With the summer season upon us and the English country gardens flourishing, so too is the infusions trolley at Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester. The restaurant’s iconic after-dinner herb trolley will be transformed with a bloom of fresh flowers including British Rose, English Elderflower, Sweet Jasmine and Calming Calendula.

The highly skilled maitre d' presents the sweet smelling infusions trolley after dessert and the delicate flowers are freshly cut at the table. The teas are served in beautiful glass teapots to optimize the aromas and allow guests to watch their chosen flower infuse.

The fresh floral infusions reflect Alain Ducasse’s passion for cooking with the freshest seasonal ingredients and offers diners an opportunity to experience a unique taste of summer.

The choice of tea will be presented exclusively to guests as a post lunch/dinner digestif. Launched on the 24th May to celebrate RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the teas will be available throughout the summer months.

The A la Carte 3 courses are offered at £78 per person. The ‘Lunch Hour’ set menu - is offered at £50 for three courses and includes 2 glasses of wine, mineral water and tea.

Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester
Park Lane, London, W1K 1QA
T: 020-7629-8866 / W: www.alainducasse-dorchester.com
Open for lunch Tuesday–Friday and dinner from Tuesday-Saturday

HUMMUS HUNGRY LONDONERS OFFERED FREE MEAL FOR CHARITY

Hummus Bros is to hold Barter Day on Sunday 19 June offering free meals in exchange for donations to Cancer Research UK

Chickpea inspired eatery Hummus Bros will be giving out free meals on Sunday 19 June in return for donations of clothes, DVDs, books and homeware for Cancer Research UK shops – proving that there is such a thing as a free lunch.

Hungry Londoners can bring their unwanted items into the Wardour Street branch of Hummus Bros where they can haggle the value of their possessions with staff from the Marylebone Cancer Research UK shop. Vouchers will then be given out matching the value - two or three good quality donations should be enough for a completely free meal!

Barter Day runs from midday to 6pm on Sunday 19 June at Hummus Bros, 88 Wardour Street, Soho, W1F 0TH and all quality donations will be accepted. For directions please visit www.hbros.co.uk/soho. With Barter Day, Hummus Bros continues to offer unprecedented value while being socially and environmentally responsible - keeping your conscience and tummy happy.

Christian Mouysset, co-owner and co-founder of Hummus Bros, said: “After such a successful response to our first event we were more than happy to get involved and offer our customers a free lunch whilst donating to a good cause.”

April Sherlock, Cancer Research UK Area Manager, said: “We need good quality donations now more than ever. This is the perfect way to support the charity while also bagging yourself some free food. We are really grateful for Hummus Bros’ generous help. Cancer Research UK are entirely funded by the public and it is events like this that help us deliver our life saving research.”

LOUIS VUITTON YOUNG ARTS PROJECT LAUNCHES RECREATIVE, A NEW WEBSITE BY YOUNG PEOPLE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Louis Vuitton and five of London’s leading art institutions today launch a ground-breaking website to inspire young people to get involved in contemporary art. REcreative, www.recreativeuk.com, has been devised and developed over the past year by young people working with SiftGroups http://www.siftgroups.com, the Hayward Gallery, the Royal Academy of Arts, the South London Gallery, Tate Britain and the Whitechapel Gallery as part of the Louis Vuitton Young Arts Project.

REcreative launches today (9 June 2011) in Covent Garden with a special event in an industrial container organised by members of the Louis Vuitton Young Arts Project. Michael Craig-Martin, Mark Titchner, Michael Landy and Sam Taylor-Wood are among the many artists supporting the launch of REcreative, making exclusive T-shirts to be given away to the first users of the website.

Featuring exclusive content and behind-the-scenes access to the art world, REcreative offers young people the chance to be part of an online community. Within Projects they can create a profile, show their work, share ideas and have a chance to have their project highlighted by leading artists and critics. The Ideas Factory shows how exhibitions and projects evolve from the moment they are conceived through to their realisation, launching with Tracey Emin: Love is What You Want at the Hayward Gallery, Southbank Centre; the story of The Woodmill, a studio and gallery complex founded by a group of young artists; and Immature, an exhibition curated by the South London Gallery’s young people’s group, Art Assassins.

