Lifestyle magazine february 2014

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FEBRUARY ISSUE 70

Lifestyle EDITOR'S LETTER

A NOTE FROM OUR DEPUTY EDITOR

H

ello lovely Lifestyle readers, it’s official the month of love has arrived. In a few short weeks it’s Valentine’s day, and Cupid’s metier in my house is strictly adhered to. I celebrate the existence of love in general and the people and things that I love most, in particular—my husband and twins, my family and friends. My entire house will be decorated with hearts and my twin boys will be dressed in cupid outfits complete with mini wings.

Perhaps because of my exuberance for the upcoming festivities I have poured everything within this 68 pages that you could wish for. As it’s open night season for all those parents deciding on where to send their children come September we have included an education section containing some of the best schools in Merseyside to help you decide. Celebrity interviews; firstly with the delectable Jessie Pavelka, the Overtones - everyone of which you could take home to meet your mother, and up and coming pop sensation from the states, Camryn. We have the latest in fashion for women and kids and a new permanent page full of things that we at Lifestyle are loving in particular this month. But it doesn’t stop there, we have news on opera, jazz festivals, outdoors activities and Bruce Spingsteen’s “High Hopes” Album review.

I am really looking forward to the Lifestyle Awards on the 1st March, I already have my frock, do you?

Happy Valentine’s 4

Joy Lewis x

APPRENTICE

SALES VACANCY Lifestyle magazine is the longest running independent magazine for Merseyside.

Established in April 2008 we have consistently published a magazine every month. We are reliable, dependable and all our copies are picked up and read. We host events such as the annual Liverpool Lifestyle Awards and work alongside Liverpool Fashion Week and the North West's premier fashion agency Model101.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR A SALES APPRENTICESHIP WITH LIFESYLE MONTHLY. Ideal candidates will be able to demonstrate: • • • • •

Interest in sales Excellent Customer service skills Ability to work in busy environments Flexible to business requirements Highly motivated to achieve results and the drive to succeed

In return you can expect the training, development and rewards and enjoy being part of a successful team.

Application Procedure: For more details please contact Amanda Moss by emailing your current CV to editor@lifestylemonthly.co.uk

THE AWARD WINNING NUMBER ONE MAGAZINE FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE STYLE IN THEIR LIFE

Lifestyle CONTENTS

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JESSIE PAVELKA

28 26

REGULARS

FASHION AND BEAUTY 22 24 44 48 50

EVENTS Pink & Powerful Liverpool Jazz Festival Bill Elms Opera 6

BRUCE

SPRINGSTEEN

BEN ELTON

Lifestyle loves Valentine’s Women’s fashion Beauty Kids shopping GirlMeetsDress.com

ON TH E COVER

12 29 34

Community News Restaurant review Music Travel & the outdoors DIY with Craig Phillips Property Bond Media Motoring

12 18 30 52 55 56 61 62

COMPETITIONS WIN ODEON Tickets

to see MR. PEABODY AND SHERMAN AS WELL AS A MERCHANDISE PACK!

37

Junior LIVERPOOL FASHION weekend

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THE LIFESTYLE TEAM MANAGING DIRECTOR AMANDA MOSS editor@lifestylemonthly.co.uk 07916332469 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR SIMON MOSS 07563192989 EDITOR JOY LEWIS joykinsedge@aol.com 07729221922 SALES NEIL WOODS neil.woods5@btinternet.com 07984565931 ALI HUSSEIN ali.hussein@ops.eu.com HEAD OF DESIGN EVE RUSSELL PURPLE PARROT DESIGN www.purpleparrotdesign.com DESIGNERS Sophie Iddon and Laura Fraser Thanks to photography contributions from Dave “the pap�

Evans and Brian Mansy.

www.lifestylemonthly.co.uk

Open Evening

Wednesday, 5 February at 6.30 p.m. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!"#$!!"%$&'($!!)*"#$+,&)#*!!-#*&,-&.! !!!!!/010!2/3!0415!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!6667,889,*-'7-#+!! !!!!!!!!!!!

Copyright: Panda Print Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted in any form without the publishers’ permission.

Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published but Panda Print Ltd cannot accept responsibility for the veracity of claims made by advertisers. Advertising must be paid for at the time of going to print. A late payment of more than 30 days will result in us charging the full rate card.

Note to advertisers: We go to print on 24th of every month. Copy deadline is 20th of every month. Any advertising space cancelled after the 17th of the month will be charged as standard.

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ST JOHN BOSCO Lifestyle EDUCATION FOOTBALL FOCUS WEEK

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n Tuesday 21st January we welcomed Captain of the Liverpool Womens team and England International Gemma Bonner and England International Natasha Dowie from Liverpool’s extremely successful Womens team for a student question and answer session. This was part of our football focus week in partnership with Liverpool Football Club. Coaches and players worked with over 800 students throughout the week looking at skills and techniques in football as well as 5 a-side games and intra year tournaments. Tuesday saw the question and answer session, here players from LFC Womens team and two of our own successful players enrolled at the Liverpool girls centre of excellence gave students the opportunity to ask questions, meet the players and see the Womens Super League trophy that the LFC Womens team won this season. Students asked

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a whole range of questions and were given some advice and encouragement for achieving their dreams in no matter what their skills and talents.

Alongside this we launched our FA Team 16 initiative, this is a student led, FA funded program bringing additional extra curricular football and intra school competition to our school. As one of only 150 schools nationally to be accepted onto the programme this is a really exciting opportunity.

This was a fantastic week for students raising awarness of the game, inspiring young women to achieve their goals and to work for success.

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Lifestyle EDUCATION MANDARIN ON THE MENU AT MERCHANT TAYLORS

S

ixth formers at Merchant Taylors’ Girls’ School were treated to an authentic Chinese stir fry when their Mandarin teacher taught them the secret to cooking the traditional dish.

The lesson was part of a course run as an optional extra at the school which offers an introduction to the language and culture of Mandarin Chinese. The girls’ teacher, Marylyn Wong, works with Edge Hill University and takes two Year 13 classes on a Wednesday afternoon.

Girls in Year 9’s Gifted and Talented

programme also benefit from lessons and currently follow a basic course. The course will enable them to achieve a preliminary level in the spoken and aural language by the end of the year.

Head of Modern Foreign Languages at the school, Mrs Yvonne Whalley, added, ‘Mandarin still proves a popular choice after being on the timetable for a number of years and is also a very successful option. The girls are delighted with the opportunity it gives them to extend their linguistic skills and the activities have been varied and inspirational.’

SCHOOLS SUCCESS WITH BEHAVIOUR AND ATTENDANCE ATTENDANCE at Liverpool!s secondary schools is at an all-time high, and the number of permanent exclusions across the city!s education system has halved since 2011.

P

ersistent absence (pupils missing more than 15 percent of lessons) also dropped in both sectors – down from 9.92 percent to 8.54 percent in secondary schools and from 5.3 to 5.17 percent in primary schools.

In total, there were 64 permanent exclusions – down four on the previous year – meaning just one in a thousand pupils were completely removed from schools. This is a drop of 50 percent since 2010/11.

Councillor Jane Corbett, Cabinet member

for education, said: “I am particularly pleased at the success we are having in improving attendance in secondary schools and reducing absence caused by holidays in term time.

“We are not complacent and are continuing to work hard with parents, carers and pupils to overcome the often complex reasons why they do not attend school as much as they could.

“Every young person who does not attend or is excluded is damaging their chances of a successful future.”

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WORK TO START ON NEW

HOLLY LODGE GIRLS COLLEGE MAYOR Joe Anderson is to kick start construction of the new £7 million Holly Lodge Girls College in West Derby.

The scheme will see a new main teaching block comprising new humanities classrooms, new arts, music and drama spaces including an activity hall and a new Sixth Form with a central atrium and café area.

It is part of the Liverpool Schools Investment Programme, devised as a rescue package following the scrapping of Wave Six of Liverpool’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project.

The funding - a combination of city council and Government money - was negotiated as part of Liverpool’s City Deal, and will see at least 12 schools receive investment. reduce the number of school buildings, some of which are over 100 years old and unsuited to delivering a modern curriculum.

Mayor Anderson will take part in a turf cutting MP Stephen Twigg and Cabinet member for education, Councillor Jane Corbett.

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: “This investment in Holly Lodge Girls’ College is much needed to make sure pupils get the most out of their learning.

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Lifestyle EDUCATION “This is the fourth scheme that we are starting work on as a result of the City Deal negotiated with Government, helping transform the experience for tens of thousands of present and future school pupils.”

The scheme also includes a small extension to the existing sports hall with new reception.

available to the local community.

Headteacher Julia Tinsley said: “We absolutely love our site but time has caught up with it and it is a sad fact that the age and layout is just not suitable for today’s teaching.

“The new school will address this and enhance the beautiful campus on which the school is built, maintaining the unique character of Holly Lodge.

“We are thrilled and delighted that the girls and facilities they deserve. It will also be a much more environmentally friendly school which will cost us less to heat, maintain and repair.”

The new building is arranged in proximity to which will greatly reduce lost teaching time as a result of pupils having to walk long distances between lessons.

The scheme will include a new pond and landscaped gardens.

It is proposed that around a third of the existing site at the front nearest Queens Drive will be sold when the work is completed.

Kier Construction have been appointed to carry out the work, and a target has been set for 95 percent of it to be subcontracted Hundreds of apprenticeships are also being created through the schools investment programme.

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Lifestyle COMMUNITY NEWS 2014 sees the Brownies enter their centenary year – and they have planned a year-long party to celebrate. With over half a million members across the UK, there are activities and challenges big and small for every Brownie to take part in during 2014.

On Thursday 16th January 2014 the local network of Brownies - Girlguiding Wirral - kicked off their celebrations with a gala night at The Light Cinema, New Brighton.

The cinema was taken over by 1100 Wirral brownies and their leaders, from around 50 different brownie groups, to watch an exclusive showing of the recently released film ‘Frozen’.

Girlguiding is the leading charity for girls and young women in the UK, with 546,406 members. Thanks to the dedication and support of 100,000 amazing volunteers, they are active in every part of the UK, giving girls and young women a space where they can be themselves, have fun, build brilliant friendships, gain valuable life skills and make a positive difference to their lives and their communities. The aim is to build girls’ confidence and raise their aspirations. To give the girls a chance to discover for themselves their full potential and encourage them to be a powerful force for good.

