The October half term is a great time to make the most of the last few days of warmth and light before winter arrives at great pace. With it being the last break before the Christmas and all the chaos it brings, slow down the pace with a ‘green’ break. While this may sound daunting a more eco-friendly holiday can be achieved simply through considering…
New Zealand wines have become sought after in a really short period of time since the country started wine production. The first commercial vineyard was established in 1973 in the Marlborough area of New Zealand, which is also New Zealand’s first Sauvignon Blanc growing region too. From this rather late entry into commercial wine production New Zealand has now become a player, especially with its…
When it comes to wine with food, there is one place that always stands out for producing great quaffable wine that tastes good with food without overpowering it with overly rich flavours — Italy. When you think of Italian wines, you inevitably think of pasta with rich meat or cheese sauces and little bistros with great atmosphere and a soupcon of romance. The Italians are…
Champagne is regularly served as an aperitif or as a toast at the end of a meal, so it is often overlooked when it comes to food. However, because Champagne is naturally acidic, it makes a really good food match — and not just for oysters and caviar as you might expect, but for a number of different foods. Non Vintage Champagne This is the…
If you are new to wine, you’ll soon find that the choice is endless when it comes to buying a bottle of wine – you’ll come across styles, prices and quality at all levels. But if you are keen to bag yourself a decent bottle of wine (and at a decent price), you need to be savvy with your wine choices. Pick your bottle of…
Many fashion designers like to look to different cultures and traditions when it comes to designing clothing. This is because they are seen as different and exotic, as most of the things worn in these cultures is based on patterns and images that are not seen in our everyday life. When it comes to ethnic patterns and inspiration there are generally four consistent areas that…
As we enter the autumn/winter season and start to head towards Christmas there is more and more pressure to get it right for the festive period. What to wear for the big day? What to buy Aunty Mae? What to serve for Christmas dinner? The stress of this time of year can really get on top of you and if you are not careful you…
As we head towards winter it is often hard to decide what to wear. It isn’t quite cold enough for a winter coat yet but sometimes there is a bit of a chill in the air or some damp autumn fog that sends a chill down your spine. So before you start shivering just at the thought of it now is the time to start…
We all like to get new clothes but when you are fighting against the credit crunch it is sometimes hard to afford new things. That is when it is good to look out for great accessories that can change the look of a tired outfit in no time at all. The best thing to do this, and not leave you too out of pocket, is…
With the worrying uncertainty of the current economic climate and the continuous reports of rising costs for UK households the traditional two-week holiday is becoming a rarity. Yet it would be wrong to assume Britons are not taking any holidays – instead they are opting for short breaks within the UK and making the most of last minute deals. The UK short break market has…