Harvey from fucking her,” was just one of the tasteless jokes Boyle aimed at Katie Price’s disabled son. The joke saw Ofcom deluged with complaints, including one from Price. “She’s, like, a really good role model to tell people what she thinks,” says Stade sarcastically. “She can just go and have a fit if she wants cos she’s not part of my life.” But surely eight-year-old Harvey’s an easy target: he can’t defend himself. “Well it’s not a defence thing, because it doesn’t happen. This is the thing about ideas – it’s just an idea that’s thrown out there, it’s not an attack, it’s a ‘what if’. Every joke is a ‘what if’ … nobody hates Harvey, if you know what I mean.” Of Tramadol Nights he says: “Me, Jim [Muir] and Frankie are just sitting there going ‘I wonder what the fuck we can write that will absolutely piss everyone off’ and we seem to have achieved that.” Are any jokes off limits, then? “I think when it becomes offlimits is when it’s not funny, when nobody laughs. You could have the darkest joke in the world and if everyone laughs at it then it’s not off-limits.” Hmm, judging by the rash of “Is Frankie Boyle really funny?”

No more Tramadol Nights for Jordan and Harvey

pieces that have broken out in the press (and not just in the moral-outrage land of the Daily Mail) it would seem that Boyle’s shock-for-the-sake-of-it humour could be classed as “off-limits”. Still, whatever your opinion of Boyle, Stade is on the cusp of “comedy greatness”, if you can believe the critics. His examination of male/female relations is particularly sharp and sometimes cringeworthy. His material is based on his own marriage, not that his missus seems to mind. “Well, she writes them with me,” explains Stade. “If she thinks something’s funny right in the heat of an argument she’ll go: ‘We gotta write this down!’ cos it will always end up with us laughing our guts out. “One thing that makes her laugh is my joke about why women talk too much: because they’ve never been punched in the head. She seriously laughed for 20 minutes.” Can he see himself becoming a megastar like Michael McIntyre, upon whose Comedy Roadshow he has appeared? “Guys like Mike, they all take the road of not offending one person … I like to tread the line, sometimes … it’s good to challenge people’s perceptions.”

» Performing at Leicester Square Theatre, WC2H 7BX. Leicester Square (08448 733 433). Feb 4. £14.

TNT online For a full list of entertainment in London go to tntmagazine.com/londonlife

tntmagazine.com

MUSIC & CLUBS 28

Doin’ it for herself now: Jessie J

JESSIE J As weathervane’s for future success go, the BRITs Critics’ Choice Award is a good one (Florence And The Machine won it last year). And this year’s winner, Essex songstress Jessie Cornish, is certainly on track for superstardom. The one-time writer of hits for the likes of Miley Cyrus is now penning winning tunes of her own such as bump ‘n’ grind gem Do It Like A Dude. Expect to hear a lot more of that track delivered in Jessie J’s powerhouse voice in 2011. NAKED & FAMOUS This Auckland band have been dubbed “Quite possibly the best band you’ve never heard”. Well, all that’s about to change as the electro-pop quintet have made the BBC’s hallowed Sounds of 2011 longlist. Following in the slipstream of MGMT and Empire Of The Sun, the band’s luscious airy sounds are about to be unleashed in the UK on a reworking of their debut NZ LP Passive Me, Aggressive You. BAG RAIDERS Melbourne label Modular have already brought us the likes of Cut Copy and Tame Impala and now the bleeding-edge label have signed Bag Raiders, the boundary-defying house music duo from Sydney. DJs Chris Stracey and Jack Glass have been catching ears internationally with propulsive floor filler Shooting Stars and their self-titled debut gets a UK release this year. CHAPEL CLUB These purveyors of dark, “dramatic” guitar rock have been indie faves for a while now and an appearance on Later With…Jools Holland earlier this year helped cement their place in the up-and-coming firmanent. 2011 should be a massive year for the London quintet: their debut album Palace will be out in January and, if noirish single Surfacing is anything to go by, it should be a cracker.

ONES TO WATCH

2011

Music editor Alison Grinter’s heads-up for the year in music

Franz Ferdinand managers Supervision. So lend ‘em your ears because back-tobasics rock ’n’ roll is, er, back!

JAMIE WOON All the critics are swooning for Woon. Why? Because, quite simply, this 27year-old songwriter/producer proffers a beguiling mix of dubstep and electrosoul as heard on his debut tune Night Air. A BRIT school alumnus, he’s also got music in his blood: his Mum Mae McKenna provided backing vocals for stars like Kylie Minogue and Bjork.

ALBUM RELEASES ■ Soul strumpet Amy Winehouse promised us a new album early in 2011. We’re holding you to that, Amy …

■ Synth trio and critics’ darlings Cut

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WARPAINT If you haven’t already clocked this Los Angelean all-girl group, which rock have you been hiding under? They’re like America’s answer to The XX and they trade in fuzzy, floaty wooz-pop. Check out their EP Exquisite Corpse, mixed by former Red Hot Chili Peppers’ guitarist John Frusciante, and debut album The Fool. They’re going places, to be sure. Good pedigree: Jamie Woon

Copy will release their hotly anticipated third album Zonoscope in February.

■ Fleet Foxes have completed their asyet-unnamed second album which is due to drop in Spring.

■ Mark Ronson’s Bang Bang Bang singer Amanda Warner fronts duo MNDR whose first LP could be debut of the year. (See page 23 for our chat with her).

Getty Images

THE VACCINES Their name brings to mind an 80s garage rock band, and that’s kinda what this London trio sound like, although they’ve picked up some pointers from punk and 60s rock ‘n’ roll along the way. A YouTube clip of their track If You Wanna made them word-ofmouth sensations and caught the attention of

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MUSIC

GIG GUIDE MUSIC & CLUBS

Alison Grinter PICKS OUT THIS WEEK’S BEST LIVE MUSIC

GIG OF THE WEEK BIG COUNTRY In the early 80s it looked as though Big Country might be as big as U2. Founded by Stuart Adamson and drawing heavily on traditional Scottish folk, their music found a ready fanbase. Bouyed by the irresistibly anthemic tune In A Big Country, their 1983 album The Crossing was a hit in the US but by the 90s the band had been dropped by their label and their audience had dwindled to a cult following. Despite Adamson’s death in 2001, the surviving members, and new lead man Mike Peters of Alarm, are keeping the flame alive.

» Islington Academy, N1 Centre, 16 Parkfield St, N1 0PS Angel (0844 477 2000). Thur, Jan 6. £15.

Big Country’s new lead singer Mike Peters

DRAKE

WORLD HUNGER DAY CONCERT

Aubrey Drake Graham got his big break playing Jimmy Brooks on kiddy drama Degrassi: The Next Generation but the Canadian has since re-invented himself as a rising hip hop star, winning a Rap Recording of the Year Juno Award for his EP So Far Gone and releasing his JayZ and Kanye West-assisted debut LP Thank Me Later this year.

This star-studded bash aims to raise to raise awareness and funds for The Hunger Project’s programmes around the world. A good cause then, but also an excuse to witness firsthand such luminaries as Dionne Warwick (above) Natalie Cole and Elaine Paige perform live.

» Hammersmith Apollo, Queen Caroline St, W6 9QH

» Apollo Victoria,17 Wilton Road, SW1V 1LL

Hammersmith (0844 844 4748) Jan 7-8, 10. £20.

BEST GIGS FOR 2011

(ticketmaster.co.uk)

Sun, Jan 9. £41.50-£152.

FESTIVAL WATCH Tickets now on sale Bestival The Cure, Brian Wilson, Magnetic Man, Primal Scream, Robyn, DJ Shadow confirmed. Robin Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight (bestival.net). Sep 8-11. W/e tickets £160

Getty Images, Hamish Brown

Take That: back for a few shows, if not for good

Kicking off the year in style is Hercules and Love Affair (Heaven, Jan 19, hmvtickets.com,£16.50); hip hop icon Grandmaster Flash brings the noise (Scala, Feb 10, 08444 771 000 £18.50); Oz indie rock heroes Grinspoon finally play London (Garage, Feb 25, 0844 847 1678, £12.50); hotly tipped Warpaint show us what all the fuss is about (Shepherd’s Bush Empire, Feb 21, 08444 77 2000, £14); Liam Gallagher unveils new outfit Beady Eye (Troxy, Mar 9-10, 0844 811 0051, £27.50); Primal Scream return to play Screamadelica (Brixton Academy, Mar 25-26, 0844 477 2000, £37.50); Take That are back, maybe for good (Wembley Stadium, Jun 30-Jul 9. Sold out); Pulp return with a Britpop reunion to savour (Wireless, Hyde Park, Jul 3, 0871 230 1094, £50).

Jun 30-Jul 3. Four day tickets from £78 Oxegen Blink 182 join Arctic Monkeys and Foo Fighters as confirmed. County Kildare, Ireland (oxegen.ie). Jul 7-10. €199.50 with camping

Download Festival System Of A Down, Linkin Park confirmed. Donington Park, Leicestershire (downloadfestival.com). June 10-12. W/e tickets £180

Rockness The Chemical Brothers and Kasabian confirmed. Dores, near Inverness (rockness.co.uk). Jun 10-12. W/e tickets £149

Isle Of Wight Festival Kings of Leon, Kasabian, Pulp, Foo Fighters, Iggy and the Stooges, Seasick Steve, Hurts. Seaclose Park, Newport, (isleofwightfestival.com). Jun 10-12. W/e tickets £175

Wakestock Early bird tickets on sale now. Abersoch, North Wales, Wiltshire, (wakestock.co.uk). Jul 8-10. W/e tickets from £95

Open’er Festival Coldplay confirmed. Gdynia Poland (opener.pl).

Wickerman Early bird tickets on sale. Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland (thewickermanfestival.co.uk). Jul 22-23. Two day tickets £90

tntmagazine.com

MUSIC LISTINGS ‘Who needs Noel anyway?’

TUESDAY 4

MUSIC & CLUBS

The Base Camp Rocks Finalists Festival 2011 The 24

Godfathers Of Groove Funk, jazz and soul from the New York-based band. The Jazz Cafe, Parkway, NW1 7PG (0870 060 3777). £20.

finalists compete. O2 Academy Islington, N1 Centre, Parkfield St, N1 0PS (0844 477 2000). £15.

Dominic Hammond Pop-folk

David 9 The musician plays acoustic funky blues and folk.

Horse Hospital, Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AH (020 7482 3867). £10, £8 before 9pm, adv £5 before 10pm.

from the London-based singersongwriter. Proud Camden, The

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

The Herbaliser The hip-hop, Steve Fishwick Contemporary

The London Lucumi Choir, Trickster Heart Afro-Cuban melodies from the community choir. Rich Mix, Bethnal Green Rd, E1 6LA (020 7613 7498). £10, concs £8.

Pocket Satellite, Baedeker Folk-influenced indie-pop from the five-piece. Bull And Gate, Kentish Town Rd, NW5 2TJ (020 8826 5000). £6, w/flyer £5.

The Red Bullets, Look Stranger, The Carolines

jazz from the trumpet-led outfit.

funk and soul collective from London. The Old Queen’s Head,

Lord Rookwood, Cann Hall Rd, E11 3NW (020 8989 8129). £6.

Essex Rd, N1 8LN (020 7354 9993). £4, free before 8pm.

Theo Jackson Band

The Jetsonics, Surfin Wombatz The London-based

Keith & Julie Tippett

three-piece plays rock. Half Moon, Putney, Lower Richmond Rd, SW15 1EU (020 8780 9383). £5.

Spontaneously composed pieces from the veteran musicians. The Vortex Jazz

Contemporary jazz from the Rhodes electric pianist and singer 606 Club, Lots Rd, SW10 0QD (020 7352 5953). £8.