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PINK AND POWERFUL COMMUNITY EVENT

T

his hugely successful community event is held every year by the North Liverpool Academy. Happening this year on Wednesday 12th of February, 6-8pm, it is a celebration of female achievement in enterprise, female empowerment, fashion and beauty. Guests can have a beauty makeover in the Health and Wellbeing area, buy products from the Liverpool Women Enterprise marketplace, have a go at bricklaying or rock climbing in the Challenging Stereotypes zone or see the beautiful local Liverpool designs and boutiques showcasing on the catwalk. For one night only the school also welcomes new girlband M.O, who will be performing.

Tickets are £2.00 and all the money will go to Breast Cancer Care North West. Tickets can be purchased from Reception at North Liverpool Academy, 120 Heyworth Street, Liverpool, L5 0SQ or by calling 0151 260 4044. For more information on the event, or if you would like to be involved as a designer or entrepreneur please email Rebecca Jones r.jones@northliverpoolacademy.co.uk

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!"##$"% ' * ) " ( ' %& Texan born Fitness & Wellbeing expert, Jessie Pavelka is a firm favourite with us and there’s no guessing why! Amanda Moss chats to the smooth talking, buff walking health guru as he launches the Pavelka Health Revolution.

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You’re currently motivating the nation on ITV1’s Daybreak and have a successful Sky programme; Living Fat: The Fight of my Life. What is your message?

To get out there, get fit and eat healthily. I don’t believe in diets. Get moving and get motivated. I am touring the country with Kate Garraway to help people make one change to improve their health and fitness.

Do you ever fell like shouting at people “stop eating and go and exercise!”?

Often weight gain is more complex than that and yes I can get frustrated with people. But what I offer is life changing and I take them on a journey with me to conquer their demons.

I talk to them, I am with them the whole way and I invest my time in them. We go on the ride together. Even when I am not with them, I am in touch daily with the production team and fitness trainers. It can get very emotional.

When did you decide to take up fitness as a career?

It has always been a huge part of my life.

Every since I was like nine years old I was track running with my mom. I have always been athletic and loved sports.

What is the Pavelka Health Revolution?

It is all about lifestyle. It’s not about what you weight or the numbers. It is a community that people can belong to and get 24/7 help, information, inspiration and motivation.

They can download workout routines, menus for the week or watch an inspiring video of someone else’s story. We are calling it the Pavelka House and members are part of a family from whom they can draw support and encouragement. It’s a way to live your life and weight loss in one of the results.

It’s easier to embrace a workout outside in a country where you have the weather.

What do you say to us Brits with our climate to get off the couch?

You should embrace the outdoors and mentally block out the weather. Wrap up, put

on layers of grungy clothes and get outside.

It may be the last thing you want to do but you will feel so much better for it and it makes you feel more positive about your outlook.

Your wife and son are still in the US, is it hard without them?

Of course, they did come and join me for a bit as it is important to have family time, but I think it traumatised him. We’d like to have another child but it’s so difficult with us being on opposite sides of the world. But you women have your ways!

Is working out the same as you get older?

Often we strive to be someone we used to be.

For instance I think of myself as a 20 year old but then I look in the mirror and reality bites.

Your body changes and your mind follows. It is the process of life and you should embrace it. When you are 20 you are at the peak of your physical attraction but now you will be attractive in other ways. You body has gone on a journey and it’s a good thing. It’s all about feeling good and looking after you.

What are your plans for 2014?

To build my profile in the UK and I am currently working on a clothing range for workouts.

How do you cope with the attention you are getting over here?

It’s a nice kind of attention, it’s kind of cool because people come up to me and thank me for motivating them to lose weight or get active. I can walk down the street without getting mobbed. www.pavelka.co.uk

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Lifestyle FOOD GUILT FREE SNACKS

BY JOY LEWIS

I

’m all about the healthy option for snacking in 2014. After many years I have finally realised that snacking in between meals is my main problem – well at least where my waistline is concerned. Crisps, digestives the kids chocolate buttons, I will munch on anything that is within grabbing distance of the kettle. I have also come to terms with my lack of will power, I will never be strong enough not to snack. So I have been on the search for healthy snacking that aren’t full of fat but are still tasty. So far my investigation has led me to a UK family owned company called Good4U. It’s a range of shoots and seeds, that may look like bird food and smell a little funky, they are extremely tasty, low in fat and even claim to be a health booster. So I can have a tub of these next to my lap top and nibble guilt free, result.

Good4U even have Olympians endorsing their guilt free snacks followers. One of which is Melanie Nocher, theIrish Olympic swimmer, she’s is a big fan, "I love Good4U products because with my lifestyle it can be so hard to eat healthy on the go, whereas with the shoots and seeds I can just grab a handful to snack on and know I will be properly fuelled”

The range includes: t

Super shoots is made up of tiny shooting seeds of broccoli, alfalfa, radish and clover – don’t’ be put off – remember when you would touch a vegetable crisp? – these mini shoots are deceptively delicious.

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Lentil, pea and bean shoots - if you chow down a full pot of this you gain 22% of your GDA of protein and 16% of your fibre. The mix contains sprouting seeds from lentils, mung beans, adkuzi beans, chickpeas and green peas. They are quite good in a salad instead of croutons.

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Alfalfa shoots – which reduces cholesterol levels and have a mild pea flavour.

Don’t get me wrong – eating these won’t get you running 5k without the training – but on a Saturday night you can have your glass of vino or 4, safe in the knowledge that you’ve been a good girl all week – well as far as snacking is concerned.

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Lifestyle CELEBRITY

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THE TOWN HALL TAVERN

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t's not just the city centre that's getting a revival.

Wavertree High Street has seen the complete refurbishment of its splendid town hall, which has been converted into stylish function rooms, a restaurant and an open planned bar.

The space is clean and polished yet warmly decorated in earthy browns, reds and creams.

I loved the menu as soon as I walked in with my family. It's proper English tucker and, if you pardon the pun, right up my street.

We had the sharing platter to start with some home made chicken satay skewers.

The platter consisted of chargrilled BBQ chicken wings, crispy tempura vegetables (absolutely gorgeous), onion rings, chargrilled mushrooms and halloumi skewers and garlic bread with melted cheese.

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Lifestyle RESTAURANT REVIEW TOWN HALL TAVERN

Wavertree High Street, Liverpool, L15

0151 733 7021 - www.townhalltavern.com

BY AMANDA MOSS

The portion sizes were generous and very welcome after a little delay in the kitchen bringing them out.

There's pastas, wraps, salads, steaks, grills and burgers.

The kids had a selection of sausage and mash, the usual favourites of chicken nuggets, chips and beans or mushy peas. I had the chicken grill; a white chicken breast marinated in thyme and garlic and served with cheese, bbq sauce, french fries and sizzling onions on a hot platter. It tasted as delightful as its aroma. Juicy and divine.

Simon had the mighty combo of sirloin steak, garlic and herb chicken breast, smokey bacon rashers, sausages, peppers, french fries and onion rings. With his eyes bigger than his waistline he admitted defeat of the challenge to lick his plate clean.

Though he had a good try.

Saxon chose the mini burger platter. Goodness me, it was

enormous! Six mini burgers topped with caramelised red onion, montgomery cheese and serviced with a bucket of fries. He ploughed through it as best he could but we took the leftovers home for our dog.With portions this size no wonder there was no room for deserts.

What is refreshing is that even though we were dining alone, the staff and chef took the time to prepare all the ingredients freshly. Nothing was microwaved and our taste expectations were not disappointed.

Very reasonably priced, great service and on the doorstep of our home, we will be revisiting soon.

And why don't you? With entertainment, live bands and sport scheduled in every weekend it is the perfect place to spend a lazy Sunday. Kids are made to feel incredible welcome which always worth an extra special gold star in my book.

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2013

Lifestyle HEALTH

NATURES SUNSHINE BRINGS US LIQUID CHLOROPHYLL

L

iquid chlorophyll is sunshine in a bottle – apparently. Now please correct me if I’m wrong but I thought that chlorophyll is found in plants and it helps them derive nourishment from the sun? Little did I know that in 2014 you would be able to buy it in liquid from, and it would be hailed as the latest, must have wonder drink and health supplement. And its celebrity endorsed, by Gwyneth Paltrow no less – who apparently swears by it.

But what is it exactly? And what does this “amazing” health supplement actually do? Firstly it is actually that afore mentioned stuff found in plants extracted and delivered to you in liquid form, resembling dark green slime with a bog like pungent smell, yum. Not to worry though, you don’t have to swig directly from the bottle, you just use a few drops in a glass of water. And what does this slime do upon entering your temple like body? It is claimed

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that when diluted with water and consumed, chlorophyll can help to increase the quality and quantity of your red blood cells, improving the efficiency of oxygen transport and, as a result, giving you more energy and improving your well-being. It is also said to be a powerful antioxidant that can protect you from cancer, has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory benefits, helps regulate bowel habits and provides a rapid method of delivery of magnesium, vitamin K, vitamin C, folic acid, iron, calcium and protein. Oh and it cures bad breath.

I’m not one to always follow the latest health fads, but I have done a little research of my own on this and everything I’ve read so far is very positive – people who have tried it seem to be all saying the same thing – that they feel well and healthier. And darn it, if it’s good enough for Gwynie then I might as well give this a go.

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Valentine’s a struggle?

Not sure what to get your better half, or, better still, you? Well Laura Fraser has scoped out some of the best beauty buys and gifts to nudge your partner in the right direction. All, please!

'-3,//$+$()-(',!-$('2$!-,(-&,(7,(, £12, clinique.co.uk.

,-!" ($"(-!"#$-%"'& £4.25; 2$!)-6"0+-4$'+)-2'%%'1$-5'+ £5.50, lush.co.uk.

"+*2/3( &%)"#,! )"2-/"+3-(',!-!'*80$+,(-,(3,%*+$),"( £26, harveynichols.com.

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+$3-+"%$%-*"!"1($ £39-78; +$3-+"%$%-5')4-",! £38, jomalone.co.uk.

+!#! )""-/'*$3-%.$$)4$'+)%&$+/$*)-5!0%4 £26; 5$($/,)-!"!!,),() £24.50, asos.com.

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#*%'%&! &!'()%*+,&),"(-&".$+/0!!,/),(1-*+$'2 £50, origins.co.uk.

