Thai New Year is celebrated in April with traditions including colourful Songkran parades and festivals, religious ceremonies, and almighty water fights – which represent the washing away of sins from the previous year. But there’s no need to miss out here in the UK, as Chang Beer and Thai Taste are here to help you and your friends host your very own Songkran dinner party for that ultimate Thai experience!

For recipe inspiration visit http://www.changbeer.com and http://www.thaitaste.co.uk.

Thai Green Curry Fish Pie 

This East-meets-West recipe is a mouthwateringly original dish. Makes four small pot pies or one large pie.

Preparation Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

• Thai Taste Rice Bran Oil, for frying
• 200g raw prawns, peeled and de-veined
• 400g firm white fish such as haddock or cod, cubed
• 3 shallots, finely sliced
• 150g button mushrooms, sliced
• 3 – 4 tbsp Thai Taste Green Curry Paste
• 400ml Thai Taste Coconut Milk
• 1/2 tsp Thai Taste Kaffir Lime Leaves
• 1 sheet puff pastry, fresh or thawed
• 1 egg, beaten

Method:

1)   Heat the oil in a large pan and add prawns. Cook until just pink and remove from the pan. Wipe the pan with kitchen paper and add a little more oil. Add shallots and mushrooms, and cook for a couple of minutes until the shallots are soft and mushrooms lightly browned.

2)   Stir in the curry paste and cook for another minute. Add the fish and prawns to the pan and stir to coat with the curry paste. Add the coconut milk and kaffir lime leaves.

3)   Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 10 minutes.

4)   Preheat oven to 200°C, Fan oven 180°C, Gas Mark 6.

5)   Unroll the pastry sheet onto a lightly floured work surface. Set one of the pie dishes upside down onto the sheet and cut a circle about 1cm larger than the dish. Repeat four times.

6)   Divide the fish mixture between the pie dishes. Brush the dish edge with water and place a pastry lid over the top of each dish, pressing firmly onto the pastry rims to seal. Cut some holes in the top to allow steam to escape.

7)   Brush the top of each pie with beaten egg, then bake for about 15-20 minutes until the pastry is puffed and golden brown. (If making one large pie cook for 20- 25 minutes).

8)   Serve the pies hot with a selection of vegetables.

The use of natural materials such as twine and raffia create a more relaxed look for bouquets, buttonholes and table centres.

For that ‘thrown together look’ texture can be achieved by using foliage and herbs that can be found in the garden such as Bay Leaves, Rosemary and Lavender these also add beautiful scents to arrangements. For the more adventurous bride succulents are an interesting way to add texture as shown below.

Claire Sankey – Lily & May Floral Design

http://www.lilyandmay.co.uk

Spring is in the air, so why not put on your walking boots and take part in Canine Partners annual Bluebell Walk and help raise money to provide more assistance dogs for people with physical disabilities.

The Bluebell Walk will take place on Sunday 6th May at Langford Grove, Nr Maldon, at 11.30am, covering a distance of two miles, which is set amongst 92 acres of picturesque countryside.

There will be a BBQ (included in the ticket price), children’s quiz, merchandise stall, Essex Gourmet ice cream and a cake sale by The Vintage Tea Company. You will also get to see a demonstration with partnerships and puppies about the work of the Charity.

The fundraising event is part of the Charity’s national Bluebell Walk Campaign, which has raised over £100,000 in the past eight years.  All funds raised from this walk will help the Charity to train more assistance dogs to transform the lives of people with disabilities, including wounded servicemen and women in conjunction with Help for Heroes.

The funds raised will help the team in Essex train more dogs to change the lives of people with disabilities like Alison Wyatt from Colchester who has multiple sclerosis.  “Prior to having canine partner Maddy, it was difficult to bend, pick things up and reach far away objects due to being in a wheelchair.  As soon as I met Maddy I felt happiness and love, especially when she came home with me last year.  Day to day she helps me with jobs and moving about that I cannot do.  Life has become so much easier and Maddy has allowed me to be more confident and start to socialise again.”

To take part please contact the Essex Fundraising Office on 0845 209 0750 or visit Entry is £7 per adult, £2.50 per child (under 3’s free) including a BBQ, refreshments and a small memento from the day.

www.caninepartners.org.uk

High Definition has announced the first of its big names for 2012. The festival, which is only in its second year, will take place on 30 June 2012, and fabulous, very noisy Australian drum and bass sensations Pendulum are the first headliners to be announced.

Joining them on the bill is Mercury Prize winning artist Ms. Dynamite. The singer of “It Takes More” and “Dy-Na-Mi-Tee” will be turning up the heat with her unique urban sound.

Also on the stage are Sub Focus – who has worked with the likes of Dizzee Rascal, deadmau5, The Prodigy and Basement Jaxx, and MistaJam, who will be on hand to bring you the best in Drum and Bass, Dubstep, UK Funky, Grime and just about everything in between.

