Get Paid to go Shopping

Quidco launched their new shopping app at this pop-up Boutique last Thursday. The crowds enthusiasm was understandable given that they were in with a chance to win £100 just for downloading the app and 500 walked away with the cash.

The pop-up store is gone but you can still win cash when you go shopping. How? Download Quidco's app, it's free. It pays 'cashback' when you make a purchase at any of the 3,300 retailers listed on their website. Get paid for shopping sounds good to me. What have you got to lose?

They Made It

Tired but elated the three girls at the end of their 300 mile ride from London to Paris. What a ride. They battled torrential rain, hail and high winds. Washed out roads and dead animals. Six punctures. Aching muscles and they can still smile.

They now have just 4 more weeks to finish their fundraising. They're nearly there. A few more £'s and they'll have succeeded in that goal to.
Suzanne and Annette's donating page here.
Tulip's donating page here.

Three Girls set off from London to Paris

Three friends have today set out from Crystal Palace to cycle from London to Paris 9-13 May 2012 for Pancreatic Cancer charity. Over the next 4 days they will cover 300 miles before arriving at the Eiffel tower in Paris.

Pancreatic cancer is the 5th deadliest cancer in the UK. Sadly survival figures have stayed the same for 40 years and shockingly pancreatic cancer receives less than 1% of the cancer research budget.

When pancreatic cancer touched us we got brave and decided that we should stop thinking about the smaller things in life like bad public transport, indifferent shop assistants and the terrible weather, and think about what we could do that might contribute to a better future for people who get pancreatic cancer. Naturally it meant providing some funding to the dedicated individuals and their organisations that can make that happen!

Our blog has recorded many of our trials and tribulations up to this point, including a broken arm!!! We will capture our trip here as well. Why not join us on our journey


“Three Girls in Five Days – The Ride of Our Lives” http://threegirlsinfivedays.blogspot.com/

Theatre Breaks

This week I went to the Harold Pinter Theatre in Piccadilly to see "South Downs and The Browning Version". It was organised for me by London Theatre Breaks, who specialise in show and hotel deals in the capital.

The Plays:

Following a critically acclaimed and sold out run as part of Chichester’s Festival 2011, the
double bill of Terence Rattigan’s one-act masterpiece The Browning Version and David Hare’s specially
commissioned companion piece South Downs has now transfered to Harold Pinter Theatre

Anna Chancellor and Nicholas Farrell lead the casts in these plays which
examine life in boarding public schools. Rattigan’s own Harrow School and Hare’s own Lancing
College provide the backdrop for two moving and resounding stories, one told through the
eyes of a master and one told through the eyes of a boy. Both revolve around unexpected acts
of kindness which place the harsh and at times cruel worlds of these schools into stark contrast.

South Downs is set in the 1960's, John Blakemore superbly played by Alex Lawther, a precocious, bright and inquisitive student who is in trouble for writing a letter of protest to the newspapers. He is not liked by the other boys, but his response is "I don't like me either". His only friend abandons him. A dashing and popular prefect with a movie star mother and Blakemore's life takes an unexpected turn.

The Browning Version steps back 20 years. Nicholas Farrell is outstanding as Crocker-Harris the classics master, known as Himmler of the lower fifth, who is forced into retirement without a pension. His dysfunctional marriage to the wealthy Millie, played by Anna Chancler and his lack of self esteem take an unexpected turn with the small act of kindness from a pupil.

This production is certain to pick up awards. I urge you to see it you wont be disappointed.

An Alphabet of London

From Abbey Road, Achilles and Albert to, Zeppelin, Zhiming and Zimbabwe House

An alphabet of London is a quirky new book taking us on an alphabet tour of London by way of lino cuts created by artist Christopher Brown. Not only do we see the London he grew up in and loves so dearly with his whimsical prints, he also takes us step by step through the process of his craft.

A perfect gift available from Merrell Publishers.

Scary Offer

There is something very strange about us humans, we love to scare ourselves just for fun. Have you ever been to the London Dungeons? They are particularly scary. Not only that but, it is all true! London history is very macabre. Take Bloody Mary for example, she makes Charles look like one of the trees he hugs and big sweary Gordon Ramsay is positively gentle when you think of Sweeny Todd and his wife.

The London Dungeon will give one of you a family ticket. That is 2 adults and 2 children. You can visit any of the UK London dungeons.

All you have to do to enter the draw for these tickets is email me @aglimpseoflondon.com or leave a comment telling me where any of the London Dungeons are in the UK.

You have until Sunday 26th at midnight to enter. The winner will be announced Monday 27th in my post that day.

Music for Christmas

While I've been laid up all week with a nasty cold I have been listening to the beautiful voices of Libera. Simply divine.
The boys aged 7 to 16 who make up the vocal band Libera have been described as “normal” and “ordinary”. However, as their recordings and performances demonstrate, the music they produce is truly extraordinary. With shimmering, mystical chords and ecstatic harmonies, they are unlike any other group you have ever heard. These are truly sounds to lift the soul. Celestial sounds for a new time.
I wouldn't disagree with that. A perfect album for Christmas. Also if you are able to get there they are performing tonight at: St George's RC Cathedral, London.
Here's another link to a youtube preview of the Christmas album.