Paul Jones And Dave Kelly The two vocalists perform blues with accompaniment. Half Moon, Putney, Lower Richmond Rd, SW15 1EU (020 8780 9383). £14.

Little Boy Lost, Loki, Forever Wednesday, David Boon The five-piece plays indie-pop. The Barfly, Camden, Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AN (0844 847 2424). £5.

The National Youth Jazz Orchestra, The Ronnie Scotts All Stars Musical director Bill Ashton’s acclaimed collective play a variety of works, mostly written for them by British composers. Ronnie Scott’s, Frith St, W1D 4HT (020 7439 0747). £15-£28.50.

TNT’S TOP BOOKING

BEADY EYE Troxy, 490 Commercial Road, E1 0HX Limehouse (0844 811 0051) Mar 9-10. £27.50 So how will Liam Gallagher cope without his big bruv Noel? Find out when his new, post-Oasis band Beady Eye perform their debut album Different Gear, Still Speeding in March.

THURSDAY 6 Big Country Celtic rock from the veteran outfit, performing hits such as Fields Of Fire and In A Big Country. O2 Academy

The Brighton-based fivepiece plays indie-pop. The

The Foreign Exchange

Wallis Bird Acoustica from the

Hip-hop R‘n’B and electronica from rapper and singersongwriter Phonte and producer Nicolay. Cargo, Rivington St,

Meath-born singer-songwriter.

EC2A 3AY (020 7739 3440). £13.50.

WEDNESDAY 5 Shane Beales, Rosie Sleightholme, James Newman, Jamie West Melodic rock from the Londonbased singer-songwriter. The Old Queen’s Head, Essex Rd, N1 8LN (020 7354 9993). Adv £5.

Marcus Foster, Rachel Sermanni, Sam Beer Indiefolk from the London-based singer-songwriter. St Pancras Church, Euston Rd, NW1 2BA (020 8558 6982). £10, adv £8.50.

The Screamin’ Joe Jeffersons, Broken Mile, Sister Ray The band plays alternative rock with

SUNDAY 9

Contemporary Americana by the New York-based singersongwriter. The Gaff, Holloway

Allstar Weekend Pop

The Priscillas, The Winter Olympics The London-based four-piece plays pop-punk. The Windmill, Blenheim Gardens, SW2 5BZ (020 8671 0700). £4.

Sugar Kings The old-school salsa octet recreate the sounds of 1950s Havana. 606 Club, Lots

Vaults, King Of Spain, Films Of Colour Indie-pop from the

from the Leicester-based outfit.

Raed Yassin, Eddie Prevost, Ute Kanngeisser, Paul Abbot, Seymour Wright, Sebastian Lexer

Superevolver, The Scapegoats Electronic rock Dublin Castle, Parkway, NW1 7AN (020 8806 2668). £6, concs £5.

The Untouchables, The Ladykillers The band

plays melodic indie-pop. The Barfly, Camden, Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AN (0844 847 2424). £5.

Lance Ellington The vocalist sings swing classics. 606 Club, Lots Rd, SW10 0QD (020 7352 5953). £10.

plays Chicago blues. The Blues Kitchen, Camden High St, NW1 7JN (020 7387 5277). £3, free before 10pm.

Gwyneth Herbert The singer-songwriter performs jazz-pop with guitarist Al Cherry.

the American rapper.

The London-based outfit plays dark progressive metal.

Koko, Camden High St, NW1 7JE (0870 432 5527). £15.

FRIDAY 7 Band Of Holy Joy, The Bitter Springs, Andrew Clarke Folk-influenced pop from the London-based five-piece. Bull

Darren Hayman And The Secondary Modern, Tender Trap Indie-pop from the

And Gate, Kentish Town Rd, NW5 2TJ (020 8826 5000). £10, adv £8.

Lexington, Pentonville Rd, N1 9JB (020 7837 5371). £9, adv £7.50.

London-based singer-songwriter and member of Hefner. The

Drake Hip-hop from the Toronto-based rapper and actor. HMV Apollo, Queen Caroline

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

Imaani Soul and house from the London-based singer. The Hideaway, Stanthorpe Rd, SW16 2ED (020 8835 7070). £12.

Ink & Dagger Leftfield hardcore punk by the band from Philadelphia. The

Hoodlums, Bear Driver,

Lexington, Pentonville Rd, N1 9JB (020 7837 5371). £9, adv £7.50.

St, W6 9QH (0844 844 4748). £30.

Underworld, Camden High St, NW1 0NE (020 7482 1932). £10.

Out Like A Lion Indie-rock from the Southend-based five-piece. Bull And Gate,

Bob Hillary And The Massive Mellow, Jimmy Etheridge

Firewind, Breed 77 Greek

Insect Guide The Leeds-

power metal five-piece.

Kentish Town Rd, NW5 2TJ (020 8826 5000). £6, w/flyer £5.

Roots and folk from the Brighton-based outfit. The

Relentless Garage, Highbury Corner, N5 1RD (0870 060 3777/ cc 0844 847 1678). £13.50.

based trio plays experimental electro-rock. The Enterprise,

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

The Jacquerie, Morning Lane, O’Casan The Londonbased four-piece plays indierock. The Barfly, Camden, Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AN (0844 847 2424). £5.

Haverstock Hill, NW3 2BL (020 7485 2659). £6, w/flyer £5.

The Hideaway, Stanthorpe Rd, SW16 2ED (020 8835 7070). £12.

J Cole Hip-hop from

Kenny Lynch & The Laurie Holloway Trio Mature pop from the veteran Londonbased actor and singersongwriter. Ronnie Scott’s, Frith St, W1D 4HT (020 7439 0747). £10-£13.

World Hunger Day: Dionne Warwick And Friends A fundraising concert with the soulful American vocalist. Apollo Victoria Theatre, Wilton Rd, SW1V 1LG (0844 826 8000). £36-£146.

Wizz Jones Folk-bluesman. The Plough Inn, Wood St, E17 3NU (07766 964 420). £6, concs £5.

The Zipheads The Ghost Of A Thousand, Turbowolf, Bastions, Big Scary Monsters Classic punk by the Brighton-based band. The Old Blue Last, Great Eastern St, EC2A 3ES (020 7739 5793). £8.

Indie-pop from the Londonbased five-piece. The Rhythm

tntmagazine.com

Cuba Cuba, Make Me King, 13 Riots, The Headstart, Billy Gregory, Latina Heat The Cardiff-based band

Drawbridgeman, Volcanoes

Punk-tinged indie-rock from the London-based group. The

Factory, Whitechapel Rd, E1 1EW (020 7375 3774). £6, w/flyer £5.

and blues-rock from the London-based combo. Colour House Theatre, Merton Abbey Mills, off Merantun Way, SW19 2RD (020 8542 5511). £6.

SATURDAY 8

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

Spineless Yes Men

Blues Academy Blues

Cafe Oto, Ashwin St, E8 3DL (020 7923 1231). £6, adv £5.

The ensemble plays saxled jazz standards. The

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

group from San Diego. The Borderline, Orange Yard, Manette St, W1D 4JB (0870 060 3777/ cc 0871 231 0842). £8.50.

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

Borderline, Orange Yard, Manette St, W1D 4JB (0870 060 3777/ cc 0871 231 0842). £9.

Red Valve The Oxfordshirebased outfit plays grungeorientated rock. Dublin

SW10 0QD (020 7352 5953). £12.

Franz Nicolay, Jack Terricloth, Dave Hause

Rd, SW10 0QD (020 7352 5953). £12.

And Gate, Kentish Town Rd, NW5 2TJ (020 8826 5000). £6, w/flyer £5.

Bobby Wellins Scottish tenor saxophonist. 606 Club, Lots Rd,

St, E16 4ST (020 7474 3200). £5.

a pop edge. The Monarch, Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AJ (020 7482 2054). £5, w/flyer £4.

London-based four-piece. Bull

Club, Dalston Culture House, Gillett St, N16 8JH (020 7254 4097). £15.

The band plays sultry rock.

based singer performs blues. The

Comet Gain, The Loft

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

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

The visual artist and musician leads a performance of experimental improvisation.

Gem And The Deadheads

Frank Griffith Nonet Nell Bryden The New York-

Meinhof, Poisoned Legacy, The Rom Rats The band plays hardcore. Hope And

Shrag, The Loves

Monto Water Rats, Gray’s Inn Rd, WC1X 8BZ (020 7837 4412). £8.50.

The Southampton-based fivepiece combines indie, new wave and pop. Bridgehouse 2, Bidder

Rd, N7 6PN (020 7607 1555). £6.

Islington, N1 Centre, Parkfield St, N1 0PS (0844 477 2000/ cc 0844 477 2000). £22.50.

Lexington, Pentonville Rd, N1 9JB (020 7837 5371). £9, adv £7.50.

Kitchen Sink Drama, The Gentle Italian, The Fifty Fours

The London-based four-piece plays pop-rock. The Barfly,

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

Jack Rabbit Slim Rockabilly

Rock ‘n’ roll covers outfit.

outfit. The Blues Kitchen, Camden

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

High St, NW1 7JN (020 7387 5277). £3, free before 10pm.

Krar Collective, Abyss Quartet Traditional Ethiopian music from the Londonbased artists. Rich Mix, Bethnal Green Rd, E1 6LA (020 7613 7498). £10, £6 before 10pm.

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

CLUB LISTINGS TUESDAY 4

TNT’S TOP BOOKING

Bob Sinclair

MUSIC & CLUBS

Forca Brasil DJ Fred spins

salsa, samba and Latin tunes, plus live bands. Salsa!, Charing Cross Rd, WC2H 0JG (020 7379 3277). 7.30pm-late. £4, free before 9pm.

Latin Passion Victor Hugo & The Mambo Boys and Jorge Andre play Latin beats.

Stupid Tuesday Funky and soulful house and pop. Thirst, Greek St, W1D 3DR (020 7437 1977). 9pm-3am. £3, free before 10pm.

White Heat DJs Matty, Marcus and Olly spin indie and electro. Plus live performances from Teeth Of The Sea and Mollusc. Madame Jo Jo’s, Brewer St, W1F 0SE (020 7734 3040). 8pm-3am. £6, adv £5, w/flyer £4.

THURSDAY 6

Psyrhythmix DJs spin

Boom Boom Club

Club 414, Coldharbour Ln, SW9 8LF (020 7924 9322). 11pm-6am. £5, £3 before midnight.

psychedelic trance.

Rock‘n’roll cabaret from host Dusty Limits, and burlesque entertainment from Miss Vicky Butterfly. The Bathhouse,

Radio The Radio DJs play 1980s pop, indie and disco.

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

Bishopsgate Churchyard, EC2M 3TJ (020 7920 9207). 7.30pm-late. £9, adv £7, £28.50-£33 inc meal.

The Roxy, Rathbone Place, W1T 1HJ (020 7255 1098). 10pm-3am. £5, NUS/w/flyer £3.

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

Cheeky Thursdays

Roller Disco Funk and

WEDNESDAY 5

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

Resident DJs play funky house and R ‘n’ B. The Clapham Grand, St John’s Hill, SW11 1TT (020 7223 6523). 10pm3am. £5, free before midnight.

Clubbing London DJ Flex plays R‘n’B, funky house and party classics in room one, while DJ Fat Man spins house and electro in room two. The

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

Den & Centro, West Central St, WC1A 1JJ (020 7240 1083). 10pm-3am. £10, ladies free before midnight.

Rd, W2 6ET (020 7727 9950). 9pm-2am. £10, £5 before 11pm.

Easy DJ Sally Sexface

Dunya Dance Lazy Lion, Bankrobber, Doc Martin, Flatline, BongoWorm and Dot Rotten play electro, drum‘n’bass and house. Proud Camden, The Horse Hospital, Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AH (020 7482 3867). 7.30pm-1.30am. £6, £3 before 9pm.