For the Experts section young people go ‘back of house’ to find out how people working in the arts got to where they are today, from technicians, conservators and curators, through to artists, designers and critics. Dazed & Confused founder Jefferson Hack discusses the importance of reading and consuming culture whilst the Royal Academy of Arts Archivist, Mark Pomeroy, talks about reading Gainsborough’s mail and the unconventional history behind the Royal Academy’s anatomical models. Opportunities offers those contributing their work to the site the chance to win visits to artists’ studios, discuss their work with leading arts professionals or gain special access to high profile art events. The What’s On section highlights a selection of the best exhibitions and events hand-picked by a new guest artist each month.

The concept, structure and design of the site have been developed over the course of a year by members of the Louis Vuitton Young Arts Project. The name REcreative was chosen by the young people to convey their interest in creating new work that references or reinterprets existing works and concepts.

The Louis Vuitton Young Arts Project was launched in May 2010, an unprecedented partnership between Louis Vuitton and five of London’s leading art institutions: the Hayward Gallery, the Royal Academy of Arts, the South London Gallery, Tate Britain and the Whitechapel Gallery.

Margot Heller, Director of the South London Gallery said: “This truly is a project by young people for young people with the aim of inspiring greater involvement and interest in contemporary art. Over the past year young people from the five partner institutions have worked hard to create a website which is genuinely ground-breaking in concept and scope. The website already exceeds the initial expectations of all involved in the Louis Vuitton Young Arts Project and we are excited to see how it will develop as young people start to use and shape it in the months ahead.”

LV Chairman and CEO, Yves Carcelle, says: “Louis Vuitton’s support of contemporary art is long-standing. In this instance, we see our role in facilitating diverse access to exciting contemporary art projects. We are delighted with the peer-led approach the website is taking and cannot wait to see the innovative projects the young people will be creating in response to what they see and learn through exchange and collaborations made possible through REcreative and the Young Arts Project.”

Tracey Emin said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to find out more about contemporary art and get involved. It would have been amazing to have had this chance when I was that age.”

Bev Churchill, Brand Director, Covent Garden, “Arts and culture are an important part of the fabric and heritage of the Covent Garden neighbourhood and we are delighted to be able to support the Louis Vuitton Young Arts Project by hosting the launch of REcreative with its art installation on the Piazza.”

For more information on the website please visit www.recreativeuk.com

MGEITF Arqiva Channel of the Year Awards 2011: VOTING OPEN

Free delegate pass, return flights courtesy of City Jet and accommodation at The George Hotel for one lucky voter
The voting for the MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival’s Arqiva Channel of the Year Awards is now open, so it’s time to rewind, reflect and review the best TV of the past year.
The Arqiva Channel of the Year Awards are one of the most respected awards in the industry, so don’t miss your chance to vote now by visiting http://www.surveys.com/mgeitf. The voting deadline is midnight, Friday 17th June.

This year, the awards have been extended to eight categories with three new additions:

Terrestrial Channel of the Year
Digital Channel of the Year
Terrestrial Programme of the Year
Digital Programme of the Year
The Network and Fast Track Programme Choice Award
*NEW* Cross Platform Innovation Award
*NEW* Producer or Director Debut
*NEW* Indie of the Year

Non-terrestrial channels and Indie’s have each entered two minute showreels for consideration, available to view on the Festival website (www.mgeitf.co.uk). Voters, made up of festival delegates, MediaGuardian readers and members of the public will vote by viewing videos and completing an online survey designed by new research partner GfK Media.

The winners will be announced at the Arqiva Channel of the Year Awards live ceremony on 27th August, hosted by top funnyman Russell Kane at the EICC, Edinburgh.

Now in its 10th consecutive year, the Arqiva Channel of the Year Awards is in recognition of the increasingly competitive and often challenging market that today's TV companies operate in, and to celebrate the creative, innovative and commercial solutions that both channels and production companies present. For details of previous winners go to: http://www.mgeitf.co.uk/home/MGEITF/channel-of-the-year.aspx

W LONDON TURNS PAGES WITH THE (W)RITERS’ LIBRARY
“Hotels seem to have every conceivable idea except a well-chosen, well-used library”- David Nicholls

Once upon a time there was a library: The (W)riters’ Library, the first of its kind and unique to W London – Leicester Square. Unlike most rooms for books, The (W)riters’ Library isn’t dusty, or hushed or boring. There is no dull person peering over shoulders or stopping people reading something they shouldn’t. Instead, it is a stylish sanctuary, a place with comfortable nooks to sink into, cocktails on hand to help ease into a literary journey and best of all, each book tells its very own personal story of how it came to be there.

