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10 Facts to Help You Celebrate Saint George’s Day

10 Facts About Saint George's Day
April 23, 2013 By In News, Other, Top 10

If the significance of today has passed you by, you are probably not alone.  Tuesday April 23rd is Saint George’s Day, but you will be hard pressed to find anyone celebrating it! 

Quite why we don’t celebrate Saint George’s Day is a bit of a mystery, considering our nation’s love of pageantry and tradition.  You only have to look back to last year’s Jubilee and Olympics to see evidence of the pride that exists in this country, for all things English.  And come football and rugby tournaments, the flag of St. George will be flying high everywhere you go.  Strange then that today will be virtually overlooked.

Perhaps the lack of a public holiday to mark the day means that people are not given the time to celebrate, or maybe it’s because of a lack of hype by the media.  It could even be a sign of the times, whereby in our politically correct world we cannot be seen to be too patriotic, in fear offending certain divisions in society? Which ultimately is a shame because despite all the problems we have in this country, the freedoms and benefits we all enjoy deserve to be recognised, and indeed celebrated.

But who exactly was Saint George, and why is he our patron? Here are some interesting facts about Saint George’s Day that you use down the pub to impress your mates.

1.  Saint George is considered a martyr in Islam as well as Christianity.  Legend has it that St George was a brave and honourable Roman soldier who protested against the Roman’s torture of Christians, and ultimately died for his beliefs.

2.  It is highly unlikely that the real Saint George ever actually visited England.  He was probably Turkish, and lived in the 3rd Century.

3.  Saint George’s emblem of a red cross on a white background was adopted by Richard the Lion Heart and brought to England in the 12th century.

Image courtesy of http://www.bestmediums.co.uk

4.  Before the cult of St. George was brought back from the Crusades, the top choice for England’s patron saint was Edmund the Martyr, a member of one of East Anglia’s ruling family.  Charmingly Edmund is also the patron saint of pandemics, torture victims, and wolves.

5.  Saint George is also the patron saint of Lithuania, Portugal, Bulgaria and Greece, as well as cities including Moscow, Istanbul, Genoa and Venice.  Interestingly despite the historic rivalry he is also the patron saint of Germany.

6.  Pretty gruesome, but Saint George is believed to have been tortured. He would have been crushed between two spiked wheels and boiled in molten lead.  According to legend, neither method killed him.

7.  It is estimated that only one in five people know that St George’s Day falls on April 23, with a quarter of people not knowing that the day marks the ‘recognised’ date of Saint George’s death.

8.  Those with beady eyes will notice that the bonnet of the Queen’s Rolls Royce bears a figure of St George and the dragon instead of the standard ‘spirit of ecstasy’.

Image courtesy of http://commons.wikimedia.org

9.  Many people continue to campaign for the first British martyr, Saint Alban to be the patron saint of England instead of George.  Unfortunately for Saint Alban, he has no romantic mythology of defeating dragons or rescuing fair maidens.

10.  Interestingly William Shakespeare was born on Saint George’s Day in 1564 and died on the same day in 1616.

And don’t worry it’s not too late to have your own celebrations.  Check out the Eating out discounts and printable vouchers available from MyVoucherCodes.  Whether it a takeaway pizza or restaurant meal for two, you will be sure to find something that appeals!

Main image courtesy of http://madballoons.blogspot.co.uk

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Leonardo Da Vinci

10 Interesting Facts About Da Vinci
April 15, 2013 By In Entertainment, News, Other, Top 10

Born on April 15th 1452, Leonardo Da Vinci is a huge figure in the history of human civilisation, but as a new TV portrayal hits our screens, how much of the myth behind the man is true?

The word genius is often banded around these days (Simon Cowell, really?) but for Da Vinci there is no doubt that the title fits.  He defies categorisation as his talents were boundless, whether painter, sculptor, architect, musician, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist or writer.  But for someone with one of the most famous names in history, there is so much that still remains a mystery about the man.  And perhaps this explains his enduring appeal.

There is more to Da Vinci than the Mona Lisa, or a Dan Brown Book; and it’s this that a new TV Drama looks to explore.  Da Vinci’s Demons which premier’s on the FOX channel on 19th April promises to explore the secret life of the man during his early years.  Ultimately the drama is entertainment so it remains to be seen how factual the programme will actually be, but one thing is for sure, our thirst for Da Vinci has never been stronger.