To my husband Ashan Mario Gomez. Thank you for always supporting me in all that I do. I know I may not tell you often but I appreciate everything you do, especially the little things. You always push me to try harder and make sure I stick to my goals, I wouldn’t be where I am today without you. For that, I thank you. I love you so much, - Helena.

Lifestyle MESSAGE BOARD

Valentine’s Messages

from you!

in m y To th e th re e men Happy Valentine’s h us b a n d li fe , m y lo ve ly day to my lovely H a ppy a n d t w in b oys, ou y k , th a n boyfriend Pete.

Va le n ti ne’s Day st ie pp a h e th Lots of love fo r m a k ing me r fo d n a , ld - Charlotte xxx gi rl in th e wor ore th a n be ing so much m you more I de se r ve . I lo ve un iverse th a n th e w h ole

x

– Jo y xx #

Happy Valentine’s day to my gorgeo us daughter Chelsea love you millions fr om mummy xx - Pamela Sandison ve your Love Beer – Lo the partner – Love not treat hy W – Bierkeller rt to a meal your sweethea ttle of for 2 plus a bo .99 – then wine FROM £19 away with dance the night Bierkeller entry into the ed for main room includ this the Oompa show 24Valentine’s Day.

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Happy Valen tine’s from all of us at Viva Brazil. How about celebrating with us at Viva Bra zil? Have a romantic Rodizio dinner with a choice of over 15 cuts of meat, a sele ction of seafood, de sserts, Mumm Cor don Rouge Champagne , Caipirinha cocktails an d also a red rose an d a box of chocola tes for your Valenti ne! For more details please call 0151 236 8080.

ubby To my gorgeous h

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kids

I’d be d an ld or w y m e ar # appy lost without you. H

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(& Nummy) xx !

Post your Mother’s Day messages for our March issue.

Email editor@lifestylemonthly.co.uk Send your messages by 18th February.

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.#)# A clutch can dress up any outfit and ASOS’s latest collection are fit for any Valentine. This 3D flowery number ticks the massive SS14 freaky floral trend and looks ten times more than it’s bargain price. £30; asos.com.

Gone with the January blues, hello the February flutters – yep, Valentine’s is upon us already and Laura Fraser has sought some of the best high street finds so that you look your fashionable best whether you’ve got a hot date or celebrating being single.

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Bomber jackets hit stores last season, but fear not, they’re going nowhere and definitely worth some more investment as a key piece. Spring sees a summery update and this quilted tangerine dream screams chic. £129, hobbs.com.

!"##$%"&'& A red laser print lace playsuit will work with tights or bare legs, platforms or flatforms, and the high necklongsleeve combo perfectly balances the clingy fit and loadsa leg.

Perfect for a night on the tiles or a cute day out for two. £34.99; missguided.co.uk.

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)44"-' We love the latest lookbook from one of our fave shoe shops and they haven’t proved us wrong. This amazing monochrome look [we can’t get enough of polonecks and leather still] is perfectly finished with these lace up leather sandals. Yes. Coming soon, office.com.

Every girl needs a decent pencil skirt in her wardrobe. Stand out from the rest with a lace overlay in a bright neon shade that’s as suitable for the office as it is for a night out. £40; riverisland.com.

3)*#()* The three strap stiletto or sandal is the shoe of the season. Get your fix in patent crocodile effect leather.

Fierce. £75; topshop.com.

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!"#$%&'(# Ben Elton is the protean talent whose career has spanned plays, novels, and a feature film, in addition to 30 years as one of the most successful comic writers and performers.

Elton’s musical “Tonight’s the Night” which is inspired by Rod Stewart is launched on its UK tour this year.

It’s been over a decade now since Tonight’s the Night played the West End. What’s your feeling about the show as you return to it in a fresh production this many years on?

I’ve always loved this show for the same reasons that I have always loved the theatre.

What we want to say with this show, in particular, is that there’s nothing wrong with theatre being a fantastic night out that makes you feel great so that you go home feeling better than you did when you arrived – that’s what people are paying for and that’s what the theatre can do.

Your script for Tonight’s the Night involves Satan and a so-called “soul swap” and a geeky young mechanic from Detroit who is none-too-accidentally called Stuart.

How did the idea for the story come to you?

I spent a week listening to Rod’s music intensively, which of course was no hardship at all, and as I listened and listened and listened, I tried to identify the overriding spirit of the songs, which were all about love and good times and winning and losing girls and all the things that quite frankly make for good stories! So I sat down and tried to think of something that would do justice to 26

Rod’s own gift for storytelling and came up with a story that reminds us of that thing we’re always been told over and over again in drama – “to thine own self be true.”

Were you worried about what Rod would think?

I first sent a synopsis of the script to Arnold Stiefel, Rod’s manager, and a co-producer on the show and fortunately he loved it and said that he was going to say that to Rod and hope that he would love it, too. To this day, I’m not sure whether Rod ever read the synopsis or not but what happened was that he came to our workshop and turned to me at the end and said, “Well, you’ve made me a legend, haven’t you?” – which was of course hilarious because he’s been a legend all along!

One last question for now: Was Tonight’s the Night always the obvious song title for your show as a whole?

No and the jury’s still out as to whether this was the right one; Phil McIntyre, our producer, still thinks it should be called Hot Legs!

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27

Lifestyle MUSIC BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - HIGH HOPES ALBUM MUSIC REVIEW

BY JOY LEWIS

T

he Boss is back. Bruce Springsteen has triumphantly scored his 11th No. 1 album with High Hopes. The set, which Columbia Records released on 14th January sold 99,000 copies in the first week.

Springsteen has now pulled ahead of Elvis Presley's chart-topping record to nab third place, after the Beatles, 19 No. 1 LP’s and Jay Z’s 13 No. 1 LP’s What's more, the

28

heartland hero is the only artist (band or individual) to put up a No. 1 in each of the last four decades.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not a big Bruce fan, of course I know and like all the main songs, but not enough to have them on my itunes.

He’s 64 years of age and has spent the last few years touring the globe playing to his many adoring fans. I expected this album to be

made just for them, the die hard fans, full of fillers and cobbled together tunes.

But I was wrong, very very wrong. This is an artist right at the top of his game.

High Hopes features previously unreleased, unheard material from the past 10 years and covers or reinterpretations of past hits.

But don’t let this put you off.

The first listen will allay any fears that Bruce is past his best. I haven’t got enough room to take you through each individual track and tell you how fresh, up to date, and perfectly put together each and every song is. But you will be pleased to know that there are at least 3 anthems on the album that will have you performing air guitar to, or singing at the top of your voice whilst sat waiting at the traffic lights.

And it’s not just Bruce’s fans that put High Hopes straight in at No1,over half of the sales so far have been digital – meaning the under 35 year group are becoming fans too.

My verdict – 4/5 stars

Lifestyle MUSIC FESTIVAL

For more information visit thecapstonetheatre.com

LIVERPOOL INTERNATIONALhop band Portishead and fresh from a European and JAZZ FESTIVAL

W

ith just a few weeks to go until the Liverpool International Jazz Festival is upon us, The Capstone Theatre is gearing up for another fantastic foot stomping hip swinging event.

Running from Thursday 27th February – Sunday 2nd March 2014, this year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever!

Headlining and opening the festival on Thursday 27th February is celebrated British jazz pianist and multiaward winner Jason Rebello.

Labelled a veteran by critics at the age of just 19, Rebello has since collaborated with some of the most highly regarded artists in the industry, including Jeff Beck and Sting.

On Friday 28th February, unique Anglo-American jazz ‘supergroup’ The Impossible Gentlemen will perform tracks from their new album. Already being

tipped for the 2014 “bestof” lists (Allaboutjazz.com) Internationally Recognised Aliens also features the band’s newest line-up, Steve Rodby, former bass player with the Pat Metheny Group.

On Saturday 1st March the ever evolving music of Unfurl will take audiences on a journey that combines Indian ragas, flamenco and Arabic music, while Blue Touch Paper will perform exciting tracks from their brand new album Drawing Breath.

Rounding off a high energy weekend on Sunday 2nd March the festival culminates with another two concerts.

Firstly Stuart McCallum Trio collaborates with Real Strings while the second instalment of the day comes from one of the UK’s most exciting live bands, award winning Get The Blessing. Featuring members of legendary trip

American tour, their unique signature sound never loses its monstrously infectious beats and spontaneity.

The Weave, a collection of Liverpool’s most established jazz musicians, and acclaimed jazz pianist Jamil Sheriff in a trio with Dave Walsh on drums and Pete Turner on double bass, both perform on Saturday 1st March. While on Sunday 2nd March, there will be performances from ACV, an experimental contemporary jazz quintet from North East England and classic and contemporary sax quartet HSQ are joined by Rachael Gladwin on harp and percussionist Phil Bennett to form HSQ +2.

This joyous jazz extravaganza made a lasting mark on the city when launched in 2013 and continues to attract the finest collections of contemporary and swinging, soulful jazz music and artists the genre has to offer every year.

29

Lifestyle MUSIC

PENGUIN CAFE

P

enguin Café is finally coming to Liverpool.

You might not know them but you will know their music which has been used for countless theme tunes. They've played almost every festival and sold out the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms. I caught up with Arthur, one of the band members to find out a bit more about this unusual and elusive group.

Penguin Café perform at the Epstein Theatre on Monday 24th February 2014 – to book tickets visit www.epstein.ticketline.co.uk

The penguin cafe is a place my dad dreamed about in 1972 after eating some bad shellfish.

He dreamed of a nightmare dystopian near-future where people spent their lives looking at screens, wearing headphones and generally not connecting with each other. It was a de-humanised, disconnected way of life which one could reject by looking further afield - down the road where one could find the Penguin Cafe. This is a noisy, cheerfully chaotic and strangely familiar place where one can always find music being played in the back that one recognises from somewhere but can't quite place. The band playing the music was the Penguin Cafe Orchestra. My dad woke up and started writing the music that would be played by that band for next the 25 years until his death in the late 90's.

In the late 2000's I started playing his music again along with my own and we call it Penguin Cafe.

WHAT

IS

THE

PENGUIN

CAFE?

A group of friends with a variety of musical backgrounds - Des Murphy (Delakota), Neil Codling (Suede), Cass Browne (Gorillaz,

WHO

30

ARE

THE

PENGUIN

CAFE?