Damian Barr - journalist, playwright and Salonierre - is curator of The (W)riters’ Library at W London. He invited ten of his favourite writers from both sides of the Atlantic to each choose ten books which reflect their personal taste and mean something to them. Inside each of their chosen titles they have included a handwritten introduction, explaining why they love a particular book, why it resonates with them and other idiosyncrasies such as who they were in love with, what they were wearing or what the weather was like on the day they fell in love with that book – short stories in their own right.
Damian Barr comments, “When you recommend a book, you say a lot about yourself, consciously or not. W is passionate about the ‘insider’ and The (W)riters’ Library reflects this. It’s a first of its kind, giving visitors the chance to personally connect with their favourite writers and the titles that have inspired, challenged and touched them in their lives. This is about the stories behind the books”.

The ten authors in The (W)riters’ Library are: Bret Easton Ellis, David Nicholls, Hephzibah Anderson, Geoff Dyer, Ned Beauman, Alex Preston, Naomi Alderman, Sloane Crosley, Jake Arnott and Craig Taylor. Between them, they have chosen 100 books from classics to graphic novels, including Warhol, Fitzgerald, Dr Suess and Atwood.
“The (W)riters’ Library offers visitors a view of what inspires and excites ten influential writers. We are thrilled to work with all these inspirational authors and introduce their personal recommendations to our guests”, says Kevin Rockey, General Manager, W London – Leicester Square.
The (W)riters’ Library is open to W London guests and the public from the 14th June 2011.
W London - Leicester Square is located at 10 Wardour Street, London, W1D 6Q. A stay at W London - Leicester Square starts from £335 per double room per night, including taxes and charges. To book call 00800 325 25252 or visit www.wlondon.co.uk.

TENPILATES 'TENNISFIT' CLASS

TennisFit’ is a class dedicated to getting you in shape for the tennis session – no matter what your level of expertise – perfect for the build up to Wimbledon fever! The TenPilates TennisFit programme will help you get the most from your tennis and stay game sharp right to the end of every match.

Raise your game – with TenPilates 'TennisFit' Class
Whatever your level of tennis skill, whether you do social tennis or league, our Tennis Fit programme will help you get the most from your tennis and stay game sharp right to the end of every match.

Tennis lessons help you develop skill and technique, but you need to be truly Tennis Fit as well to be on the very top of your game whomever the opposition.

Getting TennisFit with TenPilates ensures that the techniques practised and honed to perfection in your tennis lessons stay fully effective the whole match through.

With Wimbledon coming up
The top professionals in the tennis game are now preparing to reach their peak fitness, and TennisFit will teach you how they maintain peak fitness week in, week out, for optimum tennis performance.

Develop your:
• Power for bigger serves and better shots
• Strength and endurance for a more powerful game right to the end
• Flexibility to reach more shots and avoid injury
• Balance to remain poised wherever you are on the court
• Speed and agility to reach every ball

The class itself is made up of:
• SMR (Self Myofascial Release) or Foam Rolling
• Stretches
• Core exercises on the Reformer for Abdominals, Latissimus Dorsi, Gluteus Max/Min, Pelvic Floor
• Integration of core muscles - Windmill on the Reformer
• Power - Multi planar hops/jumps
• SAQ - Speed Agility Quickness (for travelling along the court lines)
• Total Body weight based exercises in multi planes of motion
4 week programme at the Notting Hill Studio: £120
www.tenpilates.com

GET CLOSER TO ANDY MURRAY FOR WIMBLEDON HEAD TENNIS LAUNCH NEW VIRAL FILM AND FACEBOOK CAMPAIGN STARRING ANDY MURRAY

British tennis ace, Andy Murray stars in a brand new short film created by his racquet partner, HEAD Tennis, which launches on June 6th 2011 on Youtube and Facebook. The viral, entitled Get Closer, is the first part of HEAD’s unique Facebook campaign enabling fans to interact with Andy Murray throughout Wimbledon.