Fedde le Grand will take to the main stage for his co-headline set. Originally from Holland, Fedde is without a doubt one of the biggest names to have emerged from the Dutch House scene.

Grammy nominated Mark Knight also makes an appearance, and rounding things off is one of the most legendary DJ’s in Drum and Bass, Fabio, who’s weekly slot on BBC Radio 1 took Drum and Bass to a global audience.

High Definition Festival prides itself on taking absolutely no shortcuts when it comes to the quality of featured acts, sound systems and production values involved. This year will see an even keener focus on making it one of the slickest and most visually stunning parties of 2012, including a selection of the best food, entertainment and VIP areas.

Featuring five specialist stages, the event will showcase a wide variety of the finest talent across the spectrum of electronic music. Further artist announcements to follow.

Festival Director, Daniel May, said: “We were blown away by the response to last year’s event and can’t wait to get 2012 under way. We’ve got an obsessive passion for what we do. It’s about attention to detail: the artists, the sound, the visuals, the quality of the experience. This is by enthusiasts for enthusiasts with some of the best names in electronic music. This year is going to be special.”

Tickets are now on sale. Strictly limited numbers of early bird tickets are available at £25, with standard tickets following at £40 and VIP tickets at £75.

High Definition Festival, Forest Farm, Ilford, Essex, IG6 3HQ – Central Line Underground: Fairlop (2 minute walk to site)

• For tickets: http://www.highdefinitionfestival.co.uk/dev/index.php/tickets
• For line up details, news and information visit: http://www.highdefinitionfestival.co.uk
• Follow on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hdfestuk
• Follow on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/hdfestuk

The UK’s leading contemporary home show, Grand Designs Live, launches, for the first time, the Grand Art fair with handpicked works of art from some of the UK’s top art galleries.

Grand Designs Live, hosted by TV’s design guru Kevin McCloud, is the perfect show for you, if you’re looking for  inspiration and expert advice for everything from home redecoration to renovations or even full scale self-build projects. This year the show also includes a Grand Art Fair where interior design is merged with classic and contemporary art to enable visitors to stamp their own individual style on their home. So whether you are a seasoned collector, a new collector or just an admirer of beauty and originality, the Grand Art Fair will give you the opportunity to add a touch of exclusivity to your home.

For the first time ever there will be an exclusive selection of handpicked original art work from renowned artists displayed across a range of exhibiting galleries. Located in Grand Interiors, sponsored by Dulux, the participating galleries will provide a unique opportunity for visitors  to shop from a variety of artists with designs to suit all homes and styles as well as providing expert advice from established art retailers.

Grand Designs Live London runs from Saturday 5th to Sunday 13th May 2012 at ExCeL London. Book tickets in advance and save £4, book online at http://www.granddesignslive.com, or call the 24 hour box office on 0844 854 1348 + kids 15 and under go free.

Essex and the Not-so-Single Girl

I think it’s fair to say that I don’t like airports. Every time I fly anywhere, I tell myself I’ll have everything ready, sail through security without a blip and even have all my liquids in a clear plastic bag like you’re supposed to. I’ll wander happily around duty free and pick up a bargain perfume, and all will be stress-free…yeah right.

What really happened? Well, firstly my earrings and watch set the alarms off and I was frisked a little too enthusiastically by the Stansted security lady. When it was established that it was just my jewellery that was setting off the alarms, it still didn’t stop there. I had to take my shoes off and put them in a separate tray, which I couldn’t find afterwards. I had a telling off for not putting my liquids in the right type of clear plastic bag, which then resulted in me having all my hand luggage swabbed for contraband flower remedies.

Finally I got through and when I’d located my shoes and hopped across to The Man, he was giggling like a schoolboy at my predicament. Clearly I need to work on my guilty face. “If you’re a terrorist, you’re chucked!” he laughed. I reminded him to keep his smart comments to himself as joking about being a terrorist tends to get people ejected from airports and I was really looking forward to this holiday!

The holiday, once we’d negotiated Stansted and a four-hour flight, was lovely – just what we both needed and I think we can both say that we survived our first holiday as a couple intact. I’ve realised that map-reading isn’t his forte, after being taken on a couple of really quite impressive wild goose chases around Tenerife looking for landmarks…and he’s realised that the reason I never go brown is that I insist on covering every inch of my body in Factor 50 and then complaining that it makes my skin itch. We’ve also discovered a shared dislike of airports and he knows JUST how much they stress me out. All in all, a great time was had. Now back to work…

Petrol-Heads will be in their element at Westfield from 17th – 22nd April. The shopping mall has  joined forces with leading brands like BMW, MINI, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan and Tesla Motors to bring you DRIVE – a free motor show – where you’ll be able to book test drives, see some of the SuperCars from Gumball 3000 and check out some of the best and most innovative car designs and technologies on the market.

Whether you’re a bit of a Sunday driver or a put-your-foot-down petrol head, you’ll find something to inspire you at DRIVE. Look out for exciting promotions, competitions and more from some of the world’s top brands.

