Hands up if you’ve done – or are doing – the Keto diet? I know so many people who are feeling fabulous and shedding pounds on this plan, which I believe is based around the idea of cutting out carbs? We’re tempted and with yesterday being National Fitness Day, it seems like the perfect time to start making some positive changes to our food and fitness habits as we head into the hibernation months. We’d be interested in your thoughts, recipes and recommendations.
Coincidentally, our Director, Jon, is directing a fancy fitness-based photoshoot and interview this week with two ex-Olympic athletes from the region, so it really is all about health, health, health atm. Our lips are sealed about this project, but we’ll tell you more as soon as we can!
The health of our food and drink venues is also on the tip of our tongues since Tuesday’s announcement. Upon talking to some of the owners of our best-loved venues, what came across loud and clear is that we (and they) must eat what’s on our plate, if you pardon the pun. A 10pm curfew and the Rule of 6 is far from ideal, but not impossible to manage, so long as we can all adapt to the new rules and modify our habits and behaviour. These owners were adapting plans and getting creative to ensure they could keep the lights on. It was inspirational to hear. We certainly plan to continue to support our food and drink venues through this new chapter in the pandemic, albeit without carbs.
Talking of support, all the stories featured in this week’s newsletter are from here in the region. We’d love you to click the links, read the stories and get involved – even if it’s just liking and sharing the story, or following a page or person on Facebook. In doing so, you give everyone (including us) an extra reason to keep doing what we do.
Happy Autumn Equinox.
See you next week. Stay safe, fabulous and keep fighting.
Kevin, Jon and the FU Media team #FUFighters
OBLIGATORY BAD JOKE
What do you call a dog that does magic tricks?
A Labracadabrador.
5 ENTREPRENEURS SOUGHT FOR FREE BUSINESS COACHING FROM DMU
DMU’s Castle Business School is offering Leicestershire entrepreneurs the chance to take part in five business and personal development coaching sessions with two of the university’s world class coaches. The coaching and mentoring programme is free to fully funded and is structured into five sessions where you can develop your goals and business plans. To register your interest, click here.
BYE BYE BRIDGE!
Times are a’changing… the 1970’s footbridge spanning Burleys Way opposite St Margaret’s Bus Station is due to be dismantled, as part of the wider £10 million St Margaret’s Gateway scheme, to regenerate the city centre site.
The site of after hour chip throwing following a night out at Krystal’s; the main staggering route to The Pineapple for the delights of dockyard drag queens and insalubrious strippers; and the stage for many a cry of ‘leave it out Tracey it just ain’t worth it’, the bridge will be replaced with a ‘super crossing’ which will surely struggle to invoke so many colourful memories, but you can’t stop progress.
NOMINATE A FAMILY IN YOUR AREA IN NEED OF A FREE HOLIDAY
Do you know a family, NHS or frontline worker in your area that has been adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and needs a break? As part of the nation’s emotional and wellbeing recovery from the pandemic, the national charity YHA (England & Wales) wants to give away free holidays to families – find out how you can nominate a family you know here.
COAST TO COAST RIDE RAISES OVER 10K FOR CHILDREN’S CHARITY ALEX’S WISH
A group of intrepid cyclists have completed a Coast to Coast cycle ride in aid of Midlands’-based charity, Alex’s Wish, raising over £10,000 in the process. Richard Frape, Richard Fielding, Darren Eaton, Andrew Rowland and Mal Rooney took part in the two-day challenge, which saw them cycle across England – Coast to Coast.
Alex Wish was set-up in late 2012 to eradicate Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy – a serious muscle-wasting disease affecting 1 in every 3,500 boys born. It’s 100% fatal and children are unlikely to live beyond their twenties. The charity has already raised over £1.1 million to fund research and trials that are dedicated to conquering Duchenne. Find out more on www.alexswish.co.uk
HOME IS WHERE THE LOCKDOWN HEART IS
Home security company, Ring, famed for making doorbells smarter than smart, have found that more than half of UK homeowners are viewing their homes in a more positive light since the initial stages of lockdown.
During a time that has been isolating for many, it makes sense that 67% are viewing the home as a place of comfort and sanctuary with it playing, for many, an emotional role in their lives. In fact, 61% of consumers see their home acting as an extension of themselves.
Lockdown has seen 57% of consumers adapt their homes to serve new purposes, such as home offices, gyms, craft spaces or for starting up a new small business with many investing in multipurpose modular furniture like stow-away beds and tables.
MIDLANDS SCORES MORE GREAT STARS FOR 2020
Midlands-based food and drink producers have swept the board at this year’s Great Taste awards. Out of a record breaking 12,777 entries from 106 different countries, 42% were awarded a highly prized Great Taste accolade and a remarkable 381 are based in the Midlands.
Among the Great Taste Midlands winners are Clarkes of Queniborough for their pork pie topped with caramelised onions and blue stilton; Fosse Meadows Farm for their 98-day free range duck and Belvoir Fruit Farms for their elderflower presse.
This year’s winners have been found through a combination of remote judging and socially distanced judging sessions, after the lockdown began just one week into the schedule. See all of this year’s winners at www.greattasteawards.co.uk
STREET FOOD LINE UP RELEASED FOR LANE 7
A permanent street food court will become part of Leicester’s newest entertainment venue, Lane 7 with burgers, steamed buns, fried chicken and waffles lining up alongside bowling, gaming and bars. Find out more here.