The brand new viral depicts a fictional day in the life of Andy Murray. This lighthearted film follows the tennis star at home, on the court and even in the shower as he interacts with his fans in a completely unexpected way - they give him a giant thumbs up while wearing Facebook “LIKE” icons!
Head Tennis invites fans to watch the Get Closer film online at www.facebook.com/headtennis. Here, they can “LIKE” the page to gain access to lots of exclusive content, special prizes and Andy’s tweets throughout Queens and Wimbledon.

In order to, symbolically, get really close to Andy fans can send their cheers and personalised messages to Andy via the HEAD Facebook page. He will then select his favourites, and these will be emblazoned on the tennis racquet bag he takes out onto centre court during the tournament. On top of this HEAD will be running daily competitions for some special tennis equipment signed by Andy, including his HEAD YouTek™ Radical Pro racquet.

“Using digital and social media in HEAD’s brand communication, we want to bring our consumers and our athletes closer together in an emotional and fun way,” says Johan Eliasch, CEO of HEAD N.V. “We are proud to be partnering with Andy on such a unique campaign during the most prestigious tournament in the tennis calendar.”

Andy Murray said: “The viral was great fun to make and there are plenty of random characters that crop up throughout, I definitely haven’t had too many days like that! In the lead-up to and during Wimbledon it really means a lot to me to have support and encouragement, it makes a big difference on the court.”

THE BRITISH GAS BIG DIP HEADS TO LONDON AND MANCHESTER

Double Olympic gold medalist Rebecca Adlington OBE will officially open a major new urban swim event that is on its way to London and Manchester and offers summer swimming like never before.

The British Gas Big Dip, supported by Speedo the world’s leading swim brand is designed to get more people enjoying the benefits of spending time in the pool – a key aim for the partnership between British Swimming and British Gas. This event is set to be the UK’s ultimate urban swim festival and features a 25m outdoor pool and a beach.

The Uk’s ultimate urban swim festival, which is the brainchild of Olympic medallist Steve Parry, builds on the success of the British Gas ‘Pools 4 Schools’ project held on the south bank of the River Thames in London during 2009, which taught over 2,000 people to swim in just four weeks.

Launching the latest initiative to get more people to enjoy swimming, Steve Parry said

“The British Gas Big Dip offers swimming for all the family and so much more – in fact all the fun of the beach is being taken into two iconic British cities. There’s a real focus on teaching people to swim and also sessions which will give people more confidence in the water.

“People who come to the attraction will be able to see England’s Volleyball team, exercise and try new activities including giant slides and zorbing pools. There will also be a beach area for non-swimmers with volleyball sessions, yoga, pilates and kids competitions.”

Andrew Hogan brand director from British Gas said:

“The British Gas Big Dip is a fun and active day out for all the family. Everyone is welcome and British Gas customers will also receive a voucher to take part in one of the extra activities for free.”

David Robinson, Speedo brand president said:

“We’re delighted to be backing this event and we are sure people will take advantage of the fantastic activities that are available for all the family to enjoy. There’s so much to do that even the weather won’t spoil the fun.”

The British Gas Big Dip London takes place in Clapham Common from June 18th to July 17th and the British Gas Big Dip Manchester will be held in Spinningfields from July 30th to August 29th.

Tickets cost just £3 per adult, which includes free admittance for up to two children aged 12 and under. To book your place for this summer’s biggest urban swimming festival visit www.bigdip.co.uk or follow @The_Big_Dip on Twitter for the latest updates.

SUMMER SERENITY OFFER AT ONE SPA

Summer Serenity offer
One Spa at The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa in Edinburgh
Monday - Friday until 29 July 2011
Price: £120
Bookings:Tel: 0131 221 777 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

As Edinburgh hots up for summer and the frenzy of festival time comes closer, relax and recharge with a great value spa package at the award-winning One Spa.

The Summer Serenity package includes a brightening Salt & Oil Scrub, soothing Essential Body Massage and an Escape at One experience.

Escape at One offers three hours access to the exclusive top floor facilities at One Spa including the extensive Thermal Suite and bubbling rooftop Hydropool.