With a record breaking exhibition of his works last year, a recent Sky documentary and endless conspiracies, the appeal of the great Renaissance man looks set to continue well beyond his 561st birthday.

Here are 10 things that you might not know about Leonardo Da Vinci.

1. Born illegitimate

Born outside of marriage, he was the love child of Caterina, a peasant, and Ser Piero, a lawyer and landlord.  Leonardo also didn’t have the best of starts with a limited home-schooled education, something that makes his achievements all the more impressive!

2. He was probably gay

Leonardo never married nor had any children, which has led historians to question his sexuality.  He also narrowly beat a sodomy charge (possibly involving one of his male models) brought against him by Florentine officials.

3. Ambidextrous Ability

Although dyslexic, Da Vinci could write with one hand and draw with the other at the same time.  Plus Leonardo could draw forward with one hand while writing backward with the other, producing a mirror-image coded script.

4. Part-time painter

Although it is probably what he is best known for, Leonardo was far from a prolific painter.  Upon his death Da Vinci left fewer than 30 paintings, and not all of those were finished.  He did however leave hundreds of drawings, sketches, and pages of notes.

5. Sculpture mystery

There are no known pieces of sculpture that can definitely be attributed to Leonardo, even though art historians know he learned sculpture whilst an art apprentice.  Strange considering sculpture was one of the key arts in Renaissance Italy.

6. Vegetarian

Unusually for the era in which he lived, Leonardo was a vegetarian.  Da Vinci did this for humanitarian reasons, all the more remarkable given his thorough dissections of the human body and this time spent as a military weapons designer.

7. Father of Robotics

In the 15th century Leonardo constructed what is thought to be the first ever humanoid robot.  His creation was simply used to entertain people, but his concept endured.  In fact, his notes have been used by NASA to help design their planetary exploration robots.

8. Bitter Rivalries

Da Vinci didn’t always have the best of relationships with his Renaissance contemporaries, especially Michelangelo.  Such was the bitter animosity between the two, that it has been recorded that they would regularly exchange insults in public.

9. Mona Lisa Smile

It took Da Vinci about ten years to paint Mona Lisa’s lips, which may explain that magic smile.  The Mona Lisa has captivated and intrigued historians in equal measures for centuries, with the most unusual theory being that the painting is a self-portrait of Da Vinci as a woman.

10. The Wrong Name

Leonardo da Vinci was born before modern naming styles emerged in Europe. What appears to be his surname “Da Vinci” is actually just the place he is from.  The great man’s real translated name is therefore “Leonardo from Vinci.”

Main image courtesy of http://www.nfohump.com

The Brit Awards – What is your Album of the Year?

emeli sande
February 19, 2013 By In Entertainment, News

The Brits are here! Wednesday 20th February sees the return of the Brit Awards, the UK’s premier music awards ceremony hosted again by Funny man James Corden. Featuring live performances by the likes of Emeli Sande and Justin Timberlake, it looks set to be biggest Brits ever. But who will win the coveted Best album?

Whilst 2012 may not have been a vintage year musically, there were still plenty of memorable moments. Who can forget the arrival of The Voice, the TV alternative to The X Factor that only succeeded in ballooning Will.i.am’s ego to unsurpassed heights. And what about the on/off romance of Harry and Taylor that really tested the logic of the song ‘we are never getting back together’.

Elsewhere Rihanna continued her plan to release more singles than any artist in the history of music, and Girls Aloud reunited to stop the end of the world with high heels and fake lashes (and it worked). Finally 2012 wouldn’t have been the same without the Diamond Jubilee Concert that presented to the world the unique combination of Madness taking up residence in Buckingham Palace and Grace Jones’s simply astonishing hula hooping, much to the delight of Price Charles!

But what of 2013? Kicking off the year we have the Brit Awards; the annual ceremony that honours the great (but not always good) names in music. And no award is more highly prized than the Mastercard British album of the year.

But who is your winner?