For the kids (and the big kids) there will be a Scalextric to play with and race on, and the rest of the shopping centre will be open for any other retail therapy you want to indulge in – or a bit to eat at one of the many eateries.

Watch this space for more details…or check out the Westfield Stratford City website:

http://uk.westfield.com/stratfordcity/news-and-events/

Thai New Year is from 13th – 15th April, and inspired by MasterChef and the impending Thai New Year celebrations, Tilda has put together a simple royal banquet that you can easily recreate at home to help celebrate the Songkran festival this April.

Steeped in thousands of years of tradition, Songkran is an opportunity for Thai families and friends to get together and make resolutions for the year ahead. Many Thai people mark the coming new year by throwing water on their family and friends, a Buddhist sign of respect.

To celebrate Thai New Year without getting wet, Tilda has devised a delicious Thai inspired menu which balances all of the key elements of sweet, sour, hot and salt.  Try the Thai Crab & Crayfish Rice Timbales served on a bed of salad or the Thai Vegetable Stir Fry with Coriander Rice.

Thai Crab & Crayfish Rice Timbales

Serves 4
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 2 minutes

250g pack Tilda Coconut, Chilli & Lemongrass rice
100g fresh white crabmeat
180g crayfish tails in brine, drained
1 tbsp chopped chives
1 lime
2 tbsp half fat crème fraiche (50g)

Grease 4 x 175g ramekins or dariole moulds.

Cook rice according to the pack, cool slightly.   Stir in the crabmeat, crayfish, chives, lime zest and juice from half the lime. Chill until needed.

Press into the moulds then up-turn onto plates and serve with salad and lime wedges.

Thai Vegetable Stir Fry with Coriander Rice

Serves 4
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes

2 x 250g packs Tilda Lime & Coriander rice
1 tbsp oil
250g mushrooms, halved
100g soya beans
175g baby corn, halved
1 red pepper, sliced into long strips
2 tbsp Thai Taste Thai green curry paste (60g)
2 pak choi, sliced (235g)
160ml can coconut cream
2 tsp Thai fish sauce
2 tsp toasted sesame seeds (opt)

Heat the oil in a large frying pan and fry the mushrooms, soya beans, corn and pepper for 3-4 minutes.  Add the curry paste and fry for 2-3 minutes.  Stir in the pak choi and fry for 2 minutes. Add the coconut cream and fish sauce, simmer for 1-2 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook the rice according to the pack and garnish with the sesame seeds if using. Serve with the vegetable stir fry.

Cooks tip
For a meat option, replace the mushrooms, soya beans and baby corn with 500g minced turkey.

Trying this at home? Let us know how you get on!

NHS Mid Essex told us that there are a range of services available over bank holiday periods. They’ve also asked us to remind people try to ensure they have enough medicines for holiday periods and to choose the health service that best meets their needs

Here’s what to dio if you need medical treatment over the Easter and May Bank Holiday – and you can find out more at http://www.midessex.nhs.uk

NHS Direct or http://www.nhs.uk

NHS Direct is on hand to give confidential health advice around the clock.  They can be contacted on 0845 4647.   For internet information on health and health care, go to http://www.nhs.uk.  This allows you to check your symptoms, check hundreds of conditions and treatments and find telephone numbers and addresses for most NHS organisations.

Pharmacies

Pharmacists can offer advice.  on many minor ailments as well as your medicines.
Pharmacy opening hours – are available from:  http://www.midessex.nhs.uk  and NHS Direct.

Make sure you have enough medicines to last holiday periods – remember to order your repeat medicines from your GP well in advance, and don’t forget to collect them from the pharmacy.  Remember to pack your medicines if you’re going away. Even if you’re not leaving home your GP surgery is likely to be closed and won’t be able to deal with repeat prescription requests.   Remember that although some pharmacies are open on Good Friday, your GP surgery will not be open.

Make sure you have stocks – of enough pain-killers, cough and cold remedies and medicines for indigestion and diarrhoea by visiting your local pharmacy before holiday periods.  If you do run out of medicines -  there are a few options to get an emergency supply. Contact your pharmacy to find out more, or ring NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

Only order what you need – people with repeat prescriptions should only order what they need.  Once medicines have been prescribed they cannot be recycled and have to be thrown away – whether they’ve been opened or not.  It is estimated that around £5million in mid Essex could be saved by reducing inefficient prescribing and people only ordering what they need

GP services

During normal working hours you should ring your own GP.
Outside of normal working hours (evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays) you can get advice from NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or, if you think you need urgent medical attention, please ring your usual surgery number and you will be put through to the out-of-hours service.
Walk-in Centres

NHS Direct can provide details of your nearest Walk-In Centre, however diagnostic services such as x-ray will not be available at these facilities.  You can also find details of your nearest Centre from the local services section of http://www.nhs.uk

Dental services

During normal working hours ring your local dental practice.  The dental practice may have a message on its answer phone directing you to another telephone number.
During office hours NHS Mid Essex has a Dental Helpline which can support people in finding a dentist, telephone 01245 459462.
NHS Direct, who manage the PCT’s out-of-hours arrangements, can be contacted on 0845 603 1377.   This service operates on a Saturday and Sunday morning and on official Bank Holidays

Accidents and Emergency Care, 999

There is an Accident and Emergency Department at Broomfield Hospital, Court Road, Broomfield, Chelmsford, CM1 7WE, main switchboard 01245 443673 http://www.meht.nhs.uk.