Senseless Things) Tom Chichester Clarke (film score editor - Kingdom of Heaven), Pete Radcliffe (King Salsa), Rebecca Waterworth (Bat For Lashes), Darren Berry (Razorlight, The Trojans), Andy Waterworth (Damian Lazarus), Oli Langford (Florence and the Machine) and the list goes on...

What type of music do you play? The closest we've come this year is to call it minimalist chamber-folk. Over the years Penguin Cafe music has been put in almost every genre except for anything where the second word is 'metal'.

WHAT IS THE IDEA BEHIND THE PENGUIN CAFE? We started playing my dad's music because we love it and the musical world it inhabits. We try to continue what the first PCO started - namely to be playful, challenging and innovative while still connecting with the heart.

WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT FROM THE

We've been getting the new album, The Red Book, ready to play live - so a lot of that plus some pieces from my fathers day we've not done yet. Also a bunch of the old favourites!

TOUR?

Sun 23rd February, 7:30pm.

Standard £21.50 Concession £19.50 Under 16s £16.00

Sat 1st March, 7:30pm.

Standard £15.00 Concession £13.00 Family £45.00

Thu 20th to Sat 22nd March.

Thu, 1:30pm. Fri & Sat, 10:30am & 1:30pm.

Standard £11.00 Schools £8.00

Fri 14th to Sat 15th March, 7:30pm.

Standard £20.00 Concession £18.00

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& % $ # !"

American pop singer and actress from Denver, Colorado, Camryn first caught attention through a series of YouTube videos she posted in 2010, which led to her first tour. Recently, she joined One Direction on their Up All Night Tour. She was asked to rejoin the boys for their 63 sell-out Take Me Home Tour. Such talent and success for one who is only 14.

First of all, we have to talk about this year, the Take Me Home tour, new music, pretty incredible, right?

This year has been pretty crazy. Touring all of Europe was amazing, and finally releasing Lovesick was great.

Your discography is already amazing, but how excited are you for your new music?

Do you have a favourite track yet?

I am really excited and nervous. I would have to say so far, my favourite track is one called ‘Rubies & Diamonds’. It’s about all the things you want out of life. You have to follow your dreams, you have to work at the relationships you have to make them what you want them to be. Nothing in life is free, or easy – this song is just a reminder of that.

You’re only 14, but you’ve been all over the world. Out of all the places, where has been your favourite city to visit?

I think my favourite places were Tivoli in Copenhagen and Juliet’s Balcony in Verona.

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Daniel Bird caught up with 14 year old singing sensation to talk music, 1D tours and 2014..

Even though you’re learning on the road, do you miss being in a school classroom?

I do from time to time, mostly because I miss seeing my friends every day. But we still facetime, and when a teacher isn’t on the road with me I do school over facetime with her as well. So I’m never too far from the people who matter most to me.

Do you miss home whilst you’re on the road? It must be pretty tough to be away from your hometown for so long.

It definitely gets hard, especially when you’re on such a big tour that’s gone for so long.

There were no breaks on the Take Me Home Tour where we could go home. We were out here in Europe for over 4 months, and living on a bus for a good month of that. It gets hard, but the moment you get to go home and just fall in your bed, you take advantage of that. I’m pretty sure I didn’t leave my room for a good week after getting home.

So many people call you their inspiration, who inspires you everyday?

I definitely look up to Mariah Carey a lot. I met her when I was younger and she was the first celebrity who ever told me to follow my dreams. And that has definitely been a reminder for when things get hard on the road. This is what I want to do and I just have to keep putting myself out there and making the music I enjoy making!

33

ELLEN KENT RETURNS TO LIVERPOOL NEXT MONTH WITH TWO EPIC VERDI OPERAS

Lifestyle OPERA

Aida with a stunning wall of fire and Nabucco with amazing special effects.

International solo sopranos Elena Dee, Olga Busuioc and Zarui Vardanean, and tenor Sorin Lupu to perform.

J

ealousy, revenge, hopeless romance and a breath-taking wall of fire bring epic Verdi operas Aida and Nabucco to life in award-winning opera producer Ellen Kent’s new tour, which visits Liverpool next month.

Pyrotechnic displays and lighting effects help bring Ellen’s love of large-scale productions to the local stage, complete with stunning scenery depicting the splendour and mystery of ancient Egypt and the beautiful hanging gardens of Babylon.

Ellen said: “I feel I can indulge myself in these operas. I try my best to give the audience the feeling of something epic.”

The celebrated Chisinau National Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra, with international guest soloists, visit the Liverpool Empire on February 7 (Nabucco) and February 8 (Aida).

Ellen’s production of Aida includes temple dancers, cages of exotic birds and parrots, ballet sequences, beautiful pillared sets with intricate tomb paintings, Bedouin dancers, a bathing scene and the ceremonial march 34

with a pyrotechnic display where a wall of fire extends across the stage in a massive burst of flames.

Amazing poi fire spinners come out of the firewall with a dazzling display of fire wheels and live flames to mark the jubilant celebrations of the classic Triumphal march.

About 40 local dancers, children and adults, join the 80-strong cast as slaves and soldiers on stage.

The tale focusses on Ethiopian princess Aida, who is captured and brought into slavery in Egypt. Military commander Radames falls in love with Aida and struggles between his feeling for her and his loyalty to the Pharaoh. Pharaoh’s daughter Amneris also loves Radames and they are due to be wed, although Radames still yearns for Aida, who persuades him to flee into the desert with her.

But Radames is found out and surrenders, condemned to be entombed alive. As he is sealed into the vault, he discovers Aida has hidden herself there so they can be together in death.

Lifestyle OPERA Ellen said: “Basically, it’s the big one. The biggest, most spectacular opera. In my opinion, it’s the best score Verdi ever wrote. It’s exotic and interesting and the music is simply spectacular.”

Nabucco has a similar place in Ellen’s heart as Twenty One years after it launched her opera career, award-winning producer Ellen Kent brings the Verdi classic back to the stage with the well-known and emotionally-haunting Va Pensiero sung in its original setting and sure to bring a tear to the eye.

The ensemble number, a favourite of choral societies and choirs and often better known as The Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves, is set on the banks of the River Euphrates as the captured are taken to be slaughtered.

Ellen said: “At my first performance of Nabucco, people sat outside in the pouring rain with the thunder and lightning, then gave it a standing ovation. It was such an adventure.”

Since then Ellen has produced and directed about 100 operas and entertained more than four million people with her tours of the UK and Ireland.

Nabucco was Ellen’s first foray into opera in 1993 in an open-air production to an audience of 7,000 at Rochester Castle with a cast flown over from Romania in Ceausescu’s former plane borrowed from the country’s president.

Ellen continues: “At one point I did wonder, as I stood on the runway as the plane landed and rolled to a halt not far from my feet with 200 Romanian artists looking out the window, what on earth I was doing. But by the end I knew, that was it - opera was for me. It was a massive occasion. Nabucco is a political opera about people fighting for their freedom. It was written as a gesture, a cry for freedom, to show that people should be free and able to do their own thing in life.”

The opera follows the plight of the Hebrews as they are conquered and sentenced to death by the Babylonian King Nabucco (Nebuchadnezzar). A complicated romantic plot provides the detail with a love triangle combined with power play, religion and death.

Amazing stage and lighting effects recreate the burning of Solomon’s temple as jealousy and destruction drive the king to madness.

About 30 local dancers, children and adults, join the 80-strong cast as slaves and soldiers on stage.

Verdi composed Nabucco just after his wife and children had died, but saw it as the opera with which his artistic career really began. A choir of 800 sang Va Pensiero at his burial.

The tour features celebrated International solo sopranos Elena Dee, Olga Busuioc and Zarui Vardanean, and Tenor Sorin Lupu.

For more information go to www.ellenkent.com or follow on Twitter @OperaBalletIntl

35

MERSEYSIDE DANCE INITIATIVE TO COLLABORATE WITH FEVERED

Lifestyle CULTURE

M

erseyside Dance Initiative – MDI - are thrilled to announce a three-year partnership project with Fevered Sleep, a London based company who have a reputation for producing challenging cross-art performances, interventions and installations and for their work exploring the natural environment.

An Infinite Line: Merseyside is a project inspired by the quality of natural light on Merseyside’s coast and estuaries, from West Kirby in the south to Southport in the north.

The project will explore how the landscape, architecture, weather, and water of Merseyside animate and inflect people’s experience of light; and how the light draws attention to the diverse features of the Merseyside coast.

Merseyside is a place defined by movement (shifting landscapes and peoples, the ebbs and flows of the tides, river crossings, shipping traffic and coastal paths) The project will draw on collaborative research with people who move around Merseyside’s coasts and estuaries as part of their daily lives: ferry captains, dog walkers, runners, cockle pickers, fishermen, shell collectors, meteorologists, swimmers, windsurfers, park rangers and many more.

The project will be delivered in three stages with the first stage beginning on January 23rd 2014 with the first of 12 monthly visits

by David Harradine, Fevered Sleep’s Artistic Director. The second and third stages of the project will involve the development of public interventions and actions around

36

sites along the coastline and the making and screening of a film capturing the project celebrating Merseyside as a place that is always on the move.

Rachel Rogers, Project Development Manager at MDI says ‘MDI are really excited to announce this partnership and to get it up and running. It will be a great opportunity for us to collaborate and create site specific work with one of the UK’s most exciting performance companies. The project will also provide opportunities for local people, communities and artists to get involved so watch this space!’

David Harradine, Artistic Director of Fevered Sleep says ‘We’re delighted to be working with MDI on the next incarnation of this project. I have been inspired by the infinite variability of Merseyside’s light for some time and I’m very much looking forward to starting my research trips this January. The opportunity to engage and collaborate with local communities as this piece develops,

Lifestyle COMPETITION LIVERPOOL ONE

Check out www.odeon.co.uk or the ODEON app for more info and film times.

DIRTY DANCING In the box at the top on the left hand side, could you change“on”to “and”, under that could you add a title like Showing this Valentine’s Days, could you add a bit about our Dirty Dancing screening Dirty Dancing Experience this classic 1987 American romance on the big screen for one night only.