Our Version of Events – Emeli Sande

Suffering somewhat from over-exposure given her Olympics involvement, Emeli Sande has emerged as a true powerhouse in UK music. After winning last year’s breakthrough award Emeli has gone on to score the year’s biggest selling album with Our Version of Events. If it was down to popularity, the album which mixes R&B, soul and hip hop would win hands down. But the Brits sometimes like to throw a curveball at predictions!

An Awesome Wave – alt-j

That curveball could well prove to be alt-j. Seemingly coming from nowhere, indie rock quartet alt-j have already won the Mercury music prize with their album An Awesome Wave. Whilst without doubt an immaculately crafted piece of work, I can’t help thinking that there are bigger and better things to come from alt-J, so perhaps they might miss out this year. Yet again who expected Stereo MCs or Belle and Sebastian to win a Brit Award!

Babel – Mumford & Sons

I was a little worried about this one. I really liked Mumford & Sons first album Sign No More, but it did suffer from over familiarity with that unique ‘Mumford’ sound. But their second album Babel has managed to avoid the same fate with an upbeat feel, and a clear difference from track to track. The US has gone Mumford mad over the last year, and the album has already won a prestigious Grammy award for album of the year. Probably favourites.

Fall to Grace – Paloma Faith

Paloma has been making music since 2009, but she really hit the big time in 2012. Thanks to a belter of a record in Fall to Grace, and a memorable vocal on a John Lewis advert, Paloma’s stock has never been higher. Undeniably she is the epitome of soul, and has one of the most distinctive vocals in the UK, but her inclusion in this category is nevertheless surprising given the album’s lack of hype compared to its competitors. Definitely the outside bet.

Ill Manors – Plan B

Following up the epic The Defamation of Strickland Banks was never going to be easy, but in ill Manors Plan B has just about pulled it off. Whilst it may lack the class of its predecessor, through sheer will and energy the album is a powerful statement on UK culture. Primarily a soundtrack to the film of the same name, Plan B has successfully managed to build on his status as probably the UKs leading male artist. Certainly my favourite, but how about you?

Whoever wins, you can make up your own mind with Brit Awards Nominated CDs from £3.99 at Amazon. And remember to browse the discount website MyVoucherCodes for even more music offers and discounts.

Main image courtesy of www.metroradio.co.uk, Artist images courtesy of www.brits.co.uk

The Worst Ever Christmas Number Ones

xmas songs main
December 18, 2012 By In Entertainment, Humour, News

Christmas number ones have a long tradition of being the music worlds Marmite – You either love or hate them.  But what are the worst Christmas chart toppers?

The race for the Christmas number 1 has always been one of the most hotly contested chart battles of the year; that was until the rise of The X Factor.  5 out of the last 7 years have seen the TV reality shows ‘winners song’ topping the chart, sucking much of the life and fun out of the festive fight for the coveted number 1.  And with this year’s winner James Arthur favourite to claim the 2012 Christmas top spot, unfortunately the trend looks set to continue!

Whist I don’t doubt the talent of the winners of the hugely popular show, for me Christmas should be about so much more.  Christmas used to be the time when all bets were off, when truly horrendous and novelty songs could trouble the upper reaches of the UK top 40.  But to pun an Oasis classic, we ‘don’t look back in anger’ at them.  Christmas is all about daftness; it’s about those songs we love to hate, the songs that could only possibly get to number one at Christmas.

With that in mind, isn’t it about time that we remember and embrace the worst Christmas number ones.  Were they really so bad?

Dickie Valentine – Christmas Alphabet

Christmas 1955 can perhaps lay claim to being responsible for the Christmas novelty song.  Dickie Valentine’s Christmas Alphabet is perhaps better viewed as a poem put to music given its rather simplistic realisation.  But credit where credit is due, a Christmas number one is not an easy thing to achieve, and it was the Fifties.

Notable lyric – ‘S is for the Santa who makes every kid his pet’

Jimmy Osmond – Long Haired Lover From Liverpool

Jump forward to 1972, and Osmond-mania is sweeping the nation.  Riding high on this popularity, Jimmy (the youngest sibling) had a massive hit with the song, in the process becoming the youngest person to ever reach number one on the UK singles chart aged 9 years 8 months.  Quite why a 9 year old American would be a lover from Liverpool still remains a mystery.