Fabric Terry Francis, Craig Richards, Ivan Smagghe and Redshape play house, electro and techno. Fabric, Charterhouse

and residents spin pop, R‘n’B, hip-hop and dance from the 1990s to the present day. Moonlighting, Greek St, W1D 4DR (020 7287 372). 9pm-3.30am. £5, w/flyer £4, NUS £3 before 11pm.

Madame Jo Jo’s, Brewer St, W1F 0SE (020 7734 3040). 10pm-3am. £8.

Latin Fever Latin tracks from resident DJ Jorge. Salsa!, Charing Cross Rd, WC2H 0JG (020 7379 3277). 7pm-2am. £10, £8 before 11pm, £4 before 9pm, £2 before 8pm.

St, SE11 5AW (020 7582 4180). 10pm-6am. £4, free before midnight.

provides R‘n’B, funky house and old school. Gallery H endon, Hendon Way, NW4 3LH (020 8202 4000). 10pm-late. £5.

Your Mum’s House Scally Dandan and Jamie D Winter spin electro and fidget house. Punk, Soho St, W1D 3DN (020 7734 4004). 9pm-3am. £5, £3 before 11pm.

FRIDAY 7 Bingo Bango Bongo Fabrizia spins house. Thirst,

Everything Taboo DJ Andrew

samba courtesy of the resident DJs, plus salsa classes before 10pm. Fiesta

Calentito Pop, R‘n’B, and soul. Salvador And Amanda,

Elmore plays retro electropop and acid disco. The

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

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

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

he Good Foot Snowboy and Healer Selecta supply 1960s and 1970s deep funk, soul, rare groove, Mambo and R‘n’B.

Thirsty Thursdays DJ Zeberdee

Fiesta Latino Latin and

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

Ministry of Sound, SE1 6DP Elephant & Castle (ministryofsound.com) Feb 19. £20

Matador Balearic beats, house and electro from the resident and international DJs. Barcode Vauxhall, Goding

Greek St, W1D 3DR (020 7437 1977). 5pm-3am. £5, free before 10pm.

The Latin Quarter DJ EC

Rathbone Place, W1T 1HJ (020 7255 1098). 9.30pm-3.30am. £9, £7 before 10.30pm, NUS £5.

Renaissance Rooms, Arches, Miles St, SW8 1RZ (0844 736 5375). 8pm-midnight. £10, NUS £5.

disco for a wheeled audience.

Great Newport St, WC2H 7JA (020 7240 1551). 9pm-3am. £10, guestlist £5, free before 9pm.

Dance Rocks House, R‘n’B, chart, indie and 1980s and 1990s hits. The

Play On Pop, commercial dance and R‘n’B courtesy of resident DJs. On Anon, London Pavillion, Piccadilly, W1V 9LA (020 7287 8008). 8pm-3am. £10, £5 before 11pm, free before 10pm.

Snakehips Motown and old school soul from DJ Bioux. The Monarch, Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AJ (020 7482 2054). 8pm-late. £3, free before 9pm.

Social Meltdown Ross Allen plays classic funk and soul. The Social, Little Portland St, W1W 7JD (020 7636 4992). 6pm-1am. £5, mems £3, free before 9pm.

Speedwagon ComeAndTurn DJs play classic rock. Royal Vauxhall Tavern, Kennington Ln, SE11 5HY (020 7820 1222). 10.30pm-2am. £5.

Therapy Electro-pop and dance from DJs Miswhite, Minx and Paul Heron. The Shadow Lounge,

St, W1F 8WL (020 7437 0525). 10pm-3.30am. £8, £6 before 11pm.

Watershed, The Broadway, SW19 1SD (020 8540 0080). 11pm-3am. £8, £5 before midnight.

Brewer St, W1F 0RF (020 7287 7988). 10pm-3am. £10, free before 11pm.

Glitz & Glamour DJ Mark

FabricLive: Hospitality

N*A*S*I*N SoniX, Brahim

Bambach plays house, R‘n’B and dance. The Shadow Lounge,

and Punk Gareth play punk, rock, metal and ska. The

Brewer St, W1F 0RF (020 7287 7988). 10pm-3am. £5, free before 11pm.

Drum ‘n’ bass, dub, dubstep, breakbeat, electronica and hip-hop from Danny Byrd, London Elektricity, Shy FX, Cyantific, Spy, Sigma, MC Ruthless, Dread MC and London Elektricity. Fabric, Charterhouse St,

SATURDAY 8

Fiesta Havana, Fulham Rd, SW6 5NH (020 7381 5005). 6.30pm-2am. £7, mems £5.

Borderline, Orange Yard, Manette St, W1D 4JB (0870 060 3777/ cc 0871 231 0842). 11pm-3am. £5, w/flyer £4, NUS £3, mems £2.

Trannyshack Miss Dusty O, Tasty Tim and Lady Lloyd spin commercial dance and pop. Madame Jo Jo’s,

Gravity Remixed House, R‘n’B and commercial pop across three rooms, from residents Terry Bryan, The Oli, Oliver M, Jamie Head, Nik Denton, Devilish, Terry Vietheer, DJ DMS and Jason Prince.

Brewer St, W1F 0SE (020 7734 3040). 10pm-3am. £5, w/flyer £3.

Fire, South Lambeth Rd, SW8 1UQ (020 7582 9890). 11pm-8am. £12, w/flyer £10, w/flyer £5 before 2am.

Work! Old school funk,

Latin Krazy DJs spin salsa,

hip-hop and pop courtesy of Big John and Biggy C.

merengue, bachata and reggaeton, plus salsa dances lessons. Salsa!, Charing Cross

DJs David and Jim play pop, indie and rock from the 1960s to the present day. The Roxy,

KNIGHTS OF THE PLAYBOY MANSION

Bob Sinclar and Dimitri From Paris pair up for a night of disco-tastic house music as they release their newest collaboration album, Knights Of The Playboy Mansion.

Salsa!, Charing Cross Rd, WC2H 0JG (020 7379 3277). 6pm-late. £10, £8 before 11pm, £4 before 9pm, £2 before 8pm.

Don’t You Want Me Baby

Lipstick Resident DJs play soul, funk and R‘n’B. Embassy, Old Burlington St, W1S 3AP (020 7851 0956). 10pm-3.30am. £20, ladies free before 11pm.

Love House Resident DJs spin house, chart hits, pop and R‘n’B. Oxygen Bar, Irving St, WC2H 7AZ (0208 123 2507). 9pm-3am. £10, £5 before 11pm, free before 10pm, guestlist free before 11pm.

One Party State Resident DJs play rock, indie and electro. The Barfly, Camden, Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AN (0844 847 2424). 10pm-late. £8, w/flyer £7, adv/NUS £5.

Pure Pacha Femi B, Filth & Splendor and Pacha Beats spin house and electro. Pacha, Terminus Place, SW1V 1JR (0845 371 4489). 10pm-5am. £20, adv £10.

Ride Filthy Few, DJ Risco and Jay Karim play indie, pop, electro, soul and dub, plus The Correspondents perform live. Proud Camden, The Horse Hospital, Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AH (020 7482 3867). 7.30pm-2.30am. £10, £6 before 9pm.

Shake Disco and pop from DJ John Osbourne and Paul C in the main room, while DJ Milo plays party anthems in room two. The Electric Ballroom, Camden High St, NW1 8QP (020 7485 9006). 10pm-3am. £10, NUS/mems £8.

SUNDAY 9 Groove Sanctuary African-Latin, electronica, funk, disco and deep house from DJ Jimbo, Joey Vieira and guests. Madame Jo Jo’s, Brewer St, W1F 0SE (020 7734 3040). 9.30pm-3am. £5, free before 11pm.

Horse Meat Disco Residents Jim Stanton, Luke Howard, James Hillard and Severino spin disco and house. Eagle, Kennington Ln, SE11 5QY (020 7793 0903). 8pm-3am. £6.

Disastronaut plays reggae, electro, rock, jungle, indie and dubstep. The Dogstar, Coldharbour

Later Uplifting and funky house from Paul Martin, The Oli and Terry Bryan. Fire, South Lambeth

Ln, SW9 8LQ (020 7733 7515). 7pm-4am. £5, free before 10pm.

Rd, SW8 1UQ (020 7582 9890). noon-7pm. £6, w/flyer £5.

Roller Motion The residents

and James Spencer spin house, hip-hop, R‘n’B and chart. Gallery

Buttoned Down Disco Indie, electro and pop from Christian Laing and Pete Wheeler, plus guest DJ Richard Titchener hosts The Gallery Bar. Koko, Camden

Hendon, Hendon Way, NW4 3LH (020 8202 4000). 10pm-2am. £6.

High St, NW1 7JE (0870 432 5527). 9pm-3.30am. £10, free before 10pm.

EC1M 6HJ (020 7336 8898). 10pm6am. £15, NUS £10, £6 after 3am.

Fusion Fridays DJ JM Stone

Audio Sushi Jeffrey

St, EC1M 6HJ (020 7336 8898). 11pm-8am. £12, NUS £8, £6 after 4am, £5 after 5am.

play R‘n’B, hip-hop, house, electro, soul and funk. Renaissance Rooms, Arches, Miles St, SW8 1RZ (0844 736 5375). 7pm-midnight. £11.50.

Service Industry Night

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

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Rd, WC2H 0JG (020 7379 3277). 7.30pm-late. £4, free before 9pm.

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

Latin and samba from the resident DJ, plus salsa dance classes before 10pm. Fiesta Havana, Fulham Rd, SW6 5NH (020 7381 5005). 8pm-2am. £7, concs £5.

CLUBBING

CLUB GUIDE

Danny Byrd

MUSIC & CLUBS

Natasha Vuckovic PICKS OUT THIS WEEK’S BEST CLUB NIGHTS

CLUB OF THE WEEK HOSPITALITY One of the UK’s hottest drum ’n’ bass nights from the record label of the same name, Hospitality is the go-to event for fans of the genre. Having gone from a monthly event at East London’s Herbal way back in 2001, to recently, selling out nine gigs at giant club Matter, it’s garnered an army of loyal fans. Danny Byrd, London Elektricity, Shy Fx and Roska are among the very long list of names on this mighty fine line-up. No doubt another sell-out is on the way.

» Fabric, 77a Charterhouse St, EC1M 6HJ

Farringdon (020 7336 8898, fabriclondon.com). Fri, Jan 7, 10pm-6am. £15

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beats/breaks

funk/soul

drum ’n’ bass

electro

hip-hop

PURE PACHA

BUTTONED DOWN DISCO

Christmas is over and 2011 has kicked in. It’s cold and dark outside but Pacha’s got just the thing to ward off the January blues. The London club is celebrating its ninth birthday this weekend with deep house DJ extraordinaire Femi B on the decks alongside Pacha residents Filth and Splendor.

If you just wanna sing along to your fave club tunes and have a good night, then this could be the night you’ve been looking for. Buttoned Downed Disco promises a mash-up of electro pop, indie, funk and disco. To keep the randoms out and the music lovers in, the party is invite only. See buttoneddowndisco.com

» Pacha, 1 Terminus Place, SW1V 1 JR Victoria (0845 371 4489, pachalondon.com). Sat, Jan 8. 10pm-5am. £10 before midnight, £20 after

Koko, NW1 7JE Mornington Crescent (0870 432 5527, koko.uk.com). Sat, Jan 8, 9pm-3.30am. Free before 10pm, £10 after

We have a pair of tickets to Hospitality at Fabric to give away. For your chance to win, email grabs@tntmagazine.com with ‘Hospitality’ in the subject line by noon Wed, Jan 5.