MR. PEABODY AND SHERMAN MR. PEABODY AND SHERMAN is an all-new comedy adventure for the whole family. Emmy Award winner Ty Burrell (Modern Family) voices Mr. Peabody, the world’s smartest person who happens to be a dog. When his “pet” boy Sherman, voiced by Max Charles (The Amazing Spider-Man), uses their timetraveling WABAC machine without permission, events in history spiral out of control to disastrous and comical results. It’s up to this most unexpected of father-son teams to somehow put things back on track before the space-time continuum is irreparably destroyed.

Mr. Peabody and Sherman is released on 7th February at ODEON Liverpool ONE in 3D.

ENDLESS LOVE Endless Love stars Alex Pettyfer (Magic Mike) and Gabriella Wilde (The Three Musketeers) in the story of a privileged girl and a charismatic boy whose instant desire sparks a love affair made only more reckless by parents trying to keep them apart.

Directed by Shana Feste (Country Strong), the romantic drama costars Robert Patrick, Bruce Greenwood, Rhys Wakefield, Dayo Okeniyi, Emma Rigby and Joely Richardson. Scott Stuber and Pamela Abdy (Identity Thief ) of Bluegrass Films are joined by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage (Gossip Girl) of Fake Empire to produce the film from writers Feste and Joshua Safran (Gossip Girl).

WIN!

A family ticket and a Mr. Peabody and Sherman merchandise pack!

To enter email editor@lifestylemonthly.co.uk with the word MR. PEABODY AND SHERMAN in the subject box. The winner will be notified by email. The editors decision is final.

37

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40

The Overtones: Mark, Mike, Darren, Timmy and Lachie started off as decorators, but when the right person overheard singing during a tea-break, they were immediately signed up for a 5 album deal, changing their lives forever. I caught up with them to chat about the success of their 3rd album, “Saturday Night at the Movies” and their upcoming tour which is starting this month.

Hi guys, how’s the album going?

We’ve been overwhelmed by the response to our new album “Saturday Night at the Movies” since it came out in November. From hitting the charts at Number 6, performing with Beverly Knight on the West End stage and appearing on the Xtra Factor it was a busy ol’ run up to Christmas to say the least.

We’re really proud of this album and it’s been great to perform classics from such iconic films as Pretty Woman, Dirty Dancing and Jungle Book.

You’re not a manufactured band – how did you get spotted?

Having decided to form a decorating company as a way to rehearse together on the job, we were spotted on a break as we were practicing for a gig. It sounds crazy but the truth is we would sing everywhere, on the tube, down the cafe or walking down the street so I guess it was only a matter of time before somebody spotted us. (Or locked us up for disturbing the peace!)

##

Joy Lewis chats to the decorators turned top ten recording artists..

Describe the bands sound?

We refer to The Overtones sound as Vintage Pop. It’s those songs of yesteryear with a modern flavour. We love shedding light on those timeless classics from the 50’s and 60’s.

They are songs that seem to appeal across the generations, in fact we’ve been known to have Grandma, mother and daughter come to our concerts together which is amazing to see!

You’re on tour and coming to Liverpool on February 10th, what can fans expect from your show?

We love to throw a good party, that’s what our tours are all about. Dusting off your dancing shoes and letting loose for the evening. We can’t wait to get on the road and spread some movie magic around the UK. As well as songs from Saturday Night At The Movies they’ll be highlights from our other 2 albums and, of course, a few surprises too!

Plus, we know how Liverpool loves a good party so bring it on!

NOW OPEN !"#$%&'()#*'+))'

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LUSH SPA

I

was invited recently to try the new Hard Day’s Night treatment at the Lush Spa in Liverpool. It’s a brand new style of treatment – designed by the wonderful people at Lush.

To be honest I was a little nervous. Going for a massage is new to me, so a spa treatment in the middle of the day put me firmly in alien territory. However, all my fears were allayed upon arrival when I was met by Sarah the therapist. She took me upstairs to the spa area, which is designed like a British country kitchen – slightly kitsch with tea served in a cup a saucer to be slurped whilst sitting upon Ercol furniture. I very quickly realised that this was going to be refreshingly different to the spar experience I had imagined.

I was then led into the treatment room. To get changed, and ring the bell when I was ready. Thankfully there was be no stripping off and nervously getting under a scratchy sheet in the knack.

A HUGE pair of Morecambe and Wise style pj’s were provided, that had been lovingly wrapped around a hot water bottle so they were all nice and toasty.

42

Lifestyle SPA REVIEW

After an hour long combination of deep full body massage interspersed with gentle passive stretches which was all done while classic Beatles songs played in the background, I was left alone to relax and get changed.

No oils were used – mainly because you are fully dressed – which is great because once the treatment was finished I could carry on with my day, albeit feeling like a ballerina and smiling serenely at everyone I passed.

Before leaving I rejoined Sarah for a pot tea and two jammy dodgers – and to collect my parting gift, a Golden Slumbers bath bomb.

Would I recommend this?

Hell yea – my body leads a stressful life, lugging around wriggling twin toddlers, shopping bags, a laptop, and a buggy that’s the length of a bus. In short I’m ready for the knackers yard. But after this treatment – I felt light as a butterfly, completely stress

free and what’s more, this feeling lasted for two days.

The Hard Day’s Night treatment is exclusive to Lush Spa Liverpool. To find out more, or to book an appointment, telephone Lush Spa Liverpool on 0151 236 6952.

43

Anne Bowcock @Makeupby_Anne Facebook.com/annebowcockmakeupartist

Lifestyle BEAUTY MAKE YOUR OWN WAY! likes of those icons. Their look was effortlessly beautiful and showcases the ‘less is more’ concept and how a woman’s natural beauty in a sultry yet classy way can highlight how glamorous a woman can look. In a way I like to mix it up with some Vintage, Glamour and Natural but with a modern day twist - using fashion as inspiration.

A

s a makeup artist, there are so many avenues to venture down and finding your creative side can be quite daunting. However, the creative opportunities with makeup are endless, intriguing and inspiring. Finding your own niche and makeup genre can be a struggle as the urge to do a bit of everything is so tempting because you want to ‘show off’ your skills and ability in order to make yourself more marketable. I find a lot of makeup artists do tend to ‘select’ a genre, or fall into one based on working with different makeup artists within that category, or having a certain flare and style that they keep referring to and recreating and this is how they are producing their best work.

I, myself do like all aspects of makeup, as each genre allows you to demonstrate your own creative flare and interpretation of a look, however I have a passion for Real Glamour. Think the Hollywood Golden Era; Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and the 44

Makeup, as well as fashion continues to evolve - sometimes certain trends remain - come back with a twist or even create something new. Eras and trends cross over offering something different which as a makeup artist is exciting as well as inspiring, as this allows your very own creative skills and your individuality and passion to evolve, develop and inspire others.

We are never too old to learn something new, and it is great to share your knowledge and skills with others as it helps us all to develop and stretch ourselves and produce our best work.

For those wanting to start a career in make up there are many courses and one day modules available, none more so than right on our own door step with Artdeco Make Up Academy. Based in Woolton, Liverpool Artdeco offer 5 different modules starting with Starter/Basic Training Day and building onto any of the following Bridal/Fashion & Media/ Photographic/ Period & Vintage.

Once the basic starter module has been completed you can select any if not all of the other modules, depending on the route you want to take.

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Yes you did read that correctly – Channel 4’s historical drama, The Mill was so successful that a second series has been commissioned.

Joy Lewis finds out all about will be returning to our screens later this year.

When I heard this news I was so excited. I loved this series, for me it ticked all the boxes, period drama, gritty, strong female lead characters and petticoats - loving those petticoats and wishing everyday that they come back into fashion.

The new six-part series will cover the period between 1838 -1842 and focus on a time of great political change following the Poor Act Amendment of 1834 which made a distinction between “deserving” and “undeserving” poor.

Just in case you missed the first series – the storyline is inspired by the Greg family, the original founders and owners of Quarry Bank Mill, and the Mill’s apprentices who worked there. It’s set in 1833 and depicts the brutal early years of the Industrial Revolution. But make no mistake, this is no Downton Abbey with its teacups, polite conversation with handsome men doffing their hats. This is savage, pitiless, dark and hard hitting drama where you will get so embroiled with the characters and their fates that you will be outraged on their behalf and worry about them all week long.

It’s not just Channel 4 and my 46

entertainment that are the only winners here. The news is a fantastic boost for the Cheshire National Trust property in Styal.

The Trust embarked upon a mammoth £1.4 million fundraising drive in early 2013 to help reveal the full story of the mill’s past.

They are hoping that the second series will boost visitor figures once again as while the first series was being aired in August last year Quarry Bank say its visitor figures rise by 60% which was a huge boost to its revenue. General Manager Eleanor Underhill said: “We’re delighted with the news that Channel 4 has decided to commission this second series of The Mill and we’re looking forward to welcoming the cast and crew back. Quarry Bank is an amazing place and it’s great that so many people want to find out more about its fascinating history” For more information on Quarry Bank Mill: nationaltrust.org.uk/quarry-bank-mill

Lifestyle MUSIC

CAST

M

erseyside four piece Cast are the latest band to be given the deluxe reissue treatment with their four original albums, ‘All Change’ (1995), ‘Mother Nature Calls’ (1997), ‘Magic Hour’ (1999) and ‘Beetroot’ (2001) released on 3rd February on Edsel Records. Undoubtedly the definitive editions of the band’s catalogue, each deluxe remastered 2CD+DVD* release comes with original artwork, high-quality new packaging, exclusive bonus audio, extra tracks including live and session tracks, plus new sleeve notes and new interviews with Cast frontman John Power.

As one of the most traditional guitar bands to emerge during the Brit-pop era of the mid'90s, Cast fast became a popular band in the UK following the success of Oasis and Blur.

Led by vocalist/guitarist John Power, Cast carved out a sound that was heavily indebted to the British Invasion of the early '60s, yet it was infused with a mystical, pseudo-hippie lyrical sensibility.

What really made Cast into a success was Power's gift for simple, classic pop hooks. A band of the people, frontman John Power came with sufficient previous form (The La’s) and garrulous charm to ensure that critical fondness was never far away. Labelled ‘The Who of the 90’s’, Noel Gallagher once described watching Cast play live as “a religious experience.”

Celebrate Valentines Day at Jurys Inn Liverpool Friday 14th February 2014 Enjoy a romantic sharing starter, main meal and sharing dessert including a glass of prosecco each and a little gift for your special someone ALL THIS FOR JUST £29.95 PER PERSON

To make a booking call 0151 244 3777

47

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Who could forget the young ones? Not Laura Fraser. She’s sought the best of the high street and found River Island have got a whole host of clobber that will keep your kids looking fresh and your bank balance healthy.