Notable lyric – ‘I´ll be your leprechaun and sit upon an old toadstool’

St Winifred’s School Choir – There’s No One Quite Like Grandma

Bad taste was clearly on the menu in 1980, as this sickly sweet song will testify.  As money making exercise, having kids singing about their Grandma was clearly a winner; and it’s pretty hard to find fault in the production.  Even having some of the kids singing out of key was not enough to stop the great British public buying this record.

Notable lyric – ‘There’s no one quite like Grandma, a love we always share’

Renée and Renato – Save Your Love

Save Your Love performed by duo Renée and Renato, was a surprise UK Number one hit in December 1982.  Italian-born singer Renato Pagliari auditioned for the talent show New Faces, and although he didn’t win, things didn’t turn out too bad.  Notable for its cheesy video that didn’t feature Renée, the song is one of the most famous one hit wonders ever to grace the top of the chart.

Notable lyric – ‘The reddest rose i always bring you’

Cliff Richard – Mistletoe and Wine

By Christmas 1988 it had been a few years since Cliff had scored a number one, and his popularity at least on an exposure level seemed to have waned somewhat.  And then the nation embraced Mistletoe and Wine, and bought copies in the shedload.  Cue a Cliff revival, and a new Christmas song every year, resulting ultimately in the god-awful Millennium Prayer.  You are all responsible, shame on you!

Notable lyric – ‘Ours for the taking, just follow the master’

Band Aid 2 – Do They Know It’s Christmas?

First of let me just say, the original is a classic which can’t be faulted. Unfortunately despite its good intensions, it spawned a sequel though.  Whereas the original line-up included such music luminaries as George Michael, Phil Collins and Bono, the follow up was rather less impressive.  The 1989 version featured Bros, Jason Donovan, Wet Wet Wet and the music icon that is Sonia (‘You’ll never stop me from loving you’ anybody?)

Notable lyric – ‘We let in light and we banish shade’

Mr Blobby – Mr Blobby

It was pretty hard for me to put Mr Blobby amongst such dreadful company.  You see, as a kid I owned the record, yes the physical vinyl disc (showing my age there!).  It was a close battle, but I was over the moon that the song had beaten Take That, my sister’s favourite band to the 1993 Christmas number 1.  Nevertheless, despite my memories, the actual song remains a crime to music.

Notable lyric – ‘No end to his talents, no sense of balance’

Westlife – I Have a Dream / Seasons in the Sun

I hate Westlife; there I said it!  So expect this inclusion to be somewhat biased.  However I think my opinion on these cover versions, most notably the ABBA classic ‘I Have a Dream’ is fairly valid.  If you are going to do a cover version, then at least try to make it your own otherwise what is the point.  Westlife are famously a ‘covers’ group, perhaps highlighting a lack of genuine talent, so it isn’t the song that is bad, just the version.

Notable lyric – ‘If you see the wonder of a fairy tale’

Will the X Factor win the race again, or will an obscure novelty song emerge to beat the odds and take its place amongst the songs we all love to hate. Find out on Sunday.

If these songs have brought back happy memories, and you fancy a bit of cheese this Christmas why not download from iTunes.

You’ll find loads more deals on music and entertainment at MyVoucherCodes.

Main image courtesy of http://flickrhivemind.net

The Launch of HushHush: The Online Discount Department Store

HHFEATUREIM
November 15, 2012 By In Lifestyle, News, Top 10

We know that our readers love a bargain, so we caught up with our friend Catherine Hufton to learn more about about the launch of sensational discount online store HushHush.  

Drum roll please! The day has finally arrived and our fantastic new online department store, HushHush.com has launched. We can’t wait for you to take a look, browse our gorgeous collections and hopefully snap up a few bargains. It’s the perfect opportunity to get started on the Christmas shopping, and with discounts up to 75% you’ll definitely save yourself a few pounds in the process. Read on to find out my top picks from this week’s collections:

Designer watch shop

Fancy a bit of arm candy? Our designer watch sale features a gorgeous selection from D&G, French Connection and Casio, so there’s something for every taste and price range. Why not stock up now and surprise your nearest and dearest at Christmas?