Phil sustained spinal cord damage in February 2008 and, told it was highly unlikely he would walk again, Phil founded BRIT – the British Inspiration Trust.  Phil’s subsequent fundraising work has seen him receive the Helen Rollason Award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards ceremony, and the Pride of Britain Fundraiser of Year Award.

He rowed the English Channel, walked the London Marathon over 14 days on crutches, and hauled himself up El Capitan mountain in California, raising £1.3 million for wounded military personnel in 2009.  In 2010, he climbed the Three Peaks during 72 hours for Sport Relief, before smashing his time in the London Marathon by completing the 26 miles in 26 hours for 26 charities.

His current challenge is his most gruelling yet – walking 2012 miles across Great Britain during 2012.  Phil is hoping to raise £15 million from businesses to build a BRIT Centre to help young people facing adversity, and he wants individuals to walk alongside him to raise money for the charity of their choice as he covers 10 miles around Anglia Ruskin’s campus and the banks of the River Chelmer.

Having set off from Chichester in West Sussex on 24 January, Phil’s walk will take in every county in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, as well as Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.  He expects to cover the 2012 miles in approximately 300 days.

Phil said: “The BRIT 2012 Challenge is the biggest I’ve undertaken and it is meets every principle my charity and I believe in.  I’m asking 2012 businesses to pledge their financial support to share the costs to build the BRIT Centre.

“As part of the challenge I’m asking the British public to support their chosen charities by registering for the BRIT 2012 Challenge as teams or individuals.  The BRIT 2012 Challenge is free to take part in – every penny goes to chosen charities and those charities do not have to pay costs to hold a fundraising event.”

Phil is the Vice-Patron of the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity whose Head of Fundraising, Angela Lodge, will be joining him on the walk.  Angela said: “It’s great that Phil has brought his BRIT 2012 Challenge to Chelmsford.  He is such an inspiring person and everyone at the charity really values his support.”

To reserve your place on the walk, please contact Rachel Moss on 0845 196 4723 or visit http://www.angliaruskincommunity.eventbrite.co.uk/  For further information about the BRIT 2012 Challenge, please visit http://www.britishinspirationtrust.org.uk

Embarrassing Bodies

Bodies don’t always behave as you want them to, and it’s fair to say that some men can be a little laissez-faire about some niggling health issues.

Watch out for the wind
It’s amusing, and the subject of many a joke down the pub, but if you’ve developed a bit too much of a wind problem, it might need reeling in before people start to avoid you! It’s a harmless bodily function that in itself isn’t anything to worry about. Excessive flatulence, or fating as it’s usually known, can be one of the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome or a lactose intolerance,  but the usual cause is a simple case of bolting your food (and taking in air with it) or something you’ve eaten.

Fart Facts
•    Most people pass wind 6-30 times a day.
•    Beer, fizzy drinks, beans and many fruits and vegetables can all give you wind.
•    Foods that cause wind are different for everyone.
Try eating more slowly or changing your diet if it’s bothering you – the worst offenders are beans, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, artichokes, raisins, pulses, lentils, prunes, apples and Brussels sprouts.

If you’re trying to lose weight, watch out for slimming products that contain sorbitol or fructose too.
Body odour
Any strenuous activity can result in a bit of body odour. You can fight the bacteria that causes the smell if you shower regularly with soap and use antiperspirant. Don’t re-wear your gym clothes too often and make sure you wash them regularly.  If a bad case of BO won’t shift, try avoiding smelly foods like garlic and onions.

Right Guard Xtreme Sport is a new maximum strength antiperspirant specifically designed for men who lead an active, sporty lifestyle. It’ll give you 72 hour protection against BO, and keep you dry and sweet-smelling. The range also includes a deodorising shower gel to keep you fresh for up to eight hours.
There’s also Right Guard Total Defence 5 formula, which fights odour-causing bacteria with the help of ingredients which are released by heat and moisture. Even better, the new heat response formula adapts to your level of activity so you’re protected when you need it. Available from supermarkets and pharmacies.
Snoring
Men will deny it but the truth is that they are more likely to snore than women.  If it’s disrupting your sleep, it needs addressing. Snoring can also be a sign of a more serious problem called sleep apnoea.
It’s not a laughing matter – 81 per cent of people whose partners snore say that they don’t get a decent night’s sleep.  Step up http://www.slumberslumber.com  with a range of snoring aids that work better than shoving the perpetrator in the ribs… there’s also a snoring aid guide for advice.
Good Night Anti Snoring Ring
This unique Sterling silver ring is a natural, non-invasive way of getting a great night’s sleep. It fits on the little finger and uses acupressure points to help stop snoring.