WIN

hard house/trance

house/garage

rock/metal

techno

CLUB NEWS Just as Faithless finished up their UK tour, the dance legends have announced they’ll play two shows at Brixton Academy this year. The Passing The Baton shows are on April 8 and 9 and tickets are on sale now from ticketmaster.co.uk from £35.75. Meanwhile, fans at their December show at The O2 took part in a mass filming and were given video cameras to record the live show. The purpose was to give insight into a Faithless live experience from a fan’s perspective. Check out the results at faithless.co.uk Eric Prydz has a new live show and its world premiere

Maxi Jazz of Faithless

is at Brixton Academy on April 2. Called EPIC (Eric Prydz In Concert), it’s a production-packed event that will feature a whole lot of 3D technology and mesmorising visuals. Tickets are expected to go on sale later this month. Keep an eye on ericprydz.tv

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

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

0870-898 8996 tntforex.com tntmagazine.com

JANUARY NORTH KOREA OPENS UP The rogue state shocks the world by throwing open its doors to tourists before its grand unveiling – no, not nukes – of Pyongyang Disney. Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Il is on hand to open the theme park and enjoy a ride on one of the rollercoasters, proclaiming Pyongyang Disney “the happiest place on Earth”.

MAY

ASSANGE GETS FBI GIG No one has seen WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for months, fuelling speculation that he has been locked away in Azkaban. But then he pops up in his new job, as head of cyber-crime at the FBI, before making a show-stealing cameo in Men in Black 3.

THE NEWS

R SEPTEMBE

YOU WON’T

Who needs real news? Instead, here’s a list of unlikely stories to keep an eye out for in 2011 WORDS TOM STURROCK AND JAHN VANNISSELROY

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FACE...WHAT?? A homeless Mark Zuckerburg is snapped fossicking through bins for food amid a worldwide backlash against social media and computer gadgetry. People are far happier than in 2010, as they are exposed to fresh air and face-to-face, rather than electronic, social contact.

TNT Images, Getty Images

SEE IN 2011

FEBRUARY

JUNE

PALIN A CONTENDER On Fox News, Sarah Palin announces that she plans to run for the presidency in 2012, although her understanding of the US electoral system raises eyebrows. “I’m confident,” Palin says, “that I can say the alphabet backwards way faster than Mr Obama”.

CLEGG GROWS A PAIR Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has finally had enough of Tory bullying. “I’ve always believed that you need to stand up to bullies,” Clegg says, “so in that spirit, I have told Mr Cameron and his supporters that I will no longer be giving them my lunch money”.

JULY

BERLUSCONI ASCENDS The Pope dies and Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi inherits the funny hat. He immediately departs from Catholic doctrine, endorsing condoms, pointing out that, without birth control, “one of these 19-year-olds will get pregnant and take one of my TV stations”.

R OCTOBE

R NOVEMBE

ALL BLACKS DON’T CHOKE Finally, the All Blacks win the World Cup again. It’s taken them 24 years and five failures, but they’ve won. Kiwis are united, saying the coaches picked the right players and the ref was fair. And the country’s women’s refuge centres report no rugby-related violence.

AMEN TO THAT! A new Enlightenment takes root. The godless rejoice as religion is rejected and reason and scientific inquiry (rather than the reliance on imaginary celestial friends) are now at the forefront of consciousness. The resulting open-mindedness means all wars end. But then…

APRIL

ROYAL SHOTGUN WEDDING Somehow, through all the glossy magazine spreads and prime-time interviews, no one notices; it’s only when Kate and Wills are at the altar that it becomes clear she’s up the duff. And further shocks are in store; all hell breaks loose when it comes out ginger.

AUGUST

PENNSYLVANIA NOW! Ever the trendsetter, Lady Gaga leads the backlash against the “sexualisation” movement by declaring herself Amish. She’s joined by Miley Cyrus and Ke$ha and the three appear in a grainy video, chanting and knitting in a barn. One of the year’s biggest YouTube hits.

DECEMBER

… GOD REVEALS HIMSELF AT XMA S No, not in a pervy, ‘drunk too much at the office party’ way. The Almight y comes down from Heaven and, fran kly, is a bit disappointing. He tries to prov e himself by sculling a yard glass but can’t even do it in one go. Accordingly, God is replaced by Shane Warne.

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NEWS & SPORT

ROONEY REVEALS NEW LOVE The Manchester United star has always had an eye for cougars, but the tabloids go into overdrive when Rooney leaves Colleen and steps out with Sheila VogelCoupe – the 81-year-old sex worker grandmother of X Factor wannabe Katie Waissel. Sure they’ll be very happy.

MARCH

Man about town: Ken Livingstone

THE PARTY’S OVER, BORIS Ken Livingstone comes out fighting in a bid to win back the Mayor of London title. We chat to him about 2011’s big issues WORDS CAROL DRIVER

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NEWS & SPORT 39

Government cuts could affect front line policing

f there’s anyone who knows London like the back of his hand, it’s Ken Livingstone. Having fronted the then Greater London Council from 1986, been an MP and the first elected mayor of London from 2000, it’s safe to say Livingstone’s a man of the capital. He lost out on a third term as mayor to Boris Johnson in 2008, but has announced his campaign to get back into office in 2012 – a vote for which anyone from Commonwealth countries can register. We meet Livingstone, 65, in the Labour Party HQ, Victoria to quiz him about the big issues London faces in 2011.

How are Londoners feeling this year?

Everyone’s really miserable. VAT’s gone up, Boris has put the [rail] fares up, the party’s over, they’ve run out of money, they need something to cheer them up. I can tell them: It’s only another 16 months of this tyranny at City Hall. What does 2011 hold in store?

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This is going to be a really catastrophic year. You’ve got the government making all the wrong decisions; you’ve got Boris making all the wrong decisions … It’s ‘goodbye’ to your library, it’s ‘hello’ the potholes, it’ll be all the cuts they can make the quickest … At the same time you’re getting a reduction in police numbers, so you’re bound to get the increase in crime because kids are wandering around with nothing to do. Less coppers to catch them.

The Olympics “ are such a target for Al Qaeda

”

and if you don’t put in the extra capacity, it’s going to be a nightmare. Are the 2012 Olympics on track?

What’s being built is what was designed. Seb Coe and I built in to the contract … to keep the government and the civil servants away from it. That’s why it’s a year ahead. The question is that the level of security is just dependent on policing. My worry is if we’re going to see a cut in our policing … [The Games] are such targets for Al Qaeda. Will there be more student protests?

It depends on the lead the mayor gives to the Met. People have got a right to a peaceful protest and the mayor should specify where that is so that kids who

How will government plans to change the visa limits affect London?

Firms not being able to bring talented people in to fill the gap our education creates is nonsense and will be damaging to the economy. If [the government] improves the education system, you create home-grown talent for all these jobs, but simply by introducing visas, doesn’t mean to say some kid who’s not doing too well in school is going to be uplifted by that. What has Boris done well?

He’s carried on with many of the projects I started [bike scheme, East London line] – for that he deserves my congratulations. What’s Boris got planned for 2011?

The real problem will be if Boris was elected to a second term, then the mayor who took over in 2016 would say … nothing’s being initiated. So London at the end of this decade will really look as though it was really failing and falling behind as it was in the 1990s after a decade without pro-active regional government. What are your campaign issues?

After of a long time of celebrity politics I think issues are back in a way since we haven’t seen since the Cold War. Our economic mess, where we’re going with climate change...

I’m always squashed on the Tube in the morning – is it going to get better?

We need to be planning Crossrail 2 or 3 cos the expectation is that the population is going to carry on rising to nine million,

go there will be safe. There’s been a real failure to plan for this properly.

What drives you?

Doing a good job?: Boris Johnson

A lust for power [laughs], but wouldn’t it look it better to say a sense of duty and service? I love politics, I love ideas, I love running things.

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The All Blacks are due

THE SCRIPTS

ARE WRITTEN Who will make the headlines in 2011? TNT sports editor Tom Sturrock previews the biggest stories of the coming year. SURELY IT’S THE ALL BLACKS Come September, the mighty All Blacks will have another opportunity to exorcise the demons of frustration and anti-climax that have shadowed the Kiwis since 1987. The World Cup will be held in New Zealand and they’ll go in, as ever, warm favourites. The history of the All Blacks’ underachievement at rugby’s showpiece event is littered with near-misses and famous defeats. But surely, this is the year the All Blacks get the monkey off their backs; they are too good, too committed and too talented to keep coming home empty-handed. Potential surprise: Maybe Australia will find some forwards and ruin the All Blacks’ party. New boy: Karmichael Hunt

A NEW LANDSCAPE IN AFL The Gold Coast Suns will this year become the league’s 17th team, ahead of the West Sydney Giants entering the fray in 2012. Will the Suns win any games? Does anyone on the Gold Coast care? And can rugby league convert Karmichael Hunt actually play or is he just an overpaid marketing prop? The Suns picked the eyes out of last season’s draft, so the performances will come, along with a decent following. But probably not this year. Potential surprise: The Suns signed the league’s best player in Gary Ablett and the Giants will be trying to pull off a similarly impressive coup. The real surprise will be if they fail.

Controversial figure: Caster Semenya

NEWS & SPORT 41

Decision s, decision s: Ricky Ponting

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FOUR WORLD CUPS IN A ROW Australia are back in the pack when it comes to Test cricket and some major questions must be answered before they can even think about re-establishing themselves at the top of the tree. How much longer will Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey and Simon Katich be around? Who are the replacements? Is Michael Clarke really the best, and only, option to succeed Ponting as captain? Before then, though, Australia have the chance to win a fourth straight World Cup, the tournament starts next month on the subcontinent. Australian cricket isn’t what it used to be, but maybe, just maybe, they have one glorious shot left in the locker. Potential surprise: Australia are battling, but the poor old Kiwis will start even further back at the World Cup.

CASTER LA VISTA At the 2009 world championships in Berlin, South African 800m runner Caster Semenya streeted the field. In the aftermath, though, Semenya was found to be a hemaphrodite, with unusually high levels of testosterone and internal testes. Semenya will attempt to defend her world title in South Korea in August. She’s been cleared to compete, so everyone should just sit back and admire her performances, right? Potential surprise: The London Olympics are about 18 months away now, so it will be a major surprise if the British sporting press can avoid going totally over-the-top whenever one of theirs wins a medal.

A STORM COMING Less than 12 months ago, the Melbourne Storm’s core of superstars were the envy TIME FOR SAMMY STOSUR of the league – no one could figure Australian sport is at a bit of a low ebb out how they managed to retain at the moment, but in a rare bright all those big names. As it turned spot, Samantha Stosur has a real out, the Storm hung on to them chance to become the first Aussie by keeping two sets of books woman to win a major since 1980. and paying their players extra The Williams sisters, wages outside the salary cap. essentially semi-pros But in 2011, there’s enough these days, are the only talent and will to succeed ones who can match for the Storm to be Stosur’s power and dangerous again athleticism. She turns this year. 27 in May so is in her Potential surprise: prime and the women’s In rugby league game lacks depth, so heartland, the she’s got a two-year Melbourne Storm window to cash in. were always Potential surprise: disliked. So, in the It would be a wake of their cap miracle if Australia rort, they can surely produced a male expect a warm welcome player who could back to the league’s keep pace. upper echelons. Or not. A real chance: Sam Stosur

SPOTTER’S GUIDE TO BULLSHIT Beware anyone who spouts these line – they’re either dangerously credulous or telling porkie pies. “I have no doubt Michael Clarke will do a great job as captain.” Most likely invoked by selector Andrew Hilditch. Up there with “we’re in transition”, while persisting with the same under-performing cricketers. “Fifa is clean and totally transparent.” When the Kalashnikov revolution comes, Sepp Blatter (right) and his fat cat chronies will be among the first lined up. The Qatar epsiode will not be forgotten. “I have no idea how it got into my system.” There’s an athletics world championships on, so you can be sure someone will accidentally take performance-enhacing drugs. One can only sympathise with their misfortune. “I don’t play sport for the money.” To be shortly followed by “I have to do what’s best for my family”; an already loaded sports star denies rumours of a move before duly moving.

tntmagazine.com

Bale force: Spurs’ talented Welshman, Gareth, centre, has set the compeition alight with devastating running and remarkable vision

HALF-TIME

REPORT Just past the halfway point of the Premier League, it’s time to recap the players and headlines that have defined the season WORDS TOM STURROCK THE PLAYERS SAMIR NASRI (ARSENAL): The Gunners’ 23-year-old attacking midfielder has improved dramatically this season, adding finishing power to his relentless run and silky skills. Against Fulham last month, Nasri scored a contender for the goal of the season, when he slalomed through the opposition defence before pivoting and lobbing home from an acute angle. All class.