Black and White Icons

Add a little Hollywood sparkle to your home with our Black and White Icons sale. These stylish prints are finished with matte-black frames so they’re ready to go straight up on the wall. Take your pick from timeless images of Marilyn Monroe, Muhammad Ali, Audrey Hepburn and Charlie Chaplin. At a fantastic  56% discount, why not snap up more than one?

Philips

Gadget fans listen up! Give yourself the gift of technology with a stylish piece from our sleek Philips sale. With fantastic discounts on docking speakers, camcorders, Blu-ray players and home cinema speakers, this stylish collection is sure to be music to your ears.

Evans Lichfield

They say a man’s best friend is his dog, so it’s no surprise that animal-inspired furnishings are proving a popular trend right now. Our Evans Lichfield collection is packed full of British bulldogs, Westies and Jack Russell-adorned cushions – what’s more, they don’t even need to be walked.

Don’t forget signing up and referring friends will save you money on your shopping! So what are you waiting for? Sign up here and get shopping!

 

4G Networks in the UK: What you Need to Know

4G main
November 12, 2012 By In Gadgets, News, Technology

Much has been made of the arrival of 4G in the UK, but for many the new network, and its impact on the mobile industry remains a mystery.  Here is what you need to know about 4G.

With the eye catching promise of a superfast internet connection, it was billed as one of the biggest technology launches the UK had ever seen.  However less than 24 hours after the 4G wireless service became available for mobile phones in 11 cities nationwide, some harsh questions were being asked about its claims to be five times faster than the current 3G network.  And the results thus far have not put the argument completely to bed.

With the UK lagging behind the rest of the world with the roll out of the 4th generation network, it was only a matter of time until it became established here.  The development of 4G has been highlighted as vital for consumers and the economy as a whole by the government.  But with an estimated 25% of the UK population still unable to receive a 3G signal, it is a fair argument that resources may have been better committed elsewhere.

But now that 4G is here, here are some of the things you need to know.

What is 4G?

According to the networks, 4G will allow users to surf the web up to five times faster than 3G; an amazing advance.  Super-fast speeds mean that you will be able to watch videos without them freezing, download web pages immediately, and have smooth video phone calls.

Why is 4G better than 3G?

4G is quicker than its predecessor 3G because it crams more data into the radio signals used to transmit and receive data to phones.

How can I get 4G?

First off you will need to get yourself a 4G compatible phone, and there are only a few to start with.  The launch models are the HTC One XL, Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE, iPhone 5 and Huawei Ascend P1 LTE, while the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 LTE and Nokia Lumia 920 will be added to them this month.  But whilst the choice of mobiles may be limited, you at least get a choice.  Currently there is only one network offering 4G in the UK, EE (Everything Everywhere).

What is EE?

EE is the UK’s most advanced digital communications company that is the first in Britain to offer superfast 4G mobile services alongside fibre broadband.  As the company behind T-Mobile and Orange, 27 million customers will have access to 4G.

EE logo

Can everyone in the UK get 4G?

While you can pick up an EE 4G contract anywhere in the country, you’ll only be able to get those super speeds in 11 major cities for now, rising to 16 by the end of the year.  They are London, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Bristol, Birmingham and Southampton.  Plus Belfast, Derby, Hull, Nottingham and Newcastle will be enjoying 4G before 2012 is over.

How much will it cost?

Well it’s not cheap.  Two year (yes, two year!) contracts start at a princely £36 per month and you only get a paltry 500MB of data with that.  While if you fancy a slice of 8GB, you’ll need to fork out a staggering £56 each month.  And don’t assume that will include the price of the handset, chances are you will also have to fork out a lump sum towards that.  As other networks enter the 4G market, prices are expected to fall, but at its current price it’s certainly more of a luxury than anything else.

How long before other networks offer 4G?

EE have started to establish their 4G network a full six months ahead of the country’s other networks.  It is thought that rival networks Vodafone, O2 and Three will be able to launch their own 4G services in May after a government spectrum auction.  However in the meantime they are pressing ahead with the latest versions of 3G, which they argue are just as fast, although this remains to be seen.

Any potential problems with 4G?

