Planning musical magic in the West End this Summer Holiday

Britain doesn’t have the strongest track record for correctly predicting the summer weather, so why leave your family day out to the mercy of the elements? A far more trusted (and exciting) way to treat the kids this holiday is to take them to see a breath-taking West End musical; bright lights, magical storylines, larger than life characters and sing-along-songs truly do make for a winning combination. You can sit back, relax and enjoy the awe of the theatre no matter if it’s rain or shine.

Where To Start?

London is home to many theatres and a huge variety of productions. A show which has received much acclaim in the press as one of Britain’s best ever musical productions – and keeps breaking West End box office records – is Billy Elliot. A story about a young boy who finds his calling dancing, the performances take place daily at the Victoria Palace Theatre, London.

If your child is an animal lover then The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre is definitely the show to see. Watch the spellbinding story of the young lion prince Simba and his evil uncle Scar unfold in his plot to kill both Simba and his father, Mufasa, and then announce himself king. The heart wrenching 1994 animated movie is truly brought to life in this production.

Wicked at the Apollo Theatre is the story which will appeal to all the family, young or old. Drawing on Gregory Maguire’s best-selling novel and the iconic movie ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’, you can discover the fantastic story of how green-skinned Elphaba Thropp and the beautiful Galinda Upland came to be called ‘the good’ and the other ‘the wicked’ witches.

Alternatively, the classic love story and firm family favourite, Grease is showing at the Piccadilly Theatre. The story follows Sandy, Danny and their gangs, the Burger Palace Boys and Pink Ladies, through their 1950s teenage-rollercoaster life of romance, drive-ins, flashy cars, high school parties, brylcreem and milkshakes – like we needed to remind you!

For the aspiring singer and music mogul, Mamma Mia offers the prime opportunity to sing your heart out as everyone knows the words to this soundtrack!  Depicting the wonderful story of a mother, her daughter and three possible dads to the soundtrack of ABBA, Mamma Mia has been  described by critics as the ‘ultimate feel-good show’ and has already won the hearts of over 30 million people around the globe.

Cheap Train Fares

Jumping on a train to London is often the simplest and quickest way to travel. Avoid congestion charges, long traffic jams and extortionate parking fees and opt for the scenic option instead. Depending on your train route, Southern Rail offer some great off-peak deals like kids travel for £1 when accompanied by an adult. If there is a large group of you travelling together there is also a ‘Super Group’ deal where up to 10 people can travel off peak together for £20 or less – saving up to £170! Check out the website for more exclusive online offers and full terms and conditions. If you are travelling from further afield, why not check out The Train Line instead.

It’s also an idea to opt for a travel card when purchasing your train ticket as these can be used for London travel within zones 1-6 – perfect of you need to jump on the tube or want to catch some sights whilst bussing round London. Alternatively, pick up an Oyster card from a London train station to gain access to cheaper London travel.

Meal Deals

London has an abundance of eateries and plenty of family favourites to keep the kids happy and hunger at bay – from Burger King to Pizza Express. Don’t forget to print off some 2-4-2 restaurant vouchers before you go so you can save pennies for ice cream at the theatre! MoneySavingExpert.com has a section dedicated to these kind of offers so check that out before you leave to familiarise yourself with some of the nearby restaurants and deals.

Last Minute Ticket Deals

Meant to be going to Thorpe Park but it’s raining? Planned a camping trip and the car’s packed in? Don’t fret because there are often heavily discounted tickets available online for such last minute panics. For example, GetMeIn.com have a dedicated section where you can grab bargain tickets for last minute performances even up to a few hours before, meaning you can still enjoy your day.

If you fancy a day out of a different kind, you can also buy concert tickets, festival tickets and sports tickets online at GET ME IN! GetMeIn.com is part of Ticketmaster, the world’s largest ticketing company for live events. Buy or sell your theatre tickets in a safe and guaranteed way on GET ME IN! – your fan-to-fan ticket market.

also published on www.realwomentoday.com

Big is Beautiful: Plus size model Tara Lynn stars in new H&M campaign

Hooray at last – plus size models promoting fashion in high street stores – about bloomin time!

Why are there always comparisons between ”stick insects” and “fat cows”? Some people are skinny, some people are fat, some are in-between, and Real Women Today can see nothing wrong with all shapes and sizes being visible in the fashion industry – we are all ‘real’ after all.

There are unhealthy and healthy fat people as well as unhealthy and healthy thin people. You simply can’t tell anything about someone’s health from their size and so stereotyping in this day and age is politically incorrect! And even if you could – HEALTH IS NOT A MORAL ISSUE. People are not “bad” or “unworthy” just because they have some unhealthy habits which might include enjoying their food.