Price – £26.99
Tempur Original Queen Pillow
Having a pillow that doesn’t support your head and neck whilst sleeping can make you snore, so the Tempur Original Queen pillow might help? It moulds to the exact contours of your neck, relieving the pressure which causes tossing and turning, making you sleep more soundly. Available in three sizes: Price – £73.99

Sue Thomason, who we featured in the Inspirational People section of Inspired in February, is offering everyone the chance to download her brilliant book ‘Eat less without trying to eat less’ absolutely FREE for one day only.

Just go to Amazon and download it…

Jean Genie at Lakeside

Buying jeans – it’s a bugbear for all but the most perfect-figured among us.

Never mind, though, as the clever bods at Lakeside have come up with a way of getting us all looking fab in our jeans…with the help of Jean Genie!

From 30th March to 1st April  the Jean Genie stylists will help shoppers of all ages find the perfect pair of jeans to fit their shape and complement their style. From bootleg to cropped, skinny to straight leg, Jean Genie aims to help solve all of your denim dilemma, and of course it’s absolutely free, too.

Inspired by the likes of celebrity favourites Mila Kunis, Jay-Z and Jennifer Aniston, Jean Genie aims to indulge shoppers with a unique styling experience, complete with expert stylists and the latest new season fashion. The stylists will also be on hand with extra tips to complete the look, including shoes and accessories from the shops within Lakeside!

If you’re interested (and who wouldn’t be) you can book a slot at  http://www.lakeside.uk.com, or take a chance and turn up on the day (subject to availability), for your one-to-one 30 minute consultation with the Jean Genie stylists who will find the perfect jeans for you. You’ll be given a personalised styling card with product information so that once your perfect fit is found, you can get the best jeans for you from the shops.

Shoppers will also be treated to a complimentary £5 Lakeside Gift Card when they show proof of a purchase from their Jean Genie session. Plus, there will be an exclusive Jean Genie guide containing top tips for finding the perfect pair of jeans, understanding your shape, celebrity inspirations, accessory trends and some fantastic retail offers.

Sophie Scott, Marketing Manager at Lakeside comments, “After the tremendous success of the Jean Genie event last year, we are extremely excited to see the style pod back in centre. We like to provide our shoppers with a personal touch to make their shopping experience feel good. The stylists will be on hand throughout the event to assist shoppers with queries, worries and questions about how to find the perfect pair of jeans and where to find them in centre! With summer just around the corner, now is the perfect time to find your dream denim!”

If you’re a foodie who loved David Nicholls’s One Day or sometimes likes to belt out the lyrics to Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black then you’ll love this book.

Our heroine, Sophie, is a pudding taster. She walks into a bar one night, and her life changes. She meets James, a charismatic, elusive, rich older man with a model for an ex. They share a love of eating and drinking slightly too much and then having a little lie down, and he ticks every one of her boxes despite being older than her usual boyfriend…but Sophie’s instinct tells her James is too good to be true – and he is.

I read this one in one sitting, and really loved it. The characters are believable, the story lively and readable and it keeps you guessing right to the end. Is there a happy ending? Well that would be telling…

Buy from Amazon

Avocado

Avocados are native to Mexico and Central America, and California is the largest producer of avocados in America. The Mayans believed the avocado had magical powers – including being an aphrodisiac. The word Avocado actually comes from the Aztec word ahuacat which means ‘testicle’. If that doesn’t put you off, have some scrumptious guacamole on your nachos and try not to think about it…

Chilli Peppers

Peppers were clearly one of the first crops grown by the Native Americans, over 10,000 years ago. From Peru, up to New Mexico, prehistoric civilisations grew chili peppers for food and medicinal benefits. Christopher Columbus is credited with naming them ‘peppers’ because he thought they tasted like Asian spice. Without Chilli peppers, there’d be no Mexican Chilli on the menu at Back Inn Time…

Chocolate

Chocolate is made from the seeds of the cacao tree, which is native to South America. Cacao has been grown for over 3,000 years in Central America and Mexico. The Mayans and Aztecs fermented the beans and made them into a drink – often flavoured with chili peppers. Chilli chocolate is making a comeback now, although modern chocolate is made from cocoa, produced from the roasted, and ground, cacao beans. Chocolate Fudge Sundae anyone?

Corn

Native Americans were cultivating ‘maize’ in what is now Mexico over 5,000 years ago. Early English settlers called the Native tribe’s staple crop ‘Indian grain’ then ‘Indian corn’ which was later shortened to just corn. Corn was vital in the survival of the first European settlers, as it produces much more grain from an acre of land than any other crop, and can be eaten fresh and stored for long periods dry. And of course, it’s what nachos are made from…

Peanut

Peanuts are another American staple – peanut butter and Jell-o sandwiches could only have been invented in America! Peanuts were first domesticated in South America over 7,000 years ago. Actually a legume, or a bean, rather than a tree nut, peanuts are a big feature of American menus.

