‘THE WEEK’S STATS OF THE WEEK…

‘THE WEEK’S STATS OF THE WEEK…

Did you know that the fashion industry is worth £26bn to the UK economy, and supports 797,000 jobs according to The Daily Telegraph.

Did you also know that up to 5,000 people earning more than £100,000 per year live in council or housing association properties according to the Department for Communities and Local Government !!!!

For more stats of the week in ‘The Week’ magazine follow the link below for your free copy –

Claim a free copy of The Week magazine

• The best of the British and international media
• Clear unbiased journalism presenting you with the facts you need
• Intelligent writing delivers you a concise and complete briefing in just one hour of your time
• Keeping on top of the news has never been so easy or enjoyable – in print or through our dynamic digital formats

• Our Review of reviews brings you the most interesting and entertaining insights on the latest books, plays, films, opera and exhibitions
• What are top food critics saying about British restaurants?
• Plus the most bizarre stories from the tabloids, a smattering of gossip and Talking Points

Follow this link to claim your free copy: http://subscription.theweek.co.uk/landing/bigshot/01/

UK STORMS GOING FROM BAD TO WORSE...

Life in the UK at the moment is frightening and daunting for some who are going through the terrible weather here at the moment.

A section of the sea wall in Dawlish, Devon, collapsed and left the railway to Cornwall suspended in mid-air, ( see picture above)

Residents of homes on the Somerset Levels were evacuated amid fears flood defences could be overwhelmed.

David Cameron chaired his first Cobra meeting this year and announced an extra £100m for flood works.

At Prime Minister's Questions he pledged £75m for repairs over the next year, £10m for urgent work in Somerset - where several rivers have flooded - and £15m for maintenance.

The forecast for the weekend is worse storms to come. On the Somerset Levels, police used a helicopter to advise the occupants of more than 150 properties in Fordgate and Northmoor to leave their homes.

If there is one thing that we have no control of whatsoever is the weather. We can only hope that there will be some let up soon for the sake of all people who are being affected by this unique weather front. 

HALF TERM SHENANIGANS IN THE UK...

With the schools half term approaching you can find lots of offers on fun days with the children to meals out. You just need to spend a little time on the internet and hey presto your half term activities are sorted.

Hopefully my pick on a few half term shenanigans is ideal for you and your family.

RSPCA Animal Champion

If you’re aged between 6 and 12 you can take part in RSPCA Animal Champion and turn your half term into an adventure full of fun and exciting activities. You’ll receive a toolkit through the post with lots of fun things you can do with your friends and family during February half term. 
You could invite your friends over for an animal themed sleepover and a night of fun and games, or get your hands messy in the kitchen making cakes and biscuits. There are step by step instructions to show you how to complete each activity, and we’ll also send stickers, posters and much more.

Choose your favourite 5 activities and finish them by the end of half term to become an official RSPCA Animal Champion. Once you’re finished you will get a special award and certificate.
Every year the RSPCA rescues and cares for thousands of animals. We believe that every animal deserves a happy and healthy life, and it’s our job to help make sure this happens. If you want to help animals too, you can show your support by becoming one of our amazing RSPCA Animal Champions.
It costs £15 per child to register and you will need a parent to sign up for you by filling in the form below. There’s more information available for parents here. 
Registration closes on 12th February and we only have limited places available. Sign up now to avoid missing out.
- See more at: http://choices.rspca.org.uk/pages/events/v2/display.aspx?title=animalchampion&gclid=CLvKuPW7srwCFWLHtAodEiwAdA#sthash.xFH0GFPd.dpuf

Head down to Half Term Events http://www.halftermevents.co.uk/ to see their list of outings which include mountainboarding, cricket and Jungle Book with events taking place in -

• Ride The HIll Mountainboard Centre
  • Priory Farm, Sandy Lane
  • Nutfield
• Lund Theatre, University College School
  • Frognal
  • Hampstead
• Hazlitt Theatre
  • Earl Street
  • Maidstone
• Langley Park Sports Centre
  • Hawksbrook Lane, Off South Eden Park Road
  • Beckenham
    

Of course if you can make it to London then Time Out has the best list of activities available from

http://www.timeout.com/london/kids/half-term-in-london

the Imagine Childrens Festival 2014 -

An annual festival of music, comedy, performance, interaction and theatre taking place throughout half term, with appearances by children's writers and entertainers. Kids from local schools will even be helping run the place by assisting light technicians, programme sales and on the tannoy.

To Saturday drawing workshops. The list is endless.

However all your local authorities will have a list of 'whats on' in your area where you could soon find out what's going on in your area this half term. Another excellent site is the BBC 'Things to do' site where you can pop in your post code to find out what is going on in your area.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/thingstodo

Enjoy your half term, whatever you do.

THE GREAT BRITISH GARDEN REVIVAL...

 If you haven't been following the 'Great British Garden Revival' which is a selection of top television gardeners who want to inspire the nation to save Britain's rich gardening heritage.

Its on BBC 2 at 7 pm on Monday and the final episode is on Tuesday 14th January.

On Monday's episode Toby Buckland meets a conservationist who works to save species of fruit trees that are close to extinction, while Christine Walken looks at the Victorian era and their love of ornamental bedding plants.

On the final episode on Tuesday Chris Beardshaw champions the herbaceous border, while Alys Fowler celebrates the merits of the kitchen garden and tries a range of unusual edible plants.

If you have missed this great 'British' garden series and cannot watch it on catch up then don't panic as you can look through lots of pictures and clips by just going to the link online. 

This is Joe Swift with his milk float full of plants to revive front gardens in London which was one of my favourite episodes. 

Monty Don at Kew Millenium Seedbank

Toby in a field of Orange 

Rachel de Thame and Louise Wesley at Kelmarsh Hall