ANDY CARROLL (NEWCASTLE): A big, powerful striker with a big mop of hair and a nose for trouble, not to mention a knack of scoring important goals. The Geordie cult figure turns 22 this week so he’ll be around for a while, scoring goals for both Newcastle and England alike. CARLOS TEVEZ (MAN CITY): The year ended with Tevez throwing his

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Captain Temperamental: Tevez remains the cream of City’s expensive crop

GARETH BALE (TOTTENHAM): Of all players in the English league, Bale’s stocks have risen the most – to the point where Spanish giants will likely come

knocking. In October, Bale scored a remarkable hat-trick against Inter Milan and hasn’t looked back. It might seem like hyperbole, but Bale could become one of the great British players.

NEWS & SPORT 43

Newcastle are going well. Why they sacked Chris Hughton is a bit of a mystery

Bridge for a second season on the trot. But then a rash of injuries, combined with behind-the-scenes unrest, produced roadblocks in Chelsea’s path where there had been none before. Fans will be hoping owner Roman Abramovich keeps out of it.

THE MAN CITY POWDER KEG: Even with all the sheikhs’ riches at their disposal, City have been unable to establish themselves as a serious, credible, pointyend contender. Sure, they’ve played some stunning football and should finish top four, but it’s hard to imagine City creating the stability and team ethos required for real success. Robinho left and Tevez wants out. There’s something wrong at Eastlands.

Nasri’s Gallic, centre, flair and sublime skills make him one to watch

WHAT TO EXPECT ROONEY SPENT?

toys out of the pram and demanding a transfer from Eastlands, but whatever the depth of his dissatisfaction, Tevez has still delivered on the pitch. City remains a talented but unstable club and Tevez, the captain, has been their star performer.

JAVIER HERNANDEZ (MAN UNITED): Another young gun to emerge this season, Chicharito – Spanish for ‘Little Pea’ – achieved the remarkable feat of replacing Wayne Rooney when the latter went awol. Given United managed to sign Hernandez for just £7m – an absolute bargain compared to Rooney’s demands – United may think about making the switch more permanent.

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THE STORIES TROUBLE AT CHELSEA: They started like a runaway train and it looked for all the world as though the League title would be heading to Stamford

MAGPIES TAKE FLIGHT: When, in May 2009, Newcastle dropped out of the Premier League for the first time in 16 years, there was much gnashing of teeth and selfflagellation. Newcastle, so the line went, were too big a club to go down. Well, they weren’t – but they were big enough to bounce straight back up and then exceed expectations on their return to the top flight. The footnote to this resurgence, though, was the bewildering sacking of popular manager Chris Hughton in December.

He’s staying put for United but his form still sucks. Rooney better start scoring some goals or questions will be asked about whether he’s worth his wage.

WORSE TO COME AT ANFIELD Liverpool were always going to struggle this season – they’re still mid-table, but look a long way off the top bracket. Sure to be talk of Torres going.

TANGERINES MARCH ON: Blackpool secured promotion to the Premier League for the first time and were duly written off as the competition’s worst side to ever. Blackpool have made fools of those critics as they sit well clear of the relegation zone. They were belted by Arsenal and Chelsea but have otherwise impressed with their commitment and composure. Worth it?: Wayne Rooney better start scoring

BALOTELLI FIREWORKS The temperamental City striker has shown glimpses of his talent, but also of the destructive narcissism that made him a hate figure in Italy.

HARRY REDKNAPP IN ENGLAND COLOURS? Should Fabio Capello step down as England manager, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp would be a popular replacement. Stay at Spurs, Harry.

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JOB OF THE WEEK: Consultants & teachers Location: Central London Salary: Great rates!

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The role is to research and identify potential clients at a senior director level, and to sell VIP sport hospitality packages over the telephone. Confidence, determination and a competitive streak are characteristics we look for. Quote Ref: THG36-TNT. Paul Harmsworth | 020 3002 3131 | recruitment@thguk.com

We are always looking for great teachers to work in our Central London schools, as well as great teachers to work with the team in the Vibe office. If you want to chat more, give us a call! Luke Callaghan | 020 3178 2000 | luke@vibeteaching.co.uk

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TRAVEL GLOBAL VISION A Sri Lankan fisherman works on his skiff along the shoreline off the eastern town of Batticoloa. Once

TRAVEL

a hotbed of Tamil Tiger rebels, the region has resumed fishing after the government ended its 37-year war last May.

Photo byIshara S.Kodikara/ AFP/Getty Images

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You know you’ll love Bath’s thermae Rooftop Pool

NEW YEAR

DETOX

After gorging and guzzling over the festive season, treat yourself to a relaxing detox in the New Year WORDS JANINE KELSO

Detox breaks THE UK

Andy Short

Start each day with a yoga session at Ard Nahoo, Ireland

THERMAE BATH SPA, BATH What: Britain’s only natural hot springs are in the historic city of Bath, where locals have chilled-out in the city’s mineral-rich warm waters for more than 2000 years. At Thermae Bath Spa, visitors choose from a two or four-hour spa session which includes aromatic steam rooms and a wallow in the open-air pool with knockout views of Bath’s skyline. Also on offer are hot-stone treatments, facials, massages and body wraps. The damage: A two-hour spa visit is £25. Getting there: Take a train from London Paddington to Bath Spa with First Great Western in one hour, 23 minutes. See: thermaebathspa.com

TRAVEL

Bodysgallen Hall: A-list pampering at Z-list prices

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ARD NAHOO, IRELAND What: Become the image of tranquility with a three-day detox at Ard Nahoo. Every day will begin with a yoga session, followed by an ‘Uisce hour’ which includes a loll in a steamroom, hot tub, and detox box, a detoxifying sauna which burns a whopping 900-2400 calories per session. The Uisce hour promises to eliminate toxins, burn calories and soothe muscles. The damage: A three-day detox retreat is £420 from February 3-6, including food, eco-cabins and yoga classes. Getting there: Fly from London to Knock, a one-hour drive from Ard Nahoo. See: ardnahoo.com

YOGA ON CLARE ISLAND, IRELAND What: Flanked by mountains and the Atlantic ocean, this rural yoga retreat is the perfect spot to escape the daily grind by getting bendy. Eco-warriors will approve of the cottage accommodation, made up of solar panels and woodburning stoves for heating. The yoga studio affords gorgeous views over Clew Bay and Croagh Patrick. After classes finish for the day, take a stroll in the surrounding woodland. The damage: A four-day yoga course costs from £380, including accommodation, food and tuition. Get a discount on the week-long courses in exchange for work. Getting there: Fly to Dublin, then take a train to Westport. From there, the yoga school will organise transport to the ferry for you to get over to Clare Island. See: yogaretreats.ie

TROJAN TRAINING BOOTCAMP, MARLOW,BERKSHIRE What: Box your way to good health with this not-for-wimps bootcamp, run by an ex-military physical training instructor. Suitable for people of all fitness levels, this two-day course promises to burn more calories than you knew you were capable of via team challenges, group tasks and workshops on nutrition and cooking. The damage: £250 for a two-day (ahem) break on January 30-31. Getting there: Take a train from London Paddington to Marlow in one hour with First Great Western. See: trojantraining.co.uk BODYSGALLEN HALL & SPA, LLANDUDNO, NORTH WALES What: In 80ha of gardens and wooded parkland, Bodysgallen Hall offers sweeping views of Snowdonia and Conwy Castle. Its spa, in a converted stone farm, offers A-list-style pampering at Z-list prices. The damage: Half-day packages start from £65, including use of the sauna, steam room, spa bath, swimming pool, and either a full body massage, a facial, a manicure or pedicure. Getting there: Train from London Euston to Llandudno Junction with Virgin (three hours). See: bodysgallen.com

FURTHER AFIELD

AQUACITY, SLOVAKIA

Sited in Slovakia’s High Tatras Mountains, this futuristic water park has been lauded for its green credentials as it uses solar and geothermal energy. It is home to outdoor and indoor thermal baths, an Olympic-sized pool, swim-up bar and snow cave. See: aquacity.com

BLUE LAGOON, ICELAND

One of Iceland’s most popular attractions, the giant outdoor geothermal pools are rich in natural mineral salts and algae, and are said to have a curative effect on the skin, especially for those suffering from psoriasis. See: bluelagoon.com

Treat your skin at the Blue Lagoon, Iceland

THE SZÉCHENYI, BUDAPEST

Hungary is rich in thermal waters so wind down in the Szechenyi baths in Budapest’s City Park. One of the largest complexes in Europe offers hot tubs, steam rooms and outdoor pools in a neo-Baroque courtyard, hugely atmospheric in the winter months. Also worth a wallow is the elegant Gallert Baths, which offers warm pools, saunas and steam rooms in an Art Nouveau building. See: budapestwinter.com

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LATE DEALS

TRAVEL

UNDER £250

Two nights in the historic German city of Munich is £139 with Flight Centre (0844 800 8628; flightcentre.co.uk), including flights and B&B accommodation. Quote MUCLONPAC3. Valid for travel from Feb 12 to Mar 11. Offer ends Jan 31. Laze on a beach for seven days in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, for £211 with directline holidays (0800 408 5621; directlinecitybreaks.co.uk), including B&B accommodation and flights. Departs Jan 14. Go souk shopping and chill in a hamman for five nights in the exotic Moroccan city of Marrakech for £115 with lowcostholidays.com (0800 1116271), including B&B accommodation and flights. Departs Jan 16. A six-day Russia tour is £174 (save £175) with Travel Talk (0208 099 8852; traveltalktours.com), including accommodation, airport transfers and a guide. Visit Moscow and St Petersburg. Excludes flights. Departs April 14, May 14, June 11 and June 25. Explore the cellar cafes and bars of the beautiful Polish city of Krakow for four nights for £118 with lowcostholidays.com (0800 1116271), including flights and accommodation. Departs Jan 31.

DEAL OF THE WEEK A six-day tour of Lombok & Gili Islands is £288 (was £359) with Gap Adventures (0844 272 2040; gapadventures. co.uk). Departs Jan 15.

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A three-night break in New York City is £399

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 13-day ‘King Ramses’ Egypt tour is £424 (save £75) with On the Go Tours (020 7371 1113; onthegotours.com). Excludes flights. Departs Jan 22. A three-night New York City break is £399 with Hayes & Jarvis (0871 664 0246; hayesandjarvis. com), including room-only accommodation and flights. Departs Jan 22. Tour the romantic city of Paris for three days for £264 with Anderson Tours (0207 436 9304; andersontours.co.uk), including return Eurostar, two nights’ B&B accommodation and a guided tour of Paris. Departs Feb 11. Seven nights in the Red Sea resort of Taba Heights, Egypt, is £445 with Longwood Holidays (020 8418 2515; longwoodholidays.co.uk), including flights, all-inclusive accommodation and transfers. Departs Jan 17.

