Blogs

52 weeks in Brum

Emma Victoria Stokes

  • Valentine’s Day in Birmingham – takeaway options in the West Midlands
    by emmastokes on 3rd February 2023 at 10:27 am

    This post about Valentine’s Day in Birmingham is a complete contrast from the previous one I wrote back in 2021 during the pandemic. Remember the time when we couldn’t leave our houses? Or sit on a bench with loved ones? Absolutely wild… This year, it’s wonderful to see various people excited to celebrate Valentine’s Day ... The post Valentine’s Day in Birmingham – takeaway options in the West Midlands appeared first on Emma Victoria Stokes.

  • A Surprise Proposal at Five Star Hotel Gotham | Manchester
    by emmastokes on 1st February 2023 at 12:55 pm

    On 4th November 2022, I got engaged at Hotel Gotham, Manchester. What was (or so I thought) a pre-booked babymoon getaway, suddenly turned out to be one of the biggest surprises of my life – and I couldn’t be more grateful that it happened at one of the best hotels in the UK. Hotel Gotham ... The post A Surprise Proposal at Five Star Hotel Gotham | Manchester appeared first on Emma Victoria Stokes.

  • Hotel Indigo Chester | A boutique getaway
    by emmastokes on 12th December 2022 at 5:37 pm

    Ad-press trip | Set in the heart of historic cathedral city and the county town of Cheshire, England – the surrounding area oozes charm and is the perfect place to relax and unwind. When searching for highly-rated hotels in Chester, it comes as no surprise that Hotel Indigo ranks as one of the best. With its ... The post Hotel Indigo Chester | A boutique getaway appeared first on Emma Victoria Stokes.

  • Damascena opens fifth coffee house in Birmingham
    by emmastokes on 27th October 2022 at 10:42 am

    Ad-PR invite | Middle Eastern cafe, Damascena is a vibrant city-born artisan coffee and food business that has expanded further into the city. The brand new Damascena addition, ideally located on Hagley Road, enables customers to experience the taste of the Middle East right here in Birmingham. In addition to its gorgeous Turkish coffee, Damascena ... The post Damascena opens fifth coffee house in Birmingham appeared first on Emma Victoria Stokes.

  • A Trip To The British Motor Museum
    by emmastokes on 29th September 2022 at 2:08 pm

    Ad-Gifted Tickets | With over 400 classic cars to admire, a range of interactive family activities and free tours to enjoy – families and petrolheads alike can enjoy a brilliant day out whilst exploring more than 120 years of heritage at the British Motor Museum. For years, the British motor industry has been both a vital and ... The post A Trip To The British Motor Museum appeared first on Emma Victoria Stokes.

The Thing Thang

  • The ‘sticky sandwich’ nail hack to making polish last (ad•gifted)
    by Ting on 14th April 2021 at 6:30 am

    There is something a little bit throwback about the ‘sticky sandwich’ nail hack. I first discovered it years ago before gel nails became my go to. I’m hard on my hands so finding ways for nail polish to look good beyond two days is a challenge. With the ongoing pandemic restrictions, I’ve rediscovered the ‘sticky sandwich’ nail hack as a way to make regular nail polish last. The basis of this technique is to sandwich your colour nail polish between layers of a ‘sticky’ base coat. I love to use the Orly Bonder Rubberized Base Coat (£14.99). This works with any brand or colour […]

  • Pixi Beauty Rose Bodytreats (ad•gifted)
    by Ting on 26th March 2021 at 7:30 am

    I am a huge fan of the Pixi Beauty Rose range of skincare. It’s hydrating and caring for my dry and dehydrated skin. Excitingly, Pixi Beauty have brought out a range called Rose Bodytreats. This is what my skin needs in the lead up to spring. It’s a time when I might dare to put away those winter woolies and reach for the lighter layers instead. The first Rose Bodytreats product is the Pixi Beauty Rose Body Cleanser (£18). This is a nourishing cream body cleanser . The formula is rich in flower oils so it gently cleanses skin whilst also hydrating and softening. I found this rich cream […]

  • Dermalogica Hydro Masque Exfoliant (ad•gifted)
    by Ting on 18th January 2021 at 7:30 am

    There’s nothing more satisfying than finding a decent face mask to pep my skin during all this time at home. It’s so important to use a good exfoliating product once or twice a week to remove dead skin cells. This helps active skincare products to absorb better into skin, helps makeup apply better and improves the general health of bare skin. I have been using the Dermalogica Hydro Masque Exfoliant (£55) in my Sunday self care routine for the past few months and loving it. The Dermalogica Hydro Masque Exfoliant is a hydrating and exfoliating mask treatment. It suits all skin types but […]

