Tag: must read

#ThrowbackThursday: North East Police Vehicles From Yesteryear

By on 10th December 2015in Lifestyle

They just don’t make them like they used to…

North East Flickr user ‘Caesarion 1’ has over 200 photographs on his page, and many of them are a window into the region’s past.

Most of the photographs highlight the transport services of the time, giving us a glimpse of yesteryear’s buses and trains, making the rounds in Teesside and Northumbria. For locals who spent their formative years here, it’s one hell of a nostalgia trip.

Particularly notable, and featured in the slideshow gallery below, is an album containing 26 photographs of the North East’s old police vehicles, a lot of which would now be considered classics.

The album features police vehicles from the Northumbria, Cleveland and Durham forces, dating from the latter half of the 20th century.

View the gallery here:

 

Gems include a Durham Constabulary Rover SD1 from the 1980s, a Vauxhall Chevette serving at Teesside Airport, and a Cleveland Police Ford Transit.

See more of Caesarion 1’s classic photographs here.

Do you remember any of these classic police vehicles? Do you have photographs of your own to share? Leave a comment below, or email online@inandaroundmag.co.uk!

Durham County Council To Consider Syrian Refugee Support

By on 9th December 2015in In & Around

Details of how County Durham could support the national response to the Syrian refugee crisis will be put before councillors next week…

 

Members of Durham County Council’s Cabinet will be asked to consider proposals setting out the level of support that could be offered to people fleeing war-torn Syria.

The proposals have been developed by the Durham Humanitarian Support Partnership, which was set up in September to consider County Durham’s ability to provide assistance and to ensure the organisations involved can work together effectively.

It followed the Government’s announcement that the UK would take an additional 20,000 Syrian refugees by 2020, with priority being given to the most vulnerable, including children.

The partnership, which is chaired by the county council, is working with churches, the voluntary sector and other partners to look at the needs refugees may have, including housing, food, health, education, translation services and community support.

Under the proposals being put to councillors, County Durham would agree to take refugees, with a focus on family groups, over the next five years.

An evaluation would be carried out within 12 months of the first group of refugees arriving in the county to see how effective this had been in order to help determine whether additional people could be accommodated.

Cllr Eddie Tomlinson, Cabinet member for assets, strategic housing and rural issues at Durham County Council, said: “We have already pledged our support to this national effort to help refugees escaping from war and persecution in Syria.

“We have had a number of approaches from local people offering to provide accommodation, host a family or to provide clothes, toiletries and bedding.

“At a time when many families here are experiencing hardship themselves, these offers of support to some of the world’s most vulnerable and desperate people is heartening.

“The proposals being put before Cabinet set out the level of support which the partnership feels can be offered in County Durham.

“They recognise that we do not have significant experience of relocating vulnerable refugees in the area and take into account our current ability to support and accommodate people.”

Cabinet will be asked to agree the proposed response to the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme when they meet next Wednesday (16th December).

The Government will work with councils to put in place the necessary arrangements to support and accommodate refugees, and will meet full cost in the first year with funding tapering over the next four years.

What do you think should be done? Leave your comments below.

5 DIY Christmas Gifts That Won’t Break The Bank

By on 9th December 2015in Lifestyle

Sophie Appleton shares five DIY creations to keep Christmas crafty…

 

 

I’m a big fan of Christmas, but like most of us, I’m no stranger to opening up my purse and having a few festive moths fly out of it. The familiar “Yikes, only one more pay day before Christmas” feeling is something we can all relate to, but it can be beaten!

DIY gifts are a dangerous game to play with less than a month before the big day, but if you do it right, you can come up with something that will be as well-received as it is cheap.

So if you’re struggling with the pre-Christmas panic, check out my top five DIY Christmas gifts…

1. DIY Scrabble Art

 

Now that our smartphones have replaced most of our board games, it’s time to fish out your old Scrabble box and put those letters to good use. You can even buy sets of assorted letter tiles on eBay or Amazon for very cheap, and if you’re clever about it, you can get two or three gifts out of just one set of letters!