Pineapple

The word pineapple was originally an old European term for what’s now call pinecones. When the explorers discovered this fruit in the American tropics, they called them ‘pineapples’ because they thought they looked very similar. Like papaya, pineapple also contains an enzyme that breaks down protein, which was used by the Native Americans to tenderize meat.

Pineapples can be traced back to the prehistoric mountains of Argentina. Once the delicious fruit was discovered, it made its way through all the Americas and was eventually taken back to Europe. There are actually over 5000 varieties of pineapple, although only a few are cultivated. Perfect in a Pina Colada, Alabama Slammer, or the alcohol-free Tongue Twister cocktails!

If you’re stuck for ideas for ways to spoil your mum, we’ve got ideas for all budgets here just for you…

Mamababybliss Little Bag Of Mama Bliss

Beautifully packaged in a lush purple or pink organza tote bag, this exquisite pampering kit contains everything to make a mama-to-be feel fabulous – naturally! The bags contain:

• “Tummy Love” – A super enriching anti-stretchmark oil packed full of nutrients to help combat stretch marks
• “And Relax” – take the weight off your feet and enjoy a soothing and nourishing soak with calendula and aloe to soothe and protect the skin and lavender and geranium oils to calm and relax you (
• “Bliss Stick” – when you need a bit of a boost, dab a little of this oil on your pulse-points.

The little bag of Pregnancy Bliss also comes with a FREE Little Guide to Pregnancy Bliss, a booklet of relaxation and nurturing tips for pregnancy.

Price: £19.95 – www.mamababybliss.com

In the Frame

This cute photo frame is personalised with your choice of wording and child’s name. It comes hand painted in cream, with little clay decorations, and the wording can be changed to read ‘Mum’, ‘Nan’, or ‘Granny’ too.. www.giftwrappedandgorgeous.co.uk/gifts-by-jenny

Price – £19.00

Any Mum’s cup of tea

This gorgeous bone china mug can personalised with any message, over four lines and up to 22 characters per line.

Price: £12 www.astonsoflondon.co.uk

I’m your Mum, and I’m a chocoholic…

This mouth-watering gift box is filled to the brim with luxury and quality delicious and delectable indulgences. From chocolate bars to unusual sweet pizzas, Drambuie truffles to gorgeous fudge and Scottish tablet and macaroon, make Mum’s mouth water.

Price: £44.99 www.ayedo.co.uk

Mums of note

A stunning ring-bound glossy notebook, can be personalised with any name, and comes in soft or hard back versions.  Hand finished and ring-bound, it’s available in two different sizes with plain or lined paper.

Price: from £5.99 – www.GettingPersonal.co.uk

INSPIRED MOTHERS DAY OFFERS

Afternoon Tea for Two

We’ve already told you about Afternoon tea for Two – well as an indulgent Afternoon Tea experience at a top hotel is the ultimate Mother’s Day gift, we now have even more reasons for you to treat the most important lady in your life to a luxurious tipple at one of the UK’s finest hotels, with the help of AfternoonTeaforTwo.co.uk….the team have very kindly given us the discount POSITIVE10 to use for INSPIRED readers – which you can use to book any Tea for Two treat!

www.afternoonteafortwo.co.uk/

A Trip to the Spa?

Get yourself a brilliant £15 off on Spa Vouchers for Mother’s Day – just go to the SpaSeekers website and choose from the list at: http://www.spaseekers.com/spa-vouchers/

There are Bannatyne’s Spa Vouchers from just £58, Mini Pamper days and even a luxury Mother and Daughter spa day that you can share with mum. Just enter the discount code soc091115 at the checkout to get your discount…

For younger audiences the Just Imagine Story Centre is joining in to present events from monster madness to animal adventures.

Best selling teen authors, Anne Cassidy and Karen McCombie will be visiting local schools to talk about their works.

The list of events is available at:

http://www.essexbookfestival.org.uk/#/events-2012/4558028731

HOW TO BOOK YOUR TICKETS

Most bookings can be made through the Mercury Theatre Box Office on 01206 573948 from Mon to Sat 10am-8pm. There is a £1 charge for postage unless tickets are collected from the Mercury.

For children’s events, call Just Imagine on 01245 267748, Mon to Fri 9.30am–5pm. Just Imagine charges 50p per debit card booking transaction.

Entering is simple and takes one minute, just email me at sarah.clark@inspiredessex.co.uk or visit our blog www.inspiredessex.co.uk  and tell us why your mum deserves the Uppercut VIP Treatment for Mother’s Day.

There isn’t a better way to say Happy Mother’s day than crowning your mum ‘Essex’s Mum of the year 2012.

Entries must be received by Friday 23 March and Mum must be available to enjoy her makeover before Friday 20^th April.