Super Purple?

Super Purple doesn't sound right does it? Not sure what his name is. He was promoting a new gym in the area. He disappeared as quickly as he arrived. I think not because of supernatural powers but more to do with how silly he felt.

Photographers and Image Makers

Vision 11 was a two day festival for photographers and image makers organised by the British Journal of Photography and Computeractive magazine (both great magazines). Now in its 13th year the festival gave an opportunity to look at and test drive the latest in equipment and software. Several seminars were held over the two days giving a wonderful opportunity to hear what how some of the industries greats work.
One of the seminars I attended that I thought would be of particular interest t0 many of you especially those of you in the UK was that of your rights as a photographer. The London Street Photography Street Festival group have put together a small film showing most security guards do not know the law. Another link I'm a photographer not a terrorist where you can download a pdf pamphlet on your rights.

Excess Food

While millions starve around the world wealthy nations waste food. Yesterday in Trafalgar Square "feeding the 5000" , an organisation set up to hightlight this waste, invited the public to a free lunch made with food that would otherwise have gone to landfill or pig food. They handed out a booklet of recipes on how to make delicious meals with left overs, invited you to pat a pig and invited you to join the pledge on their website to reduce your food waste.

Man in a Box

Ok now this comes under my bizarre category. Febreze, yes those people who make products to make your home smell lovely, are conducting an experiment at Westfield Stratford City shopping centre. The man has been in the see through sealed box since Wednesday. Hosted by TV presenter Stephen Mulhern encourages the public to assist him in creating even more smelly activities for the man to partake in. (you can vote via the febreze facebook page). Wednesday's challenge was grooming a dog. Thursday he is slicing a box of onions and peeling hard boiled eggs then tossing them into the bin, that will remain locked in the box with him. YUK.


He will be let out Saturday morning. Pooh!
Febreze will then go in and spray everything with their products.

Guess they have fingers very crossed hoping the experiment works. You can go down and check for yourself how bad it smells as they open the door.

To get to Westfield from London take the new fast train from St Pancras. It takes 7 mins! Although my journey came in slightly under that. Very impressive.

Gentlemen's Afternoon Tea

I was invited to sample gentlemen's afternoon tea at the very classy Neo Bar. It's a hard job but someone has to do it.
Belvedere Vodka and mixologist Andy Pearson have created very imaginative cocktails. I sampled the healthy version, truly this creation being made is called brainbox as it covers your 5 vege a day with salmon oils, egg whites, green tea and of course Belvedere Vodka. I can hear you saying similar things to me, but I'll bet like me you will be pleasantly surprised at how delicious it really is. To accompany your cocktail chef Joel Edmond has created a number of miniature food treats. All classics you will know, Italian pizza, croquemonsieur, fish cakes to name just a few.
Continuing on the healthy theme I finished with a cup of tea. Of course it was not ordinary tea, this was a peppermint tea martini.

Treat Yourself

A beauty pop up store has appeared at 12 Poland St W1F 8QB (just off Oxford St). I've introduced you to pop up stores before, they pop up for a very short period so you need to get to them fast as they disappear as quickly as they arrived.
The Really Buff Boutique will only be around for a week. So go and grab yourself a free beauty treatment this week. You'll also get a free glass of bubbly. Chill out, Have a manicure, hairstyling, maybe a spray tan or a waxing. You might even like to try those little fish that nibble your feet. Truly!
They're promoting the new TV channel Reality aimed at women 18-35, with lots of make-over programs.

Smart Phone in My Hands

I have a few days fun playing around with the new Samsung WaveII smart phone. To launch the phone, Samsung are running the Now Project. I already have pictures on their page. You get to do cool things with your pictures by adding filters as you upload them.

The project is now open to everyone. Take pictures and upload them, 50 winners will get their photos displayed at the London Design Museum and the top 20 will get one of the Wave II phones.

More info on this you tube.

Victorinox more than a Swiss army knife.

Swiss army knives and luggage. Well that was what I thought of when Victorinox invited me to their store in New Bond St. I soon learnt there is a lot more.
For starters the impressive range of kitchen knives. I'm a sucker for a great kitchen knife. Testing the ceramic knife (above) was my idea of kitchen fun, just throwing the tomatoes at it produced great slices.

I did check out the Swiss army knives of course. I chose this one. Encrusted in diamonds and just a mere £63,000.

The clothing range was a big surprise. I'm still thinking about that lovely woollen jacket.

Victorinox are promoting their clothing range as a mix of workwear, military wear, ski wear and motorcycle gear. Did I mention the perfumes and watches?

Definitely more than Swiss army knives and luggage.