Explore Spain on a 14-day tour with Contiki (0845 075 0990; contiki.com/lates) for £935 (save £104). Visit Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Madrid and more. Departs Feb 14. A 16-day Cuba tour is £2099 with Explore (0844 499 0901; explore.co.uk), including Havana, Vinales, Trinidad and more. Departs Jan 31. A seven-day Bali surfing holiday is £789 with Flight Centre (0844 800 8628; flightcentre. co.uk), including B&B accommodation, flights and a three-day surf package. Quote: DPSLONPAC8. Valid for travel between Jan 1 and Mar 30. Explore Adelaide and the coast, in Australia, on an eightday self-drive holiday for £1,395 with Austravel (0800 988 4834; austravel.com), including flight, accommodation and car-hire. Departs Feb 15.

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

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TRAVEL 49

TNT Weekender Kraków POLAND

Winter may be cold, but Kraków has a subterranean network of wine bars, galleries, restaurants and clubs in converted cellars in which to snuggle up. You won’t even care what’s going on in the outside world.

Getty Images, TNT Images

HEADLINE ATTRACTION The Rynek is the largest medieval market square in Europe. The monument to Adam Mickiewicz, a famous Polish poet, in the middle of the square is a common meeting point for locals. If you’re lingering here, listen out for the Kraków bugle call or hejnal (pronounced hey-now), played on the hour from the highest tower of St Mary’s Basilica. Then wander round the Sukiennice (Cloth Hall), which slices the square in half. Formerly Kraków’s chief trading centre, these days it’s a glittering tunnel of amber jewels and souvenir stalls.

BEST OF THE REST For something different, head to the cobbled streets of Kazimierz. Home to the city’s Jewish quarter, this suburb lay neglected after World War II but since the 1990s has seen a string of bohemian bars and cafés open. The area is also dotted with synagogues, cemeteries and museums, which act as a reminder of the oppressive Nazi reign.

TRY THE LOCAL TIPPLE By night, Kraków springs to life. Discover cellar bars and clubs around the Main Market Square, while Kazimierz is abuzz with hip venues. CK Browar (ul Podwale 6-7) is an AustroHungarian style pub where nonfiltered, unpasteurised beer is brewed in front of you. Travel back in time to communist Poland at Club Lubu Dubu (ul Wielopole 15) where everything is retro, including the music. Try local lagers Zywiec or Okocim or, if you fancy something stronger, go for a shot of proper Polish

vodka. Ask for Wyborowa, bittersweet Zoladkowa Gorzka or Zubrowka.

OUT OF TOWN Visit Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, where the Nazis murdered up to 1.5 million people during WWII. The site was protected shortly after the end of the war to ensure the world would never forget the atrocities. Also worth a visit is Wieliczka Salt Mine (included on Unesco’s World Heritage List) on the southeastern outskirts of the city. It’s one of the biggest underground mining museums in the world, filled with sculptures, chandeliers and chapels carved out of salt.

A BIT OF HISTORY Unlike Warsaw which was razed to the ground during WWII, Krakow was untouched because the German Governor had his headquarters here.

NEED TO KNOW WHEN TO GO Anytime. Kraków is a great place to get cosy in winter, while summer can be very hot. GETTING THERE Ryanair (ryanair.com)and easyJet (easyjet.com) both fly direct to Kraków from London. VISAS South Africans need a Schengen visa. CURRENCY Polish zloty. 1 GBP = 4.9 PLN. LANGUAGE Polish. GETTING AROUND Explore Kraków on foot. Organised tours to Auschwitz cost about 100zl. For Wieliczka, take the 304 bus from Dworzec Glowny Zachod. GOING OUT A beer is £1.50. ACCOMMODATION A bed in a dorm starts from £8 a night, while a private room costs from £17.

NEXT WEEK VIENNA WARSAW

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

POLAND Krakow

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HOTSHOTS Hayley Madden TALKS TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY

WINNER WESTMINSTER BRIDGE Shay Wilson, Auckland, New Zealand

TNT online For details of how to enter go to tntmagazine.com/gallery

The sunlight hitting the side of the bridge has saturated the colours and put the carvings in sharp relief while the wide angle lens has given it a dramatic perspective leading the eye straight to the famous silhouette of Big Ben cowering in the corner. The piece de resistance is the white cotton

wool cloud peering over the bridge, set against a deep blue sky and drawing attention to the famous tower. Wonderful colours and lines. HOT TIP: Tilting the camera for dramatic effect should be used with caution and should not be used at the expense of good composition.

RUNNER-UP LUNCHTIME, SARAJEVO Suzie Joyce, Melbourne, Australia The pigeons have been reduced to a flurry of wings and tail feathers as they huddle around the single arm. The use of black and white, with a touch of careful spot colouring on the grains of food, has enhanced this effect further. The background is well out-offocus and the pigeons are mainly against a pale tone so they stand out. A fast shutter

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» Shay wins a three-day tour of Scotland for two valued at £198 from Haggis Adventures (0131 557 9393; haggisadventures.com)

speed has ensured the flight of the birds has been frozen. HOT TIP: When shooting an unpredictable scene like this shoot a few shots in quick succession. Some cameras have a control where you can set the number of shots taken if the shutter release is held down, to avoid you burning too much film. » Suzie wins a photography course from Nigel Wilson Photography (020 7793 8664; photographycourses.org.uk) valued at £60

HOTSHOTS

HOLIDAY SNAPS

HOW TO MAKE YOUR PHOTOS STAND OUT

THEME: LIGHT AND SHADE Familiar Rainbow by Ruth Quartermaine, Auckland, New Zealand Transmitted light can give wonderful effects, especially in dark places like cathedrals and churches. Ruth has focused on the colours on this pillar to breathe life into this scene.

TRAVEL

WHY THIS WORKS: 1 The pillar is a strong line leading the eye up to the stained glass window and intricate ceiling. 2 The interior is well lit from several sources giving an Escher-esque feel to the different facets. 3 Good tonal range across the frame, with natural vignetting (darker areas). 4 Although the window is centrally placed in the frame, the converging verticals and clusters of patterns together. with the angle of view brings asymmetry to the image and keeps it dynamic.

HOT TIPS: 1 Transmitted light, light that has gone through a medium such as stained-glass windows or tinted glass, is great for lifting a scene or as a subject in itself. 2 Reflected light from sparkly jewellery or crystals can add extra dynamics to a scene. 3 Strong shadows are a fantastic way to introduce leading lines and repeated patterns into a shot, especially long shadows from the late evening viewed from above. 4 Diffused light through a net curtain or translucent glass will give a shadowless soft light great for portraits and still lifes.

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No boring commentary: see Barcelona by scooter

SCOOTER DIARIES Explore Spainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coolest city on two wheels WORDS SIMON COLE

Barcelona SPAIN

ON YOUR BIKE Gingerly testing my 125cc twist ‘n’ go at Cooltra’s Barcelonetta base, I imagine rear-ending Catalan white van man on the mean streets of this ever-popular city. But, with a joint brake lever, head-overhandlebars acrobatics are ruled out and there’s no sign of Mediterranean road rage as I follow guide Roger’s scooter to the first destination. At Port Olimpic, Roger points out Frank Geary’s golden fish; symbolic of the 1992 Olympic renovations that launched a revitalised Barcelona on to the tourist stage. The city made famous by George Orwell’s “Homage to Catalonia” used to be known for industry not aesthetics: “It was all abandoned warehouses and factories here; the whole area has been completely transformed.” It turns out even Barcelonetta beach is artificial. GAUDI GAWPING Barca’s quite spread out, and we shoot northwards over multiple intersections

Visit Gaudi park

TRAVEL

his is the best way to get around Barcelona: with a twist of the throttle I race past the open-top tourist bus and palm trees flash by. Rather than some boring pre-recorded commentary, the only sound in my ears is the wind. Scooter tours are the latest way to check out Catalonia’s self-consciously cool capital and sightseeing will never be the same again.

53 Gaudi’s vision was for a aristocratic gated-community Barcelona

before arriving at Sagrada Familia. If builders do finish local legend Antoni Gaudi’s basilica in 2026, residents are in for a shock. Roger shows us a model: the final extensions to this most iconic of churches should replace the shop we’re standing in – and all the apartments above it. Leading us to the best photo spot, he relates the sad tale of Gaudi’s death – killed in 1926 by a tram, stepping backwards to assess the labour of love he started way back in 1883. But rocking up at Parc Güell, we find out that not all of Gaudi’s schemes took off. “This was going to be a self-contained aristocratic gated-community, but it was too far from town,” says Roger.

DRINK UP We listen to a busker playing traditional Spanish guitar at the MNAC, a huge palace that is now the national art museum, then wind our way up the steep hill to Montjuic castle. Surveying the sprawl below, we’ve obviously covered a lot of ground in 2.5 hours. Roger knows a bar where a bottle of Catalan cava costs less than a pint in London, if we fancy it? The official tour is finished, but the evening has only just begun.

MADRID

NEED TO KNOW

WHEN TO GO Visit in winter to escape the crowds or go in summer for sunshine. GETTING THERE Barcelona is well-served by budget airlines. Airport buses run every 10 minutes to the top of La Rambla for ¤5.05. GETTING AROUND Two to five-day transport passes can be bought (tmb. cat) or 10-ride tickets (T-10) are ¤7.95. VISAS South Africans need a Schengen visa. CURRENCY Euro. 1 GBP = 1.20 EUR. LANGUAGE Catalan and Spanish, though English is widely spoken. GOING OUT A pint is ¤4-6. ACCOMMODATION Budget hotels from ¤50 for a double, bed in a hostel dorm from ¤13. SEE Cooltra tours (cooltra.com) start from 30p/p all inc. Customers need an EU or International driving license.

SPAIN

TNT, AFP/Getty Images Simon Cole

BAR-HOPPING IN WINTER In winter, visitor numbers drop and locals reclaim some of the atmospheric squares and countless bars that hide down narrow alleyways. But expats still pack the Irish pubs and Schilling on C. de Ferran; tourists queue to get into the ridiculously reasonable Les Quinze Nits restaurant in Placa Reial; and good mojitos are a staple of Sugar and Sub Rosa in nearby C. de Rauric. The wail of flamenco always leaks on to La Rambla

from no. 35, Flamenco Cordobes (tablaocordobes.com) but this is a great time to go a little off-piste to bars like Pastis (C. de Santa Monica) where natives and foreigners alike enjoy traditional live music over a caña of Moritz. The arty crowd parties all night in El Born, whilst the seedy-chic of Raval warms up late. Perennial nightowls finish it all off in a cafe, with the traditional post-club hot chocolate and churros.

Hit C. de Ferran for top nightlife

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TIPS Cycle along the Danube Valley, Austria

READERS’ TIPS BERLIN BUS

TRAVEL

When heading to TIP OF Berlin, a great THE WEEK way to do some sightseeing on the cheap is to get bus 100. It stops by the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, Unter den linden, and Museum Island. Bus 200 is also great for sightseeing as it travels into the former East Germany. Buy a day ticket and you will be able to cover lots of Berlin’s main sights without feeling a pinch on your wallet.

Ali, via email

MUSEUM DISCOUNT

YOU ASKED FOR IT Laura Lindsay FROM LONELY PLANET I’m planning a cycling trip in Europe for the April/May long weekend break. I was looking into going either along the Danube in Austria or to Bergundy, France, but there are so many tours for set dates that don’t suit that week. Do you have any advice on tour groups, or which area would best suit a beginner’s group? Suzanne, via email

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Morocco is a fairly easy country to navigate. Even off the beaten track you will find getting around straightforward. Morocco is no stranger to tourism and so you will encounter good rail networks and bus companies. Depending on your itinerary there are internal flights too. I would suggest that to get the most out of your two weeks, concentrate on one area rather than spending more time in transport hubs than the gems of this country. Hiring a car will give you independence but may be more stress than it’s worth – particularly getting in and out of the larger cities. Bus is probably the cheapest and most efficient way to travel as there are many local services around the country. You might find train travel preferable for longer journeys as it will be a bit more comfortable. Visit oncf.ma for more information. It’s advisable to buy tickets at the station as you will pay more on the train.

Vanessa, via email 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.

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.