Combine the letters to make names and words, then glue them down in a frame along with photos or trinkets. Use scraps of wrapping paper, wall paper or magazine cuttings for a background to make the gift that extra bit special.

If you can’t get your hands on Scrabble tiles, a great alternative is to create a Word Cloud. Visit wordle.net, enter a list of words (or names), then click create. Now you have a personalised piece of art to put in a frame and wrap up!

2. The Lazy Man’s Cookbook

 

Cook books are always a great gift, and at Christmas time there are plenty to be found on shop shelves… at a premium price. But what if your loved ones just don’t cook? What if no matter how quick Jamie Oliver makes his meals, it’s still not quick enough?

If that’s the case, give them a cook book they’ll really appreciate… The Student/Bachelor Cookbook!

Buy a ring binder and decorate the front cover with their name and a funny message, then have a walk around the town to collect heaps of takeaway menus (or if you’re extra lazy and you don’t fancy tackling the busy streets and freezing weather, get them posted through the letterbox). Put them all in the ring binder and – depending on how many you have – add a contents page and dividers for different types of food.

3. DIY Kid’s Cushions

 

There’s nothing kids love more than making a mess, and with time off school they’re bound to do it at some point. So… you might as well get a gift out of it!

Find an old cushion (or pick one up for cheap online) and create a fun design using their paint-covered hands and feet. Accessorise using scraps of material from old clothing tied into bows, or stitch on some sequins and googly eyes to give it extra character. Don’t forget to sign and date it so you can embarrass the kids later in their teens!

4. Personalised Candles

 

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of a present for her is a candle. Nobody can have enough candles, and especially not in the winter months. Yankee jars are the obvious choice, but why burn a hole in your pocket when you can make them yourself?

That afternoon tea set you’ve been saving for a raining day for the last fifteen years is finally going to come in handy here, or alternatively you can nip to the local charity shop for a nice, pretty cup and saucer.

Place wax beads (or even just some old, half-burnt candles of your own) in a bowl over a pan of hot water, or in a slow cooker (with a non-stick insert). For colour, use a vegetable peeler to shave bits of crayon into the wax, and stir to blend. Add more shavings for darker colour. Place a wick into the centre of the cup, and pour the wax into it. Leave it over night to harden, trim the wick, and simply wrap with cellophane and tie with a ribbon. Lovely!

 

5. Bespoke Chocolate Slabs

 

On a rainy December Saturday, this is a great one to keep the kids busy… and it’s great value for money. Chocolate slabs are worth upwards of £7 in fancy chocolate shops, but can be made at home for next to nothing.

Grab a silicone cake or loaf tin (pound shops recommended), then melt two or three bars of supermarket chocolate. You can find a good selection of milk, dark, and white chocolate for around 40p each, but anything more expensive is a bit of a non-starter, cost-wise. Fill the melted chocolate with jellies, popping candy, nuts or marshmallows. Decorate it however you like – perhaps with their name or favourite treats? Pop it in the fridge to set, and then wrap it in a clear bag of cellophane and some ribbon. Yummy!

Darlington Couple Take Handmade Beard Care Products International

By on 8th December 2015in Local Biz

Bearded men across the region are swapping their traditional grooming tools for oils and balms, thanks to one young Darlington couple…

Heavy Metal Gentleman (HMG) is the brainchild of Thom and Laura Langlands, who produce homemade, luxury beard care products, having identified a gap in the local market for men’s grooming products.

The creative husband and wife team has rapidly seen their innovative idea grow into a business over the last year, with their high quality products reaching as far as Poland.

Talking about the snowballing of the business, Laura, 25, said: “It is a very exciting time for us. Not only to be recognised throughout the UK, but also Europe, because we’ve only been trading for a few months.

“Thom is an avid beardsman and with my understanding of hair and skin care, creating products quickly became a passion of ours, which we believe shows through our products.”

