Here’s to the staycation! I’m always getting teased for how many trips away I take but I love to travel and always have. With 2020 well and truly squishing my travel bug we decided to set foot outside our front door and explore some UK favourites and it has to be said we were more than pleasantly surprised. Shops were busy, bars and restaurants were buzzing and there was a lovely atmosphere despite the safety measures of masks and social distancing.
Of course, there were those who ignored the hard work made by shop keepers and restaurateurs to reassure and reduce risks -as they say, you just can’t tell some people. So instead of worrying about the minority that won’t listen, we focused on what we were doing and on all of those wonderful people that were working hard to make our visit to the beach safe and still fun despite the limitations we now live within. Thank you.
One sad thing we did notice was the number of homeless people who are now back on our streets following cuts to emergency funding. It was a depressing fact that we couldn’t help with the spare change they were requesting as, thanks to the pandemic, we’ve gone completely cashless. We found ourselves stopping and over apologizing for genuinely having no ‘real’ money, as if this explanation would give them some form of comfort… Feeling more than little useless and very aware of our privilege we made a donation to Crisis when we got home. One good thing that the pandemic did do was show that homelessness could be ended with the right resources. Find out how you could help at www.crisis.org.uk and perhaps, for one night, eat in to end homelessness and donate what you would have spent instead.
Until next time,
Stay supportive
Jon, Kev and the #FUFighters
OBLIGATORY BAD JOKE
Why did the scarecrow win an award?
He was outstanding in his field.
EAT OUT INDEPENDENT THIS SEPTEMBER
Unless you’ve been under a rock for the last month you’ll know that, thanks to the Government’s Eat Out To Help Out scheme, restaurants, cafes and bars were able to offer 50% off to dine-in customers on Mondays-Wednesdays in August. Find out which businesses in Leicester are continuing the offer throughout September here.
MORE ONLINE THEATRE TREATS FROM CURVE: MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE
Based on Kureishi’s iconic and Oscar-nominated screenplay of the same name, the multi-award nominated stage production of My Beautiful Laundrette features new and original music from the Pet Shops Boys and you can watch it online now and for free – find out how here.
TIME FOR CHANGE? BANISH YOUR BATHROOM BLUES
It comes as no surprise that over the past few months we’ve been daydreaming about how we want to transform our home interiors.
After spending a considerable amount more time in doors we’ve been busy creating the mood board of our dreams, visualising that beautifully designed sanctuary that is the bathroom.
Sleek aesthetics, clever furniture with stacks of storage, ambient lighting, fabulous décor set the scene for the ultimate self-care haven. That blissfully long soak in the bathtub awaits…
Now is the time to turn those interior dreams into a showstopping reality with Geberit and Obsidian Bathrooms. Read more here.
CASTLE CALL OUT TO ALL ARTISAN FOOD MAKERS
The Duchess of Rutland is looking to add more artisan food producers to the newly converted Engine Yard at Belvoir Castle joining chocolatiers, bakers, butchery and coffee shop – find out if you fit the bill here.
WRITERS SPILL THE TEA IN NEW KINDLE COLLABORATION
They say some of the world’s greatest decisions have been made over a cup of tea and in this new book, eighteen new writers come together from around the world to share their own personal ‘Cup of Tea Stories’. Grab a brew and find out more here.
WEBINAR LAUNCHED TO HELP BRING CUSTOMERS BACK
Business Gateway is running a series of social media webinars to help businesses in the tourism, retail and night-time hospitality sectors opening their businesses after the Covid-19 crisis. These sessions will include practical tips from expert coaches as well as short presentations from local businesses that are using innovative ideas to get people through their doors. The webinars are free and can be booked here.
FITBIT REVEALS THE MOST RELAXING HOBBY FOR STRESSED OUT BRITS
As Brits get back into the office and life begins to return to ‘normal’, maintaining a work-life balance can be stressful, so what’s the best way to unwind? We reveal the hobbies that reduce our stress levels the most and the results may well surprise you – especially what comes last! Find out more here.
WIN A SHOP FOR CHRISTMAS!
Find out which Midlands’ shopping centre is offering small businesses the chance to win a rent free retail unit for 6 weeks over Christmas here.
LUXURY LEICESTER CARE HOME SHORTLISTED FOR AWARD
Stoneygate’s Graysford Hall residential and dementia care home has been shortlisted for the prestigious Knight Frank Award of 2021 Luxury Care Home of the Year. Find out what makes it so special for residents here.
LOROS HOSPICE CELEBRATES 35 YEARS OF CARE
As the hospice approaches 35 years, LOROS invited the people of Leicestershire and Rutland to contribute their memories of the hospice and the response was touching and overwhelming. Read some of them here.
NEW! HEAVEN SKINCARE LAUNCHES VEGAN EYE CREAM
Hot on the heels of the sell-out Nettle Venom Anti-Ageing Cream, Heaven Skincare has unveiled its Nettle Venom Eyes. 100% plant-based the new eye cream is designed to ease puffiness and dark circles around the eyes while relaxing fine lines and wrinkles- find out how it works here.
GET THE EXERCISE BUG -TOP FIVE TIPS TO HELP YOU GET CYCLING
Didn’t get bitten by the lockdown exercise bug? If pictures of everyone’s home gyms and countryside cycling trips left you feeling left out, we might have just have the advice to help you get back in the saddle and burn off some of that banana bread. Read them here.
FREE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL TOOLKIT LAUNCHED TO HELP KIDS GET BACK TO SCHOOL
A brand-new social and emotional toolkit is supporting schools in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and helping children and young people transition back into school following the COVID-19 lockdown period
Rainbow of Resilience has been developed by the Partners in Psychology team of Educational Psychologists for teachers and parents to access and apply to school settings for free.The core principles are represented by the colours of the rainbow; red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet and divided into a three phase approach. Each colour has resource cards for each age phase that include a wealth of tips and activities to support that theme. Find out more at www.rainbowsofresilience.co.uk/the-rainbow
THIS WEEK’S MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE
How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.
– Anne Frank