For more information on One Spa, please visit www.onespa.com and the new You Tube channel www.youtube.com/sheratonedinburgh

CELEBRATING WOMEN LIKE YOU SEARCH TO FIND INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN TO CELEBRATE EMMELINE PANKHURST’S BIRTHDAY
In 2010 Charlotte Newson created Women Like You, the first contemporary artwork to celebrate Manchester born Emmeline Pankhurst. The photomosaic portrait of the Leader of the British Suffragette movement is made up of 10,000 individual images of inspiring women - celebrities, mothers, wives, daughters, politicians, scientists – all sent in by members of the public from all corners of the globe. The original and intricate artwork took Charlotte two years to complete and stands 3 metres high and 2.5 metres wide.

To make the date of Pankhurst’s birth on 14 July (1858), Charlotte is launching a second ambitious collaborative project. The stunning Women Like You artwork has been turned into a virtual birthday card for women to either sign or post their image onto, creating a personal and very public birthday message to the woman whose legacy transformed the lives of women in this country. The e-card will be displayed on Charlotte’s website www.charlottenewson.com, featuring the names and photographs of women from all over the world.

In addition to the virtual community birthday card Charlotte has created a range of tools to encourage women to take part in or support the project including:
• A FREE HAPPY BIRTHDAY E-CARD for people to download to send on. The card features some of the lesser-known facts about Emmeline’s life – that she had five children in ten years for example, and size 3.5 feet!
• A FREE BIRTHDAY KIT that is available to download, featuring Emmeline Pankhurst’s biography, unique images taken her home and personal artefacts (including her parlour), memorable quotes, unusual details of her life and some of the personal stories behind the portrait. It also features ideas for how individuals, groups and schools might like to celebrate the birth of the leader of the British Suffragette party.

Charlotte says: “The original Women Like You portrait was a hugely moving labour of love for everyone involved and it created a great community of women who wanted to share their stories with the world. Now, using the internet and social media networks, we’re able to give even more women the opportunity to leave their mark and become part of the Women Like You story with this birthday card tribute to Emmeline Pankhurst.”

Thousands came together to create the suffragette movement, making great sacrifices to ensure that women obtained the vote. Thousands more came together to create the Women Like You portrait and now Charlotte is hoping that even more women will help to commemorate the inspiration of Emmeline Pankhurst by spreading the work of this campaign to celebrate her birthday on 14th July.

Women are invited to visit www.charlottenewson.com to download the free e-card, access the free birthday kit and send in their signature or photographs to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . All submissions will be monitored before being posted and are subject to approval by the artist.
Living and working in Manchester, Charlotte Newson has over 20 years’ experience of creating powerful and moving artworks and has a residency at The Pankhurst Centre, a museum and women’s support space on Nelson Street in Manchester (pictured right) that was the home of Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters Sylvia, Christabel and Adela from 1897 – 1907.

LOOKING TO FASHION A CAREER IN STYLE? VERY.CO.UK’S V-STYLER COMPETITION LOOKS TO FIND THE NEXT BUDDING STYLE GURU

If you’ve got a passion for fashion, think you have an eye for upcoming trends, or know someone who can always tell what’s hot from what’s not, then the perfect opportunity to show off your talents has arrived. Online department store, Very.co.uk is searching for one lucky budding style guru to have the chance of joining the ‘V team’, a crack unit of experts that will be dishing out fashion advice, design tips and giving makeovers to the Great British public.

Today sees the launch of the national ‘V-Styler’ competition where one person will win the job of their dreams working on behalf of Very.co.uk based from the fashion capital of London. Working alongside fellow ‘V team’ members, top fashion stylist Kirsty Drury, interior stylist Sally Cullen, makeup artist Gini Bogado and Cate Sevilla, a technical expert and blogger, they will win a job with a £50,000 per annum salary in exchange for passing on their style expertise to shoppers via Facebook and reporting from exclusive fashion events. The lucky winner will also play a part in conducting monthly style makeovers and will even help design a range that will be sold online at Very.co.uk.

Very.co.uk’s ‘V team’ is creating a whole phenomenon by bringing expert style tips to life online at very.co.uk – just like having a personal shopper but all from the ease and comfort of home. Every month, very.co.uk will be describing a new style issue ranging from what to wear for a wedding, finding a new style post baby, to how to give the home a seasonal makeover. If members of the public share that dilemma, they can email in justifying why they should receive the Very ‘V team’ makeover. Via public vote, the most voted for dilemma will be awarded with a style consultation which will be filmed and shared on Facebook and the V Team You Tube channel.