Area coverage will continue to be an issue until 4G becomes better established, but a larger problem lays on the horizon.  Thousands of British homes will have to be reconnected to the television network at a considerable cost of up to £10,000 a time.  Interference from the new 4th-generation mobile phone network could potentially wipe out TV signals for those living anywhere near a base station.  Worryingly the government is expected to pick up the bill for providing filters to homes affected.

So while 4G is something that will eventually become the norm, it’s fair to say that some areas of its deployment still need to be ironed out.  Perhaps the full effect will not be felt until next summer, when it is hoped that the coverage will truly match the expectation.

For all the Latest EE offers remember to check out MyVoucherCodes.

Main image http://www.prweek.com

 

Will you be making the move to 4G?  Let us know by making a comment below.

 

What’s Hot This Week: Pizza, James Bond, Holidays and Howling at the Moon…

bond
October 21, 2012 By In Lifestyle, News

Well, hasn’t the weather really turned? Apart from a few days of glorious but somewhat diminished sun, the UK is now wearing its wintry mask. Fear not, at What’s Hot we’ve compiled a pick of the hottest events for the coming week. This week is all about Pizza, James Bond, Holidays and howling at the moon. Hopefully this should kick out the S.A.D doldrums.

Food

October is officially Pizza month. Tasty fact: The world’s most expensive pizza, created in Glasgow, was topped with smoked salmon, venison, edible gold (really?), and lobster soaked in champagne and Cognac. All for £2,150. A ridiculous price but hey, the proceeds did go to charity so all decadence in this case can be forgiven.

If that got you hungry but you don’t want to pay the earth for a tasty pizza, print this Pizza Express voucher code, grab your coat – go celebrate Pizza Month!

Or, if you’d like to kick back with a film, opt for a takeaway with these awesome deals from Pizza Hut Delivery.

Film

The four year wait is over! Tuesday 23nd October is when the world finally gets to see the 23rd James Bond Film, Skyfall.  This latest installment from the Bond franchise stars Daniel Craig. The 007 franchise has come a long way since the first film, Dr No, was released almost exactly 50 years ago. After the mammoth failure of Quantum of Solace, there was no surprise when the franchise plumped for a completely new directorial direction in Sam Mendes (American Beauty). Bond fans will not be disappointed – try to imagine a James Bond film directed by Christopher Nolan and you’ll be close.

Travel

beach by ricardodiaz via Flickr

If you want to try and escape the weather, What’s Hot’s best advice is to get away. If you can’t quite afford a fortnight in the sun, no worries, just take yourself out of your familiar surroundings.  Get a bargain with our exclusive discount code from Expedia.

And Finally…

Caps Lock

Two dates for your diary.

Monday 22nd October is Caps Lock Day.

Established to abolish the caps lock key from the QWERTY keyboard – yep, there really is an international campaign to abolish a keyboard key – it seems people get annoyed when they, or others, accidentally press caps lock. Also, I am reliably informed that some people in emails and across social networks get a little trigger happy by SHOUTING AT PEOPLE, accidentally, or otherwise!

Friday 26th October is Howl at the Moon Day. Hmm, this one’s self explanatory really – full moon or not – get out there and make some noise. At What’s Hot we’re not sure who founded this one, we are sure they are probably barking mad. Still, it sounds like a fun way to annoy the neighbours.

Let us know what you’re up to this week in the comments below.

 

*Wolf Image By Volker.G  via Wikimedia Commons // Caps Lock by Mohylek via Wikimedia Commons // Beach by RicardoDiaz via Flickr

What’s Hot This Week: Chocolate, British Music and the Return of Homeland…

emmy
October 7, 2012 By In Lifestyle, News

From the weather to the news stories, it’s been a fairly gloomy week in Britain. That’s right – it seems that Autumn is now in full (rainy) swing.

While X Factor continues amid talk that some of the contestants are all scouted beforehand (who knew?), this week the ITV show will have competition in the shape of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, which started this weekend. But put all that out of your minds for now –  there’s a more important subject on the agenda. This week is Chocolate Week!