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I don’t have enough space to tackle both options but I can tell you that the Danube cycle route has glowing reports from travellers. There are some great sights en route, such as the impressive Schloss Grafenegg and Kuenringerburg, where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned. Be sure to check out the vineyards on your tour – although remember not to drink and cycle too much! As the Danube route is one of the most popular cycle routes in Europe, there should be a wide variety of tours available, check austria.info for the most up-to-date options. Perhaps consider a self-guided tour if you cannot find one to suit your arrangements; hookedoncycling.co.uk offers a seven-night selfguided tour along the Danube that starts from April 16 and runs daily from Passau. The cycle route is well-used and so it is perfectly feasible to design your own trip to suit your needs. Think about picking up the Danube Bike Trail 2 from Esterbauer to help you plan.

We are thinking of travelling in Morocco for two weeks in April next year and would prefer to do it independently, not on a tour. Could you please suggest what is the best and safest way of getting around Morocco? Would we need to book in advance or is this something that can be easily booked there? T Delahunty, via email

Anyone with an ING account (be it in the UK or from back home) gets 50 per cent off their entrance ticket to the brilliant Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, which shows Dutch paintings. Either show your bank card or print off your savings account statement to get the discount. Adult tickets are normally ¤12.50.

TRAVEL NEWS Japan attracts with top nosh

TRAVEL

Japan is now on par with France as the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top gourmet destination. The countries now each have have 26 three Michelinstarred restaurants. Tokyo remains the capital of the gourmet world, with 14 three Michelin-star eateries. Paris has 10 and London two.

TNTMAGAZINE.COM MOST POPULAR DESTINATIONS 1 England 2 France 3 Spain 4 Italy 5 Scotland

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NEW FLIGHTS TO JORDAN EasyJet has launched a new flight to Jordanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital in a move expected to attract more independent travellers to the country. The budget airline will start flying to Amman three times a week from London Gatwick on March 27, with a return trip starting from ÂŁ106, including taxes. Amman is just a three-hour drive from Jordanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s star attraction, the ancient rose-red city of Petra â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the highlights of which include the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most elaborate ruin, The Treasury. And itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a nearly five-hour drive from the spectacular desert scenery of Wadi Rum. The Jordan Tourist Board said Jordan iss an ideal destination for independent travel because a large proportion of the population speaks

TA defends $5m Oprah visit Tourism Australia has defended spending AU$5m on Oprah Winfreyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wellpublicised visit Down Under. The tourist board said the talkshow queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s week-long adventure would bring travellers flocking, as it was broadcast to 70 million viewers in 145 countries. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll think weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see the benefit of this programme in the long term,â&#x20AC;? said Tourism Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Andrew McEvoy. Winfrey backed up Tourism Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stance saying: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have named myself an

English, the country is compact and easily navigable if driving, and it is very safe. There are also a wide range of accommodation options, accessible though the tourist board, to suit all budgets. David Symes, Jordan Tourism Board country manager for UK and Ireland, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The increased frequency, capacity and more flexible pricing is great news for tourism to Jordan and should work to increase awareness of the destination as well as grow the independent traveller market, which already makes up approximately 50 per cent of UK visitors.â&#x20AC;? Flights are on sale now.

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ON THE ROAD

WORDS FRANKIE MULLIN

CARNAVAL DE BLANCOS Y NEGROS

TRAVEL

Pasto, Colombia, Jan 5-6 Dating back to the days of slavery when masters and slaves would paint their faces respectively black then white. Today the city goes crazy painting each other with anything on hand. Messy fun!

» colombia.travel

KAAPSE KLOPSE CARNIVAL CAPE TOWN, SA JAN 2 - JAN 31 WHAT: Otherwise known

as the Minstrel Carnival or Second New Year, the main parade kicks off the day after New Year’s Day and is a joyous parade of marching, costumed minstrel troupes with painted faces. Every Saturday night through January groups reconvene and are judged on dress, dancing and singing. WHERE: Cape Town city centre to Green Point.

WHY: It began in the 19th Century when slaves were only allowed a day off on Jan 2. Visiting American minstrels inspired the carnival vibe. DO IT BECAUSE: It’s the perfect antidote to January blues. HOW MUCH: Free to watch.

» tourismcapetown.co.za

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

ON THE ROAD WITH FRANKIE MULLIN

LOCK IT IN DESERT FESTIVAL Essakane, Mali Jan 6-8 festival-au-desert.org

VOODOO FESTIVAL Ouidah, Benin Jan 10 benintourisme.com

VOGEL GRYFF ACCOMPONG MAROON FESTIVAL Accompong, Jamaica Jan 6 Paying respect to the legendary runaway slaves. Thousands gather to eat, drink and dance to Maroon war drums. A parade and street dance continue into the night.

» visitjamaica.com

Where in the world?

Basel, Switzerland Jan 13 myswitzerland.com

KITE FESTIVAL Jaipur, India Jan 14 jaipur.org.uk

YAMAYAKI Nara, Japan Jan 22 jnto.go.jp

THE TRAVELLER … Ludovica Pilot, 20, Italy What’s your favourite place you’ve been?

New York is amazing – I’ve been three times. I love clothes shopping in Soho, it has lots of great independent stores. Which country has the hottest guys?

England. They’re really stylish. What’s the weirdest food you’ve eaten?

Bonnie Leighton and mates, from Mansfield, Australia, at Monkey Bay, Thailand.

tntmagazine.com

Your favourite part of London?

Notting Hill is so cute. I love the atmosphere.

Getty Images

WIN

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

Something strange in Korea!

TOP FIVE

FIVE WINTER SUN HOTSPOTS JANINE KELSO GIVES A HIGH FIVE TO SUNBATHING IN JANUARY MOROCCO WHAT: It’s only a three-hour flight from London, but Morocco is gloriously exotic with January temperatures sitting at a very comfortable 22C. Relax in a hammam and shop in the souks of Marrakesh, before checking out the bohemian beach resort of Essaouira, where you’ll find a burgeoning arts scene and Moroccan cooking schools. SEE: visitmorocco.com

TRAVEL 57

EGYPT WHAT: The Red Sea is one of the world’s best scuba diving destinations, and January is a great time to visit with temperatures hovering around 22C. Head to the resorts of Hurghada or laid-back Dahab, which haven’t fallen prey to the recent shark attacks. SEE: egypt.travel

SRI LANKA WHAT: Expect 30C plus temperatures in Sri Lanka from January until March. As well as a rich culture, Sri Lanka has picture-perfect beaches at Unawatuna and Hikkaduwa, with top waves for surfing. SEE: srilanka.travel

THE GAMBIA WHAT: Only six hours from the UK, this tiny African country is reliably hot during the winter months with package deals normally costing less than £500. An English-speaking former British colony, The Gambia has gorgeous sandy beaches. SEE: visitthegambia.gm

GOA

WHAT: With 50 miles of palm-fringed sandy beaches, hippy paradise Goa is the perfect chill-out destination. The winter months are the best time to hit Goa’s dreamy beaches as the climate is pleasant from November until March. SEE: incredibleindia.org

THE INSIDER LUKE OSBORNE, TRAVEL CONSULTANT, KUMUKA The best part of my job is talking about travel all day. My most challenging travel experience was hitchhiking to Morocco from Cardiff. My first ever big trip was travelling around the world for six months. I visited South Africa, South East Asia and Australia.

My favourite place in the world is Laos because it is such a chilled-out place. The local people were great, as well as the people I was hanging out with there. The next trip on my travel wishlist is South America as I've never been. I always pack a book. My guilty travel pleasure is eating McDonalds in every country I've ever been to.

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Take a bungee jump into the Dniper River in Kiev, Ukraine

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ADVENTURE

CHOOSE YOUR OWN

TRAVEL 59 Make new friends on the road

Even though travel is about spontaneity, it’s worth planning ahead to make sure you make the most of your epic adventure WORDS DAMIAN HALL

Big trip THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER

ome years ago my then-girlfriend and I were discussing our travel daydreams. After she’d listened to my speculative plans for a trip to South America it was my turn to ask her questions. “How long would you go for?” I said. “Four weeks,” she said. I knew then I was with the wrong person. When we split up – that discrepancy wasn’t the only reason (her laugh was pretty annoying too) – I bought a one-way ticket to the other side of the world.

BE COMMITTED There’s a big difference between a holiday and going travelling. Holidays are great, but travelling is so much more. It may sound hackneyed, but it’s about stepping a zipped-trouser-leg out of your comfort zone, challenging yourself and that intoxicating, addictive sense of uncertainty; of possibility. Where shall I go today: Brazil, Belgium or Bognor Regis? To travel properly you have to rid yourself of the shackles of security, routine and certainty; quit your job, your flat, maybe even your partner. Your trip needs to be a bigger commitment than four weeks (that’s a mere holiday). Throw yourself into it fully, or don’t bother. WHEN AND WHERE Travelling is not for everyone, but once

you’ve got an inkling it’s for you (and be warned, one big trip is rarely enough) the two big questions are ‘where’ and ‘when’. Sometimes one answers the other. If Rio de Janeiro’s Carnaval is top of your wishlist then you’ll probably be heading to Brazil in about February (the festival is held 40 days before Easter).

It’s well worth “ doing your travel research first ” If you have a blank canvas, think about what you really enjoy doing and pair a country, continent or itinerary to your tastes and curiosities. Maybe for you travel is about experiencing alien cultures (India? Africa? Mongolia?), fulfilling those Indiana Jones fantasies (Latin America?) or “giving something back” (charity projects in developing countries?). Talk to people who’ve travelled, get guidebooks out of the library, get fantasising and planning. Bear in mind many tropical places aren’t as fun to visit in their summer, which can mean monsoons, cyclones and stifling heat. Most countries will have a peak tourist season, which means tourism

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infrastructure is up-and-running, but you may need to book things well in advance and share hotspots with elbow-swinging pensioners. Generally speaking, if you can be flexible, shoulder seasons are often the best times to visit.

LENGTH OF TRIP How long will your trip be? Money will probably be the deciding factor – as a rule of thumb you’ll always spend more than you budgeted for (flights become appealing after the 73rd over-night bus journey). Brave the Himalaya s

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED THE HIMALAYAS The jewel in the crowns of India, Nepal and Tibet and home to Everest, a more rugged but beautiful environment is hard to find.

LONDON TO SYDNEY OVERLAND The ‘70s hippie classic is still a challenging and rewarding trip through Europe, Central Asia, South East Asia and Australia.

CENTRAL ASIA Pakistan and Afghanistan may be politically unstable but Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are safe and unspoilt.

THE REST OF AFRICA There’s the whole of the rest of the continent to explore. In the west, Senegal, Gambia, Ghana, Mali and Cameroon are among the safer countries, with good links to other parts of Africa.

ALASKA-ANTARCTICA Take in all that North, Central and South America has to offer by going from top to bottom. You’ll need money and time, but few will be able to top this trip.

See humpback whales in Alaska

Many great “ lovers meet on the road

”

Travel is all about spontaneity, but it’s still well worth doing research. As well as looking at the best/worst time of year to visit particular places, it’s important to know what things might cost. Most of Asia and South America are wonderfully cheap, for example, whereas you won’t be eating out for £3 in Australasia or North America. Think about how long you can afford to stay in pricey places.

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES Also think about how you plan to travel. In some places it’s pretty much decided for you: in India it’s trains, in South America buses, while tours are

Camping is a good, cheap option

recommended for most of Africa. But don’t be afraid of being more original: buying a campervan or cycling. Those keener to make a trip last and last might want to think about things like Couch Surfing (couchsurfing.com) and WWOOFing (wwoof.com), both great ways to meet locals and save money.

