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Author Archives: trev

Amma of India brings lots and lots of hugs to London

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Posted by trev on November 18, 2011 – 10:56 am
Filed under Events

London is sometimes seen as a place where people just don’t interact, but for a couple of days this week at least a lady called Amma of India (meaning “mother”) sought to fix this by simply giving hugs to over 6000 strangers in the capital.

Amma, who’s real name is Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, was born in Southern India to a low cast family and only educated until 9 years old. She then followed the traditional route of leaving school to help her family, where she would search for food scraps to feed her animals.

She however defied some Indian traditions and being a naturally caring person, would give a hug to anyone who needed it regardless of cast or gender – the latter being very frowned upon. Over time she saw the extreme poverty of those around her and eventually became a Hindu spiritual leader.

Amma is most famous for the most simple of acts – giving anyone and everyone a hug. This week she was in London where people queued up from all around the country to receive a 2 minute hug from Amma. Judging by the response on this BBC video of Amma of India, most found this act a very moving experience.

For more details of when Amma will be back in the UK again, see the official Amma of India UK web site.

Beat the Winter blues with Premier Inn £29 rooms!

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Posted by trev on November 14, 2011 – 12:05 pm
Filed under Accommodation

Whether you’re planning a festive shopping trip, visiting relatives or want to be first in line for the New Year Sales – why not make a weekend of it and book your festive break with Premier Inn from just £29 per room!

 

Massive selection:

With over *500,000 room nights* available in this special offer, Premier Inn are giving you the perfect excuse to get out of the house and go do a little pre or post Christmas retail therapy, or perhaps this year you can visit Aunt Margaret without cramming the entire family into her box room.

All the spacious Premier Inn hotel rooms have full en-suite facilities, a sofa, TV and tea/coffee facilities along with the complimentary biscuits of course. Plus some of the largest and most comfortable beds of any hotel chain. And unlike some budget hotel chains, every Premier Inn has a restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner right next door.

 

Just £29!

Whatever your reasons, grap yourself a bargain room from just £29 for a family room outside the capital and from just £49 in London – it won’t just be Santa laughing all the way!

 

Full details:

For more information or to book, click here for Premier Inn budget hotels.

We recommend booking early as these rooms will fly faster than a red nosed reindeer. Premier Inn special offer rooms are available for bookings from now until the 29th February 2012 inclusive.

 

10 reasons to choose a Premier Inn

Below are just a few reasons why we use Premier Inn hotels as first choice ourselves:

  1. Over 600 Premier Inn’s around the UK so there’s one right where you need it
  2. Family restaurants in every Premier Inn, most within the hotel building
  3. FREE breakfast for kids under 16s saving even more money!
  4. King-size Hypnos beds & Fogarty duvets for the ultimate comfort
  5. Wi-Fi Internet access almost all Premier Inn hotels
  6. Rooms refurbished every 3 years so no more hotel horror stories
  7. 24 hour manned reception desk for security and convenience
  8. Hotels with disabled adapted rooms available in every Premier Inn
  9. All prices per room not per person ideal for families
 

PS: Don’t forget to tell Aunt Margaret you’re coming so she can start knitting the woolly jumpers!

 

More Resources:
Things to see and do around the UK
More hotels in the UK
Self-catering cottages and apartments

What have the tin can, pencil and corkscrew got in common?

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Posted by trev on November 10, 2011 – 10:12 am
Filed under Events

The answer is they are all everyday objects which are simple but genius at the same time, and are being celebrated in a new exhibition at the Science Museum in London.

In the “Hidden Heroes, The Genius of Everyday Things” exhibition, the museum hopes to unravel some of the mystery behind how these everyday objects along with many more came to be invented and how such simple ideas have transformed our lives.

For example, did you know that the humble pencil was invented close to Keswick in Cumbria (formerly Cumberland) when someone discovered what they thought was a deposit of lead in 1565. It actually turned out to be graphite and shortly afterwards Cumberland Pencil’s were born. Contrary to popular myth, pencils never contained lead – this was simply a mistake in the identification of the graphite, although the paint on the wood often did contain lead.

Another example is bubble wrap was actually invented as a type of wallpaper, until the inventors realised it was actually rather good for safely packaging objects. They quickly changed the patent application and bubblewrap as we know it is largely unchanged since.

For these and hundreds of other every day brilliant inventions, you need to pop down to the Science Museum in London where the exhibition is available until the 5th June 2012.

London 2012 Festival – The UK’s biggest ever festival announced

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Posted by trev on November 9, 2011 – 3:07 pm
Filed under Events

In the run up to the 2012 London Olympic Games, over 1000 events are planned across the UK in what is billed as the “biggest festival the UK has ever seen”.