…by Sarah Clark

Remember we told you about Sue Thomason in February’s Inspired? Well, she’s only gone and published her book.

Sue introduced me to her ideas and the Food Philosophy in 2006 and I was blown away. I’ve been telling her she NEEDS to write this book since I met her, and she’s been trying to; as well as coaching women in stopping overeating, setting up Beautiful Magazine, blogging for Huffington Post, talking to Woman’s Hour and getting involved with the cross-party Parliamentary debate on body image.

If you read her book, you will breathe a big fat sigh of relief. You’ll actually realise why it is that you have so much trouble sticking to a diet, why when you decide to ‘cut down’ or ‘eat healthy’ all you can think about is whatever foods you’ve told yourself you will be limiting or banning.

What drives you to overeat when being fat is such a misery? it’s NOT comfort eating, stress or a lack of willpower. it’s your biology. Sue explains why, it happens, why dieting makes it worse, why health experts are fighting the obesity epidemic in completely the wrong way, and why it’s making us all fatter!

Then – here comes the bit you’ll really love – she tells you how you can STOP overeating, make food a pleasure again and not a compulsion, and learn to focus on other things, making any regular compulsive eating, bingeing or overeating a thing of the past.

• There is NO diet involved.
• There are no complicated exercises to do.
• You won’t have to talk about your childhood.
• You can carry on eating chocolate if you want to.
• You don’t have to ‘tune in’ or develop an ‘inner guru’ or follow 12 steps.

You’ll be hooked by this book, and if you’re an on-off dieter, compulsive eater, or just always feel like you could do with losing a few pounds or ‘eating healthy’ it could quite possibly change your life.

It’s on Amazon Kindle: Eat Less Without Trying to Eat Less

And also in print: www.foodphilosophy.co.uk/

PS: I should add, I’m not on commission!

There are plenty of options if you want to parade your little lady around in a pretty dress; Miss Princess Ambassador, Little Miss Spirit of True Beauty, Face of Europe…there’s plenty of opportunity if you think your toddler or little Miss is up for the idea.

I’d like to think that UK mums are a little bit better-balanced than some of the scary US examples, who even suggest Botox for kiddies, but although five years ago, there were no mini beauty pageants in the UK, now we have over 20 to choose from, and some are open to boys too…

A pageant usually involves little girls parading down a makeshift catwalk in their best dress, then showing off their singing or dancing abilities. They can win prizes of up to £2,500 – but it takes a lot of work. One of the best-known girls on the beauty pageant circuit is Sasha Bennington, in her teens now but at the tender age of 13 she was having a weekly spray tan, false nails every month and having her hair bleached. She apparently said that Katie Price was her idol…

Would you enter your daughter (or son) in a beauty pageant? We’d love to hear your views.

Sarah.clark@inspiredessex.co.uk

Twitter: @inspiredessex

What’s not to love about these little pots o’ gorgeousness? Even the price is something to make you smile, and at this price you can collect the set.

MUA have collaborated with Love Hearts and come up with the cutest, sweetest kiss-me-now  lip balm collection ever. They come in in gorgeous collectable pots to show off, but in the name of pure practicality I have to also tell you that they have a super- moisturising formula and a hint of colour too.

And they arejust  £2 each. Two English pounds.So what, exactly, are you waiting for?

Buy one here

Happy Feet!

We all love a penguin! They are the stars of Hollywood movies and TV documentaries, cuter, lovable, amusing and now the showstoppers on floating holidays…

Penguins are proving to be the number one attraction at The CRUISE Show, which takes place on  24-25 March 2012 – they’re the one thing that people absolutely love to see on a polar voyage.  Films like Happy Feet and Mr Popper’s Penguins and even the opening of the new Penguin Pool at London Zoo have helped boost their popularity even more.

A voyage to Antarctica is the dream of many adventurers – BBC Frozen Planet Cameraman Doug Allan will be speaking at the show to provide a first hand account of what to expect on one of these unique expeditions – the only way to see the majestic King and Emperor penguins in their home environment and a chance to discover whales, albatross and elephant seals in spectacular scenery made up of glaciers and icebergs.

To make your own Penguin discovery or find out all about offshore wildlife adventures, you can visit The CRUISE Show at London’s Olympia, where as an added bonus you can also save thousands of pounds with exclusive show-only offers, while leading cruise experts will be on hand to offer inspiration, tips and advice about your next exciting getaway.

INSPIRED OFFER: For a limited time only, The Cruise Show is offering HALF PRICE tickets! (£5pp usually £10) *Free for under 16’s.

Why not pop along, get the lowdown on penguins and a fantastic deal on a cruise holiday?

http://www.cruisingshow.com

0871 620 4024.

Between 9th and 12th May this year, Trevor Lake, Director of LB Group, is doing his bit for charity and will be cycling a gruelling 300 miles from Paris to London. The ride is over 3.5 days covering 95 miles on day one and then 75/70/60 on the following three days.

