Christmas lights are being put up, red is becoming the new fashionable color, the smell of tinsel fills the air and ‘ho ho ho’ can be heard in popular shopping malls. Yes, it’s that time of year again; its Christmas time and the taste of Christmas time too. What a lovely time of year, well I love it at least and what is more wonderful than the Christmas spirit, spending time with family, holidays and gift wrapping is the delectable food that comes with it. The quintessential Christmas lunch is something I yearn for all year long. Plum turkeys and gammon perched up on our lunch table and pulling the colorful crackers waking up granny is what it’s all about. This year, The Taste of Christmas is sure to exude all of the good and yummy things Christmas has to offer.
The Maltese are known for their appreciation of traditional so why not celebrate Christmas the Maltese way? Considered Christmas gifts are the completely unexpected ones so give yourself, a family member, or a friend the gift of flying to a beautiful island to celebrate Christmas.
Malta is a beautiful island that revels in tourism, and tradition. The Maltese have great respect for traditional holidays and with Christmas being an extra special holiday, it’s given extra-special treatment. Malta flights are very reasonable which means you’re holiday starts before you even take-off. After landing take a load off and go discover the rich cultural heritage of this amazing island. The best Christmas gifts would be to treat someone special to the rustic streets, which are decorated with beautiful lights, while Christmas carols are sung throughout the season and can be heard throughout the islands.
The Forbes dynasty, of the informative Forbes Magazine fame, has decided to put much of their exquisite art collection and antique furniture from their Old Battersea House, on auction. The auction, taking place in Edinburgh on 01 November 2011, features an art collection from various period artists such as: Benjamin Robert Haydon (1786-1846) who painted Queen Victoria and Prince Albert; Walter Grieves (1846-1930); and Ramsay Richard Reinagle (1775-1862), amongst many others famously talented artisans.
The Old Battersea House built in 1699 has seen many owners and tenants, but none as famous as the art collecting Forbes family. The property for rent in Battersea was taken on a 99-year lease by Malcolm Forbes who saw the potential in the rundown home and its prime location along the riverside. The house, littered with the Forbes private art collection, also features furniture dating back to the early 1700’s such as a pair of George II Irish Mahogany side chairs, and art pieces such as an early 18th century style cream-painted and parcel-gilt pier table, amongst much other traditionally antique furniture.
Whether you’re a medical professional, a fitness instructor or simply looking for some inspiration to kickstart or maintain a healthy lifestyle, the city of London will be playing host to numerous wellness events and expos in the coming months that are sure to interest you. These health and wellness events cover all aspects of the balanced and healthy lifestyle, from nutrition and exercise to psychological wellness and peace of mind.
Join the city’s leading healthcare transportation services and wellness exhibitors in October and November at any of these London health and wellness events:
The Yoga Show
The eighth annual Yoga Show is all about the wellness of body and mind; the event will feature over 200 exhibitors from yoga and pilates studios, and visitors will be treated to a selection of classes, equipment demonstrations and workshops. The popular wellness event will also include a delicious selection of vegetarian and vegan friendly meals and confectionary.
A major UK health conference is due to take place in the city of London next month, and the healthcare community will be converging on the city’s Business Design Centre to participate. London Health 2011 is the largest one-day healthcare event in the UK, and will include a management conference as well as a free exhibition and healthcare seminar.
Exhibition & Seminars
The London Health 2011 exhibition is open to practitioners looking to exchange ideas and information on clinical research and healthcare issues with other professionals. The health conference exhibitors will include representatives from London’s hospitals, medical trusts, healthcare councils, non-profit organisations and the private healthcare sector. This London healthcare conference also boasts a number of free seminars featuring high-profile speakers, including the Chief Executive of NHS London and the Minister of State for Health.
The festive season is all about good feelings, good deeds and of course, good food – and during December, London will play host to a number of gourmet food festivals to tempt and treat even the most discerning connoisseurs. Visiting a London food festival during the Christmas season is a great way to get into the festive spirit, pick up some delicious gifts for your loved ones and indulge in fine food and wine prepared by some of London’s top chefs.
While frozen delivery fleets are gearing up to cater to the city’s Christmas food festivals, some Londoners might be wondering which of these fine food celebrations to attend; here are three top festival picks for the Christmas season, where guests can eat, drink and be very merry indeed!
Everyone wants to celebrate their birthdays with their friends and family and that may be enough for them. Some of us would like to enjoy a quite night at home, going out for an intimate dinner with our significant others or a small personal get together. There are some of us where our birthdays are grand affairs which we have waited all year for and we want to spoil ourselves and all of our friends to a magical night out at an amazing birthday venue London. For those of us that are on the more extravagant side, there is a magical place and one of the best birthday venues London awaiting you under the iconic St Paul’s cathedral, Club 10.
Hen, Stag or Hag Do’s are becoming a major part of any up and coming wedding, and are demanding almost as much attention and planning as the actual nuptials itself. There are now so many different varieties on offer, from Stag weekends away, to high Teas at the Waldorf, Treasure Hunts through Bath and Hen nights in London or quad biking and paintball. Here is one more interesting and slightly different idea for a Hen, Stag or Hag Do:
London Boat trips and River Party Boat companies are offering Hen and Stag River cruises through London. For the novel Stag do or to be part of the stag weekend you are invited to go on a 4 hour river cruise through London. Complete with Poker, a professional croupier and including a full fish and chip dinner, bubbly and bar on board, it’s an evening complete with great food, manly competition and great fun.
An absolutely fantastic activity for kids in London is a trip to The Princess Diana Memorial Playground in South Kensington. They often have fabulous evening events over the summer, lending itself a slightly bohemian air during a warm summer evening. Adults’ enjoying picnic hamper’s filled with wine and nibbles whilst the children go off exploring the gardens is safe and relaxing as all adults have to be accompanied by a child. Unaccompanied adults will be denied access.
The main feature is the huge wooden pirate ship centred in the middle of the playground. With its mast and ladders it is any child’s wonderland and will create hours of play. There is also a sensory trail, tepees’ to play hide and seek in, and a beautiful sandy beach surrounding the pirate ship. The bronze statue of Peter Pan in the gardens demands a visit, and will inspire a fabulous game of Pater Pan where the kids are Peter and the Lost Boys or Princess Tiger Lilly and the Indians, and the parents are the nasty Captain Hook and his mangy crew of pirates.
On a recent visit to the Ealing Farmer’s market, I discovered that the larger London farmer’s markets are not necessarily the better ones. Situated in the heart of Ealing on Leeland road, this local farmer’s market is small and picturesque and fills up in the early morning with Refrigerated Freight trucks as exhibitors lay out their first picks of the day and freshest in produce from the nearby farms.