The festival is due to take place over 12 weeks prior to and running through the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, will feature a vast array of cultural events from nationwide bell ringing to art installations at The Giant’s Causeway and the BT River of Music featuring groups such as the Scissor Sisters and Baaba Maal.

Many of the events are planned to be free such as what it billed as a spectacular concert and associated fireworks display on the banks of Lake Windermere in the English Lake District entitled Les Commandos Percu – a show which “shows perfectly blend musical rhythms and amazing effects, as fireworks dance to a thumping soundtrack”.

Tickets and event details are available on the 2012 London Festival Web site. Keep an eye on the UKSeries Blog as we’ll announce more details as they appear!

More UK Resources:
Tourist attractions and event locations around the UK
Hotels in the UK
UK self-catering accommodation

Exmoor becomes new International Dark Sky Reserve

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Posted by trev on November 9, 2011 – 2:01 pm
Filed under Attractions, Events

Exmoor has become only the second location in the world to gain International Dark Sky Reserve status meaning not only is the ground protected from development, but the skies above Exmoor are too.

Current problems: One of the problems both amateur and professional astronomers have faced for many years is that both air-bourne pollution and excessive street lighting which prevents them getting a clear view of the skies. In recent years, the problem has been given more recognition outside the scientific communities which resulted in the recent designation of Sark as a “Dark Sky Island” and Galashields Forest as a “Dark Skies Park”.

Both of these are European and UK based initiatives, but now Exmoor National Park has gained the prestigious honour of being only the 2nd location in the world to receive the International Dark Sky Reserve accreditation.

The award process: The award is the result of over 2 years hard work by numerous groups including the Exmoor National Park Authority, the Royal Astronomical Society and local amateur astronomers who have helped identify areas of the park which are especially good for stargazing.

Although the International Dark-Sky Association who make the final decision have no legal powers, part of the application procedure requires the relevant authorities to include planning controls to regulate lighting usage in the area. This includes working with the residents and businesses to ensure any new lighting is focused downwards and doesn’t interfere with the views of the night sky and that air-bourne pollutants are kept to a minimum.

Future effects: As with Sark and Galashields, it is not only the astronomers who benefit. The increase in astronomy tourism in these areas is seen as crucial to their economic future with potentially thousands of extra UK and international visitors arriving each year to take in the night sky like no-where else.

More Exmoor Links:
More details about Exmoor International Dark Sky Reserve
Map of Exmoor and local visitor attractions

Where was rock climbing invented – Scotland or the Lake District?

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Posted by trev on November 9, 2011 – 12:20 pm
Filed under Miscellaneous

For many years, the sport of rock climbing had been assumed to have been invented in the English Lake District but now a BBC 2 film now claims that the sport might actually have originated in Scotland.

The Scots have certainly invented quite a number of useful ideas over the years from the light bulb, Tarmac and Penicillin to slightly more debateable levels of usefulness such as golf. There are even some claims that that bastion of English sport – football – was invented in Scotland!

Lake District claim: Returning to the matter in hand – the original claim for the first recreational rock climb was an ascent of Napes Needle on Great Gable in the English Lake District in 1886. It rather begers belief that anyone in their right mind would attempt this today, never mind with the primitive equipment available back then, but that is a documented fact.

Scotland Claim: The Scottish claim is that infact the first recreational climb was actually by 3 men from Lewis who climbed Great Stac of Handa, Sutherland, in 1876 – 10 years before anyone thought about Napes Needle, which rather ironically sounds the more Scottish of the two.

To prove the case, three modern day climbers have recreated the climb using authentic equipment from the time to successfully show that the original men’s claim was indeed possible.

TV programme: Viewers in Scotland will be able to judge for themselves as The First Great Climb airs at 19:00 on 22nd November on BBC Two Scotland. Whether this will be available on BBC iPlayer we’re not too sure, but hopefully the BBC will give the English a chance to check for themselves.

Location: For those unsure of UK geography, can we just point out that contrary to what many have told this author of Cumbrian origins – Cumbria and the Lake District are not in Scotland or Wales, although Cumbria does border with Scotland.

More Scottish Resources:
Lots of things to see and do in the Highlands of Scotland
Hotel accommodation in the Highlands of Scotland
Self-catering in the Scottish Highlands

New lifesaver role for iconic BT red telephone boxes

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Posted by trev on November 9, 2011 – 10:20 am
Filed under Miscellaneous

The iconic red phone box was once seen as a lifesaving tool before the decline in use caused by mobile phones. However, BT are hoping communities and charities will soon get together to once more bring the box back as a lifesaving device, albeit with a slight twist.

When the phone boxes began to decline in use, BT introduced their Adopt a Kiosk scheme where local communities could buy the red phone box for £1 and turn it into anything from an information centre to an art gallery.