GET BOOKING Do any parts of your trip need to be booked in advance? The Inca Trail, for example, needs to be locked in about three months ahead, add a couple more months on to that for accommodation for New Year’s Eve in Sydney. WHO TO GO WITH For some, one more big decision will be whether to travel with a friend, or friends (most say three is better than two) or go solo? Both have pros and cons. Many good

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN FIVE MONTHS TO GO Buy a plane ticket. It will probably be your single biggest expense so shop around. For longer flights it pays to buy well in advance. Look into visas. Some require queuing at an embassy, handing over a fair wedge and even leaving your passport with them. Others are a simple online transaction or a quick stamp at the border, so check embassy websites. Make sure your passport isn’t going to expire. TWO MONTHS TO GO Get travel insurance – the risks just aren’t worth it. Shop around, but ultimately you tend to get what you pay for. Does that bargain basement quote actually cover your

camera? How about “extreme sports”, like skiing, scuba diving, trekking at altitude? Also, speak to a doctor about what vaccinations and tablets you need. And how comfy’s that backpack? Especially if you’ll be trekking you want a bag that fits properly. ONE MONTH TO GO Order any foreign cash and inform your bank where you’ll be. You should photocopy your passport, any visas and jot down crucial digits, along with lost or stolen phone numbers for your bank/ credit cards and any other crucial info (then email it to yourself). Set up a blog so your mum knows you’re safe, and have that leaving do.

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friends, and lovers, fall out while travelling, while many great friends and lovers meet each other on the road. If you’re going solo, you may want to go on a tour and learn a language (important for somewhere like South America). If you’ve already found a sidekick, ensure you have both clearly expressed what your expectations are for the trip. For example, are you both happy to slum it, stay in dorms, eat in markets and get the cheapest buses? Otherwise it might be better to say ‘adios’.

ON YOUR WAY Often after months of planning, it feels like the big day will never come. Then suddenly it’s about to engulf you and it can feel overwhelming. But fear not, you’re about to have the time of your life. I promise.

NEXT WEEK: AUSTRALIA Learn to sail around the Whitsundays

Explore the Uyuni salt flats, Bolivia

AFRICA

SOUTH AMERICA

What: The land where clichés come true; of natural splendour, singing tribespeople and some very frightening animals. For who: Real travellers, maan, who want to go it alone on bone-shuddering trucks and local buses, but most book tours. Where: Nairobi to Cape Town is the classic, but there are plenty of sidetrips worth taking along the way; to Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana and/or Mozambique.

What: The land of samba, tango, the Andes, the Amazon and football. For who: Adventurous types, with some español preferred. It’s a tougher ask for the first-time traveller, but the trophies are well worth the toil. Where: Highlights include the glorious ice kingdoms of Patagonia, Bolivia’s hallucinogenic salt flats, sand, samba and soccer in Rio de Janeiro, Machu Picchu, Brazil’s croc-full-of-wildlife Pantanal, the Iguaçu Falls and the extraordinary Galapagos Islands.

MIDDLE EAST Unwind in underrated Mexico

WHERE TO GO

TNT Images, Getty Images

NORTH AMERICAN ROADTRIP What: Think roof down, empty road stretching to the orange horizon, desert shimmering on either side and a couple of mates in the back – think a North America roadtrip. The US has glorious national parks and gleaming cities, while there are the epic wilds of Canada to the north and much underrated Mexico, with astonishing ruins and Caribbean beaches, to the south. For who: Those who have saved up well (and want a less stressful trip). Where: In the US itself, road trip possibilities are endless – the West Coast is perhaps the most unmissable – but the real epic would be Alaska to the Yucatan Peninsula.

What: Middle East. A region of culture and contrast and of cities you thought only existed in the Bible. For who: Those who want different stories and photos (and who are happy to keep their cleavage covered). Where: Egypt for those famous pointy things, mosques in Iran, desert ruins in Syria, surprising sophistication in Beirut, Lebanon, and the world’s holiest city, Jerusalem (Israel).

THE TRANS-SIBERIAN What: The world’s longest and most legendary railway journey. For who: People who’ve fully charged their iPod batteries and have packed The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. Where: The 9,259km sore-backside-athon will take you from Moscow all the way out to the Sea of Japan. But ideally, you stop off to explore fast-changing Asia along the way.

Hit Braz il for Carnaval

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EGYPT IN THE FOOTSTEPS

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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

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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 • • • • •

ABTA, ATOL & AITO bonded - your monies safe! Best accommodation - properly rated 4&5 star hotels Airport transfers always included Legendary Egyptologist guides - travel with Sam & Sherif! No compulsory ‘single supplement’ - we’ll match you up with a travel mate • No ‘local payment’ just entrance fees & tipping kitty en route

“ 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! Not one complaint came out of the group that we had!!”

Candy Multam

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ANZAC 2011SPECIALISTS WITH THE

£249 £299

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• We’re Aussies and Kiwi’s – we care about ANZAC! With ofﬁces in London, you can drop in to see our friendly staff who have been to ANZAC day themselves. • We are ABTA, ATOL & AITO bonded, meaning our quality is guaranteed and your money is 100% protected.

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• We use quality 4 star western standard hotels. • We have the best guides – handpicked by us and contracted a year in advance. • Many of our tours include our exclusive, waterside ANZAC BBQ – offering you a good feed and chilled beer to take you into the night prior to the ANZAC day service. • We offer an excellent choice of tours from 4-14 days to suit all budgets. PLUS you can combine Egypt with ANZAC and see it all in one hit – great value! • With a variety of tour start dates you don’t need to pay top dollar for your ﬂights. Our well-timed tours make the most of weekends and public holidays. • Complimentary airport arrival transfers from any Istanbul airport on each and every tour.

Combine ANZAC with Egypt

• No mandatory single supplements or local payments on any of our ANZAC tours.

GALLIPOLI & GIZA - 12 days £599 ANZAC & ANCIENT EGYPT - 16 days £749

• 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

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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.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR

ADVENTURE WEEKEND PARTIES IN WALES We leave from West London every Friday evening at 6:30pm. Our trips are great for groups of mates, singles or couples. HORSE RIDING (ALL DAY) over the Brecon Beacons national park, suitable for first timers or experienced. We ride over mountains and ancient Roman bridleways, it’s the best ride in the UK, with great scenery. The sore ass is on us and guaranteed, but we’ll put muscle soak in the hot tub for you. £195 HILL WALKING (map supplied but unguided) or you can just CHILL, £135. The accommodation has double rooms, dorms & open log fire. It also has a huge covered hot tub next to a river with music. At night you can party all you like and no need to get up early on Sunday (big late breakfast) Our food is simply the best, we even make bread and roast our own coffee. So if you would like to relax & escape London then give us a call on 01874 636170 open till 10pm. Included in all prices are return transport, 2 nights accommodation, all food and activity. There are no hidden extras.

Email: info@bushwakkers.co.uk website: www.bushwakkers.co.uk Perfect for private parties for any reason. (We are fully qualified and all legalities are in place so no wukking furries)

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AFRICA WILDLIFE, SCENERY, CULTURE & ADRENALINE

£430 £529 £720 £729

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“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

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Confident communicator who’s a quick thinker, who positively thrives on hard work, tight deadlines and beating targets - this is your chance to join Covent Garden’s Recruitment Team. You’ll interview candidates for Temporary Office Support roles, take bookings from Clients - and then bring the two sides together, to everyone’s delight. It’s a challenging role, and not for the faint hearted! If you think your business flair and people skills are up to it then send us your CV, plus a “why you fit the bill” covering letter to: df@coventgardenbureau.co.uk

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Dear flatmates, I apologise for waking everyone up at 3am on Sunday morning: I

know you want to. Loads of love, Jen and the gang.

had left my keys in my room and in my inebriated post-stag do state, I thought the best thing to do was to kick down the door. CBear, I will use remnants of the door frame to build myself a dog box! XXX Door-smasher. Dear Ricky (the Kiwi): We met on the Tube for the first time, I had fake Halloween blood on my face and I was wearing my sexy nurse outfit, while you were dressed as a convict. Then as fate would have it I ran into you AGAIN when I was begging for ice-cream at The Spotted Horse in Putney to go with my brownies! You made me laugh so much and I want to run into you a third time! I know you are a PE teacher, you live in the Putney area and you play rugby! Email me at ciribiricoccola87@ yahoo.it. Love Francesca, the cute Italian.

Like the film, kinda. You were at the Redback on Sunday night and were wearing that crazy jacket you said you pinched from your friend (Madge?). You were cute and mysterious and I never actually did catch your name … if you wanna get into the groove with me, let’s say same time/ same place this weekend.

Irish boy at the Redback seeks blonde Scandinavian from Friday, December 10:

We chatted about travel and had a dance/snog and then I got roped by the boys and lost you in the crowd. You rocked in glasses and blonde hair. Let’s do it again … this time one-on-one x Email reaskdrive@yahoo.ie. Reply to ‘Wanting people for Jam Sessions’: Hey there.

Thanks for the reply. Where do you live? Let’s meet up for a beer in the new year and we can talk logistics. Have a good Christmas! :o) Tilly. Seeking Joe: Joe from Wellington, New Zealand – you missed a great night at

Desperately seeking...Susan:

post your message at tntmagazine.com/seeking or email seeking@tntmagazine.com

the Walkie after the Church, your friends are seriously lame - I recommend getting new ones =oP. Nevertheless, the moment we had in the cloakroom line was enough to send my senses racing and I can’t stop thinking about you. So if you’re keen to finish what we started and let me warm you up, now you no longer have a jacket, please contact me at ZimbosRule@ hotmail.com xx Raa. To my wifey, who puts the ‘wee’ into weekend: You’re

leeeaving on a jet plane, don’t know when you’ll be back again (yes, I am singing at you from print – it’s a skill I know you love). You’re headed back to the magical land of Oz where the goon flows freely, the chicken is always parma-y and the sun doesn’t mind overtime. I love you and I’m going to miss our permanent slumber party of mattresses on the floor, Facebook-stalking, secret-spooning, TV-rerunwatching, bathtime-drinking and pretzel-eating. Will ‘come to the party’ soon!! Xxx Wifey Nu Nu: You’re far away this Christmas – too far for my liking. When are you coming

home? You keep telling me that it’s going to be soon, but you never book the flight tickets or set a date. I hope you’re not trying to avoid me :) It’s been nearly a year since you left to go to Malaysia. Enough is enough. It’s time to come home! And let’s face it, you have to be back in the UK for June anyway... Failing that – hope 2011 is wonderful for you :) Lots of love your best friend ever. That’s where your brain lets you down xxx Remember the Redback?:

You: the bald dwarf in the “Good things come in small packages” T-shirt. Me: the emo Asian in the purple pyjama bottoms and banadana who everyone thought was a lesbian. I’m not, and I want to polish your barren cranium with my doo rag. Let’s go, wee man. Email me at tiny_ dancer@hotmail.com. Jimbo, Gutted for you that you missed your flight back home:

But secretly pleased that it meant that you joined us for our Acton Christmas. You totally rock and you made it the bestest Christmas EVER! Hope you join us on our van tour in March – come on, you

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

With any luck you’ll have landed ... somewhere, but hopefully London by the time you read this: I’m so excited

that you’re coming to do a London stint in 2011. I can’t wait to show you the ropes. you’ll be able to finally tell your mum you attend The Church regularly and you can also relay that people in England are really nice (except for on the Tube – it has its own rules). You look so fantastic in your Facebook photos, all trim and taught. Just as well, because you’ll put on 10kg within a few months of arriving in London. Have a great flight and bring your snow boots. See you in the Old Dart. Love, Melly. Penguin, happy birthday for Friday, honey: Hope

you’ll have an awesome day with the gang, and that you’ll have fun with my little birthday surprise. Wish I could be there with you and celebrate but unfortunately I’m far, far away in the sunshine (poor, poor me!). But don’t you worry, my dear sister in crime, we will definitely party it up once I’m back in town! Lots of love, your friend Kell.

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

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