ONE STOP VEGAN SHOPPING FESTIVAL COMES TO CITY NEXT MONTH
Leicester Vegan Festival is set to be a real inspiration to those thinking about going vegan or wanting to try vegan food for the first time. This fun family event is for everyone to enjoy whether you’re flexitarian, veggie, vegan or a meat eater. It features everything the aspiring vegan could wish for, including a mouth-watering selection of global vegan food, the latest vegan fashions, beauty products and amazing gifts… Find out more here.
‘I MAY BE AN OUTLAW, DARLIN’, BUT YOU’RE THE ONE STEALING MY HEART’: GREATEST MOVIE CHAT UP LINES EVER REVEALED
Mars have revealed the UK’s favourite fictional chat-up lines, as well as the ones most likely to work in real life. The study also revealed that men are more likely to be flattered by someone using a chat-up line on them, while women are more likely to think the person is cheesy. Read the best, the worst, the funniest, the cheesiest and the most offensive chat up lines of all time here.
KEEP YOUR HEAD IN THE CLOUDS WHILST STAYING AT HOME
We love these ethereal wallpaper murals that are made to measure by muralswallpaper.com. From the soft blues of a clear morning to the fiery orange hues of sunset, clouds, much like florals, are a soothing way to incorporate nature into our homes and perfect for those not fortunate enough to have access to outdoor spaces. Each of the seven designs is named after a type of cloud and are hand-painted with a watercolour textured finish.
All murals are made to measure and priced from £37 per sq/m. and available here. https://www.muralswallpaper.com/wall-murals/landscape-mural-wallpaper/
PAYBACK TIME: CAN YOUR BUSINESS MANAGE ITS DEBT BURDEN?
With 1.2 million businesses having borrowed over £50bn under government-backed lending programmes since March, many Midlands’ firms are now concerned this debt burden could damage their future prospects, especially SMEs.
Begbies Traynor will be holding a webinar to look at how your company can manage its debt burden to survive and thrive in the post lockdown economy and why it’s important that companies take a proactive approach to managing their debt.
The Webinar will take place on the 29th September at 12.00pm. Book your place here https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/6115997337201/WN_8SFRUNP0SdC9TnO3viN67w
BLACKINK NEW WRITING COMPETITION WINNER ANNOUNCED
A fantasy about friendship and self-empowerment has won a short fiction writing competition by Serendipity in partnership with Writing East Midlands for writers from the African and African Caribbean Diaspora.
Sarah Kelly-Olatunji’s Yemi Can’t Swim: Something in the Water along with runners up, Lloyd Harry-Davis with The Way The World Works, and Iris Sankoh-Douglas with Humility is a Healer, will be published in BlackInk magazine for Black History Month in Leicester in October 2020. For more information and how to pre-order your copy of BlackInk visit www.serendipity-uk.com/store
HOME TO THE THRONE- MOST INSTAGRAMABLE ROYAL RESIDENCES REVEALED
With Her Majesty The Queen vacating her 828,821 square foot Palace and relocating just a little over an hour down the road to Windsor Castle, HeatingForce.co.uk wanted to see which of the royal residences were most instagramable. Find out here.
CELEBRATE WITH 20% OFF A CHIPPY TEA IN OCTOBER
Market Harborough’s award winning, The Cods Scallops, is turning a year old at the end of the month and to say thank you for all of their customers’ support, they are giving 20% off all food, every day, all day throughout the month of October. Cod and Chips twice please, extra vinegar, hold the pickled egg.
SHOES BY SUBSCRIPTION – FULL RECYCLABLE RUNNING SHOE SCHEME LAUNCHED
We’re already big fans of the On range of super-light and supportive running shoes and now the Swiss-based high-performance running brand, have launched the world’s first, subscription-based service to allow subscribers to receive and wear the latest in running sportswear and then return end-of-life products back to On, in exchange for the latest version. Once the used item is returned, it will be fully recycled by On, who will reuse the materials to create new running gear. Brilliant. Get involved here.
THE PERFECT PUPPY? THE TOP FIVE THINGS TO TEACH YOUR NEW PET
Many of us have decided that the extra time spent at home during lockdown has been the right time to introduce a new pet to the family. Bringing a new puppy home is undoubtably an exciting time for the whole family, but it’s also extremely important to be prepared to ensure everyone gets off on the right foot [or paw]. Luke Chapman Managing Director of Vale Pet Foods offers his top five things to teach your new puppy, read them here.
THE HUNT IS ON THE FOR THE NATION’S BEST TEACHER
Adapting traditional teaching methods and bringing education online throughout home-schooling, all whilst trying to keep students motivated and engaged, has seen our beloved teachers going above and beyond their usual job spec through lockdown.
To celebrate World Teacher Day on 5th October, thortful.com is on the hunt for the UK’s Best Teacher. The teachers who have gone above and beyond for their students, whether that’s keeping them engaged in their studies in lockdown, motivating them from a distance, or helping keep their spirits high during these strange times.
Think you know the best teacher? All you have to do is enter the competition and let them know why your teacher is the best – to be in with the chance of winning them a £150 spa voucher from Spa Seekers. Full competition details can be found at: https://www.thortful.com/competition/world-teacher-day-competition
THIS WEEK’S MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE
“Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”
– Ruth Bader Ginsburg