The ladies in the Real Women Today office are loving what H&M are doing with Tara and might even arrange a quick lunch time retail therapy session in their local store!

Will you be joining us?

Worcestershire top county for pampered pooches

Silver Service & Dog Butler

Pampering is dish of the day for dogs visiting Worcestershire – fast becoming the top UK destination for those who want to take a break and bring their furry friend along.

Now Visit Worcestershire has launched a complete guide to dog-friendly places in Worcestershire on their website
www.visitworcestershire.org/pets

To celebrate the launch – ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ star and Worcestershire girl, Pippa Langhorne, has become the county’s pet-friendly ambassador and will be treating her singing dog and partner, Buddy, to a slap-up meal, celebrity style!

Commenting on her involvement, Simon Tipple, manager of Destination Worcestershire said:

“Pippa is the perfect representative for our pet-loving county. Her appearance on the show has helped put Worcestershire on the map as the place for dog lovers.”

Worcestershire has over 100 pet-friendly places to stay ranging from campsites through to luxury hotels. With hundreds of miles of stunning countryside walks including the breath-taking Malvern Hills as well as the River Severn, Worcestershire is a great place for the whole family including the dog.

One Worcestershire hotel, The Riverside, could be described as The Ritz for dogs. It has an ‘haute cuisine’ dinner menu created by hotel chef Rico Pecho in conjunction with nutritionists from the Dog’s Trust. Using only the best regional produce, the menu offers starters, entrees and even something for the dog with a sweet tooth.

What’s more, dogs can experience the ultimate in service thanks to their own butler who will deliver meals to their room! The hotel even has two very special dog bedrooms with doors leading out to the lawn so those important calls of nature can be dealt with immediately.

“Worcestershire has a long canine history and we even have lots of streets named after dogs” added Simon. “Our original coat of arms also featured a dog within it so it’s fitting that we’re getting a reputation for being one of the best places for a short break if you want to bring your family pet with you”.

Healthy Dogs’ Menu

Starters
Meaty soup
Vegetable soup
Liver Pate
Vegetable mixed salad

Main
Fish Cakes
Chicken & Rice
Liver with garden veg
Chicken & Beef chunks in Jelly
Scrambled eggs with rice and chicken

Pudding
Liver Cake
Carrot Cake
Low-sugar rice pudding
Biscuits made from carrots and broccoli
Bananas

Sounds delicious!

article also posted on www.realwomentoday.com

Wetnose Burgess Animal Aid Awards 4th March 2011 London

The Wetnose Burgess Animal Aid Awards proved to be a parade of some of the UK’s beloved TV faces as well as a ceremony recognising the amazing work done by animal rescue centres and the working dogs that protect the people and ports of this country.

I confess to thinking that one or two of the celebrity award givers were dead, but they were apparently alive and remarkably well preserved.

Having acted as judge for these awards, it was extremely gratifying to see the smaller, independent rescue centres being called up to the stage looking genuinely excited yet slightly bewildered to be finally acknowledged.

The stage management was a little disorganised as celebrities wandered on stage looking lost and no idea if they were supposed to speak or not.  It made for some uncomfortable moments but it was interesting to see the pros, Brian May, Jenny Seagrove (Jo Mills, Judge John Deed) and John Altman (Nick Cotton, EastEnders) taking charge of their presentations and rallying the audience.

The best heart rending stories were read out by Shelia Reid (Madge Barron, Benidorm) and Peter Egan (Paul Ryman, Ever Decreasing Circles).  Peter’s presentation was a very emotional affair telling the tale of a dog called Blue who had been abandoned in a shed for 8 years and was subsequently found to have splinters in the flesh of his face – a truly terrible story of animal cruelty that upset everyone in the audience.  Sheila’s presentation was a softly spoken, carefully told tale of a dog called Pepper who pregnant, had been left trapped in a snare to die.

As someone who trains animals in the world of working dogs to help to catch our criminals, find our missing children, stop drugs getting into the country and protect our Police, I was especially pleased at two of the awards given.  I got the chance to speak to the leader of the National UK Border Patrol Dogs, seen recently in “Border Patrol” on TV.  He was genuinely excited to win an award and rather star struck at the number of celebrities coming up to congratulate him.

The other award went to Cumbria Police and their Dog Section.  The two handlers and dogs collecting the award were directly involved in the apprehension of killer Derrick Bird, the taxi driver who went on a gun rampage last year. The dogs had been sent in to look for a man known to have already killed who was heavily armed.  I know first hand the anguish these guys feel when sending a dog in to possible death.   It really brought home the bravery of the dogs and Police Officers we sometimes take for granted.