Food

This week is definitely the week to indulge your sweet tooth as Chocolate Week runs from the 8th – 14th October. Don’t just buy a massive bar of chocolate and pig out though; there are loads of fun events to check out including plenty of chocolate tasting. If that doesn’t sound tasty enough, head on down to London’s Covent Garden on the 13th and 14th where you’ll discover a whole world of chocolate at Chocolate Unwrapped, a two day chocolate festival featuring some of the world’s best chocolatiers. Can’t get to London? There’s always Cadbury World in Birmingham –  have a butchers at this 20% discount on admission to Cadbury World. But if that’s too far you could always stay local and take advantage of our offers for Thornton’s.

Book, TV, FILM

Tonight, one of the most talked about TV dramas is set to explode (or not, if the last episode is anything to go by) on our TV screens. Yes, Emmy Award winning drama Homeland is back! No spoiler alerts here – I’m not going to tell you what happens in the first episode. Check it out yourself at 9pm on Channel 4.

After that, if you can’t wait until next week’s episode, you’ll probably want to get your hands on some other gripping dramas. Have you seen Breaking Bad? If not, in brief it’s about a straight laced science teacher who begins ‘cooking up’ methamphetamine shortly after being diagnosed with lung cancer – you can catch the whole series on Love Film using our discount codes.

For something a bit more lighthearted but equally gripping, the Fresh Meat Season 1 box set is out on DVD this week.  If you’ve been hiding in a cave, Fresh Meat is the award winning comedy drama portraying university life, created by the writers of Peep Show. Essential viewing.

 

Culture

If it’s something a bit more cultural you’re looking for, head on down to the British Music Experience at the O2. The British Music Experience is packed with tons of awesome musical knowledge, making a visit the perfect fodder for pub quizzes or even getting one over on know-it-all mates and it’s highly entertaining to boot. Now is the perfect time to learn about British Music – after all, last week was the 50th Anniversary of the first Beatles First single ‘Love Me Do.’  And guess what? That’s right – we’ve got a discount code for it, so grab 20% off Entry to the British Music Experience.

And Finally…

Next Saturday is International Sceptics Day. Apparently. Hmmm, is that even real? I’m not sure…(haha). International Sceptics Day is when you can truly ask questions about everything. But here at MyVoucherCodes, we’re just not sure about it. Indeed, as some debates question whether it actually exists. So there seems to be an aura of skepticism surrounding International Sceptic’s Day itself – how ironic.

 

Let us know what you’re up to this week in the comments.

 

What’s Hot This Week: British Food, J.K Rowling’s New Book, and Smiling

food flag
September 30, 2012 By In Lifestyle, News

What’s been happening this week? Well, there have been more pictures – not a princess this time though. It was the lesser ranked Lady Gaga to be exact. And of course, David Cameron made a fool of himself by failing a UK citizenship test sprung by US chat show host, David Letterman (have you tried the test? Most of us at MyVoucherCodes failed. Oops!).

For this coming week, we’ve got loads of things to keep you entertained whilst you wait for the world’s latest events to unfold.

In The News Last Week…

Lady Gaga sure knows how to deal with the press.  After hitting the headlines, she found a novel approach to managing media relations by striking back at tabloid jibes about her recent weight gain whilst on tour. What did she do? She posted four pictures of herself posing in her underwear on Twitter accompanied the retort ‘This is who I am. And I am proud at any size.’  Fair play to her – she’s not scared!

Food…

Here’s a great cause for celebration – did you know we are slap bang in the middle of British Food Fortnight? Woo! Picture this; it’s a wet October evening, the dark cloak of winter night draws in – what’s for dinner?  Imagine a lovely sizzling Aberdeen Angus steak and chips? Just got in from your commute from work and need something easy while you have a warming shower – lasagne? Nah, not when you can have cottage pie!

The British are often ridiculed for our greasy and stodgy foods -  but hold on one moment, the British culinary offerings make awesome comfort food! And Britain, when it comes to farming and fishing we know our beans!  If you’re hoping for a feast this week, check out these great deals on meat (and apologies to the vegetarians among you).

Culture…

October is fair trade month. I know it’s not exactly saving money per se, but fair trade products stand for quality, equality and fairness. In my view, there’s no better value that knowing your purchases will also help improve people’s lives. Head along to some of the events at the Fair Trade Supporter Conference 2012 on Saturday 6th October if you’re interested in finding out more. In the meantime, check out this fantastic fair trade offer from Fair Trade Inspires.