Entry is easy. Simply visit www.facebook.com/veryuk and via the competition tab select a photo of yourself looking fashion fabulous and state why this is the V-styler role is the perfect job for you. It will then be down to a public vote as well as a selection task at Very.co.uk HQ to select a winner.

Celebrity designer and style leader for Very.co.uk, Fearne Cotton says, “I think the very.co.uk V-Styler competition is a fantastic idea. Everybody knows someone who just always gets it right style-wise. It’s brilliant that somebody with that obvious talent and eye for detail is going to get the chance to make a career for themselves out of their knack for knowing what’s chic and suits others.”

Retail Director, Gareth Jones said, “Here at Very we recognise that a lot of the style that people buy is inspired from the trends on the street as well as those on the catwalk. We want to provide customers with an opportunity to be styled not only by industry experts but also by the talent that is already interpreting key looks in our cities and towns. The V styler competition is a great chance for those who instinctively know what looks good on others and would love to turn their skill into a dream job in the fashion industry.”

The ‘V team’ will be in action this summer in Bristol (19th July), Brighton (20th July) and London (21st July), as Very.co.uk hosts a series of VIP ‘V Team’ Style Academies to give customers the chance to preview the new season trends. In addition to receiving insider tips on fashion, beauty, home and technology, guests will also have the chance to preview the new very.co.uk Autumn/Winter collections, spruce up their style and get 1-2-1 advice from the Very V team of experts.

The ‘V team’ will also be hitting the streets to solve the nation’s style dilemmas face to face, conducting on-the-spot makeovers and giving out free Very.co.uk accessories and items in their customised ‘V team’ van. Look out for them in Bristol, Brighton and London from 19th-21st July.

The V-Styler competition is open from 9th June- 6th July 2011 on www.facebook.com/veryuk. The winner will be announced on 21st July at the ‘V Team’ Style Academy in London.

SEARCH FOR A STAR BEGINS WITH COLUMN IDOL 2011

Media Trust and The Sun are calling for entries for Column Idol 2011, a competition to find raw undiscovered writing talent fronted by music star Jessie J and England footballer and children’s books author Theo Walcott.

The competition, now in its second year, offers 18-25 year olds the chance to be mentored by top journalists – with one lucky winner getting the chance to have their column printed in The Sun.

Column Idol spokesperson and singer/songwriter Jessie J said: "This is a fantastic chance for anyone who likes writing and has an opinion.

“Young people are always saying that they want to be heard, and this is an opportunity for them to step up and do it!”

To enter, young people must submit a short description about themselves, what they’d like to write about and why they deserve to be crowned Column Idol 2011. The entry form can be found at www.thesun.co.uk/columnidol.

Six writers will be shortlisted and mentored by top journalists from The Sun who will help them polish their ideas and support them as they write their columns.

Those shortlisted will present their columns to a high-profile judging panel including The Sun’s Editor Dominic Mohan and columnist Jane Moore. The final winner will receive the prize of having their column printed in the newspaper in September 2011.

Column Idol first launched in 2010. After making it through to the final six, winner Lee Price’s column appeared as a full page in The Sun.

Dominic Mohan, Editor of The Sun, said: “At The Sun we are committed to finding and investing in new writing talent.

“We are delighted to be working with Media Trust to launch the second Column Idol competition and I hope that once again we will attract entries from all walks of life, including people who may believe a career in journalism is out of their reach.

“I am proud that some of the paper’s most respected journalists are lending their skill and expertise to mentor young people, and look forward to seeing this year’s entries.”

Katie Simpson, Deputy Chief Executive at Media Trust said, “We’ve partnered with The Sun for the second year running with the aim of getting young people’s voices heard and finding raw undiscovered talent.

“This is part of a long term partnership with The Sun and News International. We’re delighted to have some of their most esteemed journalists on board as mentors to give industry insight and expertise to young people who wouldn’t normally have access to it.”

The closing date for entries is Monday 20 June at midday. To enter and for terms and conditions please go to www.thesun.co.uk/columnidol.