Trevor will be putting himself at risk of saddle sore in a good cause – he’s raising money for The Karis May darling Foundation and The Hogar.

Later on in the year, Trevor will also be attempting The Etape. The Etape is a legendary cycle where amateur bikers try and climb the toughest Alps stage of the Tour de France.

This will be taking place in the first week of September and will involve climbing the Col du Telegraphe (1,566 m high), the Col du Galibier (the highest climbs on the Tour at 2,645 m high) and the renowned Alpe D’huez (14km climb with 21 hairpin bends and 1,815m high) all in one day of cycling lasting 120 km. For this event Trevor will be raising money for Action Medical Research, for children, for life.

The goal of The Karis May darling Foundation is principally to help underprivileged children achieve their aspirations through performing arts and sport. The foundation also raises awareness of Organ donation and the benefits this can bring.

The Hogar is a charity supporting a church run home for unwanted girls in Nicaragua. Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in the Americas with much social deprivation. Female rape is a major problem in a country where abortion is illegal. The home houses young girls whose mothers are unable to support them or girls who were maltreated by families. The home teaches the girls skills that they can take with them when they leave the home to provide employment opportunities.

If you’d like to sponsor Trevor for any of these events, the links are below.

Good luck, Trevor, from all at Inspired!

Action Medical Research: http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/Trevorlake
The Hogar, http://www.justgiving.com/Trevor-Lake
The Karis May darling Foundation: http://www.bmycharity.com/trevormlake

Lemon Salt Scrub – Detoxifying and fabulous for dry skin!

• 1/2 lemon
• 50g fresh ginger
• 500g salt

Jojoba or any vegetable oil.

Chop the lemon and ginger, or use a blender to coarsely chop it. Mix all of the salt, lemon and ginger together in a bowl, making sure the juice of the lemon is included. Add oil depending on how rough or smooth you want the scrub to be. For the best results – scrub onto dry skin before showering and spend  at least 10-15 min massaging in on to your whole body.

Coffee

Invigorating Coffee Scrub

• 500ml natural yoghurt
• 1 tablespoon instant coffee powder
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar

Natural yoghurt is rich in enzymes so this scrub is very effective for exfoliating your skin. Mix the coffee, sugar and yoghurt in a bowl. For the best results – scrub onto dry skin before showering and spend at least 10-15 min massaging in on to your whole body.  For silky smooth skin, apply moisturiser after shower.

Refreshing Cucumber and Honey Facial – Cool down and refresh your face

• 1 tablespoon natural yoghurt
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 20 thin slices fresh cucumber
• Rose water or cucumber water
• Your own moisturiser

Yoghurt is rich in enzymes which makes natural yoghurt an excellent cleanser. Apply and massage gently for one minute before cleaning with a warm wet towel. Tone the skin with your daily toner to rebalance your skin ph.

Honey is calming for the skin so apply and massage for around three minutes, using sticky honey if available. Lie down and apply cucumber slices to your face on top of the honey, finish by putting two on your eye lids. Leave for 10-15 minutes. Remove the slices and use a warm, wet towel to remove honey residues. Tone again and apply moisturiser.

www.sheraton.com/maldives

How to look after your wooden floor

If you’ve splashed out on a gorgeous new wooden floor, first and foremost you’ll want to know how to keep it looking lovely. Here’s our top tips on
maintaining the look of a wooden floor…

Give it a clean sweep daily – all it needs is a quick going-over with a brush or a vacuum cleaner on a daily basis and this will stop any build-up of dust, dirt or grime that can cause discolouration and dullness.

Oak Wood Flooring in Chelmsford

Don’t let it get too wet. Many manufacturers and fitters will recommend their own cleaner for the job, so take their advice but make sure that you don’t overdo it when it comes to the floor cleaner. Soaking the floor in liquid will cause damage over time so less is definitely more.

Don’t let any spills fester! If there’s an accident, someone’s knocked or spilled something on the floor, make sure it’s dealt with right away. If water soaks into the core, it swells, which can cause the edges of the board to ride up and look terrible. It only takes a few minutes to wipe up a spill and it’s so worth it to keep your flooring looking great.

Keep it protected – don’t get careless and damage the surface by doing something that can be avoided, like dragging heavy furniture instead of lifting it or not protecting the floor with protector pads. It’s easy to avoid cracking or breaking the floor if you just take the time to put felt pads on the feet of your sofas, chairs and tables.

Cover the floor with a doormat if it’s in places that get heavy use or are prone to dirt.

Take your heels off indoors. Remember it’s not rude to ask visitors to remove their shoes, especially if they are in stiletto heels which can leave dents and marks on a wooden floor.

Sun damage – exposure to sunlight can change the colour of wooden floors, so remember this when it comes to deciding where to place your mats. If you put one in front of a window, you could end up with a rug shaped dark patch…

For more advice on how to look after your new wooden flooring, ask the experts at Country Flooring in Chelmsford.

www.countryflooring.co.uk