Around the country however, people have been finding a new use as locations to install defibrillator units, to increase the chances of survival for those suffering a heart attack. In England, there are now 4 such boxes, but the first has just opened in Scotland thanks to a local Girl Guide Heather Munro and the Community Heartbeat Trust who together organised for the village of Glendaruel in Argyll to adopt its own phone box.

It might seem an odd place to put a defibrillator, but the area is popular with walkers and there were several heart attacks last year in the village involving tourists, so having a defibrillator close by might prove the key ingredient.

More related resources:
BT Adopt a Kiosk Scheme

Tourist attractions across the Highlands of Scotland
Scottish Highland hotels
Self-catering accommodation in Highlands of Scotland

Biggest public archaeology project to launch in Manchester

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Posted by trev on November 9, 2011 – 9:10 am
Filed under Events

The people of Manchester are to be offered a chance to take place in one of the biggest public archaeological digs ever staged, with around 9000 volunteers spread across 11 sites in Manchester & Blackburn.

Uncovering remains from the Medieval to the Industrial Revolution, the sites will allow people from the Manchester communities alongside school and university students to work beside professional archaeologists and find out much more about where they live.

Each of the 10 Greater Manchester boroughs will have a site, and the digs will run alongside lectures and presentations on the history of the area. Norman Redhead, Greater Manchester County Archaeologist said “I suspect local communities will be amazed at what they uncover on their doorstep”.

The project is expected to last around 4 years and should start sometime in 2012. Details should be appearing in local media.

More Manchester Resources:
Visitor attractions around Manchester
Hotels in Manchester

Swindon finds quirky way to brighten up buildings

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Posted by trev on November 8, 2011 – 7:20 pm
Filed under Miscellaneous

Old rather dull or even eyesore buildings are a problem in most city centres, but Swindon have come up with a rather quirky way to brighten up one of their most boring buildings.

The changes to Alexander House, a rather bland white angular office-block style building in the centre of town, involve painting roundabout symbols on the building and even bolting two replica Mini cars to the outside. Officials from the council have recommended the idea be given planning permission later this month, as the design incorporates connections with Swindon.

Symbols: The BMW Mini’s represent the BMW body pressings plant which resides in Swindon and the roundabout symbol is presumably paying homage to the Magic Roundabout – the famous intersection in the city combining five mini-roundabouts around a larger outer roundabout.

Flying pigs: Plans for solar powered rotating pigs were dropped after they proved to be too expensive, which we can only guess was a less than obvious connection to the Saxon meaning of Swindon “pig hill” or “pigs on a hill”. Perhaps someone can enlighten us?

As long as planning permission is forthcoming, the project will hopefully brighten up the building next year and will be paid for by the building’s owners.

More links in Swindon:
Tourist attractions in Swindon
Hotel accommodation in Swindon

Major new Leonardo da Vinci exhibition opens in London

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Posted by trev on November 8, 2011 – 3:24 pm
Filed under Events

One of the biggest and most important Leonardo da Vinci exhibitions ever staged opens at the National Gallery in London on the 9th November bringing together many works never seen together before.

Described by the gallery as the “the most complete display of Leonardo da Vinci’s rare surviving paintings ever held”, the exhibition took over 5 years of negotiations to organise.

Paintings and drawings from all over the world will be appearing at this unique exhibition with loans from as far afield as Williamstown in Canada and St. Petersburg in Russia. Many of the paintings were previously displayed in galleries around Europe including 6 from Millan, 2 from Florence and 11 from Paris.

However, surprisingly over 1/3 of the paintings came from just down the road in Windsor, held as part of the Royal Collection, which exhibition curator Luke Syson says certainly helped to persuade the other galleries.

Previous exhibitions: There have been many previous exhibitions of Leonardo da Vinci’s works, but as Luke Syson explained to the BBC recently, most of these focused on the finished paintings rather than the drawings for which Leonardo was equally famous. This new exhibition will include a selection of both, with some standalone drawings and others believed to be tests and studies for later paintings.

One of the biggest coup’s for the National Gallery, was to get the two versions of The Virgin Of The Rocks painting hanging side by side, which has never been seen previously. One version has been restored by the National Gallery, and the other normally shows in the Louvre in Paris.

Loans in return: Galleries naturally don’t want empty spaces within their walls, so as is standard practice, the National Gallery also lent out other works in exchange. An example was the Ambrosiana gallery in Millan which sent the Portrait Of The Musician in exchange for Boticelli’s mystic nativity to coincide with that galleries own exhibitions.

Tickets are on sale for the exhibition, plus a further 500 tickets will be available each day for ‘on the door’ enquiries, although these are expected to go quickly.

Dates: The exhibition runs from the 9th November to 5th February 2012 so there should be plenty of time to see it.

More London Resources:
Leonardo da Vinci exhibitions at the National Gallery
BBC guide to where the paintings originated
More attractions around Charing Cross
Hotels near the National Gallery, Charing Cross