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You could mistake these for your own, no? Well they’re not – get your younger girls looking cute and fabulous in tropical print jumpsuits and button through tea dresses.

Printed jumpsuit, £18; bunny printed dress, £15.

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These casual but cool pieces are an easy option and will last from the chillier months now until the summer with shorts.

Denim jacket, £25; navy fisherman jumper, £15.

#&(*"%+.(1++* You could almost mistake them for being out of your own wardrobe.

Girls silver sandals, £20; boys navy desert boots, £30.

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48

An orange A-line dress with white lace overlay is the perfect summer party outfit and turning up jeans and adding a skinny white belt with a tucked in shirt is a fun way to smarten up the look.

All available at riverisland.com.

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123

Lifestyle FASHION

H

ave you heard of Girl Meets Dress yet? It’s the leading online rental service where us ladies can borrow the hottest designer dresses, www.girlmeetsdress.com. This website really could become my new best friend, and the answer to my bank manager’s prayers.

Here’s how it works; the weekend is coming up you have a date or a big event to go to.

You need a new frock and you haven’t got time to go trolling around the shops for hours on end, and if you are anything like me, the space on your Barclaycard might be a little slim.

This is where girl meets dress comes to the rescue, they have thousands of different designer outfits from over 150 different brands that they can rent to you at a fraction of the retail price. This is the genius bit – they then will deliver the dress to you, at your home, the office, wherever you want – and all you have to do is have fun in it then send it back to them in the post when you’re done.

They even provide return postage labels.

I really quite like this idea. I know renting outfits isn’t a new concept. But up until now my perception of renting a dress conjured up images of stuffy upstairs mothball riddled Mother of the Bride rental shops. However, this take on the rent a dress idea is new, it’s a dream wardrobe, up to date and most importantly stocked full of outfits that you actually want to be seen in.

Girl Meets Dress is on a mission, to democratize luxury. They believe that everybody deserves a Cinderella experience.

I agree, I always want to look good and in a new dress every time I go out – who doesn’t?

They provide millions of women the ability to rent designer dresses and accessories, allowing us to look and feel, fabulous for all of our special occasions. Without clogging up our own wardrobes with outfits that we can never wear again.

50

Diva Sophia, Black Adrianna Dress, hire £29

Prices start from £29 for 2 nights. Same returns policy as online shopping – if you don’t wear it you get a refund ...and they even take care of the dry cleaning.

McQ Alexander McQueen, Tartan Print Dress, hire £49

NLY, Jules Dress Black, hire £29

NLY, Dare Dress, hire £29

Lifestyle CULTURE HYPEGLO LTD COMPANY DIRECTOR SOPHIE BOWMAN BRINGING YOU THE BEST OF LONDON EVERY MONTH! - IT'S A LONDON THING @HYPEGLO

I

t’s that time of year again; the ‘Make or break’ month for many relationships, and a time for all the single ladies (and men) to organise the singleton’s alternative to Valentine’s Day.

EATON HOUSE STUDIO

Going abroad is expensive, so why not book a weekend away to the most cosmopolitan City in the UK? This month, I’ve compiled a list of the coolest hotels to stay in when visiting London.

CANNIZARO HOUSE

is a beautiful hotel & wedding venue located in Wimbledon village.

The perfect picturesque venue to enjoy a luxurious weekend away, and maybe even ‘pop the question’ (if you dare?) Request the romantic package & enjoy a romantic candlelit meal whilst rose petals & tea lights are set up in your room. Price from £259.

cannizarohouse.com

THE PAVILION

Pop the question in style, or organise the ultimate weekend away to remember in Essex’s ridiculously cool Eaton House Studio. With past guests including rapper Iggy Azalea, it’s clear to see why this venue is so in demand.

A 2 night stay will set you back £2,500 (for up to 12 guests) & you get the whole venue exclusively!

For an eccentric fashion Rock ‘N’ Roll affair, stay at The Pavilion. Quote Lifestyle monthly for a groovy 25% discount on a double room from just £82.50.

Enjoy the magical gardens featuring an outdoor fireplace, hot tub & pink flamingos. eatonhousestudio.com

Quoted by Harper’s & Queen Magazine as ‘London’s chicest little hotel’, you’ll be within staggering distance of the West End nightlife.

51

Lifestyle TRAVEL ST KITTS SENDS THE WORLD A MUSICAL INVITATION

By turns sumptuous and seductively shabby, St Kitts - or Saint Christopher’s Island - has seen a surge in global interest thanks to its increasingly popular annual music festival.

N

ow in its 17th year the St Kitts music festival held at Bassettere’s Warner Park cricket stadium was jam-packed with revellers, known in the islands as ‘limers’, taking in dozens of acts from local rap, soca and reggae artists to international superstars.

The three-day party culminated in spectacular form with none other than Lionel Richie taking to the stage and telling fans: “Sugar City, I don’t know why it has taken me so long to get here, but I am here to stay!”

To the delight of the crowd, the soul icon added: “I’ve been all around, but now I understand what Shaggy was saying, ‘You’re gonna come here and you’re not gonna wanna leave, brother!’”

The chart-topping Jamaican pop star Shaggy had headlined the second night, among 52

other artists including reggae legend Beres Hammond and veteran calypsonian, Relator.

At just 68-square miles, St Kitts is one of the Caribbean’s smaller islands, but just as wellstocked with pristine beaches and plenty of other sights, all within easy reach.

While some might prefer to lounge in all-inclusive luxury, the adventurous can also explore pretty much everything the island has to offer in just a few days. Small as it is, wide areas remain agricultural or undeveloped, thanks in part to the closure of its sugar mills in 2005, pushing tourism and offshore finance to the fore as the island’s main revenue-earners.

St Kitts’ colourful half-millennium among the expanded horizons of the New World started when Christopher Columbus landed there in 1493. Possession of the coveted Caribbean jewel has since changed hands several times: firstly, from its indigenous Kalinago Indian or ‘Carib’ inhabitants to British and French settlers, before in-fighting saw it pass back and forth until the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, where Britain finally laid claim to the island in its entirety.

Lifestyle TRAVEL I stayed at the St. Kitts Marriott on the northern part of Frigate Bay. Its white-sand Atlantic coast beach, sprawling swimming pools and proximity to plenty of bars and restaurants make this a great place to stay, swim and soak up the sun during the day. However, it’s a colossal hotel resort for such a small island, especially when you factor in its arena-sized casino floor.

If it’s peace and quiet you seek in a more refined setting, the 18th Century Ottley’s Plantation Inn - set on a 35-acre hillside estate on the island’s northeast coast - is the last word in luxury accommodation on the island. Here you can dine in style while drinking in the surroundings at the Royal Palm Restaurant.

Excellent dining is also to be had at the Waterfalls, offering local dishes such as cornmeal dumplings or ‘johnnycakes’, and green bananas in lime-butter sauce, framed by superb views of the harbour from its openair veranda. Ballahoo meanwhile serves up enticing blackened grouper and salt-fish on a breezy balcony overlooking Basseterre’s bustling centre, worthy of island-time indulgence while people-watching.

On the southeast peninsula, Reggae Beach offers probably the best beach on the island to swim, sunbathe and snorkel in relative solitude. Cockleshell Bay, encompassing Reggae Beach, is a secluded three-kilometre stretch of powder-white sand with a great view of nearby Nevis across the channel that separates the two islands, the Narrows.

For night-life, a favoured hangout for Kittitians, visitors and students from the island’s US veterinary college is The Strip on Frigate Bay, where dozens of beach shacks serve cocktails, local Caribbean beer and rum punches into the early hours.

In this lively avenue of action; peeling, weatherworn huts sell bootleg rum alongside smart upmarket bars mixing mojitos, club music and reggae to keep all comers happy.

Here you can hit open-air dance floors with or without a major music festival in town, or simply sit around a beach fire and marvel at the stars.

The perfect remedy to partying too hard on the Strip is a relaxed coastline cruise aboard Mr X’s catamaran, which leaves from the Shiggidy Shack Bar and Grill at Frigate Bay. The tour navigates the waters around the island’s south peninsula, whose rainforests double as nature reserves rich in wildlife, including monkeys, goats and the island’s national bird, the pelican. Dive in and snorkel off the ship-wreck at the southern-most point and you’ll be feeling fresh in no time, surrounded by an underwater paradise of coral sponges, lobster, sting rays, turtles and parrot fish.

By Travel Journalist Richard Powell 53

NATIONAL TRAILS PLUS WALK UNLIMITED EQUALS UNLIMITED WALKING!

Lifestyle OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

W

alking is soo in vogue right now, you can even get walking boots with a very stylish wedge.

Walking is cheap, healthy, aids weight loss and if you opt for coloured boots or a patterned walking stick you can even look good while doing it. Cue the new National Trails website, www.nationaltrail.co.uk it’s packed with practical information and new maps for the 15 National Trails in England and Wales offering over 2,500 miles of some of the best walking, riding and cycling experiences for people who love outdoor adventures. National Trails pass through many stunning and diverse landscapes, and there is something to suit everyone: from short walks to a life-changing 630 mile long-distance coastal trek.

The web site, is the result 54

of an innovative partnership between Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, and site developer and owner, Walk Unlimited. The site uses high quality mapping thanks to support from the Ordnance Survey, showing the Trails in great detail as well as nearby attractions and facilities to visit – such as castles, churches, parks and museums.

Recommended itineraries for walking and cycling are easily downloadable, and there are ideas for tailored outings such as geocaching trails too. Families, outdoor enthusiasts and walkers – solo or in groups – can use the website with ease to plan the best exploration of our National Trails.

Trail users and local residents can upload content including photographs, word-of-

mouth recommendations and reviews, plus details of visitor events. Together they give an insider’s view on National Trails, from where to eat fabulous ice cream, to where to see spectacular views, find hidden treasures and spot wonderful wildlife.

They can even use the site to report any relevant ‘breaking news’ issues – making the website a topical, as well as useful, resource for planning your Trail visit.

Emyr Roberts Chief Executive of Natural Resources Wales said: “Walking is hugely popular in Wales with both local people and visitors who enjoy our beautiful and varied countryside – bringing with them a welcome boost to our economy.