The highlight of the afternoon was the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Brian May to Virginia McKenna, one time actress and head of the Born Free Foundation, started after starring in the film of the same name many years ago.  Virginia McKenna received the only standing ovation and was truly touched by it. She got another huge round of applause when Brian May pointed out she is 80 next week.  Whether because she still has a mind like a steel trap and is beautiful and elegant or just because she is still here, I’m not quite sure.

My own personal excitement was saved for Brian May, as well known for his animal loving speeches as apparently playing guitar in some well known band…..  They say be careful what you wish for, but I can say that my anticipation of meeting Brian May was fully justified once I’d spoken to this articulate, genuine and truly nice rocker. He kindly posed for the camera with a puppy brought to the event by one of the winners, Lizzie’s Barn. Royston, a Cavalier puppy with hydrocephalus (water on the brain), is the throw away victim of a greedy breeder who has no morale standards of appreciation for the animals he breeds. The rescue centre is now on a deadline to raise £5000 for the brain surgery Royston so desperately needs.

His story, and the others heard throughout the day are sadly everyday issues for those of us working with animals.  Just as you think you’ve heard the greediest, cruellest, most neglectful story there is, along comes another one that knocks you for six.

Overall it was an eventful day, Church House, Deans Yard was a stunning venue with many well deserved winners and a great way of recognising the smaller rescue centres but I would like to see a more public acknowledgement of the role animals play in our world, protecting us, finding us when stupidly lost up mountains, tracing the morons who steal our cars and break into our homes.  Perhaps there is an opportunity to set up a Working Dogs Awards, what do you think?

Debbie Connolly
http://www.safepets.co.uk/

article also posted on http://www.realwomentoday.com/

Time to Talk about your Eating Disorder

This week marks the start of Eating Disorders Awareness Week, run by Beat, a Charity specifically designed to raise awareness of the difficulty and danger of these illnesses. For Health Psychologist James Lamper who suffered from Binge eating disorder, one of the lesser known eating disorders, the work done to raise awareness is crucial to help people to take the steps towards recovery and give them the confidence to speak out and seek help.

“For men to speak about their eating disorders is still very much a taboo subject.  Men live in a world dominated by weight and appearance orientated media just as much as women, and images of models and sports stars in advertising can lead to body dissatisfaction and negative comparisons if men feel inadequate in comparison” explains James.

Eating disorders amongst men are becoming more and more prevalent, but still are often not spoken about.  James is open about his own experiences with an eating disorder which he hopes will inspire others to speak out.

“My personal struggle with binge eating disorder began when I was just 8 years old, triggered by troubled relationships in his early life, this started a distorted relationship with food and eating” explains James. “I discovered I could lose my pain, temporarily, by eating cakes and deserts and, well, anything sweet. I would eat large quantities of food very fast, in secret, feel over-full, and feel guilty and ashamed afterwards.  Bullying at school about my size began shortly afterwards, and soon binge eating became a way of surviving when life got tough.  By 17, I weighed 19 stone and was still desperately unhappy”.

Although his recovery took many years, James sought help with his disorder, and persevered till he found the right help.  “I saw a specialist eating disorder therapist, who helped me understand how my eating behaviour was a mechanism to deal with stress and difficult emotions. My binge eating had been a symptom all along, a survival mechanism to use in place of my missing social and emotional development.  Once I began to understand the psychology behind my own eating disorder, it inspired me to begin a new career which would allow me to help others who were suffering in the same way I had.”

James now works as a lifecoach, dietician and nutritionist, running his own practise through which he offers eating disorders sufferers a combination of nutritional, psychological and physical therapies to help them to overcome their difficult relationships with both food and themselves.  

“I love helping people to take back control of their life in the way that I was taught to” says James.  “My Weightmatters practise was a natural progression in my own journey, and I am passionate about helping those who begin their journey when they walk through my door.  Eating Disorders are a severe and life threatening problem which can ruin the lives of sufferers and those around them, and it is important to keep talking about these problems to ensure misconceptions and stereotypes are dispelled, and those will eating disorders know that they are not alone.”

To coincide with National Eating Disorders Week and to encourage those who are suffering to seek help,  James is offering new clients an exclusive discount on bookings of block sessions.  For more information please visit http://www.weightmatters.co.uk/eating-disorder-awareness-week/

article also posted on http://www.realwomentoday.com/

Mums Say Family Photos Are Their Most Prized Possessions

Family photos are the most prized possessions to mums, according to new research findings from creative software developer, Serif. It found 75% feel photos are more important than their mobile phone, car or bike, and credit card. Two thirds said they take more photographs compared to five years ago.