HMG was born from a shared love and interest in heavy metal and homemade skin care. Thom, 30, and Laura, decided to start working from their home in Darlington and believe this is one of the main reasons behind their business’ success.

“By brewing the oils and creating the balms ourselves, then hand-sticking a label on to every single product in our kitchen, we are able to pay a great amount of care and attention to what we produce and then go on to sell,” said Laura.

“There’s no doubt a lot of blood, sweat and tears goes into everything we make, but at least we know it’s 100% homemade.

“We use purely natural ingredients, including six of the best carrier oils, to make the base of our bespoke, handmade oils, and wouldn’t work any other way.”

Thom and Laura believe HMG products are suitable for everyone, and see this as another reason for why the business has taken off so well.

Thom said: “The great thing about our products is they’re for anyone, from the career beadsman to Mr Clean-Shaven.

“By using carrier oils, we can ensure our products contain the necessary vitamins and antioxidants for hydrating and revitalising the skin and hair, and they are also great for anyone to use who has sensitive and problematic skin.

“We see the Heavy Metal Gentleman brand as sophisticated, and our products are made with quality in mind. This is why we believe everybody who wishes to take care of their skin and hair should be using our oils.”

With 20 years of experience in retail and sales between them, the couple are continually developing new ideas and recently sealed two important deals with Darlington’s Maison Royale and Mr. Hutton’s barbers and bar, who will now stock the HMG range.

Future plans have also been put into place to develop a wider range of beard care and accessories – but the couple are not content with just supplying to Europe.

Laura said: “We both love what we do and we have had lots of fun with the products, from their concept to their creation, which drives us to keep creating new ideas.

“With our ever growing passion and excitement keeping our company interesting, innovative and continuously expanding, I definitely believe we can go global.”

In the hope of attaining this worldwide recognition, Heavy Metal Gentlemen has launched a Kickstarter campaign which aims to help the company find financial support to aid in its development and growth.

To show your support for Heavy Metal Gentlemen, visit the Kickstarter page.

For more information about Heavy Metal Gentlemen, visit their website, follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

Ramside Hall Unveil Final Stages Of Spa Development

By on 3rd December 2015in Local Biz

The North East’s newest and most luxurious spa has now unveiled the final stages of the development…

 

The £8m Spa at Ramside Hall Hotel near Durham opened in August, but has this week launched two further features.

An outdoor Spa Garden and vitality pool, along with a first floor infinity pool, are now being used by guests, extending the wide range of facilities already available at the spa.

The vitality pool can be enjoyed by guests on spa day and spa stay experiences and by members, with the infinity pool available at an additional cost for special occasions or for small groups.

The new additions complement the existing spa facilities, which include a 25m long swimming pool, one of the country’s largest hydrotherapy pools, a thermal suite, sleep sanctuary, 14 treatment rooms, state-of-the-art gym, hairdressers and Asian Fusion restaurant.

The opening of the new pools comes shortly after the spa was awarded a five bubble rating by the Good Spa Guide, winning the top accolade despite only being open for a short period of time.

Since its launch, the spa has become a major attraction and has exceeded its initial expectations for membership, with the hope that the festive season and the additional attractions will see a further boost.

 

“We’re very excited that we are now able to offer our visitors and members even more facilities,” said Jill Russell, Spa Director.

“We’ve also devised some very special packages for the festive season and into the New Year which we hope will appeal to both men and women of all ages.”

Further information about membership, special spa days or general bookings can be found by calling 0191 375 3088, by emailing enquiries@ramsidespa.co.uk, or by visiting www.ramsidespa.co.uk

Gift vouchers are available directly from the spa or through Spafinders.

Win! Tickets To See T.Rextasy’s 40th Anniversary Tour

By on 3rd December 2015in Competitions, Entertainment, Events, Music, What's New?, What's On?

The definitive glam rockers are back on tour, and they’re coming this way…

Marc Bolan, with his band T.Rex, was one of the most flamboyant and charismatic stars of the 1970s. With Bolan’s special mix of Rock-a-Boogie and Rock ‘n’ Roll songs, including classics such as Telegram Sam, Get It On and Jeepster, the band defined what would be known as the original glam rock era.