Lifestyle PROPERTY I’ve been continuing my work with Silverline and spending some time in front of the camera to help showcase their extensive range of tools. I truly believe that their range is second-to-none and has something for every DIY job imaginable; it is their quantity as well as their quality that makes them such a fantastic brand!

Craig Phillip’s DIY...

Hello Lifestyle Readers!

The New Year is in full swing and I hope you’re all still keeping up your resolutions! After a fantastic holiday skiing in Austria, it’s shaping up to be another busy year for me which is exactly the way I like it!

As well as Silverline, another brand who I work closely alongside is Blåkläder, the leading Swedish workwear brand who produce high-quality products for hard-working people. Their range of clothing is designed to withstand the elements and is extensively tested to ensure it is the highest standard. Recent news is that Blåkläder will be sponsoring Blendini Motorsport for the 2014 race season. More news on this in the coming months so watch this space!

I was lucky enough to attend and present an award at the Leicester Mercury Sports Awards last month. It was a truly fantastic evening, full of inspirational sporting stars, celebrities and local businesses who came to support the event. It was a pleasure to be part of something that brings people together in such a positive way, and I had the privilege of presenting the Community Award which celebrates the individuals and clubs who have made a real difference to their local area.

Well, that’s about it from me this month my friends.

As always I have provided a top DIY tip so you can carry out that bit of home improvement you may have been putting off. Until next time...

CUT & FIT CORNER SHELVES

of the shelves and then you just need to create a round front to the shelf.

TOOLS/MATERIALS t t t t t t t t t t t

18mm sheet of MDF 2 metres of 2” by 1” planed timber 6mm raw plugs 50mm screws Glue Cordless drill driver with hammer action Cordless jigsaw & router, with blades Standard and masonry drill bits Spirit level Tape measure String line

t t t

Pencil Safety mask & glasses Silicon gun

Designing your own shapes and sizes for your corner shelves is really quick and looks great.

When you have chosen your location measure the sizes you require and mark up on the MDF sheet.

You can use the corners of the sheet for the corners

Until next time…

All the best,

Craig Phillips

Take your jigsaw and cut along your curved line, then using your router along your cut edge to form a nice patented bevelled edge to give it a true shelf finish.

Always use your safety glasses and mask when cutting such materials and try to work out side for better ventilation.

Cut some 2” X 1” timber down to size about 30mm shorter than the length of your shelves and shape the edge, then drill some clearance holes in the timber ready to mark up on the walls where the shelf is to be fixed to.

Use your spirit level to make sure it’s true to the wall, mark up and drill some 6mm holes in the wall using the masonry drill bit and the drill set on the hammer action setting, apply the raw plugs and screw the battens firmly to the wall using the 50mm screws. Now, you’re ready to finally fit the shelf.

Run a line of glue along the top of both battens and lay the cornered shelf directly on top of the batten, gently press it down until it holds in place. Finally, the shelves should be painted or stained to suit.

55

Lifestyle PROPERTY ANDREW ESTATES MOVE INTO LITTLE SUTTON.

G

reat news for Little Sutton , they have a new estate agent and 3 jobs have been created with a further 2 roles to fill in the near future. Andrew ESTATES arrived on Chester Road just before Christmas and is now officially open for business.

Andrew ESTATES are a Cheshire & Wirral based local independent Estate Agents specialising in Residential Sales and Lettings across their 3 sites.

Andrew Smith, Managing Director and the founder of Andrew ESTATES said â&#x20AC;&#x153;Since the brand began in 2010 with the launch of the Neston office we then followed in 2012 with the Prenton office, with my aim to have the 3 corners of Wirral and Cheshire tied up. We have now achieved this with the opening of

the Little Sutton Office. This office will concentrate on Little Sutton and Ellesmere Port especially and the new team of staff have over 15 years worth of experience.â&#x20AC;?

T: 0151 348 2200 E: littlesutton@andrewestates.co.uk

www.andrewestates.co.uk

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Lifestyle NEWS BRIGHT FUTURE FOR GRANBY FOUR STREETS

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LANS to transform housing in the Granby Four Streets – bringing more than 100 homes back into use – are moving forward. The Mayoral Cabinet has endorsed a three-year vision, setting out the £14 million regeneration of the area.

The pioneering Homes for a Pound scheme will also support the work to bring empty properties back into use, with the first £1 house allocated on Cairns Street last October, and more expected to be announced in the area this year.

A range of funding is now in place to deliver the refurbishment programme, including ‘Cluster of Empty Homes’ and ‘Empty Homes Round 2’ grants, and funding from the Registered Housing Providers.

In addition the CLT and Co-op have secured private finance and Nationwide Foundation funding for the delivery of their schemes.

In total, it secures over £13.7million investment for the Granby area and will bring at least 110 properties back into use by 2015, including 99 vacant councilowned properties.

Assistant Mayor and Cabinet Member for Housing,

Councillor Ann O’Byrne, said: “Driving up the quality of housing in Granby Four Streets is a major priority for us. We know residents have waited too long to see the regeneration of the area, but we are now beginning to make making significant progress. There’s a lot of work to do, but there’s a real commitment from all partners to deliver this programme, and we can now look ahead with optimism for the future of the Granby Four Streets. This is an exciting time for the area, and we’ll be making sure the community is fully involved in our plans at every step of the way.”

Granby resident Elizabeth Robinson-Ramos, who last year moved into a home, with her husband Paul, which had been refurbished

by Plus Dane Group on Beaconsfield Street, said: “I’m delighted to see that plans are progressing that will help to make Granby an even better place to live.”

The Granby Four Streets vision supports the Mayor’s aim to bring empty 1,000 empty properties back into use by 2015. It is also supporting his priority to create 20,000 jobs for local people, by securing new employment and training opportunities within the construction sector.

57

Lifestyle PROPERTY COLUMNIST DAVE BLACKMAN Lifestyle HOW TO BUY A HELP TO BUY HOME PROPERTY

The four-stage Help to Buy buying process. A Government backed scheme to help buyers with a loan.

WHAT IS HELP TO BUY? Help to Buy is equity loan assistance to home buyers from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

Help to Buy makes new build homes available to all home buyers (not just first time buyers) who wish buy a new home, but may be constrained in doing so – for example as a result of deposit requirements – but who could otherwise be expected to sustain a mortgage. Up to a maximum of 20% of the purchase price is available to the buyer through an equity loan funded by the Government through the HCA. Help to Buy is available in England from house builders registered to offer the scheme. Help to Buy will run from 1 April 2013 until 31 March 2016 (or earlier if all of the funding is taken up).

HELP TO BUY OVERVIEW With Help to Buy, the buyer (‘you’) buys a new home on a new build development with assistance from the Homes and Communities Agency (‘the Agency’) in the form of an equity loan.

You must take out a first mortgage (with a qualifying lending institution e.g. a bank or building society). This mortgage, together with any cash contribution from you, must be a minimum of 80% of the full purchase price. The maximum full purchase price is £600,000. Your first mortgage must be on a repayment basis.

The Agency will provide an equity loan to fund the balance needed to make up the 58

LIFESTYLE’S NEW

Dave Blackman - FNAEA MARLA PROPERTY COLUMNIST...

BBL Property Management: T: 0151 236 5851 M: 07741260460 David G Blackman E: dave@bblpml.co.uk Visit: www.bbl-property.co.uk et me introduce myself. My Name is 30 years Suite 9,Dave 3rdBlackman Floor,with Cityover Buildings, 2 experience in the property sector. I 1/23 Old St,inLiverpool L3 9BS wasHall a partner one of the Largest

L

management companies in Merseyside.

I helped it expand to 22 branches at The height of the market and also worked in the large Auction house. I am currently running my own management company called BBL Property Management based in Old Hall Street.

introduced as a vehicle between the Housing

Benefit Department and private landlords full purchase price of your home, up from totenants a To help for a smoother system application, procedural protocol to successful maximum of 20% of the full purchase price. payment and generally worked.

Currently I am on the Landlord Advisory

am a fully licenced and accredited agent as a panel, which has been set up to decide TheIFNAEA equity loan must be repaid after 25 years (Fellow of the National Association Of whether a mandatory licence should be Estate Agents) and a MARLA (Member of the introduced in the Liverpool City Council or earlier if youLettingsell yourAuthority home.

Association of Residential Agents). area. This isYou currently amust consultation period and could have far reaching effects on As a fully licensed agent Landlords have repay the same percentage of the proceeds the property sector.

It would mean all houses peace of mind that they are dealing with must be compliant and all landlords must a professional Organisation with Client pay licence fee.

I also sit on the Board of of the sale the and Agency asa the initial equity Account moneyto protection a redress in place. loansystem (i.e. if you received an equity loan for I am a trained Business Coach and mentor as 20%wellofas being theonpurchase price of your home, you several Liverpool City Council must repay 20% of the proceeds of the sale). panels.

I helped set up

the

forum, which TheCLASS equity loan is interest free for the first five was introduced to help upgrade the existing years.

After you will pay a fee of 1.75%, housing stock that, giving Landlords a certificate to rising annually by the increase (if any) in the show their property was of a higher standard. The PrivatePrice Rented Index Sector Retail (RPI) plus 1%.

Forum, was initially

Local HomeBuy Agents will assess and approve your purchase for Help to Buy, and you need their approval before you proceed with the buying process.

HOW DOES IT WORK? Help to Buy enables buyers to purchase a new property, funded by a repayment mortgage and with help from the Agency.

This enables you to take out a mortgage on which you make repayments in the normal way. Your mortgage lender is likely to require that you contribute a deposit of at least 5% of the full purchase price and your mortgage and deposit must cover a combined minimum 80% of the total purchase price.

The rest of the purchase price will be paid for with an equity loan from the Agency.

Your first mortgage must be a repayment mortgage. You are not permitted to buy a Help to Buy property with an interest-only first mortgage.

Lifestyle PROPERTY COLUMNIST DAVE BLACKMAN For the first five PROPERTY Lifestyle years of Help to Buy home ownership there is nothing for you to pay on the amount that the Agency contributed to your purchase. After five years, the equity loan will be subject to a fee (collected from you on behalf of the Agency by the Post Sales HomeBuy Agent) of 1.75% per annum on the outstanding amount of the equity loan.