MOT YOUR HEALTH ONLINE TODAY

Is my diet affecting my health? Am I drinking too much? Am I active enough? Getting personalised health information, whether to address specific concerns or just see how you are faring, can be tricky. But from today, it will be much easier to check how healthy you are using a free, revamped tool on the NHS Choices website.

The LifeCheck (www.nhs.uk/lifecheck) tool asks you a small number of questions about your age and lifestyle which generates an individual health profile, and health tips tailored to your specific needs. You’ll then be able to set achievable goals to improve your health and wellbeing, and get to relevant, reliable advice and information on the NHS website.

Designed for all ages from newborns to grandparents, the user-friendly tool now combines an upgraded and extended version of three existing tools Baby LifeCheck (5-8 months), Teen LifeCheck (12-15 years) and Mid-LifeCheck (over 40s).

IS IT A SUITCASE, IS IT A SCOOTER?
In fact, it’s both! What’s more, the new Micro Luggage from www.micro-scooters.co.uk can also go on a plane too as it’s classed as carry-on luggage and will stow neatly in an over-head locker.

Taking commuter scooters to the next level, the Micro Luggage combines a nippy scooter and a sturdy case with a 26 litre capacity. Not only is it perfect for beating the queues at airports and stations, it also provides a great solution for getting to and from work.

Micro Scooters UK has already changed the face of the school run with thousands of families having swopped their gas guzzling 4x4s for the Mini and Maxi Micros. Now the company is set to do the same for commuting with the Micro Luggage scooter. Not only is it a healthier option to a car, it’s a great way of reducing your carbon footprint.

Featuring a hard-shell case combined with a compact, lean-and-steer scooter, the Micro Luggage ensures you arrive at your destination in time and unruffled. The scooter then neatly packs away leaving you with a conventional case. For more relaxed occasions, the Micro Luggage can be used as a regular wheeled case.

At a cost of £250, the Micro Luggage costs less than you’d pay for a two-month Oyster card and will give you years of great service. Find them on www.micro-scooters.co.uk

WORLD’S LARGEST COLLECTION OF CHARLES HEIDSIECK GOES ON SALE IN NORWAY
Looking to purchase some of the most precious champagnes in the world? You’ll have to catch the next flight to Oslo!
The largest offering of wines currently available from the Charles Heidsieck “Collection” range goes on sale today at Vika, Oslo’s downtown branch of Norway’s famed Vinmonopolet:

• Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires 1995
• Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires 1985
• Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires 1983
• Charles Heidsieck Champagne Charlie 1979 en Magnum
• Charles Heidsieck Champagne Charlie 1981
• Charles Heidsieck Champagne Charlie 1985
• Charles Heidsieck Vintage 2000
• Charles Heidsieck Vintage 1979
• Charles Heidsieck Vintage 1983 en Magnum
• Charles Heidsieck Vintage Rosé 1996

To celebrate the event, Arne Ronold, Scandinavia’s first Master of Wine and editor of Vinforum, joined Charles Heidsieck’s International House Communications Director Christian Holthausen for a special tasting at The Culinary Academy in Oslo.

“The champagnes from Charles Heidsieck are of outstanding quality and the buyers at the monopoly have happily realised this,” says Ronold.
“For the moment, the only place in the world where you can find a larger selection of wines from Charles Heidsieck is 32 meters underground in our Gallo-Roman chalk cellars in Reims,” added Holthausen, referring to the House’s historic caves in the heart of the Champagne region.
Sales of premium champagne continue to climb in Scandinavia, with the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin du Champagne reporting a 17.4% increase of sales in Norway in 2010 vs. 2009 alone.
Champagne Charles Heidsieck is distributed in Norway by Maxxium, part of the Edrington Group.
http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/

DIAMOND JUBILEE BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY BY JOHN WALKER & SONS CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF THE REIGN OF HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN 1952-2012

To mark The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, John Walker & Sons, Scotch Whisky Distillers By Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen, is to produce an extremely limited edition of 60 crystal decanters of ‘Diamond Jubilee Blended Scotch Whisky by John Walker & Sons’, a unique blend of whiskies distilled in 1952 and finished in a marrying cask of English oak from The Queen’s Sandringham Estate.