  • Little Blackwood bao at home | pandemic life
    by Ting on 14th December 2020 at 7:30 am

    Trying to arrange a birthday celebration during a pandemic is challenging. Our usual celebrations involve meals and possibly drinks out with friends and family. Maybe even multiple outings depending on the occasion. With the current pandemic, we are adapting so we marked my husband’s birthday with a Little Blackwood bao takeaway. We had some good fortune that Little Blackwood were doing their bao specials at the right time. It’s not their usual offering but with covid19, businesses are doing what they can to adapt to ever changing guidelines. We ordered a Family Bao Box (£79), with 20 […]

  • The ethical Christmas jumper to wear all year round
    by Ting on 7th December 2020 at 7:30 am

    Trying to dress more sustainably for me involves thinking about all the ways I can utilise what I have. I don’t want to keep buying things for one specific occasion without considering longevity and cost per wear. Given that most of my clothes are currently in storage whilst I await my house move, I was considering how I was going to dress for the colder British winter – and Christmas. I found a few great options but this ethical Christmas jumper (£34) from Rock on Ruby is perfect as it works all year round – not just the lead up to 25th December. Firstly, the slogan speaks to my […]

The Gastronomic Gorman

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Strangeness & Charm

  • 5 unmissable historic sites to visit when in Rome
    by Hayley on 21st March 2023 at 1:33 pm

    Image by Pexels from Pixabay Rome is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Its characterful narrow streets give way to expansive piazzas adorned by glittering fountains, and you are never far from a market stall overflowing with vibrant flowers, fruits, and vegetables.  However, the real magnificence comes from the ornate architecture of the heritage buildings that line the streets, capturing only a brief blink of the vast timeline of Italy’s capital city.  As the birthplace of the Ancient Roman empire, Rome has thousands of years of history behind it. […]

  • Why Have I Had So Many Issues When Travelling?
    by Hayley on 14th March 2023 at 1:34 pm

    I seem to have had a lot of issues when travelling. Some people may say that I have bad luck when travelling. My dad has said that he would never get on a train with me because a problem always arises; whether that be cancellations, delays or issues with other passengers. As well as train issues in the UK, I’ve had a few incidents abroad that probably should put me off travelling, but they haven’t. There are plenty of examples of issues when travelling. Cancelled flights seem to be a regular occurrence for me but I have also ended up in lockdown twice on two different continents. I’ve […]

  • 5 Things To Do in Budapest
    by Hayley on 12th March 2023 at 3:41 am

    There are so many things to do in Budapest – I’ve been twice now and there’s still things I want to do. The first time I visited, I was on a solo trip to Poland, Hungary and Slovakia and I stayed for two nights. My second trip was for four nights and included a Muse concert. If you’re thinking of going to the Hungarian capital, then I definitely recommend 3 nights or more. Things to do in Budapest Do a free walking tour I’ve written a whole post on why you should do a free walking tour in Budapest, but it definitely deserves a mention here. Walking tours are a fantastic way to […]

  • Five Things To Do In Belfast
    by Hayley on 3rd March 2023 at 12:51 am

    If you haven’t already been to Northern Ireland, then start having a look at flights now. There’s so many things to do in Belfast and the surrounding areas. I flew over to Belfast in June 2022 on a solo trip to see my favourite band, The National and I had 2 days to explore. There’s so much that I didn’t get to do, so I’m definitely going to plan another trip soon. Take a trip to Giant’s Causeway As I had two full days in Northern Ireland, I decided that I’d spend one in the city of Belfast and the other visiting somewhere I’d always wanted to go. Without hestitation, I booked […]

  • New everyday essentials
    by Hayley on 31st January 2023 at 3:35 pm

    It’s no secret that I always like to try out new products. Every month I get a package from Notino and I get to try out so many different things. Even though I have a pretty good skincare routine, I like to mix it up every now and then. I’m also keen to try out different brands that may be harder to get in the UK. This month I have been loving a certain scent from Sol de Janeiro. A couple of months ago, I picked out one of their gift sets which contained the Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa ’40 Perfumed Body and Hair Mist. I immediately fell in love with the scent and got myself […]

Digital Birmingham

  • PRESS RELEASE: A Digitally Connected City - Enabled for Future Growth
    by suritasolanki on 6th March 2023 at 9:30 pm