From the fifth anniversary of the loan this fee will increase each year by the increase (if the North West Property Owners Association If you would like a specific topic or have a any) plus a lobby Group lookingin afterRPI the interests of 1%. property related query then email me at Landlords in the region.

dave@bblpml.co.uk

Stage 1: Application t Contact house builders, visit schemes of registered Dave Blackman MARLA house builders andFNAEA identify your potential Help to BBL Property Management: Buy property.

T: 0151 236 5851 M: 07741260460 t You must see an Independent E: dave@bblpml.co.uk Financial Advisor I will cover a variety of topics, some current, Visit: www.bbl-property.co.uk some relevant at any time to help readersconfirmation of your financial status.

(IFA) tothegain Get a better understanding of property Suite 9, 3rd Floor, City Buildings, The Local HomeBuy21/23 Agent house builders will matters.

Old Halland St, Liverpool L3 9BS be able to suggest some IFAs for you to try. t You must ensure you have funds to pay: I will be writing a column in the magazine keeping the readers informed of current property Topics and hopefully giving out some useful tips. As a Consultant I can guide new purchasers or evenProfessional landlords through the legal minefield of property ownership and cut through the property jargon to keep it in plain English.

Look forward to seeing you in the next issue!

A reservation fee if required.

A deposit on exchange (a mortgage deposit is typically 5% although some schemes may require higher or lower deposits at exchange of contracts).

Other fees on completion (e.g. stamp duty, legal fees).

t

t t

You complete a Help to Buy “Property Information Form” (available from the developer). You must complete this with details of your proposed purchase, your proposed main mortgage, deposit and including your household income. The Property Information Form also confirms your agreement to the funds due under the Help to Buy mortgage being paid directly to the house builder.

You must also reserve the home. You will usually be expected to pay a reservation fee to the house builder.

The signed Property Information Form and a copy of the builder’s signed reservation form must be sent to the Local HomeBuy Agent.

Stage 2: Authority to Proceed t Your Local HomeBuy Agent checks you can afford

t

t t

your main mortgage and ensures you have signed the declaration that the Help to Buy home will be your only residence. This is to protect tax payers’ investment in the Help to Buy equity loan.

If affordable, you will receive an “Authority to Proceed” from your Local HomeBuy Agent within four working days of the house builder submitting your fully completed Property Information Form and reservation form to the Local HomeBuy Agent. This process may be delayed if you do not fully complete your Property Information Form.

You instruct a solicitor to act for you and tell your IFA so that a full mortgage application can be submitted.

The ‘Authority to Proceed’ will be accompanied by instructions to you and your solicitor/conveyancer.

This pack will include legal documents that will be explained to you by your solicitor/ conveyancer.

Stage 3: Mortgage offer and exchange of contracts t Your solicitor/ conveyancer will advise you and ensure you sign the sale contract and the Help to Buy equity loan. t Your solicitor/ conveyance wil explain the legal implications of the equity loan, that the Help to Buy home must be your only residence and the consequences of a fraudulent application (see below). t Your solicitor/conveyancer checks that your mortgage offer, property price and available funds are consistent with the Authority to Proceed, and requests permission to exchange contracts from the Local HomeBuy Agent. t Your Local HomeBuy Agent issues approval to your solicitor/conveyancer and contracts are exchanged. t You will have paid a deposit if required and are now legally contracted to complete the purchase by an agreed date. t Stage 4: Completing the purchase t At completion, your lender provides its funds and the Agency will make its funds available to you via the house builder. Once completion has taken place you own the property and can move in. t Your solicitor returns confirmation of the sale to your Local HomeBuy Agent who then registers your details with the Post Sales HomeBuy Agent. t A second charge is registered on your home by your solicitor in favour of the Agency, entitling it to a share of the future sale proceeds. The charge will be equivalent to the percentage contribution made towards the purchase price. You must repay the percentage contribution when you sell your home or after 25 years (whichever is earlier).

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BUSINESS

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A LOCAL LENDER YOU CAN TRUST

Liverpool is a city where we celebrate and champion entrepreneurial spirit, so it should come as no surprise that it is locally owned, independent commercial finance house Focus Commercial stepping up to support Merseyside businesses in 2014.

Focus Commercial's package of accessible, affordable finance options allows businesses to side step more traditional routes to raising funds. The city based finance house offers unsecured loans from £5,000 to £150,000, as well as larger, secured loans of up to £1 million, so businesses at every stage of

development can plan their expansion with assistance from a local organisation they can trust.

The company also offers a variety of finance options to fund property and construction projects. Competitive commercial and investment mortgages can also be arranged for owner occupiers, trading businesses, residential deals and commercial purchases, with an immediate decision every time.

John McNamara of Focus Commercial said: “We combine an approachable, local service with an in-depth market knowledge and a genuine desire to help our customers grow their organisations.”

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BANKSY “RAT” PAINTING IN LIVERPOOL ?

STEALING BANKSY? – which represents the most expensive Banksy collection ever assembled under one roof.

7 Banksy street pieces will appear in the exhibition in London this April and the Liverpool Rat (estimated sale price £200,000) is one of them. Britain’s biggest creation by renowned graffiti artist Banksy adorned The White House pub in Liverpool, on the edge of the city’s China Town. Banksy daubed the huge rat wielding a machine gun on the Georgian building as part of the city’s Biennial art programme in 2004. The giant rat has been eroding for years, with large parts having peeled off with the plaster or vanished on rotted wood. The bottom half has been covered up by the Culture Company with hoardings because the building has fallen

BOND MEDIA AGENCY

into disrepair.

With growing fears over the feasibility of any kind of preservation, in May 2013 the work was removed to be restored and pieced back together. The piece is owned by Liverpool based Ascot Property and once fully restored could have a value of £500k. Stuart Howard from Ascot commented “A large donation from the sale will go to a Liverpool Charity with more news on this from us in Easter when we return from the exhibition.”

Castle Chambers, 43 Castle Street, Liverpool, L2 9SH | Central Liverpool Office, The Plaza, 100 Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L3 9QJ

www.bmgworld.com (new website launching in January) | @bond_media

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Lifestyle MOTORING

AUDI A8 L SECURITY If you are a Russian Oligarch or a Middle Eastern diplomat then this is the car for you. Audi have just launched of the most exclusive model version in Audi’s new A8 car line – the A8 L Security. The high-security version of the luxury sedan meets the highest level of criteria that apply to civilian vehicles. An array of highsecurity equipment features complement the armour plating. The new Audi A8 L Security is available with two outstanding engines, the 4.0 TFSI and the W12. You can even spec out the security to Bond like levels. The options include the emergency exit system, a technology for which the brand holds the patent. If the

driver or rear passenger presses a sealed switch while pulling one of the inside door handles, pyrotechnic fracture bolts in the

hinges detach the door from the body so that it can then be opened with a light push.

HONDA launches it’s new care package Honda (UK) is celebrating the start of 2014 with the launch of an all-new comprehensive aftercare package. Available with any new Honda, the package – simply called ‘Five’ – includes five years’ servicing, five years’ warranty and five years’ roadside assist for just

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£500. Honda vehicles are already known for being amongst the most reliable on the road*, and the new Five package provides extra reassurance for a truly carefree ownership experience.

Buying a new Honda has never been more affordable or manageable, helped by a three-year zero per cent (APR representative) finance deal available with all Jazz, Civic and CR-V entry-level S models. This means Honda buyers can take advantage of some great low monthly payments, including £209 per month and £269 per month for the British-built Civic and CR-V models, respectively. These monthly payments even incorporate the cost of the new ‘Five’ aftercare package.

New JAGUAR XK

Lifestyle MOTORING

special edition models revealed

A

s if the Jaguar XK wasn’t desirable enough they have launched 2 special edition models. Designed to offer improved luxury Dubbed Signature and Dynamic R, the new models are priced from £54,950 and £69,950 respectively.

The new XK Signature model, which is focussed on luxury, features soft-grain leather trim, a suede headlining, polished

metal and wood finishes and a reversing camera as standard.

Both coupé and convertible models are offered, with each featuring the XK's naturally aspirated 380bhp 5.0-litre V8.

Concept Car - AUDI E-TRON is a glimpse

into the future

The Stunning Audi e-tron takes progressive technology and blends it with everyday usability, to create the electric driving experience of tomorrow. For you this means

premium mobility, a hassle-free drive that has its foundations in the superlative design you’ve already come to expect from an Audi. No more compromise. Easy to charge, highly efficient and a significant step towards our vision to be CO2 neutral, Audi e-tron gives you the flexibility to choose to drive with just the combustion engine, just the electric drive, or in hybrid mode with both.

The Audi A3 Sportback e-tron, the latest in the e-tron range, is due to hit the road in 2014. You can stay up to date with the latest information on the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron by registering your interest.

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LambriniBigNightIn.com

Lifestyle THE LAST WORD WITH AMANDA MOSS

Hello February!

work colleagues, family or friends. Life is so precious and this year my resolution is to create happy memories for my kids, which means lots of celebrations and quality time.

It is important for me to set these goals as it gives me focus and sets me on the path I want to go in life. Like many of you, I adore my work and am very fortunate to do what I do but nevertheless, it is so demanding and takes up a lot of my time. Knowing there is a reward at the end of it makes it all the more worthwhile.

I

t’s February, normally a grim time of year with the dark and murky days but on the bright side of things, we’re nearing the end of winter now and slowly but surely the days will be getting ever so slightly lighter.

Unlike my scales!

I have lots of planning for BIG parties this year.

There is of course the Bierkeller Liverpool Lifestyle Awards at the end of the month, followed swiftly by my son’s joint barmitzvah with his sister’s batmitzvah a month later.

And I’m trying to save the pennies for a transatlantic adventure for the husband’s big 50th birthday bash next year.

I would suggest that everyone has a personal goal and sets it today. If you can’t think long term then how about just today. What do you want to achieve today? What would make it perfect? Do not under estimate the positive effect that goals setting has on you. There is no harm in dreaming (and I have often been told I have my head in the clouds) and if it excites you then it will motivate you to reach it.

Which brings my back to the Bierkeller Liverpool Lifestyle Awards. Our city has more entrepreneurs than any other city in the UK and more limited companies are set up in Liverpool than anywhere else in the UK. Why is that? Are we a city of dreamers or believers? Probably both, I would say and it is our prestigious awards ceremony that gives these people the opportunity to recognise these achievements.

Have a wonderful month, enjoy life and stay stylish,

There is no greater benefit that spending time with people you love, whether it be 65

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