These rare editions will be offered, by invitation only, for private sale at £100,000 each. John Walker & Sons will donate all profits from the sale, with a guarantee of at least £1million, to the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST), the charitable arm of the Royal Warrant Holders Association. This will support the QEST Diamond Jubilee Appeal, through which it aims to grow its scholarship base, build a mentoring programme and enable traditional craftsmanship to flourish in Britain.

John Walker & Sons has harnessed the collective skills of some of the finest craftsmen and women, including fellow Royal Warrant Holders and QEST Scholars, to create exclusive, bespoke pieces to accompany the whisky; a stunning showcase of craftsmanship.

‘Diamond Jubilee Blended Scotch Whisky by John Walker & Sons’ will be presented in a lead crystal decanter adorned with a Britannia silver collar that features a half carat diamond set by hand, and an individually numbered silver seal. This will be accompanied by a pair of hand-engraved lead crystal glasses and a leather bound, personalised, hand-embellished artefact book, all housed in a bespoke cabinet incorporating woods from The Queen’s Sandringham and Balmoral estates.

David Gates, Royal Warrant grantee at John Walker & Sons said: “As a holder of the Royal Warrant, we felt compelled to mark this truly historic occasion with something truly exquisite. We look forward to sharing further news on this exceptional liquid very soon.”

Jim Beveridge, Master Blender for John Walker & Sons said: “These are extraordinary grain and malt whiskies that have been maturing slowly since 1952. It’s a huge privilege to work with them using all our resources and experience to craft a John Walker & Sons blend that’s fitting for this special anniversary. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Sixty editions of ‘Diamond Jubilee by John Walker & Sons’ will be bottled on 6th February 2012, exactly 60 years to the day since The Queen acceded to the Throne.

http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/

RECAPTURE THE MAGIC OF HARRY POTTER WITH COMPLETE ORLANDO FROM JUST £72 PER PERSON PER NIGHT

Harry Potter has ridden Hippogriffs, duelled wizards and battled giants, but as the final chapter comes to a close with the release of the last movie on July 15th fans can still experience the magic at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter with some great deals from Complete Orlando.

Holidaymakers can stay close to the Harry Potter action at one of the three onsite hotels including the Hard Rock Hotel, Portofino Bay Hotel or the Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando Resort from £72 per person per night with a low booking deposit of just £75.

Visitors can step into Harry Potter’s world and walk through Hogesmeade visiting some iconic places from the stories including the Three Broomsticks, be picked for a wand in Ollivanders and test some of the delights from Honeydukes sweet shop as well as taking on dragons on the Dragon Challenge or trying a Hippogriff for size on Flight of the Hippogriff.

Complete Orlando offers a range of benefits for booking with them, including low deposits, flexible payments and no credit card fees as well as free hotel nights, early booking discounts and offers on theme park tickets.

For further information and reservations visit www.completeorlando.co.uk or call 0800 294 8844.

MANGO TREE CELEBRATES THE START OF SUMMER WITH A SPICY SALAD FESTIVAL RUNNING UNTIL 26TH JUNE

Salad days are set to return this summer as fine-dining Thai restaurant Mango Tree is celebrating the best in healthy Thai cuisine with a flavoursome five-week Salad Festival running up until Sunday 26th June 2011.

Head chef, Ian Pengelley has devised a mouth-watering menu using the freshest ingredients that combines subtle spices to create a healthy yet exotic treat.

The Salad Festival will offer diners a selection of innovative dishes including Yum Pak Boong Tord Krob, a water spinach tempura mixed with minced prawns and served with spicy lime sauce; and Yum Pla Meuk Yang, a grilled squid salad served with spicy lime sauce.

For vegetarians there is the option of Salad Keak, a mixed vegetable and fried tofu salad with boiled egg, served with a peanut dressing. Also available on the menu is Yum Guay Tiew Siang-hai, Siang-hai noodles salad served with roast pork.

Award-winning restaurant Mango Tree is located in the heart of Belgravia. The spacious feng-shui designed venue has a minimalist decor coupled with a warm and inviting atmosphere. The authentic menu offers delicious Thai cuisine using the finest ingredients that is sourced from the best suppliers both locally and abroad.
So head down to Mango Tree’s Salad Festival for a flavour of the best Thai-cuisine in town!

Mango Tree
46 Grosvenor Place
London
SW1X 7EQ
0207 823 1888
www.mangotree.org.uk

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