    Birmingham City Council is aiming to accelerate full fibre coverage across the city. The council has approved a proposal that will provide better digital coverage for businesses, with faster speed and lower costs. A new full-fibre digital network will target the underserved areas of the city in partnership with a telecommunications partner, ensuring that any business located in Birmingham will have access to the high levels of connectivity they need to develop and innovate their products and services. The West Midlands Tech Sector is expected to generate at least £2.7 billion for […]

  • PRESS RELEASE: Birmingham City Council to accelerate full fibre coverage across the City
    by suritasolanki on 23rd January 2023 at 12:00 pm

    Digital connectivity using fibre, rather than more traditional technologies, is vital for the businesses of Birmingham to compete in a global world. The pervasive use and application of digital technology and data is changing how all sectors and industries across the economy operate. The West Midlands Tech Sector is expected to generate at least £2.7 billion for the local economy by 2025. It is home to 18,394 start-ups and more incubators and accelerators than any other city outside London, has the fastest growing tech sector and has the largest 5G test bed across the UK. In order to attract […]

  • Free digital devices for communities
    by suritasolanki on 19th January 2023 at 5:00 pm

    Community groups and charities are being urged to apply for free laptops and desktop computers to help people who struggle to get digital access. Birmingham City Council is currently in the process of refurbishing several thousand devices for use in our communities. The initial pilot scheme for the Birmingham Device Bank saw over 600 distributed to 85 charities across the city. Councillor Jayne Francis, Cabinet Member for Digital, Culture, Heritage and Tourism said:  “This is a fantastic opportunity for charities and community groups who are helping people without digital access. […]

  • Small Cell Infrastructure Expressions of Interest now open!
    by suritasolanki on 21st December 2022 at 6:00 pm

    Birmingham City Council are inviting proposals for the installation of 4G/5G Small Cell infrastructure from code operators seeking to deploy their technology in Birmingham. The Council are proactively supporting the rollout of futureproofed digital infrastructure, as set out in the Digital Strategy: 2022-2025, in order to enhance mobile and broadband connectivity to residents and businesses. We recognise that futureproofed digital infrastructure is the backbone of a modern thriving economy, driving productivity and spreading growth and in […]

  • Project Gigabit - Public Review Launch for Lot 35 - Birmingham and the Black Country
    by suritasolanki on 10th October 2022 at 10:00 am

    The government is on a mission to deliver lightning-fast, reliable broadband to everyone in the UK and is investing £5 billion in Project Gigabit to ensure that hard-to-reach communities are not left out. Building Digital UK (BDUK) is carrying out a Public Review to help identify areas in Birmingham and the Black Country that may be suitable for future public funding for gigabit-capable broadband. BDUK is seeking information and supporting evidence from suppliers - in relation to the presence of gigabit-capable broadband infrastructure within the project area.  They wish to hear from […]

John Tyrrell

  • DE-COLONISING EDUCATION: EMPOWERMENT PROJECT. D.E.E.P.
    by John on 17th April 2021 at 6:21 pm

    ISSUES & RESOURCES Sign posting human & multi-media resources to schools & beyond to combat inequalities, racism and injustice arising from our colonial experience.  ISSUES Introduction A group of teachers working through 70s, 80s and 90s, much of the time in Birmingham, are responding to requests for help and support in the present climate when

  • The Sewell Report
    by John on 14th April 2021 at 9:51 am

    2021 and another report on racism. Following on Black Lives Matter and the inequalities laid bare for all to see by Covid 19 and once more a disproportionate proportion of the burden on the Black community, particularly those working at the front line, in hospitals, in the care services. This latest report requested by the

  • Black Lives Matter. Implementing Rampton and Swann
    by John on 4th March 2021 at 7:30 pm

    In 2020 Black Lives Matter became a universal cry after another death of a Black person, George Floyd, caused uproar re-opening the Civil Rights’ Movement action 4 decades earlier. At the same time the pandemic, Covid 19, also laid bare gross inequalities, not least Black people, many of whom were prominent on the front line

  • Marketing Covid 19. Why testing won’t work in the UK
    by John on 17th September 2020 at 11:47 pm

    Testing for the presence of the Covid 19 virus was put into private hands like everything else in the world of neoliberal ideas – more or less dominating the whole of planet Earth. Questions were asked from the very beginning why Serco should be entrusted with tracking and tracing when they have shown themselves to

  • Re-opening schools
    by John on 26th May 2020 at 9:53 am

    The Socialist Labour Party issued the following statement from its Leader, Arthur Scargill on 2nd May, 2020 No Schools, Colleges or Universities should be re-opened until there is a drug to cure anyone infected by the virus or we have a vaccine to prevent it. In the event that a decision is made to re-open

Kristy Marie

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