And now, they’re heading to the North East… sort of.

T.Rextasy is the world’s only official T.Rex tribute band, an accolade endorsed by Marc Bolan’s family, estate, catalogue management, and members of the original band. T.Rextasy have been performing around the world for over twenty years – a career that ironically outlives Marc’s own – and have been described as ‘beyond the boundaries of tribute’.

“They’re the closest you’re ever going to get to the real thing” – Bill Legend, (original T.Rex drummer)

“Danielz is more than a career lookalike. Here we have a serious guitarist with the animal grace of early Bolan and the clear unequivocal love of the music” – The Stage

 

On Friday 22nd January 2016, T.Rextasy will be performing at the Forum Theatre in Billingham. The concert is a part of their ‘I Love To Boogie’ anniversary tour, and if you’d like to know exactly what a Marc Bolan concert was like forty years ago, we recommend you enter our competition below.

We’re giving away two tickets to their Billingham concert, and all you need to do is the question below…

What is Marc Bolan’s real name?

Competition closed. Congratulations to Rebecca Kamsika from Middlesbrough!

Film ReVue: Bridge Of Spies

By on 30th November 2015in Entertainment, Film & TV

Vue Cinema’s Olly Cobb shares his thoughts on Steven Spielberg’s new Cold War drama, starring Tom Hanks and Mark Rylance…

Based on true events, Bridge of Spies follows the trial of Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance), a Soviet spy captured working in New York in 1957. Main protagonist James Donovan (Tom Hanks) is the American councillor tasked with defending Abel, but finds himself caught in the midst of the Cold War.

As is to be expected from ‘Triple-A’ blockbuster titles, Bridge of Spies delivers a believable and accurate window to the past. Scenes set on the Brooklyn streets (and later in East Berlin) are astonishing, and the 1950s attire and deco is wonderfully nostalgic.

Spielberg has tried (and succeeded) to place his characters into an immersive world, but it does – on occasion – only serve to distract from the moments when the script falls flat.

Spielberg’s actors, however, aren’t quite as perfect as his world. Tom Hanks delivers a convincing performance, and proves yet again that he’s an extremely competent actor, but perhaps past his best. Here we have yet another Spielberg movie in which Hanks’ character is the black sheep.

 

Thankfully, Rylance’s performance is extremely refreshing. When Abel is incarcerated, he is asked why he isn’t alarmed by the prospect of the death penalty, to which Abel simply replies “Would it help?”

The supporting cast is solid, but there is a lack of development seen in Donovan’s family and peers, especially his wife who appears frequently but is uninteresting. The American authorities in this movie (in particular the C.I.A) seem to be the standard impatient, patriotic men who fit the ‘Cold War Criteria’ nicely.

As for moments of intense drama, there’s a light spattering. The courtroom scenes are brief and tedious, but excitement kicks in as Hanks makes his way through East Berlin. It’s engaging and beautiful, and the climactic exchange on the Glienicke Bridge is a superb, well-crafted cinematic moment. It’s just a shame that there weren’t more scenes like this.

 

Suffice to say that Bridge of Spies is visually fantastic, and there are moments of excellence from its leading actors, but these days watching a Spielberg movie is a lot like going to a museum. You don’t necessarily go for the thrill, but for the experience. Bridge of Spies falls into the same trap as 2012’s Lincoln, in that a predictable plot hides behind beautiful set design and a star-studded cast.

We can forgive it for not being particularly rewarding, but one hopes for Spielberg’s return to making less ‘grown up’ movies. Nevertheless, the Academy will likely try to give Bridge of Spies an Oscar, to which I ask… would it help?

Our Bridge of Spies review was written by Vue Cinema’s Olly Cobb. For more information on the latest cinema releases, or to book tickets, visit www.myvue.com.

Click here to book tickets for Bridge of Spies.

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