Books and Film…

Thursday saw the much anticipated release of JK Rowling’s first Post-Potter novel, The Casual Vacancy – Rowling’s first novel for adults. Devoted Harry Potter fans may be somewhat disappointed; there are no wizards, Dementors or spells. Indeed, according to some early reviewers, there’s no ‘magic’ at all. The Casual Vacancy has received very mixed reactions so far, but we’ll reserve judgement until we’ve read it ourselves. However, if it’s magic you’re after, run out of the bookshop and search out this brilliant new adaptation of the classic fairytale, Snow White and the Huntsman out on DVD and Blu-ray on 1st October. You won’t be disappointed.

And Finally….

Friday 5th October is World Smile Day. It’s self explanatory really – just smile, be happy and make others feel the same. But where does it come from? Basically, Harvey Bell – the guy who designed one of the most recognised symbols ever – the (Have A Nice Day) Smiley – got a bit annoyed that his symbol had lost its intended meaning having been commercially exploited to death. His reaction was to have a day dedicated to human kindness.

So, what will you do? Here are a few suggestions: hold the door open for people, give up your seat on the bus or train and greet everyone with a (clean) joke. Perhaps you could turn up to work wearing something silly? If you want to spread a bit of materialistic happiness and save yourself some money to boot – check this out.

What are you up to this week?

What’s Hot Weekly Round up: Nick Clegg, Babies and Stupid Questions

cheese
September 23, 2012 By In Lifestyle, News

This week has certainly been an interesting one.

First came the furor with those pictures – say no more – followed by wild child Robbie Williams having a baby. Well, his wife did anyway. Next came the announcement that Deputy PM Nick Clegg is releasing a charity single (originally intended as a heartfelt apology in light of their policy U-turn on tuition fees). Then, on Thursday it was announced that Steven King is set to publish a sequel to The Shining, which was followed by a series of whooping (by me, anyway).

Here’s more…

In The News…

When Nick Clegg uploaded his apology for the tuition fees fiasco on YouTube, I bet he never thought of the implications; a spate of YouTube parodies, and then the inevitable social media sharing and trolling. Instantaneously, his video was picked up by satirical website, the Poke, and remixed using the internet pranksters toolbox of Final Pro Cut and, auto-tune. The result? Internet gold!  I wonder, has Clegg not seen what the YouTube trolls did to Lord Sugar? And all he did was make a TV show.

The burning question is what will Clegg follow up with? One suggestion was a cover of It Wasn’t Me by Shaggy. My personal favourite is Don’t You Want Me Baby? Maybe this would be more appropriate further on in his career, perhaps around May 2015?

One For the Kids…

This week Robbie Williams finally had some good news. His wife, American Actress Ayda Field, gave birth to their baby daughter, whom they named Teddy. Congratulations Ayda and Robbie from all of us at MyVoucherCodes.

If you’ve got  your own little ‘cherubs’  keep them occupied this week by grabbing some discount codes for The Entertainer.

TV, Books and Film…

Finally, he’s done it – Stephen King has written a sequel to the shining. Awesome!  And yes, it will get made into a film (probably). So if like me you haven’t seen the first one (to those who have: I know, I know – it’s on the list. Honest!), you can check it out with our LOVEFiLM discount codes.

If you too got excited about the announcement about Stephen Kings new version of the Shining, you might like Scary or Die which is coming out this week – get it at HMV.

Food and Culture…

What to do this week? Easy peasy, let’s get cheesy!  Appreciate the yumminess of British Cheese Week, which runs from the 22nd to 30th September. To celebrate this monumental occasion, drop by MyVoucherCodes and get a voucher for 15% off everything at Pong Cheese, mmmmm cheesetastic!

And  Finally…

Boy In Duces Cap

Friday 28th September is Ask a Stupid Question Day.  The origins of this day are totally innocent; at some point in the 80’s teachers were worried about their pupils not asking enough questions. You see, the children feared their questions would appear stupid to their peers and, as such, they began to stop asking questions altogether. So the lovely teachers came up with a way for children to speak up, without feeling singled out. And you don’t have to be in school to ask a stupid question – ask stupid questions at work, see what happens.

What are you looking forward to this week?