The poll* of 2,000 mums across the UK also revealed that, when asked what pictures they would rather save from a burning fire, 74% chose baby snaps followed by wedding (17%), pet (8%) and friends (2%).
The study was commissioned to examine mums’ attitudes in conjunction with the launch of CraftArtist Baby Photos on 21st January 2011. This new digital crafting package from Serif is perfect for parents who want to create and print photobooks, cards, invitations and other baby-related projects from a PC at home, whilst having fun and saving money.

The survey also showed that almost half are most likely to share pictures of their baby with friends and family on Facebook (49%), followed by photo albums (43%), and email (37%). Two thirds would design and print their own photobooks from home if they knew how to. Over 35% said they do not use online digital photo websites to make albums but would really like to make their own. 22% said they have used such websites but wish they could personalise them more.

“Most parents feel their children grow up too fast and that those baby milestones, such as first words and first steps, are often the most precious,” says Gary Bates, Managing Director at Serif. “With the majority of households in the UK owning a digital camera, more and more mums are taking pictures of their children, right from birth, to preserve and relive precious moments. Sadly, many are left forgotten on the hard drive, or only rediscovered years later. CraftArtist Baby Photos is an affordable way for parents to have creative fun celebrating and sharing those special memories they captured on camera.”

CraftArtist Baby Photos costs £19.99 and is compatible with Windows 7/Vista/XP. It is available directly from Serif at www.serif.com and from major retailers including Amazon and PC World.

article also posted on http://www.realwomentoday.com/

Kerry Katona Skating to Success!

Kerry Katona is famous for her struggles with bipolar disorder and fluctuating weight, but is this surprising considering her history?

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive disorder, causes cycles of depression and mania in sufferers. Kerry has clearly shown us dramatic mood swings from ‘high’ feelings of extreme euphoria to depressed ‘lows’ with some periods of normal functioning inbetween.

Her use of food, cigarettes, alcohol and drugs have all been headline-grabbing entertaining news, but they are also ways of self-regulating her brain chemistry. For a sufferer of bipolar disorder they may feel like a way out of their mental fog, but in reality all they do is create greater imbalance.

Research shows us that bipolar sufferers are born with a genetic disposition for their disorder, but this requires nurturing by their environment in the form of stressful life events that lower the threshold at which mood swings occur.

Kerry was placed in care as a young girl, and was brought up by 4 sets of foster parents and attended 9 different schools. The trauma Kerry experienced at an early age was clearly stressful and would have triggered her mood swings and heavily dented her self-esteem and self-worth.

The thoughts we build about ourselves, other people and the world when we are children become our most deeply held beliefs. They become entrenched in our psyche and lead us to act out in behaviours that justify the way we see ourselves.

Snorting cocaine, binge eating, violent episodes are all familiar self-denigrating performances for Kerry. Before she hit the charts with Atomic Kitten there was the lap dancing, nude dance troupe and the glamour modeling. This is all easily understood considering her traumatic upbringing combined and her bipolar tendencies.

Now with Peter Andre’s management company Can Associates, Kerry is banned from using drugs and reuniting with her volatile ex-husband Mark Croft. With cameras watching her every move on ITV2 in ‘Kerry Katona, The Next Chapter’ and currently on Dancing on Ice, how will she find balance in her life again?

Emotional eating is something we all do to some extent. Compulsive eaters abuse the their use of food to help them deal with their fluctuating and often overwhelming emotions. Kerry ticks the box big time here, with her bipolar medication just making things worse. It will help to balance her brain chemistry, but leave her more numb and unattached from her true feelings. It will also make her gain weight.

Kerry’s weight gain and weight loss cycles just as much as her mood swings from elation to depression, and now with medication managing her weight just becomes a whole lot harder. So what can she, and other sufferers of bipolar disorder, do to lose weight and promote a positive mood?

Kerry’s bankruptcy was extremely stressful, and eating magnesium rich foods and B vitamins will help support the adrenal glands that produce the stress hormones. Eating a healthy diet of nuts, vegetables, meat, bread and dairy products is the way to go.

Irritability and tiredness come from poor blood sugar management, so Kerry needs to eat low GI carbs, which tend to be brown and fibrous, throughout the day. Daily consumption of chromium-rich meat, wholegrains, lentils and spices wil further help to balance her insulin levels.

Easing off the caffeine will help to reduce anxiety levels and help to reduce the bipolar anxiety-induced insomnia. Combine that with regular exercise to produce a healthy flow of calming endorphins and Kerry will be transformed.

James Lamper
Founder and Managing Director
Weight Matters
http://www.weightmatters.co.uk/

this article was also posted on http://www.realwomentoday.com/